A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Limerick vs. Bilbao for Attractions, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Limerick or Bilbao?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Limerick and Bilbao can help you decide which place is right for you.

Limerick

Limerick is a outdoorsy, fun-filled, and historic city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Bilbao

Bilbao is a friendly, industrial, and authentic city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and shopping.

Limerick and Bilbao: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Limerick or Bilbao?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Bilbao than Limerick, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Bilbao is more popular for its museums, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and big city activities, while Limerick is known for its food and impressive beauty. Limerick is popular for its castle, old town, and outdoor activities. Bilbao is popular for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks. It is also home to The Guggenheim Museum.

How is Limerick different from Bilbao?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Bilbao and Limerick. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Limerick or Bilbao?

Bilbao is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Limerick is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

Many visitors head to Bilbao specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. A favorite museum in town is the popular Guggenheim Museum. From its iconic building to the unique exhibits, this is a must-see stop during your visit. Other highlights around town include the Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao, the Museo Vasco, as well as the city's unique bridges.

Limerick is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. The town is famous for King John's Castle as well as St. Mary's Cathedral, and St. John's Square and Cathedral.

Is the Food Better in Limerick or Bilbao? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Limerick is a good destination for its restaurant scene. However, Bilbao is not a culinary destination.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Limerick. You'll find a mix of traditional Irish restaurants and more modern international cuisine. Local specialties to try include Limerick Ham, Cahill's Whiskey Cheese, and Walnut Cheddar.

Bilbao is not a culinary destination. The food scene is among the best in Spain. The city has several world renowned restaurants, including a few Michelin-starred restaurants, but there are also smaller eateries that cater to the locals and tourists alike. Make sure you try the pintxos, which are small dishes that are the Basque region's answer to tapas. Many include seafood and are cooked with olive oil and garlic.

Is Limerick or Bilbao Better for Nightlife?

Bilbao is a great city for its evening party scene. Also, Limerick is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife.

The nightlife in Bilbao has something for everybody. There's a great late night scene that centers around eating and drinking. There are lively nightclubs, a good live music scene, and no shortage of people heading out on the town.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Limerick. It's a student town so much of the nightlife scene centers around the student population. There are lively pubs and clubs around town so it's not hard to have a fun night out.

Is Limerick or Bilbao Better for its Old Town?

Bilbao is very good for its historic old town charm. However, Limerick does not have a historic old town.

Bilbao has an old town worth visiting. The old town, often called Casco Viejo, is filled with historic architecture, great local bars, and some interesting shopping.

Limerick does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Limerick or Bilbao?

Bilbao is a great city for its shopping areas. Also, Limerick is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Bilbao. Gran Vía is the most popular shopping street in town. There are also historic boutique shops around the old town.

Limerick is a great destination for shopping. You'll find a mix of brand name chains and independent boutiques in the city center. There are several major shopping streets in town including O'Connell Street, and the pedestrian streets of Bedford Row and Cruises Street.

Is Limerick or Bilbao Better for Families?

You'll find good kid-friendly activities in either Limerick or Bilbao.

Limerick offers lots of family activities. Families will enjoy visiting King John's Castle but for kids who need a break from the sightseeing, there are kid-friendly activities around town like Curraghchase Forest Park and the Peoples Park. Families should also check out the Dreamland Fun Center. Museums like Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum are also fun for the whole family.

Bilbao is a family-friendly place to visit. The city offers some great museums such as the Guggenheim Museum. Families will also enjoy taking a ride of the Artxander Funicular, and exploring Mercado de la Ribera. You can also enjoy walking around Park Abandoibarra and exploring the creative sculptures.

Is Limerick or Bilbao Better for Couples?

Both Limerick and Bilbao are good destinations to visit as a couple.

Limerick is a good city for couples to visit. There are river cruises, kayaking, and nature to explore. Head to the Curraghchase Forest Park or any of the many beautiful parks around town. Couples can combine history with nature and enjoy a nice, romantic trip through Limerick.

Bilbao is a nice destination for couples. The city is filled with a vibrant enjoy with parks and outdoor strolls that couples will enjoy. There are also many great museums and romantic restaurants as well as some great shopping streets.

Is Limerick or Bilbao Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bilbao is very good for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Limerick is not known for backpackers.

Bilbao is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are plenty of hostels to choose from and a good social scene that makes it easy to meet other backpackers.

Limerick is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There aren't many hostels in the area so it can be hard to find other likeminded travelers.

Is Limerick or Bilbao Better for Students?

For students, both Limerick and Bilbao are good places to visit.

It's common for students to visit Limerick. The city has a nice student scene with plenty of areas to explore.

Bilbao is a good city to visit for students. This is a popular study abroad destination with many great museums and educational opportunities for international students.

Is Limerick or Bilbao Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Bilbao is a great city for times when you don't have a car. Also, Limerick is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its public transit.

The public transit in Bilbao can get you to most places easily. The metro system has three lines. There is also a tram and bus system.

Limerick has a few public transit options. There's a city bus service that travels around town.

Is Limerick or Bilbao a more walkable city?

Limerick and Bilbao are good when it comes to walkability.

Limerick is a somewhat walkable city. There are compact and walkable parts to the city that can be explored on foot.

Bilbao is somewhat walkable. It's a fairly walkable city with several pedestrian-friendly areas.

For even more information, also check out Is Limerick Worth Visiting? and Is Bilbao Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bilbao or Limerick?

How long in Limerick or Bilbao?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Limerick and Bilbao. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Bilbao than in Limerick. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Limerick, and 2-3 days is enough time in Bilbao.

Families should spend more time in Bilbao than Limerick. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Bilbao, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Bilbao than Limerick. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Bilbao that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bilbao than Limerick if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Bilbao.

One day in Limerick or Bilbao?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Limerick. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

The city of Bilbao offers nightlife and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Limerick or Bilbao?

Limerick is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Bilbao is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Bilbao, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Limerick or Bilbao?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Limerick. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Bilbao is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Limerick or Bilbao?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the fun-filled destination of Limerick. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Bilbao is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Dublin, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ireland, The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Limerick and Bilbao, we can see that Bilbao is more expensive. And not only is Limerick much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Limerick would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Limerick and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Bilbao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bilbao than you might in Limerick.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Limerick Expensive? and Is Bilbao Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Limerick or Bilbao?

Bilbao has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Limerick. When comparing the sizes of Limerick and Bilbao, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Limerick or Bilbao?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Limerick or Bilbao in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Limerick as well as Bilbao. Many visitors come to Limerick in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Bilbao for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Limerick is generally cooler than Bilbao. Daily temperatures in Limerick average around 16°C (60°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

In the summer, Limerick often gets less sunshine than Bilbao. Limerick gets 142 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 188 hours of full sun.

Limerick usually gets more rain in July than Bilbao. Limerick gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Limerick or Bilbao in the Autumn?

Both Bilbao and Limerick are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Limerick for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

Limerick is cooler than Bilbao in the autumn. The daily temperature in Limerick averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Bilbao fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).

Limerick usually receives less sunshine than Bilbao during autumn. Limerick gets 82 hours of sunny skies, while Bilbao receives 125 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bilbao. In October, Limerick usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Limerick gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Limerick or Bilbao in the Winter?

Both Bilbao and Limerick during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Limerick because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums and the shopping scene are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year.

In the winter, Limerick is much colder than Bilbao. Typically, the winter temperatures in Limerick in January average around 6°C (42°F), and Bilbao averages at about 9°C (48°F).

In the winter, Limerick often gets less sunshine than Bilbao. Limerick gets 49 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 77 hours of full sun.

Bilbao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Limerick usually gets less rain in January than Bilbao. Limerick gets 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Limerick or Bilbao in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Limerick and Bilbao. The natural beauty are the main draw to Limerick this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Bilbao for the activities around the city.

In April, Limerick is generally cooler than Bilbao. Daily temperatures in Limerick average around 9°C (48°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Limerick usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during spring. Limerick gets 148 hours of sunny skies, while Bilbao receives 117 hours of full sun in the spring.

Bilbao receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Limerick usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Limerick gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bilbao and Limerick