Traveling to Bilbao with Children: Why Home Swap Makes Family Trips Actually Work

That satisfying crack of a hotel room door closing behind you—except this time, you're not tiptoeing past reception with a screaming toddler. You're walking into an actual home, with a kitchen that smells faintly of last night's garlic, a washing machine that's about to become your new best friend, and neighbors who wave like you've lived there for years.

My daughter was three the first time she threw a tantrum in a hotel hallway. Not just any tantrum—the kind where other guests crack their doors to glare, where you're trapped between a minibar you can't afford and walls so thin you can hear someone's Netflix bleeding through. We were in a "family-friendly" hotel in northern Spain, paying €180 a night for the privilege of tiptoeing around after 8 PM and microwaving sad instant oatmeal in the bathroom.

That trip broke something in me. But it also fixed something—because that's exactly when I discovered that traveling to Bilbao with kids doesn't have to mean choosing between your sanity and your savings.

Why Bilbao Is Secretly Perfect for Family Travel

Here's what nobody tells you about Bilbao: it's one of the most underrated family destinations in Europe.

While everyone's fighting for space in Barcelona or wrestling with Paris's impossible stroller logistics, Bilbao just... works. The city is compact enough to walk but interesting enough to fill a week. The Basque people genuinely love children—and I mean this in a practical way, not just a cooing "how cute" way. Restaurants expect kids. Playgrounds pop up on practically every corner. The metro has elevators that actually function.

But here's the thing about traveling with kids: even the most family-friendly destination becomes exhausting when you're crammed into a hotel room. You need space. You need a kitchen. You need a washing machine for the inevitable juice-on-everything catastrophe. You need a neighborhood, not a tourist zone.

That's where home swapping in Bilbao becomes less of a budget hack and more of a survival strategy.

The Real Cost of Hotels vs. Home Exchange in Bilbao with Kids

Let me break this down with actual numbers, because I've done both and the difference still shocks me.

A decent family room in Bilbao's city center runs €150-220 per night ($165-240 USD). That's for maybe 25 square meters if you're lucky. Need two rooms because your kids are older or you want any privacy? Now you're looking at €300-400 ($330-440 USD) nightly. And that breakfast buffet? Add €15-25 per person. That sad hotel breakfast for a family of four costs nearly $100 every morning.

One week in a Bilbao hotel with two kids: roughly €2,100-3,500 ($2,300-3,850 USD) just for accommodation and breakfast.

Now compare that to home swapping. SwappaHome works on a simple credit system—1 credit per night, regardless of where you're staying or what kind of home it is. You earn credits by hosting guests in your own home, then spend them anywhere in the world. New members start with 10 free credits, which means your first family trip could be essentially free.

One week in a Bilbao home swap: 7 credits. That's it.

The real savings go beyond accommodation, though. With a full kitchen, you're making breakfast for maybe €15 total instead of €100. You're packing picnic lunches. You're doing laundry instead of paying €8 per item for hotel service. You're not buying overpriced hotel snacks at 11 PM when someone announces they're starving.

I've calculated our savings across multiple Bilbao trips: we spend about 60% less overall compared to hotel stays. But honestly? The money isn't even the main point anymore.

What a Home Swap Actually Looks Like in Bilbao

The Bilbao you experience through a home swap is completely different from the Bilbao you see from a hotel window. Let me walk you through the neighborhoods where we've stayed—and where you should look for your own swap.

Deusto: Our Favorite for Families with Young Kids

Deusto sits just across the river from the Guggenheim, but it feels like a different world entirely. This is where university students mix with young families, where the pintxo bars haven't been discovered by tour groups yet, and where the playground at Parque de Deusto becomes your second living room.

We stayed in a three-bedroom apartment here that belonged to a professor and his wife—they were doing a swap in California while we had their place. Their kids' toys were still in the corner. Their neighbors waved at us like we belonged. The local bakery owner started recognizing my daughter by day three and would slip her a free napolitana.

The metro to the city center takes 8 minutes. But most days, we didn't even bother. We'd walk along the river, stop at the university campus gardens (free, beautiful, perfect for running around), and end up at some neighborhood restaurant where the €12 menú del día ($13 USD) included wine for the adults and a kids' portion that was actually generous.

Indautxu: Best for Older Kids and Tweens

If your children are past the playground stage and deep into the "I'm bored" stage, Indautxu is your answer. This neighborhood has the perfect density of interesting things: comic book shops, vintage stores, the massive El Corte Inglés (Spain's department store, which has an incredible food hall), and some of the best pintxo bars in the city.

The apartments here tend to be in elegant older buildings—high ceilings, wooden floors, those gorgeous Spanish balconies with wrought-iron railings. We did a swap in Indautxu when my daughter was ten, and she still talks about the balcony where she'd read in the mornings while I grabbed coffee from the café downstairs.

Everything's walking distance. The Fine Arts Museum (free on Thursdays, and genuinely engaging for kids) is a 10-minute stroll. The Guggenheim is 15 minutes. But more importantly, there's a cinema nearby that shows some films in English, and the ice cream at Amorino on Calle Ercilla became our daily ritual.

Casco Viejo: Charming But Consider Carefully

The old town is gorgeous—medieval streets, the covered market, incredible atmosphere. But I'll be honest: it's not my first choice with young children.

The buildings are old, which means stairs. Lots of stairs. No elevators. Narrow doorways that don't accommodate strollers easily. The streets are cobblestoned, which is romantic until you're pushing a sleeping toddler over them at 10 PM.

That said, if your kids are walking age and you don't mind the logistics, staying in Casco Viejo puts you in the heart of everything. The Sunday market. The pintxo crawl along Calle Somera. The tiny plazas where local kids play while their parents drink txakoli at outdoor tables.

We did one swap here in a fourth-floor walkup. Beautiful apartment, incredible location, but I wouldn't do it again with kids under seven.

The Kitchen Changes Everything

I need to talk about kitchens for a minute, because this is where home swapping transforms family travel from "manageable" to "actually enjoyable."

Spanish grocery stores are a revelation. The Mercadona near our Deusto apartment had fresh bread for €0.50, local cheese for €3, fruit that tasted like fruit should taste, and a rotisserie chicken for €5 that fed all four of us. The covered market in Casco Viejo—La Ribera, the largest covered market in Europe—has vendors who'll slice jamón for you, fishmongers who'll clean and prep whatever you point at, and produce stalls where you can buy exactly three tomatoes if that's all you need.

With a kitchen, breakfast becomes something the kids actually look forward to. Fresh-squeezed orange juice (Spanish oranges, people). Warm bread with local butter. Maybe some tortilla española from the market. All for less than one hotel breakfast would cost.

Lunch is a picnic in the park or on a beach in Getxo, 20 minutes by metro. Dinner might be pintxos out, or it might be pasta with that incredible tomato sauce you can make when the tomatoes are actually ripe.

Beyond the food itself, there's the rhythm a kitchen creates. You're not rushing to make a restaurant reservation before the kids melt down. You're not scanning menus for the one thing your picky eater will tolerate. You're just... living. In a home. In a city. Like you belong there.

Bilbao's Best Kid-Friendly Attractions (The Real List)

Every travel guide will tell you to visit the Guggenheim. They're right—you should. But let me give you the parent's version of Bilbao attractions.

The Guggenheim (Yes, But Here's How)

Take kids to the Guggenheim in the morning, right when it opens at 10 AM. The crowds are thinner, the energy is better, and you can do the exterior—which is honestly the most impressive part for kids—without fighting for space.

The spider sculpture (Maman) is a guaranteed hit. The Puppy (that flower-covered dog) is beloved by literally every child I've ever seen encounter it. Inside, skip the conceptual installations and head for the Richard Serra sculptures—those massive curved steel walls that you walk through. Kids find them genuinely magical.

Admission is €16 for adults ($17.50 USD), free for kids under 12. Budget 90 minutes with children, not the three hours the museum suggests.

The Funicular to Artxanda (Non-Negotiable)

This is my number one Bilbao recommendation for families. I will die on this hill.

The funicular railway climbs from the city center to Mount Artxanda in about three minutes. The ride itself is exciting for kids. The view from the top is spectacular. But here's the real magic: there's a massive park up there with playgrounds, picnic areas, a sports complex, and enough space for children to run until they're actually tired.

We've spent entire afternoons on Artxanda. Pack a picnic, let the kids exhaust themselves, watch the sunset over the city, then take the funicular back down to a quiet dinner. The round trip is €4.30 for adults ($4.70 USD), half price for kids.

The Maritime Museum (Underrated Gem)

The Museo Marítimo Ría de Bilbao doesn't make most tourist lists, which is exactly why it's perfect. Located in the old shipyards, it has indoor and outdoor exhibits about Bilbao's history as a port city.

Kids can climb on actual boats. There's a replica of a traditional fishing vessel. The outdoor dry dock area has cranes and maritime equipment that fascinate children in that inexplicable way industrial stuff does.

Entry is €6 for adults ($6.60 USD), €3 for kids.

Beaches (Yes, Bilbao Has Beaches)

Technically the beaches are in the suburbs, but the metro makes them easily accessible. Getxo has several—Ereaga is the most family-friendly, with calm water and actual facilities. The metro ride from the city center takes about 25 minutes and costs €1.85 ($2 USD).

We've done day trips where we pack swimsuits, towels, and lunch, spend the morning at the beach, then explore Getxo's old port area in the afternoon. The Hanging Bridge (Puente Colgante) is there too—a UNESCO World Heritage site that you can actually ride across. Kids love it.

The Parks Nobody Mentions

Doña Casilda Park is the big one that guidebooks cover, and it's lovely—pond with ducks, playgrounds, lots of shade. But let me tell you about Parque Etxebarria.

It's built on the site of an old factory, up on a hill in the Begoña neighborhood. There are remnants of the industrial past—a huge chimney, some old machinery—mixed with modern playgrounds and green space. The views of the city are incredible. And because it's slightly off the tourist path, you'll find yourself surrounded by local families rather than other visitors.

The climb up is steep, but there's a series of outdoor escalators (only in Bilbao) that make it manageable with kids.

The Home Swap Logistics: How It Actually Works with Children

I know what you're thinking: "This sounds great, but how do I actually make it happen?"

Finding Family-Friendly Swaps

On SwappaHome, you can filter listings by amenities. Look for:

• Number of bedrooms (you want at least two for sanity)
• Washing machine (non-negotiable with kids)
• Kitchen equipment (high chair, kids' dishes if yours are young)
• Outdoor space (balcony, terrace, garden)
• Elevator access (if you have a stroller)

When you message potential hosts, be upfront about your family. Something like: "We're a family of four with kids aged 5 and 8. We're quiet and respectful, and we're happy to share more about how we travel." Good hosts appreciate transparency.

The Kid Stuff Question

Here's something beautiful about home swapping with families: often, you're swapping with other families.

Our Deusto hosts had kids similar ages to ours. Their apartment had a high chair we could use, a stash of toys, kids' books in Spanish (which my daughter loved "reading"), and even a stroller in the closet. They left us notes about which playgrounds were best, which pediatrician to call in an emergency, and where to find the best kid-friendly restaurants.

In exchange, we left similar information about our San Francisco neighborhood for them. It's this beautiful reciprocity that hotels simply can't offer.

Safety and Trust

I get asked about this constantly, especially regarding traveling with children. How do you trust strangers with your home? How do you trust their home with your kids?

SwappaHome's review system is your friend here. Look for hosts with multiple positive reviews, especially from other families. Read what people say about cleanliness, communication, and accuracy of listings.

I also recommend video chatting with potential hosts before confirming. You get a sense of who they are, you can ask specific questions about the space, and you can gauge whether this is someone whose home will work for your family.

For your own peace of mind, consider getting travel insurance that covers accommodation issues—this is something you arrange independently, not through the platform. And always do a walkthrough when you arrive, noting anything that seems off.

A Sample Week in Bilbao

Let me paint you a picture of how this works in practice. This is roughly what our last Bilbao trip looked like.

Saturday: Arrive at Bilbao Airport, take the bus to the city center (€3 per person, kids under 4 free). Walk to our swap apartment in Deusto. Spend the afternoon settling in, finding the nearest grocery store, letting the kids run off plane energy at the local playground. Simple dinner at home—bread, cheese, jamón, fruit.

Sunday: Morning at the Casco Viejo Sunday market. Kids pick out pastries, we browse antiques, everyone's happy. Lunch at a neighborhood restaurant—menú del día for adults, shared plates for kids. Afternoon nap (for everyone, honestly), then evening walk along the river to see the Guggenheim exterior lit up at night.

Monday: Guggenheim morning. Picnic lunch in Doña Casilda Park. Afternoon at the park's playground while adults read on benches. Home for dinner—pasta with market vegetables.

Tuesday: Beach day in Getxo. Pack everything, take the metro, spend the day at Ereaga beach. Explore the old port, get ice cream, ride the Hanging Bridge. Home exhausted and happy.

Wednesday: Funicular to Artxanda. Picnic lunch with city views. Kids play until they can't play anymore. Evening pintxos in Deusto—kid-friendly bars where children can run around the plaza while adults eat.

Thursday: Maritime Museum in the morning. Lunch at La Ribera market. Afternoon exploring Casco Viejo—the cathedral, the tiny shops, maybe a kids' movie at the cinema if everyone needs downtime.

Friday: Slow morning at home. Final grocery run for snacks to take to the airport. Visit any spots we missed or loved and want to revisit. Early dinner out as a family celebration. Pack up, leave the apartment as clean as we found it.

Total accommodation cost: 7 credits. Total spent on food, activities, and transport for a family of four: roughly €600-800 ($660-880 USD) for the entire week.

The Unexpected Benefits Nobody Talks About

I've focused a lot on practical stuff—money, space, logistics. But let me get a little philosophical for a moment.

Home swapping changes how your kids experience travel.

In a hotel, you're tourists. You're passing through. The city is something you look at, consume, and leave.

In a home swap, you're temporary residents. You have a neighborhood. You have a routine. The bakery owner knows your kid's name. The playground regulars nod at you. You start to understand how people actually live in this place, not just how they present it to visitors.

My daughter, now twelve, has done home swaps in six countries. She's comfortable in foreign grocery stores. She knows how to navigate public transit in cities she's never been to. She understands that people live differently in different places, and that different doesn't mean worse or better—just different.

That's an education no hotel can provide.

Getting Started: Your First Bilbao Home Swap

If you're convinced—or at least curious—here's how to begin.

Sign up for SwappaHome and create your listing. Be honest about your home, include lots of photos, and mention that you're a family. Upload some verification documents for credibility.

Start searching for Bilbao listings that match your needs. Use the filters. Read reviews carefully. Message hosts who seem like a good fit—introduce your family, explain when you'd like to visit, ask any questions about the space.

Your first 10 credits are free when you join, which means your first week-long family trip costs nothing in accommodation. Just... nothing.

I know it feels strange at first. Staying in a stranger's home, letting strangers stay in yours. But after seven years and forty-plus swaps, I can tell you: the community that builds around home exchange is genuinely wonderful. People take care of each other's spaces. They leave recommendations and welcome notes. They become, in a small way, part of your travel story.

Bilbao is waiting. And it's so much better when you experience it like you live there—even if just for a week.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is home swapping in Bilbao safe for families with children?

Yes, home swapping in Bilbao is safe when you use a reputable platform with reviews and verification. Always read host reviews from other families, video chat before confirming, and do a walkthrough upon arrival. Consider independent travel insurance for extra peace of mind. The SwappaHome community is built on mutual trust and accountability.

How much can families save with home exchange vs. hotels in Bilbao?

Families typically save 50-70% on overall trip costs. A week in Bilbao hotels costs €2,100-3,500 ($2,300-3,850 USD) for accommodation and breakfast alone. Home swapping costs 7 credits with no money exchanged, plus you save hundreds on meals by cooking in a full kitchen.

What Bilbao neighborhoods are best for home swaps with kids?

Deusto is ideal for young children—quiet, family-oriented, with excellent playgrounds and easy metro access. Indautxu suits older kids and tweens with its walkable attractions and cultural offerings. Casco Viejo is charming but has many stairs and cobblestones that challenge strollers.

Do I need to do a simultaneous swap to stay in Bilbao?

No, SwappaHome uses a credit system—you don't need to swap directly with your Bilbao host. Earn credits by hosting guests from anywhere, then spend those credits on your Bilbao stay. This flexibility makes planning family trips much easier since you're not coordinating matching schedules.

What should families look for in a Bilbao home swap listing?

Prioritize listings with multiple bedrooms, a washing machine, full kitchen, and elevator access if traveling with a stroller. Look for hosts who mention children's items like high chairs or toys. Reviews from other families are especially valuable. Always message hosts to confirm the space meets your specific family needs.