Bottom Line: Is Bilbao Expensive to Visit in 2024?
Bilbao is the 10th largest city in Spain and the most populous one in the Basque country region. And if you’re thinking of visiting Bilbao for the first time, you may be wondering, “Is Bilbao expensive to visit?” How much money should you expect to spend? I know it’s pretty hard to plan and budget for trips when you’ve never been to the location before. In this post, I’ll explain what you can expect when visiting based on my experiences in Bilbao!
Is Bilbao Spain Expensive to Visit?
To cut to the chase, I do not think Bilbao is expensive to visit. That said, this depends entirely on your financial background and where you’re coming from. But, in my experience, I’ve found that Bilbao is a cheaper European city. For instance, compared to cities in Western Europe, such as Paris, Nice, Monaco, and Lyon, Bilbao is much cheaper. But, if you’re looking at places in Eastern Europe, like Zagreb, Krakow, or Zakopane, then it feels like you’re paying an arm and a leg for goods and services in Bilbao.
Is Bilbao Expensive to Visit Compared to Barcelona or Madrid?
In contrast to other cities in Spain, Bilbao is only marginally more expensive or cheaper to visit. More specifically, when you compare crowd-favorite Barcelona and Bilbao with one another, Barcelona is only slightly more expensive to visit. Meanwhile, if you compare Bilbao and Madrid, Bilbao is a bit more expensive to visit.
Generally speaking though, Bilbao is not as expensive as other European cities and is on the same level as most other Spanish counterparts, like San Sebastián. And if you’re wondering why Spain is cheaper than France, Switzerland, and other places in Western Europe, it’s because Spain has a lower average salary. Therefore, Spanish cities must match with more affordable housing, groceries, and overall lower cost of living!
How Expensive Is Bilbao?
Aside from knowing that Bilbao is not on the list of the most expensive cities nor is it on the list of the cheapest cities to visit in Europe, you might be wondering how expensive is Bilbao. For me, Bilbao is on the cheaper side for cities I’ve visited in Europe and is undoubtedly less expensive than most places around Southern California (where I’m from), like Palm Springs or San Diego.
But, non-tangible numbers don’t really help anyone trying to create a budget. Thus, I’ll be discussing in detail some of the prices you can expect to pay for various goods and services when traveling to Bilbao below. So, let’s dive in!
How Much Is Accommodation in Bilbao?
From my perspective, accommodation in Bilbao is quite affordable, considering it’s a large city in Europe. Whether you’re looking for budget-friendly housing or something more luxurious, Bilbao has plenty of options so that everyone can find the perfect place to stay!
In USD, a nice 3-star hotel costs about $60 – $80 per night. Contrastingly, a highly-rated 4-star hotel averages around $100 per night. And if you want the best of the best, 5-star hotels cost about $150 per night, which honestly is still an absolute steal compared to what you’d find in Paris or other expensive cities!
The best area of Bilbao for accommodation is near the Abando district, which is in the heart of the city and close to Bilbao’s train station. This puts you right in the center of everything, making it easy to get around without really having to spend money on transportation!
To give you a reference point, split two ways, my friend and I each spent about $40 USD (€28 Euro / £24.75) per night on comfortable, centrally located housing. So, not bad at all! And if you’re looking for places to stay in Bilbao, here are my recommendations!
Low-Cost Stay
- Sercotel Coliseo Bilbao — 4-star hotel centrally located near train | ⭐️ 8.5 / 10
- Hotel Vincci Consulado de Bilbao — 4-star hotel by Guggenheim! | ⭐️ 9 / 10
Mid-Range Stay
- Hotel Tayko Bilbao — 4-star hotel with Michelin-star restaurant | ⭐️ 9.2 / 10
- Catalonia Gran Via Bilbao — 4-star hotel w/ spa services| ⭐️ 9.6 / 10
Fancy Stays
- Hotel Carlton — elegant 5-star hotel that’s centrally located | ⭐️ 9 / 10
- Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao — 5-star hotel with full-spa service | ⭐️ 9.6 / 10
Feel free to click these buttons to head to your favorite booking platform and see additional housing options there.
Are Bilbao Tourist Attractions Expensive?
Bilbao tourist attractions are also quite affordable. With free entry to the majority of attractions, such as beautiful churches, historic plazas, and delicious food markets, it’s not that bad at all. The most popular attraction in Bilbao is the Guggenheim Museum, which has been my favorite art piece since I learned about it in 2017 in high school.
It was designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry and only costs €10 for adults and €5 for students per ticket. The price is quite fair considering the size of the museum’s art collection and the number of exhibits! On the other hand, I paid €35 to walk through Casa Batlló in Barcelona, and I had severe buyer’s remorse while walking through.
Another point of reference is the Museum of Fine Arts of Bilbao, which only costs €7 for general entry. They even offer free admission on Wednesdays, which is great for budget travelers. Overall, I would say Bilbao tourist attractions are not that expensive. You can easily spend like €10 a day visiting different sites.
But, if you have a larger budget, you can opt to partake in immersive experiences, such as a delicious walking food tour or a day trip to the famous Rioja Wine region! Either way, you can easily decide how much to spend. And I’m a big fan of that because that choice is taken away from you in places like Copenhagen or Stockholm!
How Expensive Is Food in Bilbao?
Similar to what you’d probably expect by now, food in Bilbao is fairly affordable. The average meal at a restaurant costs about $14 / €13 / £12. However, you can find food in Bilbao that’s even cheaper by going to the local markets or buying from food stalls! An example would be Mercado de la Ribera, which is the largest covered market in Europe and has a huge array of stalls selling all kinds of products. I loved walking through here because the building is super charming and they have all kinds of food options.
For instance, the ground floor is where you’ll find all kinds of seafood, like octopus and fresh fish. On the second floor, you’ll find everything from deli meats and cheeses to pasta and preserves. Lastly, the top floor is all about different fruits and vegetables!
I think I spent ~€3 / $3 on some good tapas (pintxos) and then they also have well-priced wine. So, if you’re looking for something different from the usual restaurant gastronomic experience, this is definitely a place to check out! But in terms of budgeting, I would set aside about €35 / $37 USD per day in Bilbao if you plan on 2 nice meals during the day.
How Much Is a Beer in Bilbao?
For some reason, this is a common question no matter where you go lol. But to answer the question, a pint of beer in Bilbao costs about $3.18. So, pretty good, and certainly better than what I would get in areas in Southern California!
How Much Does Bilbao Public Transport Cost?
As I mentioned earlier, for those staying in Bilbao’s city center, you can pretty much walk to wherever you need to go in this downtown area. But, if you want to explore the city beyond what’s comfortable walking distance or simply want to give your feet a break, Bilbao Public Transport is pretty easy to navigate and reasonably priced.
Bilbao’s public transportation network includes the metro, trains, trams, buses, and even a cable car to reach Artxanda. The metro system is divided into 3 zones and has 3 lines. Ticket prices are based on how many zones you need to cross, but for reference, a single ticket across one zone costs a little less than €2. For more information, you can consult Bilbao’s official transportation website, but the user interface and experience kind of sucks.
What’s much better than purchasing individual tickets and I recommend doing instead is using a Bilbao Bizkaia Card. It includes unlimited use of Bilbao public transport as well as public transport in other areas of the Biscay Province. Prices for a Bilbao Bizkaia Card vary depending on the validity timeframe of the card, but here are the three options they offer.
- 24 hours – 10€
- 48 hours – 15€
- 72 hours – 20€
Want to Travel in Style?
Bilbao is a pretty flat city, so if you want to explore the city faster than you would on foot and see lots of the main highlights, you can opt for a bike tour of Bilbao! This 3-hour bike tour is the best and highest-rated one. It includes stops at the famous Guggenheim Museum, Plaza Euskadi, the Maritime Museum, City Hall, La Ribera Market, and other architectural marvels!
And, of course, you’ll be provided with all the essential equipment you’ll need (bike, helmet, lock, and bottle of water) So, if you’re looking to explore the city with a knowledgeable and passionate local guide, then I highly recommend considering doing a bike tour! It’s also just a great way to make new friends and get the inside scoop on the best places to feast on food! 😉
✅ 🚴♀️ Check rates and availability for this awesome bike tour of Bilbao
Is Bilbao Expensive: FAQ
This may be redundant, but relatively speaking, Bilbao is a cheap place to visit compared to other cities in Europe. The cost of accommodation is fairly reasonable, food and transportation are relatively affordable, and even the major tourist attractions cost about €10 or less! So, with that in mind, I would classify Bilbao as not an expensive place to visit that’s ideal for a weekend getaway or even a 3 or 4-day getaway!
Bilbao is famous for its green mountains and being the most important port in Spain with its prolific iron, steel, and shipbuilding industries. And, within Basque Country, it serves as the de facto capital. But what Bilbao is probably most famous for is the incredible Guggenheim Museum, which features striking deconstructivist architecture. This iconic museum has become a symbol of the city and even inspired other cities to follow suit with new cultural centers and art institutions!
For me, I loved my time in Bilbao. It offers a peaceful atmosphere and an abundance of delicious Basque cuisine to be indulged in! But, you can view my full post on whether to add Bilbao to your travel itinerary.
I recommend spending at least 2 full days in Bilbao! This way you avoid feeling rushed and have enough time to take in all the sights. But, if you’re schedule is flexible, try to spend 4 days! This way you can do some day trips as well, such as a wine-tasting tour to Rioja!
Wrap-Up: Is Bilbao Expensive to Visit in 2024?
To wrap it up, generally speaking, Bilbao is not an expensive place to visit! From the prices for accommodation in Bilbao and public transport to the options for food in Bilbao, all of it is quite reasonable and cheap compared to places in France, Italy, and other parts of Europe! Plus, you can access most tourist attractions for as low as €10 or less!
And for those on a tight budget, remember to consider getting a Bilbao Bizkaia Card, which can help you save on public transport in Bilbao and even some museums! So, whether you’re into art, history, a foodie, or just want a relaxing getaway, Bilbao is the perfect spot for an affordable escape!
Discover France Next!
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- 🥖 Visiting Paris and need a break from all the chaos and commotion? Consider escaping with a day trip to the quaint town of Giverny!
