A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Marseille vs. Bilbao for Nightlife, Old Town, Couples, and Families

Should you visit Marseille or Bilbao?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Marseille or Bilbao, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Marseille

Marseille is a energetic and vibrant city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. With a quaint atmosphere, it also offers a unique feeling. And you can't forget about the beaches, shopping, and nightlife.

Bilbao

Bilbao is a authentic, colorful, and friendly 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.

Marseille and Bilbao: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Marseille or Bilbao?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Marseille than Bilbao, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Marseille is more popular for its food, nightlife, beaches, historical sights, christmas markets, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Bilbao is known for its museums and big city activities. Marseille is more touristy than Bilbao and is popular for its unique history, its diverse population, and its authenticity. It is also home to The Vieux Port. Bilbao is popular for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks.

How is Marseille different from Bilbao?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Bilbao is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, Marseille does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Bilbao can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

Marseille does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Marseille is an amazing city to visit for its restaurant scene. However, Bilbao is not a culinary destination.

Eat your way through Marseille, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. It's famous for its bouillabaisse, which is a hearty seafood soup that was once affordable but is now quite pricey.

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 Marseille or Bilbao Better for Nightlife?

Marseille is an amazing city to visit for nightlife and partying. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.

Marseille has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. Much of the city's nightlife is centered around being outdoors. Whether you're on the beach or hanging out at a rooftop bar, Marseille is a magical place.

Many people head to Bilbao for the nightlife scene. 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.

Is Marseille or Bilbao Better for Beaches?

Marseille is a good destination for the beache. However, Bilbao is not a beach destination.

Marseille offers a nice beach destination. The city has nice beaches that offer both culture and diversity, which may be lacking some other coastal parts of the French Riviera.

Bilbao is not a beach destination.

Is Marseille or Bilbao Better for its Old Town?

Marseille is an amazing city to visit for its old town. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historic old town charm.

Marseille offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The Old Port is filled with shops and boutiques, and is the most scenic part of the city. It dates back to the Middle Ages and is filled with history and character.

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.

Is the Shopping Better in Marseille or Bilbao?

Shoppers can find a variety of great stores in both Marseille and Bilbao.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Marseille. The city has boutiques, farmers markets, and flea markets to explore, as well as any luxury brand you may want.

Bilbao is an extremely popular place for shoppers. Gran Vía is the most popular shopping street in town. There are also historic boutique shops around the old town.

Is Marseille or Bilbao Better for Christmas Markets?

Marseille is a good destination for its Christmas markets. However, Bilbao does not offer Christmas markets.

Visiting the Christmas markets is popular in Marseille. The old town has a Christmas craft market where you can buy toys, Christmas treats, or decorations.

Bilbao does not offer Christmas markets.

Is Marseille or Bilbao Better for Families?

Bilbao is a nice place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, Marseille is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Bilbao is a family-friendly city. 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.

Marseille doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Nearby beaches and an outdoor climbing area make it a diverse city to visit with kids.

Is Marseille or Bilbao Better for Couples?

Marseille is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Marseille frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Strolling the boulevards and exploring the history and culture of this city make it a top couples' destination.

Bilbao is a good city for couples to visit. 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 Marseille or Bilbao Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Marseille and Bilbao are both good destinations for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Marseille. It has a decent number of hostels for a city of its size.

Bilbao is a good city to visit for backpackers. There are plenty of hostels to choose from and a good social scene that makes it easy to meet other backpackers.

Is Marseille or Bilbao Better for Students?

Marseille is well known for students. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

Many students visit Marseille. It attracts international students because of its rich culture, unique atmosphere, and lively bar scene.

It's common for students to visit Bilbao. This is a popular study abroad destination with many great museums and educational opportunities for international students.

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

Bilbao is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. Also, Marseille is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

You'll find some public transit in Marseille, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. The city has trams, a metro, and buses that you can use to explore.

Is Marseille or Bilbao a more walkable city?

Marseille is well known for its high level of walkability. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Marseille is a very walkable city. The Old Port (Vieux Port) is particularly walkable and is one of the best areas to explore on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Bilbao or Marseille?

How long in Marseille or Bilbao?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Marseille and Bilbao. In our opinion, Marseille has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Marseille than Bilbao. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Marseille than Bilbao 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 Marseille.

One day in Marseille or Bilbao?

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the quaint destination of Marseille. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Bilbao. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Marseille or Bilbao?

Marseille 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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the authentic destination of Bilbao. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Marseille or Bilbao?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Marseille. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the friendly city of Bilbao. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Marseille or Bilbao?

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the vibrant destination of Marseille. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Bilbao is a popular choice for travelers. One week 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to France, The Best G Adventures Tours to France, The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid.

When comparing the travel costs between Marseille and Bilbao, we can see that Marseille is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Marseille or Bilbao?

Marseille has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of Marseille 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 Marseille 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 Marseille or Bilbao in the Summer?

Both Bilbao and Marseille during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Marseille for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, many visitors come to Bilbao in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Marseille is generally a little warmer than Bilbao. Daily temperatures in Marseille average around 24°C (75°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

It's quite sunny in Marseille. In the summer, Marseille often gets more sunshine than Bilbao. Marseille gets 366 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 188 hours of full sun.

Marseille usually gets less rain in July than Bilbao. Marseille gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Marseille or Bilbao in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Marseille and Bilbao. Many visitors come to Marseille in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, most visitors come to Bilbao for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

Marseille is around the same temperature as Bilbao in the autumn. The daily temperature in Marseille averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Bilbao fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).

In Marseille, it's very sunny this time of the year. Marseille usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during autumn. Marseille gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Bilbao receives 125 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Bilbao receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Marseille usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Marseille gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Marseille or Bilbao in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Marseille as well as Bilbao. Most visitors come to Marseille for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the museums and the shopping scene.

In the winter, Marseille is cooler than Bilbao. Typically, the winter temperatures in Marseille in January average around 7°C (44°F), and Bilbao averages at about 9°C (48°F).

In the winter, Marseille often gets more sunshine than Bilbao. Marseille gets 150 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 77 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Bilbao. Marseille usually gets less rain in January than Bilbao. Marseille gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Marseille or Bilbao in the Spring?

Both Bilbao and Marseille are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Marseille because of the beaches and the natural beauty. Also, the activities around the city are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year.

In April, Marseille is generally around the same temperature as Bilbao. Daily temperatures in Marseille average around 13°C (56°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Marseille. Marseille usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during spring. Marseille gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Bilbao receives 117 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bilbao. In April, Marseille usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Marseille gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bilbao and Marseille