A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers The Hague vs. Bilbao for Nightlife, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit The Hague 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 The Hague and Bilbao can help you decide which place is right for you.

The Hague

The Hague is a bustling, diverse, and global city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. And you can't forget about the food, shopping, and nightlife.

Bilbao

Bilbao is a authentic, colorful, and friendly city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, shopping, and museums.

The Hague and Bilbao: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in The Hague or Bilbao?

Tourists will generally find more to do in The Hague than Bilbao. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. The Hague is very popular for its food, music, and big city activities, while Bilbao attracts visitors for its museums and historical sights. Bilbao is more touristy than The Hague and is popular for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks. The Hague is famous for its large international population and its roll in international politics and diplomacy. It is also well known for The Peace Palace.

How is The Hague different from Bilbao?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in The Hague or Bilbao?

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

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.

The Hague does not have museums and landmarks.

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

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

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit The Hague. The city has a diverse population and the large number of ethnic restaurants reflects that.

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 The Hague or Bilbao Better for Nightlife?

Both The Hague and Bilbao have high quality vibes after the sun sets.

The Hague has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. Many of the city's restaurants turn into clubs at night. Head to The Grote Markt for some of the most energetic nightlife.

The people in Bilbao know how to have a good time. 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 The Hague or Bilbao Better for Music?

The Hague is well known for its live music scene. However, Bilbao is not a live music destination.

Music is a popular form of entertainment in The Hague. There's an active music scene here and the city actually played an active role in the development and popularity of electronic music.

Bilbao is not a live music destination.

Is The Hague or Bilbao Better for its Old Town?

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

Bilbao is a good destination for visiting its old town. The old town, often called Casco Viejo, is filled with historic architecture, great local bars, and some interesting shopping.

The Hague does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in The Hague or Bilbao?

Shoppers can find a variety of high quality stores in both The Hague and Bilbao.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting The Hague. There's a dynamic shopping scene with indoor malls, outdoor markets, and a number of neighborhoods that have shops that sell eclectic items.

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.

Is The Hague or Bilbao Better for Families?

You'll find nice kid-friendly activities in either The Hague or Bilbao.

The Hague is a family-friendly city. This city has a bit more of a family-friendly vibe than nearby Amsterdam. Kids enjoy exploring by bike or heading to the Scheveningen Beach Resort.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Bilbao. 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 The Hague or Bilbao Better for Couples?

Both The Hague and Bilbao are nice destinations to visit as a couple.

The Hague is a nice destination for couples. Couples can enjoy the diverse restaurants and the busting atmosphere that the city offers.

Bilbao makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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 The Hague or Bilbao Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

The Hague and Bilbao are both nice destinations for backpackers.

The Hague is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. While most backpackers head to the more popular city of Amsterdam, The Hague has a fun atmosphere with a diversity of activities and restaurants.

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

Is The Hague or Bilbao Better for Students?

The Hague is an amazing city to visit for students. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

The Hague is a very popular place to visit for students. This is a very popular study abroad destination so you'll find plenty of international students living here. It's an internationally oriented city so everyone feels right at home.

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

Visitors will find high quality public transit in both The Hague and Bilbao.

Public transit in The Hague is fairly effecient and thorough. There are bus and tram lines throughout the city.

Bilbao has some very good public transit options. The metro system has three lines. There is also a tram and bus system.

Is The Hague or Bilbao a more walkable city?

The Hague and Bilbao are nice when it comes to walkability.

The Hague is somewhat walkable. There are a number of walk tours through the city center.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Bilbao or The Hague?

How long in The Hague or Bilbao?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both The Hague and Bilbao. In our opinion, The Hague has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in The Hague than Bilbao. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for The Hague, and 2-3 days is enough time in Bilbao.

Families should spend more time in Bilbao than The Hague. 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.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in The Hague 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 The Hague.

One day in The Hague or Bilbao?

The Hague is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

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 The Hague or Bilbao?

The Hague 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 industrial 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 The Hague or Bilbao?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in The Hague. 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 colorful 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 The Hague or Bilbao?

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the diverse big city of The Hague. 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 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 Luxury Tours to Netherlands, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Netherlands, 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 The Hague and Bilbao, we can see that The Hague is more expensive. And not only is Bilbao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bilbao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bilbao 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 The Hague would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in The Hague than you might in Bilbao.

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

Which is Bigger, The Hague or Bilbao?

The Hague has a larger population, and is about 35% larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of The Hague 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 The Hague 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 The Hague or Bilbao in the Summer?

Both Bilbao and The Hague during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to The Hague in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Bilbao for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, The Hague is cooler than Bilbao. Typically, the summer temperatures in The Hague in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Bilbao averages at about 20°C (68°F).

It's quite sunny in The Hague. In the summer, The Hague often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Bilbao. The Hague gets 202 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 188 hours of full sun.

The Hague usually gets more rain in July than Bilbao. The Hague gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit The Hague or Bilbao in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both The Hague and Bilbao. Most visitors come to The Hague for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In October, The Hague is generally much colder than Bilbao. Daily temperatures in The Hague average around 11°C (51°F), and Bilbao fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).

The Hague usually receives less sunshine than Bilbao during autumn. The Hague gets 105 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, The Hague usually receives less rain than Bilbao. The Hague gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit The Hague or Bilbao in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to The Hague as well as Bilbao. The winter months attract visitors to The Hague because of the shopping scene and the cuisine. Additionally, the museums and the shopping scene are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year.

The weather in The Hague can be very cold. The Hague is much colder than Bilbao in the winter. The daily temperature in The Hague averages around 2°C (36°F) in January, and Bilbao fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

In the winter, The Hague often gets less sunshine than Bilbao. The Hague gets 47 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bilbao receives 77 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Bilbao. The Hague usually gets less rain in January than Bilbao. The Hague gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit The Hague or Bilbao in the Spring?

Both Bilbao and The Hague are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city are the main draw to The Hague this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bilbao for the activities around the city.

In the spring, The Hague is much colder than Bilbao. Typically, the spring temperatures in The Hague in April average around 8°C (46°F), and Bilbao averages at about 12°C (54°F).

The Hague usually receives more sunshine than Bilbao during spring. The Hague gets 158 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, The Hague usually receives less rain than Bilbao. The Hague gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Bilbao receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bilbao and The Hague