Should you Visit Bruges or Ghent? My Honest Comparison Review

If you’re wondering whether to visit Bruges or Ghent, my simple answer is: go to Ghent. Both cities have canals, Gothic towers, and medieval charm, but Bruges, however pretty it is, feels super touristy. Ghent, on the other hand, combines history with the authenticity of a real Belgian city—it’s alive day and night, the food is better, and your money goes further.

That said, Bruges is still worth it if you want the classic postcard version of Belgium. It’s compact, easy to reach, and one of the most photogenic places in Belgium. Just know it’s crowded and more expensive, and a day there is more than enough.

In this article, I’ll compare Bruges vs Ghent side by side based on my own multiple trips to both—I’ll talk about atmosphere, attractions, food, crowds, cost, and accessibility—so you can decide which city fits your trip best.

 

Quick verdict: If you only have time for one (Bruges or Ghent?):

• Pick Ghent if you want authenticity, lively evenings, and a balance of history and real city life.

• Pick Bruges if you’re chasing postcard-perfect canals, romance, and don’t mind sharing it with thousands of other tourists.

Bruges will give your Instagram feed a true taste of Belgium

 

Which city to pick based on traveler type

The right choice between Bruges or Ghent will be different for different people. Here’s a simple cheat sheet based on traveler type:

 

Comparison criteria for deciding to visit Ghent or Bruges

When I was deciding between Bruges vs Ghent, these were the things that actually mattered to me as a traveler. They’re probably the same questions you’re asking yourself:

• Atmosphere & vibe → I care about what it feels like just being there—does it feel alive, authentic, staged, magical?  Winner for me: Ghent by a thread
• Things to do → I look at whether the main sights are actually worth the time, and if the city keeps me interested beyond the obvious places. Winner for me: It’s a tie
• Food & drinks → I always check if a city has food I actually enjoy or if I’m just paying for being in a hotspot. Winner for me: Ghent
• Crowds & nightlife → I can’t stand it when crowds cloud the vibe during the day, and I always notice whether a city has a pulse in the evenings. Winner for me: Ghent
• Costs & value for money → I can tell pretty quickly if prices are fair or if the place is just trying to squeeze money out of me. Winner for me: Ghent
• Logistics & accessibility → I think about how easy it is to get there, get into the center, and see everything without hassle. Winner for me: Bruges just slightly

Both Ghent and Bruges will give your Instagram a taste of Belgium, but Ghent will touch your soul!

 

 

My hotel recommendations in Bruges and Ghent:

If you decide to stay overnight (I prefer Ghent for that), here’s where I’ve stayed and am happy to recommend to you:

• Ghent: Hotel Van der Valk
• Bruges: Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce

 

 

1. Atmosphere & vibe: Bruges vs Ghent

Bruges is probably the most insta-friendly city in Belgium
 

Bruges is ridiculously pretty, which is the main reason it’s such a popular day trip. The canals, typical brick buildings, and cobblestone streets make it one of the most picture-perfect Belgian cities. On the other hand, it can also feel staged; every second storefront is either waffles, a chocolate shop, a restaurant, or something you can buy to give your mom as a souvenir.

By 9 am the tour buses roll in and suddenly you’re part of a crowd anywhere you go. Seriously, if all the tourists suddenly left Bruges, there’d be nobody left. 

 

 

Ghent just has this majestic sort of vibe to it that just makes it the obvious choice 
 

Ghent has (some) canals, Gothic churches, and towers too, but it’s not dressed up on every single corner like Bruges. The very picturesque area is mainly around St. Michael’s Bridge, and you’re bound to find a more regular-looking street quicker. You’ll find Gravensteen, a medieval castle next to regular streets, students biking everywhere—it feels more authentic but still beautiful. It’s just less… polished.  

 

Verdict: For atmosphere, Bruges vs Ghent comes down to preference: Bruges for “storybook perfection”. In Ghent, you feel like you’re getting a glimpse of real life happening around the canals and towers. To me, that’s superior, which is why I’m always down for a day trip to Ghent.

 

 

2. Things to do in Bruges or Ghent

Great beer + cool buildings in close proximity–a recipe for success (and a magnet for tourists) @ Bruges Beer Experience and Bruges Belfry
 

Bruges’ “highlight reel” is undoubtedly impressive, especially if it’s your first time in Belgium—nobody can deny the Belfry or Markt Square are stunning and make it a top tourist destination. I liked that all the sights are packed into a compact area, but I will say that after a couple hours, it felt like the same historic buildings and canals on repeat.

You can climb the Belfry of Bruges for views, wander the alleys and cross little bridges, and take a canal boat tour. The Bruges Beer Experience ended up being my favorite thing to do in Bruges. Hidden gems like the Beguinage and Minnewater Park were the only places I ever broke away from the crowds. 

Ghent Belfry and the dragon statue inside it

Ghent may have fewer “famous” sights in the Old Town, but the variety is what makes it better in my view. It gave me moments that felt bigger: Gravensteen Castle right in the city center, or that feeling when I was standing in front of the Ghent Altarpiece, one of Europe’s most important artworks.

I also climbed the Ghent Belfry, but honestly my favorite view was from St. Michael’s Bridge, where all three of Ghent’s towers line up in one shot. Add in a boat canal ride, go to Patershol for dinner and Belgian beer, a museum, and it’s at least a fantastic Ghent day trip. 

 

Verdict: Ghent or Bruges for attractions? Ghent is more varied and kept me interested longer with its mix of history and local character. 

 

 

3. Food & drinks Ghent vs. Bruges

I think I don’t have to show you more pictures of waffles–enjoy some coffee and great steak
 

Both cities deliver on Belgian classics like waffles, fries, and beer, but the vibe is different. 

In Bruges, a lot of the restaurants feel primarily tourist-focused—great if you know exactly where to go (Otto Waffle Atelier is worth it!), but easy to get stuck in an overpriced café serving mediocre food—guess how I know. Here are two restaurants worth noting if you end up going to Bruges:

• I had a great steak at Christophe (https://www.christophe-brugge.be/en/)
• and fantastic stew in De Gastro (https://www.degastro.be/)

I will say Bruges is my favorite place to get a Belgian beer education. I loved De Halve Maan brewery and my favorite, the Bruges Beer Experience—do not miss this! It’s fun, educational, and comes with tastings with a view.

This Flemish stew I had in Ghent was a wonderful way to try some local tastes

In Ghent, I found more variety and more local spots and cozy cafes. I had one of the best burgers in Belgium at ’t Koningshuis, Flemish stew at Bridge with a cathedral view, plenty of Belgian beers that didn’t cost double just because there was a canal nearby. Food in Ghent felt more authentic and cheaper compared to Bruges.

 

Verdict: If food and drink matter to you, Ghent vs Bruges isn’t even close—in Ghent, it’s easier to stumble into great Belgian food without trying so hard (and paying so much).

 

4. Crowds & nightlife in Bruges vs Ghent

Bruges tends to get absolutely packed... hop on a boat tour to get away for a bit
 

Bruges is a zoo by 10 am—this is not a rant, it’s the second thing you’ll notice after seeing the canals everywhere. They call it “Venice of the north”—officially it’s because of the canals, but the two tourist cities match in crowds, too. 

Pro tip: Arrive in Bruges at 8 am and feel the empty streets. 

There are just too many people per square meter in Bruges—you know that feeling when you want to take another photo but it’s just too much hassle to resist the flow of humans around you? That’s Bruges. Tour buses from Brussels and Amsterdam show up every day, and suddenly every street is clogged with day-trippers. 

Bruges at night is quiet to the point of dead, but walking through empty cobblestone streets without the tour groups can feel magical in its own way.

You can see the crowds in Ghent city center are nothing serious
 

Ghent gets busiest in the summer, but even then, it’s never too much—there are always fewer tourists than in Bruges. And the fact that it’s clearly tourists and locals making up the historic center commotion just feels so much better to me. 

In the evenings, the canals glow, bars and restaurants fill up, and locals carry on like normal (it is a university town, after all). If all the tourists left Ghent, people would just sigh in relief and keep living their lives.

Pro tip: Hotel Van der Valk is my favorite hotel in Ghent and I stay there every time I visit. 

 

Verdict: Bruges is a day destination. Ghent is the one you actually want to stay in after dark (which is why I always base myself in Ghent and make a day trip to Bruges from there)

 

5. Costs & value for money in Ghent and Bruges

Bruges is the most expensive city I visited in Belgium. Hotels in the center are often EUR 250–350 a night, a pint on the Markt costs EUR 6 or more, and dinner for two can easily hit EUR 120+. It’s not outrageous by Western Europe standards, but compared to the rest of Belgium it stings a little more.

 

Ghent feels easier on the wallet. Hotels of the same standard are usually EUR 180–250, beers around EUR 5, and a nice dinner is possible for EUR 80–100. It’s still not cheap, but after Bruges you notice the difference. That little gap makes it simpler to just relax and enjoy the ride.

 

Verdict: If you’re comparing Bruges or Ghent for cost—Ghent stretches your money further. If you’re watching your budget, Ghent is the smarter pick.

 

 

6. Logistics & accessibility (is Ghent or Bruges easier to reach?)

A basic guide with the travel times between the Belgian cities 
 

Bruges is further but the train station there is super convenient, so visiting Bruges is no problem. Trains from Brussels take about an hour, and from the station you’re basically in Bruges Old Town already. Everybody’s doing it, so you can’t get lost. The whole historic center is tiny and walkable, which is why it works so well as a quick day trip from Brussels.

Ghent is closer (28 minutes by train from Brussels, 25 minutes from Bruges), but the train station is 2 km (1.2 mi) from the center, so you either hop on a tram or pay for a taxi. Once you get there, the city is bigger than Bruges, but it is perfectly possible to visit Ghent on foot.

Verdict: If I’m being super strict, Bruges is slightly easier, Ghent takes a little more work just because the train station isn’t five feet from the first canal. Ghent wins for how easy it is to combine with other Belgian cities (see the map above).

 

Final verdict: Bruges vs Ghent 

So, is Bruges or Ghent better? If you only have time for one, pick Ghent—you’ll get the history and the real city vibe. If you have a full weekend, do both. Bruges for one day for the postcard photos, but base yourself in Ghent.

Bruges is worth doing once—it’s too pretty to skip, but your first visit will be your last. But Ghent is the one I go back to again and again. It has all the medieval architecture you’d expect—canals, towers, cobbled streets, is still a beautiful city, but with the bonus of actual life happening around it. Evenings are lively, food is more authentic, and it doesn’t feel like a tourist stage set.

But I’ll admit Bruges does its thing very well. If it’s your first trip to Belgium and you want a “storybook” city, Bruges is an easy to do high-value trip. Just keep it short—one day is all you need—and then move on.

Ghent is street art one minute and a somber church the next @ Werregarenstraatje and the inside of St. Nicholas Church

 

FAQs: Bruges or Ghent?

 

Can I visit Bruges and Ghent in one day?

Technically yes—they’re only 25 minutes apart by train—but I don’t recommend it. You’ll end up rushing both. Pick one and enjoy it properly.

 

Should I stay overnight in Bruges or Ghent?

Ghent. Bruges empties out at night, while Ghent actually gets better once the day-trippers leave. If you want a lively evening following a busy day, stay in Ghent. On my last trip, I spent two nights in Ghent (in Hotel Van der Valk) and did a day trip to Bruges from there. 

 

Which city is cheaper, Ghent or Bruges?

Ghent. Hotels, food, and even beer are generally a bit cheaper in Ghent. Bruges is noticeably more expensive because it’s such a tourist hotspot.

 

Which is more romantic: Bruges or Ghent?

Bruges for classic romance vibes. The canals, cobblestones, and bridges are admittedly pure fairytale town—but you’ll be sharing them with a hundred other couples on their “romantic” walk. Ghent has just as much charm, but it’s edgier and has fewer cute bridges.

 

 

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