Bilbao vs Bratislava

Bilbao and Bratislava are level on the TRAIL Index at 64. Bilbao grades better on 8 measures, Bratislava on 7; the same 37 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• TRAIL Index: Bilbao 64, Bratislava 64
• OECD: Bilbao 63, Bratislava 63
• UN Tourism: Bilbao 63, Bratislava 65
• UNDRR: Bilbao 57, Bratislava 66

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Bilbao 71, Bratislava 42
• Economy and jobs: Bilbao 75, Bratislava 92
• Climate and hazards: Bilbao 65, Bratislava 83
• Water and environment: Bilbao 63, Bratislava 58
• Community and housing: Bilbao 69, Bratislava 58
• Access and continuity: Bilbao 55, Bratislava 71

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.
• Recovery against 2019: 143.2 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (Bilbao Ekintza / Ayuntamiento de Bilbao and Europa Press, 2025). At or above 110: grade 4/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 62.1 % average annual occupancy (Europa Press / Ayuntamiento de Bilbao, 2025). Between 55 and 65: grade 2/4.
• 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.
• Municipal waste per resident: 464.3 kg per resident per year (country figure) (Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), Statistics on the Collection and Treatment of Waste, 2023). Between 450 and 550: grade 2/4.
• Rent growth: 3.2 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Idealista, Valoración de inmuebles en Bilbao, Vizcaya, September 2025 – September 2026). Between 3 and 6: grade 3/4.
• Short-let density: 0.8 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (INE via Crónica Vasca / Dataestur, May 2026). Between 0.5 and 1: grade 3/4.
• Government effectiveness: 83 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). At or above 80: grade 4/4.

Where Bratislava is stronger

• Unemployment rate: 2.3 % of the labour force (region figure) (EURES / Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic / Eurostat, 2023). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Extreme heat days: 1.6 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.
• Green space: 50 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Husqvarna Urban Green Space Index (HUGSI), 2023). At or above 40: grade 4/4.
• Tourism intensity: 4.6 visitor nights per resident per year (Bratislava Tourist Board & Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, 2023). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: Crisis communication only, ad hoc (Bratislava Tourist Board & City of Bratislava (Bratislava 2030 Strategic Framework), 2024). Grade 1/4.
• Travel advisory: 1 stricter of the US and Canadian government advisory for the country, 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel) (country figure) (US State Department and Government of Canada travel advisories, 2026-09-29). At or below 1: grade 4/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source such as a tourist tax or levy (Magistrát hlavného mesta SR Bratislavy, 2025–2026). Grade 2/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Spain: #3 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Slovakia: #60 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Bilbao in full · Bratislava in full

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