Bilbao vs Valencia
Valencia leads Bilbao by 3 points on the CIRA Index, 67 to 64. Bilbao grades better on 4 measures, Valencia on 11; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.
Scores by each organisation's criteria
- CIRA Index: Bilbao 64, Valencia 67
- OECD: Bilbao 63, Valencia 67
- UN Tourism: Bilbao 63, Valencia 68
- UNDRR: Bilbao 57, Valencia 69
Theme by theme
- Demand and seasonality: Bilbao 71, Valencia 75
- Economy and jobs: Bilbao 75, Valencia 67
- Climate and hazards: Bilbao 65, Valencia 60
- Water and environment: Bilbao 63, Valencia 69
- Community and housing: Bilbao 69, Valencia 55
- Access and continuity: Bilbao 55, Valencia 73
Where Bilbao is stronger
- Domestic share of nights: 47.3 % of nights by residents of the same country (Ayuntamiento de Bilbao / Bilbao Ekintza, 'Bilbao destino urbano internacional de referencia con turismo sostenible y equilibrado', Jan–Nov 2025). At or above 45: grade 4/4.
- Income per head: 59,868 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). Between 45,000 and 60,000: grade 3/4.
- Tropical nights: 6.6 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 10: grade 4/4.
- Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
Where Valencia is stronger
- Average length of stay: 2.5 nights per visitor (Fundación Visit València / Ayuntamiento de València (citing INE), 2024). Between 2.2 and 2.8: grade 2/4.
- Hotel bed or room occupancy: 78 % average annual occupancy (Fundación Visit València / Ayuntamiento de València (citing INE), 2024). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
- Extreme heat days: 4.6 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
- Flood hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
- Wastewater safely treated: 99.9 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (region figure) (EPSAR (Entidad Pública de Saneamiento de Aguas Residuales de la Comunitat Valenciana) - Memoria de Gestión, 2024). At or above 95: grade 4/4.
- Green space: 36 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (URBAMETRICS, 'Valencia and its Urban Green Space', 2023). Between 30 and 40: grade 3/4.
- Rail share of intercity access: 39.4 % of intercity passengers travelling by long-distance rail (rail vs rail + airport) (Ministerio de Transportes, Observatorio del Ferrocarril en España 2024 (rail, by city) and Eurostat avia_paoa (airport), 2024). Between 35 and 50: grade 3/4.
- Rail traffic recovery: 150.1 % of 2019 long-distance rail passengers, latest year (Ministerio de Transportes, Observatorio del Ferrocarril en España 2024, passengers by city 2019 and 2024, 2024). At or above 120: grade 4/4.
- Air route concentration: 45.4 % of international air passengers on routes to the 3 largest partner countries (Aena, detailed traffic statistics (passengers by airline, route and country), Sep 2025 – Aug 2026). Between 35 and 50: grade 3/4.
- Early warning and emergency plan: An updated, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (Ayuntamiento de Valencia / Valencia Plaza, July 2026). Grade 4/4.
- Tourism crisis and recovery plan: Crisis communication only, ad hoc (Forbes, 2024-2025). Grade 1/4.
Country context (World Economic Forum)
- Spain: #3 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
- Spain: #3 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
Bilbao in full · Valencia in full
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