Ghent or Bruges: Which is Better for a Fairytale Trip?

Decide for yourself which is better: Ghent or Bruges with our visual comparison, first-hand experiences, and one-day itineraries for both Belgian cities.

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In many cases, comparing two different destinations is a futile exercise. But in the case of Ghent and Bruges, we feel it’s actually a good idea to do that. The two Belgian cities are similar enough to cause confusion in the minds of travelers, especially when contemplating a day trip from Brussels. Yet, both of them have something different to offer as well.

We visited Ghent and Bruges over an extended weekend in early summer. Our boutique apartment at The Hide was just a stone’s throw away from Ghent’s city centre. Of course, we had to go on a day trip to the legendary Bruges. We formed a distinct impression of both cities, and feel that we are in a good position to help you decide between the two. So let’s see, which is better, Ghent or Bruges?

The General Vibe of Ghent and Bruges

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Bruges is like Paris or Cologne – a city that features on the bucket list of many tourists, and attracts travelers like bees to honey. Ghent, on the other hand, is usually an afterthought for first time visitors to Belgium. It is not as crowded, and has a more authentic feel to it. For sure, both cities are visually very beautiful and sport sparkling examples of Flemish architecture and dreamy canals.

Incidentally, Bruges is the capital of West Flanders, while Ghent is the capital of East Flanders. In both cities, you’ll hear a colorful mixture of Flemish, Dutch, French, German, and English. The historic center of Bruges is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s good to know that Ghent is known as Gent and Bruges as Brugge in Belgium.

What We Liked About Ghent and Bruges

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We found many things to love about Ghent:

• The picturesque city center with many lovely squares, eateries, and the Gravensteen Castle
• The breath-taking view from St. Michael’s Bridge and the pleasure of sitting by the banks of the River Leie
• The night illumination, which was ethereal and not in the least overpowering
• The canals, which widen at the ports and become reminiscent of Copenhagen or Amsterdam

Here are the things we liked about Bruges:

• The compactness of the city center – extremely walkable, and the postcard-perfect architecture
• K. Astridpark and the peace surrounding the 18th century windmills – Sint Janhuis and the rest
• The quiet monasteries and the romantic legends surrounding Minnewater Park
• The horse carriages that cast a vintage aura over the cobbled streets of the old town

What We Didn’t Like About Ghent and Bruges

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Quite honestly, there’s nothing we disliked about Ghent. The only negative we can come up with is that some of the attractions are a bit far from the city centre, and you’d need to take a tram to reach those spots. Examples include Portus Ganda and the Botanical Garden at the University of Ghent. Another aspect to consider is the weather. Although it was summer, the weather was chilly on our first day in Ghent.

Bruges in itself is perfection. The problem is that it is overrun by tourists (especially on weekends and public holidays) and that definitely affects your experience. Crowds are a deal-breaker for us because we like to discover the soul of places when we travel. It’s hard to do that when you’re constantly jostling for space and trying to look over the heads of other people. Secondly, there seemed to be only tourists in Bruges!

Food in Ghent and Bruges

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Belgian beer, Belgian waffles, Belgian chocolates and Belgian fries – it seems like there’s no dearth of iconic Belgian foods, is there? You can get them all in both Ghent and Bruges, but the former might work out to be cheaper. Another factor that goes in favor of Ghent is its new crop of vegan and vegetarian eateries. Many of these serve up fresh and healthy treats that would be hard to resist even for a meat eater! However, Bruges has an enviable collection of Michelin-starred restaurants that could be attractive for luxury travelers and fine dining enthusiasts.

Ghent or Bruges at Night

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Ghent has an award-winning night illumination system that is eco-friendly and pleasing to the eye at the same time. Touring the city center after dinner is a wonderful night-time activity in Ghent, which can’t be replicated in Bruges. Moreover, Ghent is more lively due to its high student population. Cocktail bars, dance clubs, live music, and elegant lounges – you’ll find them all here. If visiting in July, you could also attend the Gentse Feesten annual music festival. The nightlife in Bruges is largely limited to underground bars like Le Trappiste.

History in Ghent and Bruges

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History is an integral part of the fabric of both cities, even if it is only Bruges that has the UNESCO World Heritage status. Bruges is full of marvelously preserved medieval buildings, streets, canals, and merchant houses. From the Belfry to the windmills, the city is a living, breathing relic of the past. Ghent may seem more contemporary but it is choc-a-bloc with historical churches and guild houses as well. In fact, the Counts of Flanders used Gravensteen Castle as their base until the 14th century. The only difference is that Ghent ended up being at the heart of the industrial revolution, while Bruges remained relatively unaffected by it.

Art & Museums in Ghent and Bruges

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Both Ghent and Bruges have an admirable collection of historical and art museums. But you won’t find the likes of Ghent’s street art in Bruges. If you enjoy museum hopping, make sure to get the CityCard Gent, which includes free entry to almost all museums and attractions. Notable ones include S.M.A.K (contemporary art museum), STAM (Ghent city museum), Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Industry, and the Design Museum. Also worth visiting are the heritage homes such as the House of Alijn, which used to be a children’s hospice, and the regal Arnold Vander Haeghen House.

The museums in Bruges are likely to appeal to children, as there are ones dedicated to chocolates and French fries! For art lovers, the exhaustive Groeninge Museum is a must visit.

Getting Around in Ghent and Bruges

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Both Ghent and Bruges are ideal for exploring on foot, and they feature first in our mega-list of the most walkable cities in Europe. However, Ghent is slightly larger than Bruges and at times, you may need to take the tram or bus. For Bruges, you don’t really need any public transport. We took the SNCB train to reach Bruges from Gint Sint-Pieters and the journey lasted for all of 30 minutes. We booked our tickets online, and they cost us 13 euros each.

Ghent in One Day: What to See

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Ideally, we’d recommend spending two days in Ghent, but it’s all right even if you have one day. You can cover quite a bit since it’s not a very large city. This is what we suggest if you want to see the best of Ghent in one day:

1. Begin your walking tour at St Baafskathedraal in the city center. It is home to the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb.
2. Move on to Het Belfort van Gent, a 14th century Belfry with spectacular views from the top.
3. Proceed to St. Nicholas Church and the Masons’ Guild Hall. Now you’ve probably had your fill of history and architecture.
4. So it’s time for the classic Ghent experience: the view from St. Michael’s Bridge. You can see the twin quays of Graslei and Korenlei on the other side of the River Leie, the Castle of the Counts, Ghent’s three landmark towers, and St. Michael’s Church. Honestly, every building you see is a work of art.
5. Go to the other side of the river and hop on to a boat for a tour of Ghent’s canals. There might be a bit of a queue as everyone wants to do this! But the queue is nothing compared to what you’ll see at Bruges.
6. Later, make your way to Gravensteen Castle or Castle of the Counts. You can go in if you like, or simply circle the castle and take in the views from the garden at the back.
7. For a most romantic experience, take a tram or bus to Portus Ganda, the port closest to the city centre of Ghent. Here, it’s quiet, and the canal is lined with ships and boats. A viewing platform lets you take in the view and enjoy the breeze.

If you’re in Ghent overnight, make sure to do the night illumination walk after 10 PM. You can follow the route on the map provided by the tourist office, or just wander around the city centre at leisure. If you like street art, don’t miss Graffiti Street or Werregarenstraat, where street artists have covered the walls with their eloquent expressions. There are also many beautiful squares to explore in Ghent, such as Groetenmarkt Square and Vrijdagmarkt Square.

Bruges in One Day: What to See

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In our opinion, one day in Bruges is just enough. It’s a small city, and you can easily cover all the must-see attractions on a day trip. Let’s take a look at what you can do:

1. Immediately outside the main train station, you will find the gorgeous Minnewater Park. Gaze at the Lake of Love from Minnewater Bridge, named after two lovers whose story had a tragic ending.
2. Proceed to the peaceful Ten Wijngaarde, which used to be a convent for the Benedictine monks.
3. Make your way to Rozenhoedkaai, from where you’ll have a mesmerizing view of the canal lined by medieval brick houses.
4. Lie down on the grass at K. Astridpark, and enjoy the magic of being in Bruges. From here, you can walk to the 18th century windmills of Bruges.
5. There are a handful that are still standing, and Sint Janhuis is the best known among them. Just a short walk away, you’ll find another windmill. Both of them are perched atop verdant hillocks. You can also enter the top tower of Sint Janhuis for a fee.
6. Return to the city centre and bide your time at the serpentine canal tour queues if you dare. If not, go to Grote Markt, the main square of Bruges where you can feast your eyes on the iconic structures that you see in online photographs.
7. Take your time exploring the Belfry, the Basilica of the Holy Blood, the City Hall, and the Brujse Vrijse. The last two are at Burg Square, which is just behind Grote Markt.
8. Continue onward to the Gronerei, a quieter and less touristy part of Bruges where you will find beautiful canal views fringed by leafy green trees.
9. If you still have time, check out a couple of nice churches in the vicinity: the ancient Sint Salvatorskathedraal and the the Church of Our Lady Bruges. The latter houses the Madonna and Child painting by Michelangelo.

We highly recommend that you make Ghent your base, and hop over to Bruges for a day tour. You could also do it the other way around, but really, if you’re in Flanders, you should definitely visit both Ghent and Bruges. After all, they’re really not so far apart. While in Bruges, make sure to do a beer and chocolate tasting tour.

Where to Stay in Ghent and Bruges

Watch the video above for a glimpse of our gorgeous (sponsored) stay at The Hide, a recently opened boutique apartment hideaway in Ghent. You can read our detailed review here, or book the hotel straightaway on Booking.com.

Our top five picks for Ghent:

• The Hide: A boutique apartment hotel close to the city center
• Pillows Grand Hotel Reylof: Centrally located & known for its wellness facilities
• Ghent Marriott Hotel: Iconic location on the banks of the River Leie with dreamy views
• NH Gent Belfort: Heritage hotel with design furniture and local cuisine
• Holiday Inn Gent Expo: Affordable hotel next to Flanders Expo

Search for more hotels in Ghent

Our top five picks for Bruges:

• Hotel Dukes’ Palace Brugge: Luxury hotel housed in a 15th century Duke’s castle
• Hotel Van Eyck: Affordable heritage hotel with Art Nouveau elements, centrally located
• Hotel Aragon: Tastefully designed rooms and apartments close to the market square
• Hotel Academie: Cozy hotel near Minnewater Park and De Halve Maan Brewery
• Ibis Budget Brugge Centrum Station: Great value for money, continental breakfast buffet

Search for more hotels in Bruges

Our Final Verdict on Which is Better: Ghent or Bruges?

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For us, it’s really no contest. We don’t care how famous Bruges is. For us, Ghent will always be the best part of Belgium. But if the crowds were out of the equation, we’d probably like Bruges almost as much. Both cities have gorgeous canals, history, and architecture. But Bruges doesn’t have the evocative ports and riverside charm of Ghent. The only thing Ghent doesn’t have are the ancient windmills. So if we could revisit only one of the two, we’d book our tickets for Ghent in a jiffy.

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Have you been to either or both of these cities? What is your opinion on which is better: Ghent or Bruges? Leave a comment and tell us! You can also reach us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, & YouTube.

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