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

Should you visit Rouen or Bilbao?

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

Should I visit Rouen or Bilbao? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Rouen

Rouen is a historical, charming, and compact city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Bilbao

Bilbao is a industrial, authentic, and colorful city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Rouen and Bilbao: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Rouen or Bilbao?

You'll generally find more things to do in Bilbao than Rouen. Bilbao is bigger than Rouen, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Bilbao is better known for its museums, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Rouen is more popular for its food and impressive beauty. Rouen is well known for its architectural history, historical monuments, and sense of culture. Bilbao is well known for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks. Also, Bilbao is famous for The Guggenheim Museum.

How is Rouen different from Bilbao?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Bilbao is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Bilbao offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Rouen. You'll find the highest concentration of sights in the city's pedestrian zone. Highlights that you should check out include Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Abbatiale Saint-Ouen, and Aître Saint-Maclou.

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

Rouen is well known for its restaurant scene. However, Bilbao is not a culinary destination.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Rouen. There are many local specialties found in town. Make sure you try the Passe Crassane, which is a French pear. The town is also known for its cheese, chocolate, and pastries.

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 Rouen or Bilbao Better for Nightlife?

Bilbao is notable for nightlife and partying. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

Bilbao has plenty to do after the sun goes down. 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.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Rouen. You'll find wine bars, trendy cocktail bars, and local pubs where you can grab a drink.

Is Rouen or Bilbao Better for its Old Town?

It's fun to wander around the notable old towns in both Rouen and Bilbao.

Many people head to Rouen to see the old town. The old town is where you'll find spectacular Gothic churches and the most charming streets.

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 Rouen or Bilbao?

Bilbao is notable for its shopping opportunities. Also, Rouen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping areas.

Bilbao is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. Gran Vía is the most popular shopping street in town. There are also historic boutique shops around the old town.

Rouen has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Some of the city's best shopping is found along the Rue du Gros-Horloge in the old city center. You'll find independent boutiques and well as upscale vendors.

Is Rouen or Bilbao Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Rouen or Bilbao.

Rouen is a family-friendly place to visit. This beautiful city is filled with nice parks, free museums, and towers that offer views over the city. Kids will enjoy climbing the clocktower, eating pastries, or riding a bike around town.

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.

Is Rouen or Bilbao Better for Couples?

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

Couples visit Rouen frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The beautiful city makes a great retreat for couples who enjoy good food and nice architecture. There are many hidden gems around town that make this a favorite French city for many couples.

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 Rouen or Bilbao Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bilbao is a popular place for backpackers. However, Rouen is a mediocre city for backpackers and budget travelers.

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

Rouen is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Backpackers may struggle to find a hostel with a social setting, but for those who make it here there are many beautiful things to see.

Is Rouen or Bilbao Better for Students?

Bilbao is a popular place for students. However, Rouen is not popular with students.

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.

Rouen is not popular with students.

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

Both Rouen and Bilbao offer superb public transit options.

Rouen has some very good public transit options. The city has two agencies that offer public transportation. Métro du Rouen is a tramway that runs north to south from Boulingrin in the north to Saint-Sever, where it branches off into two lines (one to Technopôle and one to Georges Braque). There are also buses and rail connections to town.

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.

Is Rouen or Bilbao a more walkable city?

Rouen 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.

Rouen is a very walkable city. There are many parts of town that can easily be explored 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 Rouen Worth Visiting? and Is Bilbao Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bilbao or Rouen?

How long in Rouen or Bilbao?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bilbao than Rouen 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 Rouen or Bilbao?

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

In Bilbao, many people enjoy the nightlife and shopping that this colorful destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Rouen or Bilbao?

Rouen 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bilbao. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Rouen or Bilbao?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Rouen. 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 fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Bilbao. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Rouen or Bilbao?

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

You'll find nightlife and shopping around the colorful destination of Bilbao. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France, 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 Rouen and Bilbao, we can see that Bilbao is more expensive. And not only is Rouen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rouen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rouen 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 Rouen.

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

Which is Bigger, Rouen or Bilbao?

Bilbao has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Rouen. When comparing the sizes of Rouen 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 Rouen or Bilbao?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Rouen or Bilbao in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Rouen and Bilbao. Most visitors come to Rouen for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Rouen is cooler than Bilbao in the summer. The daily temperature in Rouen averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Bilbao fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

In Rouen, it's very sunny this time of the year. Rouen usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during summer. Rouen gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Bilbao receives 188 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Rouen usually receives more rain than Bilbao. Rouen gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Rouen or Bilbao in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Rouen as well as Bilbao. The autumn months attract visitors to Rouen because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Additionally, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year.

In the autumn, Rouen is cooler than Bilbao. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Rouen in October average around 12°C (53°F), and Bilbao averages at about 16°C (62°F).

In the autumn, Rouen often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Bilbao. Rouen gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 125 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Bilbao. Rouen usually gets less rain in October than Bilbao. Rouen gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rouen or Bilbao in the Winter?

Both Bilbao and Rouen are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Rouen this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bilbao for the museums and the shopping scene.

It's quite cold in Rouen in the winter. In January, Rouen is generally much colder than Bilbao. Daily temperatures in Rouen average around 4°C (39°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Rouen usually receives less sunshine than Bilbao during winter. Rouen gets 62 hours of sunny skies, while Bilbao receives 77 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Bilbao. In January, Rouen usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Rouen gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Rouen or Bilbao in the Spring?

Both Bilbao and Rouen during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Rouen for the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Bilbao in the spring for the activities around the city.

Rouen is cooler than Bilbao in the spring. The daily temperature in Rouen averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Bilbao fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the spring, Rouen often gets more sunshine than Bilbao. Rouen gets 172 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 117 hours of full sun.

Bilbao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Rouen usually gets less rain in April than Bilbao. Rouen gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Bilbao and Rouen