BilbaoMadrid
City Stories Index · Spain · 2026 edition

Bilbao vs Madrid

Not opinions, measured walking data. On what we can measure, they tie 2–2. Character is a different question: Bilbao is the foundry that turned to art; Madrid is the city of kings and canvases.

Change the matchup

VS
  • Places with a story

    spots where a route tells you what happened there

    Bilbao

    21

    Madrid

    100

    Madrid leads

  • How often you pass a story

    metres from one story to the next; fewer is better

    Bilbao

    226

    Madrid

    260

    Bilbao leads

  • Historical figures

    real people you meet in its stories

    Bilbao

    2

    Madrid

    16

    Madrid leads

  • Instagrammability

    score /100, on the index’s fixed scale

    Bilbao

    Madrid

    51

    Madrid leads

  • Group outings

    of every 100 plays, how many bring a group of 3+

    Bilbao

    10

    Madrid

    9

    Bilbao leads

  • International visitors

    % of player reviews written in a foreign language

    Bilbao

    Madrid

    60

    Madrid leads

Differences under 5% count as ties. Sample sizes and definitions on the methodology page.

What their stories are about

How many places with a story each city has per theme: Bilbao in orange, Madrid in blue. All bars share one scale, so lengths are comparable everywhere on the chart.

BilbaoMadrid
0 places
royalty & nobility
43 places
12 places
arts & culture
36 places
3 places
faith & churches
23 places
2 places
parks & leisure
20 places
0 places
crime & dark history
19 places
4 places
legends & myths
17 places
2 places
guilds & trade
10 places
5 places
industry & modern era
8 places

Bilbao scorecard →

The foundry that turned to art

Madrid scorecard →

The city of kings and canvases