Bilbao Travel Forum

I'd like to study abroad in Spain for Spring 2010. I've narrowed it down to Bilbao or Sevilla. What are your opinions for pros and cons on both? Weather? Culture? Transportation? Student/night life? Food?

I like Bilbao because it's a smaller city/program, has great public transportation, and a better university.

I like Sevilla because it feels more romantic and "Spanish". There's also the famous Spring festivals.

Thanks for your input!

Please add safety to the things to consider as well.

well you sure pick two distinct cities to choose from, north and south is always a battle ::)

i like both, prefer Sevilla. But like you say more romantic and spanish, and I am both ::)

Bilbao has great food fame,colder ,rainy weather, basque culture , good transportation in a very compact old city center. At the Casco viejo, or old section, good food lively evenings, dont know about students, past my time!

Sevilla, romantic, flamenco, history , good tapas food, wines,great city center and beyond, good transportation, great night life, never stops until the sun comes out, festival of the horse, holy week, and students, well ...donutt!

You can read the VT destination section for both cities to help you. Hit the books too ::)

I don't know about Bilbao, but with Sevilla you need to consider which university you will be based at. I know some students who went to the Universidad Pablo Olavide de Sevilla for a year abroad and were not very happy with the location (I believe it is out of the centre?) or the library facilities.

I have only visited Sevilla as a tourist, and loved it.

You can always try to see more of the country at weekends etc. whichever you choose.

bilbao is not like others spanish cities .. it is transformed when guggenheim museum started ..
i love bilbao .. but ....

Trying to predict the weather can be difficult because of local on the day variations.
This information should be used as a guide only.
Here is the average weather for Bilbao & Seville for this time of year.
Enjoy your holiday

Bilbao
March.
High 58f / 14c
Low 41f / 5c
Rain 3.70in / 95.0mm
Rain days 15
Hours of sun 4
Daylight hours 12
UV level 4 = Moderate
Sea temp 54f / 12c

April.
High 60f / 16c
Low 44f / 7c
Rain 4.80in / 121.0mm
Rain days 18
Hours of sun 4
Daylight hours 13
UV level 6 = High
Sea temp 55f / 13c

May.
High 66f / 19c
Low 48f / 9c
Rain 3.50in / 90.0mm
Rain days 16
Hours of sun 5
Daylight hours 15
UV level 7 = High
Sea temp 59f / 15c

Seville
March.
High 68f / 20c
Low 46f / 8c
Rain 2.40in / 61.0mm
Rain days 12
Hours of sun 7
Daylight hours 12
UV level 5 = Moderate

April.
High 72f / 22c
Low 50f / 10c
Rain 2.10in / 54.0mm
Rain days 11
Hours of sun 8
Daylight hours 13
UV level 7 = High

May.
High 80f / 27c
Low 55f / 13c
Rain 1.30in / 34.0mm
Rain days 8
Hours of sun 10
Daylight hours 14
UV level 8 = Very High