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

Should you visit Shanghai or Bilbao?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Shanghai and Bilbao. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Shanghai

Shanghai is a trendy, modern, and cosmopolitan port city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. 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.

Shanghai and Bilbao: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Shanghai or Bilbao?

You'll generally find more things to do in Shanghai than Bilbao. Shanghai is bigger than Bilbao, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Shanghai is better known for its museums, food, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Bilbao is more popular for its nightlife and historical sights. Shanghai is more touristy than Bilbao and is known for its historical landmarks, local street food, vibrant markets, and waterfront promenade. Also, Shanghai is famous for The Bund. Bilbao is well known for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks.

How is Shanghai different from Bilbao?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Shanghai is an amazing port city to visit for its museums and landmarks. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Shanghai are among the most recognizable in the world. The city's sights mix culture with modern innovation. From the futuristic skyline and the iconic waterfront area known as the Bund, to the classic Yu Garden, there are a diversity of sights around the city. There are also museums like the Shanghai Museum, which educate visitors on Chinese culture.

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.

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

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

Eat your way through Shanghai, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. The city's cuisine has a long history with many distinct traditional dishes. The foods incorporate a lot of soy sauce and sugar and you'll find most dishes are rice based as opposed to using wheat products. Popular local dishes include the famous Shanghai soup dumplings, steamed crab, and braised pork. The city is also famous for its snacks, which can be purchased at one of the many snack houses or street stalls.

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 Shanghai or Bilbao Better for Nightlife?

Bilbao is notable for nightlife and partying. Also, Shanghai is not as famous, but is still a good port 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 Shanghai. A night out can quickly become very expensive. Many of the venues are spread out so you'll likely spend at least some of the time in a taxi. The Bund is one of the most popular areas for nightlife, but this area also has the most expensive bars and clubs. They often offer impressive views of Pudong and the Huangpu River though.

Is Shanghai or Bilbao Better for its Old Town?

Bilbao is a good destination for its old town. However, Shanghai does not have a historic old town.

Many people head to Bilbao to see the old town. The old town, often called Casco Viejo, is filled with historic architecture, great local bars, and some interesting shopping.

Shanghai does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Shanghai or Bilbao?

Shanghai is an amazing port city to visit for its shopping opportunities. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Shanghai make it a world-class shopping destination. The city has many large shopping malls with department stores, name brand fashion, and trendy shops. It is also known for its cheap electronics and tailor-made clothes.

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.

Is Shanghai or Bilbao Better for Families?

Shanghai is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Shanghai is a very kid-friendly port city. Of course there's Disneyland, but kids will also enjoy soaking up the city's culture, trying fun new snacks, and exploring the many science and kid-friendly museums. There are also parks and outdoor spaces as well as skyscrapers and towers that offer incredible views of the city.

Bilbao offers lots of family activities. 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 Shanghai or Bilbao Better for Couples?

Shanghai is an amazing port city to visit for its romantic activities. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Shanghai is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. With its east meets west personality, couples will be able to enjoy an amazing culinary experience, beautiful gardens, and luxury hotels and spas. There are many romantic areas around this bustling city, making it the perfect place for a romantic city getaway.

Bilbao is a good port 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 Shanghai or Bilbao Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Shanghai is well known for backpackers. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Shanghai is a great port city to visit for backpackers. The city is expensive, but there are hostels and cheap eateries that make it accessible even for the budget conscious. Business travelers and local workers give the city a more professional vibe during the day, but if you find the right place to stay you'll quickly be able to meet likeminded 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.

Is Shanghai or Bilbao Better for Students?

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

Many students visit Shanghai. The city attracts international and study abroad students who enjoy its long history and fascinating culture. It's a world financial capital with many businesses headquartered here, so employment opportunities are abundant.

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

Both Shanghai and Bilbao offer excellent public transit options.

Shanghai has some very good public transit options. There is a metro system as well as buses and taxis which are relatively affordable.

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 Shanghai or Bilbao a more walkable city?

Shanghai 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.

Shanghai is a very walkable port city. It's possible to explore the major tourist areas on foot but it can be very hot and humid during the summer months.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Bilbao or Shanghai?

How long in Shanghai or Bilbao?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Shanghai and Bilbao. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Shanghai than in Bilbao. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Shanghai, and 2-3 days is enough time in Bilbao.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Shanghai 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 Shanghai.

One day in Shanghai or Bilbao?

Shanghai is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

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 Shanghai or Bilbao?

Shanghai 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 Shanghai or Bilbao?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Shanghai. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. 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 Shanghai or Bilbao?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the professional big city of Shanghai. This port 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 Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, 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 Shanghai and Bilbao, we can see that Bilbao is more expensive. And not only is Shanghai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Shanghai is in Asia and Bilbao is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Shanghai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Shanghai 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 Shanghai.

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

Which is Bigger, Shanghai or Bilbao?

Shanghai has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of Shanghai 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 Shanghai 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 Shanghai or Bilbao in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Shanghai and Bilbao. The summer months attract visitors to Shanghai because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year.

Shanghai is a little warmer than Bilbao in the summer. The daily temperature in Shanghai averages around 28°C (83°F) in July, and Bilbao fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

In Shanghai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Shanghai usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during summer. Shanghai gets 232 hours of sunny skies, while Bilbao receives 188 hours of full sun in the summer.

Shanghai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Shanghai usually receives more rain than Bilbao. Shanghai gets 128 mm (5 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Shanghai or Bilbao in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Shanghai as well as Bilbao. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Shanghai this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Bilbao for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Shanghai is a little warmer than Bilbao. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Shanghai in October average around 19°C (65°F), and Bilbao averages at about 16°C (62°F).

In the autumn, Shanghai often gets more sunshine than Bilbao. Shanghai gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 125 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Bilbao. Shanghai usually gets less rain in October than Bilbao. Shanghai gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Shanghai or Bilbao in the Winter?

Both Bilbao and Shanghai are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Shanghai for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Bilbao in the winter for the museums and the shopping scene.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Shanghai. In January, Shanghai is generally much colder than Bilbao. Daily temperatures in Shanghai average around 4°C (39°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Shanghai usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during winter. Shanghai gets 135 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, Shanghai usually receives less rain than Bilbao. Shanghai gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Shanghai or Bilbao in the Spring?

Both Bilbao and Shanghai during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Shanghai in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Bilbao for the activities around the city during these months.

Shanghai is a little warmer than Bilbao in the spring. The daily temperature in Shanghai averages around 15°C (58°F) in April, and Bilbao fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the spring, Shanghai often gets more sunshine than Bilbao. Shanghai gets 153 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. It rains a lot this time of the year in Shanghai. Shanghai usually gets less rain in April than Bilbao. Shanghai gets 102 mm (4 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Bilbao and Shanghai