Bilbao or Santander: Which City is Best?

Is Bilbao or Santander a better place to visit?

To start with, both cities are beautiful and offer different experiences. Depending on your travel style, you might choose one over the other.

However, having visited both cities, I’d recommend exploring both if you have time.

Bilbao is best for pintxos (food), museums and a wider selection of day trips, whereas Santander is best for beaches, nature and a more relaxing atmosphere.

In this travel comparison, I’ll go through the different things you might want to consider before choosing the best destination for you.

I’ll cover everything from attractions and accommodation to food and prices.

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Bilbao or Santander: Attractions

Bilbao

Bilbao’s main attraction is the Guggenheim Museum, home to a large collection of sculptures, paintings, and other works of art.

The museum has over three floors to immerse yourself in art, so you can spend a few hours inside, especially if you choose the audio guide.

In addition to visiting the museum’s interior, check out the giant statues outside, like the Puppy (made with hundreds of flowers) and the spider.

Another must-see attraction is Bilbao’s Cathedral, located in the old town.

The old town is worth exploring. You’ll find street art, colourful buildings, and plenty of restaurants and bars where you can try the delicious pintxos.

Santander

Santander might not be at the top of every traveller’s Spain bucket list, but it surprised me in many ways.

The city has fewer attractions than Bilbao, but they are worth visiting.

One of the main places to see in Santander is Centro Botín. It has a unique shape, so it doesn’t look like a museum, but you can see fantastic artwork inside. Also, if you love a good view, go to the museum’s free rooftop.

A historical building worth visiting is Santander Cathedral. This 12th-century cathedral has a stunning Gothic architectural style.

Last but not least, Palacio de la Magdalena in the Magdalena Peninsula is like a castle taken straight out of a picture.

Bilbao or Santander: Food

Bilbao

Bilbao is a foodie destination, as happens with the neighbouring city of San Sebastián.

They do pintxos, not tapas. If you haven’t heard of these, they are small bite-size dishes.

Many are made with a slice of bread topped with cold meat, fried egg or fish. They’re super affordable and irresistible too.

You can have pintxos at any bar across Bilbao, but the best place to do so is Bilbao Market. They have a gourmet section with several stalls serving yummy pintxos and traditional desserts.

If you have a sweet tooth, make sure to try Carolina, a dessert made with meringue, chocolate and wafer biscuit.

Santander

If you like fish dishes, you’ll love Santander. The gastronomy in Cantabria is well-known for fish and seafood dishes, such as rabas (fried squid) and anchoas de Santoña (anchovies marinated in olive oil).

But that’s not all; if you prefer comfort food, Santander and the Cantabria region also have hearty stews packed with pulses and meat.

Other local ingredients worth trying are its cheeses like Picón Bejes-Tresviso (blue cheese).

Regarding dessert, don’t leave Santander without trying sobao pasiego and quesada. They are to die for!

Bilbao or Santander: Beaches

Bilbao

The city of Bilbao doesn’t have any beaches. Therefore, you’ll need to travel outside the city to have a beach day.

The nearest beach is Las Arenas Beach in Getxo, a beautiful golden sand beach with excellent facilities: public toilets, showers, and lifeguards. It also offers a good variety of activities, such as sailing, canoeing and windsurfing.

Santander

Santander is home to beautiful golden sand beaches, perfect for relaxing and surfing. The weather conditions make it a fantastic place in northern Spain for surfers.

You don’t need to go far from the city centre to find good beaches.

The most popular one is Playa de los Peligros. Despite its name (Dangerous Beach), it isn’t dangerous. The water is shallow, but it does sometimes get windy.

It’s a great beach for everyone, as it has accessible to anyone with reduced mobility.

Bilbao or Santander: Day trips

Bilbao

There are plenty of fantastic cities and towns to visit near Bilbao. Therefore, you have plenty of day trips to choose from.

One of Bilbao’s most popular day trips is Gaztelugatxe, one of the prettiest places in the Basque Country. It consists of a small island connected to the town by an impressive wall.

This place has become very popular because of its appearance in Game of Thrones.

Santander

One of the main reasons to explore the region of Cantabria is its lush green landscapes and mountains. Santander is a short drive from idyllic settings and unique towns.

My favourite trip from Santander is Covadonga. It’s one of the prettiest natural places I’ve visited in my country. But if you prefer to visit pretty villages full of history, you’ll find them too.

Bilbao or Santander: Accommodation

Bilbao

As a popular city break destination in Spain, Bilbao isn’t short of accommodation options. Like most places, the closer the hotel is, the more expensive it is. However, you can sometimes find more budget-friendly options.

Santander

Santander offers a good variety of accommodation, but if you don’t plan to stay long in the city, it’s worth spending a little more and staying in the city centre to see as much as possible.

One of my favourite hotels is NH Santander. It’s in a great location because you’re less than a 10-minute walk from the beach promenade and surrounded by fantastic restaurants and bars.

The rooms include comfortable beds, ensuite bathrooms with complimentary toiletries, free WiFi and TV. You also have the option to include a buffet breakfast, which is pretty good. In addition, there’s a wide variety of sweet and savoury options.

Bilbao or Santander: Airport

Bilbao

Bilbao Airport (BIO) isn’t big, but it’s the biggest airport in the Basque Country and the north of Spain.

The airport is well-connected with national destinations, so if you’re already in Spain, you’ll likely find a route from your departure airport. However, the number of international flights is much lower, and some are seasonal.

If you’re flying from overseas, you can find flights from Amsterdam, London-Gatwick, Manchester and Lisbon, among others.

Santander

Santander Airport (SDR), officially called Aeropuerto Seve Ballesteros, is the only airport in Cantabria.

Because it serves the entire region, you can find many national and international flights. You’ll probably find direct flights if you fly from countries like the UK or Portugal.

The airport is relatively close to the city, and you can either grab a taxi or bus to the city centre, which leaves you at the bus station.

Bilbao or Santander: Prices

Bilbao

Bilbao is cheaper than other popular Spanish destinations like Madrid or Barcelona. However, it isn’t a cheap city either.

Santander

Santander is cheaper than other parts of Northern Spain, and it’s possible to have a budget-friendly holiday. Nevertheless, you won’t find a massive difference in prices.

Bilbao or Santander: Transport

Bilbao

Sightseeing Bilbao on foot is your best option because this way, you won’t miss spotting pretty streets, unique bridges and buildings.

You can walk all the way from the Guggenheim Museum to Bilbao’s Market by the riverside, and it’s a lovely walk.

During your trip to Bilbao, it’s worth checking out the viewpoints. One of the most famous viewpoints in Bilbao is the Arantxa, located on the top of a hill. You can walk there, but it’s a long hike, and you might not want to spend your time walking all the way for a view.

Therefore, your best option is taking the funicular. It’s cheap and quick, although it sometimes gets busy.

Santander

Santander is a walkable city, and I didn’t use public transport during my visit (except the airport bus).

A walk on the beach promenade allows you to enjoy the beautiful sea and mountain views while walking through the city centre is a completely different experience; you can discover beautiful buildings and stop by lively bars and restaurants.

Public transport is very easy to use, and you’ll find plenty of routes that take you to the other side of the city or other Northern Spain destinations from the coach station.

It’s also affordable, but I recommend having cash with you. Card payment isn’t always an option. I had to run to a cash machine to withdraw a 10 euro note and pay for my bus ticket to the airport.

Bilbao or Santander: Weather

Bilbao

Bilbao, as happens with other parts of Northern Spain, is much cooler than other regions.

Summers in Bilbao are much more pleasant than in the south, especially if you dislike hot temperatures. The hottest month is August, with an average daily high of 24 ºC (75.2 ºF) and a low of 16 ºC (60.8 ºF).

Winters in Bilbao are cold, wet and cloudy. The coldest month is January, with an average daily high of 12 ºC (53.6 ºF) and a minimum of 5 ºC (41 ºF).

Regarding rain, Bilbao has an average of 128 days of precipitation, so it does rain a lot. The rainiest month is November. However, it’s always good to pack an umbrella or waterproof jacket.

Santander

The weather in Santander is pretty similar to Bilbao.

Summers in Santander and sunny and mild. The hottest month is August, with an average daily high of 23 ºC (73.4 ºF) and a minimum of 16 ºC (60.8 ºF).

Winters are cool and cloudy, although you can expect some beautiful sunny days too. The coldest month is February, with an average high of 13 ºC (55.4 ºF) and a minimum of 6 ºC (42.8 ºF).

The rainiest month in Santander is November, which often rains between 9 to 11 days.

Frequently Asked About Bilbao and Santander

Conclusion on Santander or Bilbao

Bilbao and Santander offer different experiences, and it isn’t difficult to visit both cities as they’re relatively close. You can choose your favourite and then go on a day trip to the other.

In case you don’t have much time in northern Spain, choose Santander for the beaches, nature and relaxing atmosphere, and choose Bilbao for the museums and historical buildings and food.

Enjoy your trip!

Cristina x

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Read more about Northern Spain

• Is Bilbao Worth Visiting?
• How to Spend 24 Hours in Bilbao
• 14 Unmissable Things to Do in Santander
• 9 Great Reasons to Visit the North of Spain

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