Have fun in Belgium. Thank you for the advise. Is it really enough time to explore the area in one day? Good luck Debbie! Greetings-what a great website! Our hope is to stay in Bruges for 4 nights and branch out from there. One issue is May 1-will the trains be in operation? What about things to see? We can arrive April 30 and jut enjoy the city; then visit Ghent and Antwerp.
If you think this is too much, please let us know. We also move onto Amsterdam on Saturday, May 4. Do you see any obstacles? Thanking you in advance, Karen. Thank you Karen. May 1st is a free day in Belgium but trains will run maybe only on a sunday schedule. As most people are off it can be more busy with day trippers. Bigger shops will be closed but in touristy Brugge, they know how to cater to tourists.
You might want to book ahead and book tickets for certain things you want to do. In the Netherlands, May 1st is like any other day. I think it all sounds good. Thank you in advance for your input. This was a big decision point for us as it was winter and cold.
I think both will be amazing Shizuka so whichever you choose will be a great exprience. Your email address will not be published.
Save my name, email, and site URL in my browser for next time I post a comment. Sign me up for the newsletter! Sign me up for the newsletter. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. The main market in Bruges.
Old merchants houses in Bruges. More Belgium: Hallerbos near Brussels. Take a boat tour in Bruge to see the city from the water. Belfry of Bruges. Read more: Discover Historic Ypres beyond the battlefields.
Amazing old houses in Bruges. Cute houses in Bruges by the water. View over Ghent. The exterior of the Castle in Ghent. A visit to Gravensteen Castle is a must-do in Ghent. The inner Castle. The Belfry. View on the Church from the Belfry. The Belfry of Ghent. Waterfront houses in Ghent. Take a canal tour in Ghent. Enjoying my visit to the castle. Coffee and pie. Belgium Chocolates. Belgium Waffles! Read more: 3 countries in one day?
Share on Pinterest. Author: Naomi. Naomi is a Travel Blogger from the Netherlands. Learn more about Naomi by reading her full story here.
Is the Cinque Terre Train Card really worth it? Next to Ghent and its prominent wild streak, upscale Bruges can come across as a bit of a goody-two-shoes — at first glance. The actual reason behind the tranquility is that everyone is down in cozy medieval cellar bars and music pubs, where they are having a jolly good time while sampling a plethora of Belgian beers.
Indeed, Bruggenaars know exactly how to spend a night out. Bruges is chockablock full of museums including the Choco-Story and the French Fry Museum — yes, complete with samples of the respective Belgian treats they dedicate themselves to — but shining brightest amongst the masses is the Groeningemuseum.
This pantheon of Flemish masters holds an impressive collection of paintings by Jan Van Eyck, Hans Memling, and other early Netherlandish creatives, many of whom lived in Bruges during its Golden Age to duly capture all of the splendor. Great places to soak up the bubbling innovation are the S.
There is also the Design Museum , which takes a look back at the popular decorative and architectural movements in Belgium all the way up to Art Deco and Modernism. In the end, what has made the ancient port city such a fairytale destination is its status as one of the best-preserved medieval settlements in the world. The 15th-century street pattern has been largely kept intact, and two World Wars left the sleepy city unscathed.
Mightily underrated in the past, Ghent as a historic destination is less obvious. While Bruges escaped the talons of industrialization, Ghent nestled itself at the heart of it with a thriving textile industry, and despite its significant growth, the city has managed to hold onto the treasures of its illustrious past.
We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. Decide for yourself which is better: Ghent or Bruges with our visual comparison, first-hand experiences, and one-day itineraries for both Belgian cities.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin. In many cases, comparing two different destinations is a futile exercise. 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. 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. 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. 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. Secondly, there seemed to be only tourists in Bruges! 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 has an award-winning night illumination system that is eco-friendly and pleasing to the eye at the same time. Moreover, Ghent is more lively due to its high student population.
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. 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.
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