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Bruges or Ghent? An honest comparison
The short answer
Pick Bruges for a small, carefully preserved medieval town best seen early in the morning and in the evening. Pick Ghent for a real working city with a university, more bars and a medieval centre that feels lived in. Costs are nearly the same: about €180 per person per day mid-range in Bruges and €175 in Ghent.
Bruges: suits couples and first-timers who want canals, a picture-book old town and a quiet romantic stay.
Ghent: suits friends and couples who want medieval sights plus a lively student city with better nightlife.
Side by side
| Bruges | Ghent | |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range day* | €180 | €175 |
| Budget day* | €93 | €90 |
| Value for money | ●●●●●About €180 a day mid-range. | ●●●●●About €175 a day mid-range; slightly cheaper. |
| Crowds (5 = calm) | ●●●●●Markt and Rozenhoedkaai packed with day-trippers, especially weekends. | ●●●●●Busy around Graslei, but a bigger city absorbs visitors. |
| Food | ●●●●●Good Flemish cooking and chocolate; many tourist menus near the Markt. | ●●●●●Waterzooi, Patershol restaurants and more varied, local-priced places. |
| Nightlife | ●●●●●Quiet beer bars; town sleeps early. | ●●●●●Student bars, Vrijdagmarkt pubs and late weekends. |
| Family-friendly | ●●●●●Compact, car-free centre, boat rides and the Belfry climb. | ●●●●●Gravensteen castle and canal boats; slightly busier streets. |
| Getting around | ●●●●●Everything within walking distance. | ●●●●●Walkable centre, trams and bikes for the rest. |
| Best months | year-round, see below | Jun |
| Warmest / coolest | Jun 22°C / Jan 7°C | Jun 23°C / Jan 7°C |
| Known for | Belfry of Bruges, Markt, Basilica of the Holy Blood, Rozenhoedkaai, Begijnhof | Gravensteen, Sint-Baafskathedraal, Graslei, Belfry of Ghent |
* Per person per day with two sharing a room: bed, food, sights and local transport, from our Bruges and Ghent day-cost tables (approximate 2026 prices; other currencies converted at recent rates). Ratings are our editorial judgement.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Bruges if…
- you want the most complete medieval townscape.
- you want a quiet, romantic stay.
- you enjoy early-morning walks along empty canals.
- you only have one night.
Pick Ghent if…
- you want evenings in bars rather than early nights.
- you prefer a living city to a preserved one.
- you want to see the Ghent Altarpiece in the cathedral.
- you want fewer day-tripper crowds.
Weather month by month
| Month | Bruges high / rainy days | Ghent high / rainy days |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7°C · 15 | 7°C · 14 |
| Feb | 9°C · 10 | 9°C · 9 |
| Mar | 11°C · 14 | 12°C · 13 |
| Apr | 12°C · 10 | 13°C · 11 |
| May | 17°C · 12 | 18°C · 12 |
| Jun | 22°C · 10 | 23°C · 9 |
| Jul | 22°C · 14 | 23°C · 13 |
| Aug | 22°C · 12 | 23°C · 13 |
| Sep | 21°C · 11 | 21°C · 10 |
| Oct | 17°C · 14 | 17°C · 15 |
| Nov | 11°C · 18 | 11°C · 17 |
| Dec | 8°C · 17 | 8°C · 17 |
Average daily high and number of rainy days. Copernicus ERA5, 2021–2023.
What you will eat
Bruges
Belgian fries · Flemish beef and beer stew · Mussels and fries · Grey shrimp croquettes · Waffles · Pralines
Where: Markt and Burg, 't Zand Saturday market, Vismarkt, Langestraat
Ghent
Ghent waterzooi · Flemish beef and beer stew · Frites · Ghent noses · Ghent mustard · Ganda ham
Where: Groentenmarkt and the Groot Vleeshuis, Vrijdagmarkt, Patershol, Graslei, Korenlei and Korenmarkt
Doing both in one trip
4 days: 2 in Ghent + 2 in Bruges
Either way; many people stay in Ghent and visit Bruges, but sleeping one night in Bruges lets you see it after the day-trippers leave.
Getting between them: Direct train about 25 minutes between Gent-Sint-Pieters and Brugge, several times an hour. Both stations are a tram or short walk from the centre. Distance about 39 km as the crow flies. Check current timetables.
- Day 1: Ghent: Graslei, Korenlei, Gravensteen and the Belfry.
- Day 2: Ghent: Sint-Baafskathedraal, Patershol, Vrijdagmarkt evening.
- Day 3: Train to Bruges: Markt, Burg, Basilica of the Holy Blood, canal boat.
- Day 4: Bruges early: Rozenhoedkaai and Begijnhof, then departure.
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Common questions
Is Bruges or Ghent cheaper?
Ghent, slightly. Our mid-range estimate is about €175 per person per day in Ghent and €180 in Bruges. The difference is small, but Bruges hotels inside the old centre are in high demand at weekends, and restaurants around the Markt charge for the view. Ghent's student population keeps more places at local prices.
How do I get between Bruges and Ghent?
By train: the journey takes about 25 minutes and there are several departures an hour. Ghent's main station, Gent-Sint-Pieters, is a tram ride from the centre, while Bruges station is about a 15-minute walk from the Markt. The two cities are only about 40 km apart, so a day trip either way is easy.
Is Bruges worth an overnight stay?
Yes, if you can. During the day the centre fills with tour groups and cruise passengers. In the evening and early morning the canals and squares are quiet, and that is when Bruges is at its best. One night is enough for most visitors; two if you want a slow pace.
When is the best time to visit?
Our data puts June as Ghent's best month, and June is the warmest for both at around 22 to 23°C. Spring and early autumn are also pleasant and less crowded. Winters are cool and damp, about 7°C, but Christmas markets in December make that a popular time too.