A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bruges vs. Avignon for Attractions, Food, Old Town, and Couples

Should you visit Bruges or Avignon?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Bruges and Avignon. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Bruges

Bruges is a historic, cultural, and beautiful city. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Avignon

Avignon is a quaint, charming, and scenic town. With amazing attractions and sights, it's also a fun small town not to be missed. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping.

Bruges and Avignon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bruges or Avignon?

Both Avignon and Bruges have plenty of things to do for visitors. Both offer a variety of sights, activities, and attractions for tourists. Bruges is very popular for its nightlife, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Avignon attracts visitors for its museums, food, and small town charm. Bruges is more touristy than Avignon and is known for its scenic old town, charming streets, local chocolate, and unique Christmas market. Avignon is famous for its architectural beauty and historical importance.

How is Bruges different from Avignon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Avignon and Bruges. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Bruges or Avignon?

Avignon is very popular for its historical sights. Also, Bruges is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Avignon has many famous sights for visitors. The town is filled with historical landmarks such as Palais des Papes, Pont Saint Bénézet, Musée du Petit Palais, and Basilique Métropolitaine Notre-Dame des Doms.

Bruges offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city is filled with charming hidden corners as well as notable landmarks. The main square is Bruges' Markt which is where you'll find the the Belfry Tower. Other must-see sights include the Historium, Groeninge Museum, the Town Hall, and Brugse Vrije Museum.

Is the Food Better in Bruges or Avignon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Avignon is very popular for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Bruges is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Eat your way through Avignon, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. For such a small town you'll find many great eateries where you can sample French cuisine. You'll find bakeries, patisseries, restaurants, chocolatiers, and cafes to try. Cooking classes are also a popular activity in town.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Bruges makes for a great culinary experience. From its world class breweries to its famous chocolate shops, there is plenty to eat and drink around town. In the old town prices can be a bit high, but the dishes and atmosphere are great. Popular local dishes include Belgian waffles, fries, mussels, and beef stew.

Is Bruges or Avignon Better for Nightlife?

Bruges is a good destination for its evening party scene. However, Avignon is lacking in good options for nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Bruges. It's famous for its beer and breweries, so you'll find a number of places to gather in the evening. There is a lack of nightclubs, so if dancing and partying hard is your style, then this may not be your place. The vibes are generally chill and relaxed at night. Most places are concentrated around old town or near Kuipersstraat or Zilverstraat.

Avignon is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. There's a limited nightlife scene but the bars you'll find are usually centered around Place de lHorloge, Place du Palais, Rue Carnot, and Place des Corps-Saints.

Is Bruges or Avignon Better for its Old Town?

Visitors enjoy the terrific old town areas in both Bruges and Avignon.

Bruges has a world-famous historical area. The old town is the main attraction, with its quaint cobblestone streets and beautiful brick architecture.

The historic old town of Avignon is revered around the world. The walled medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's filled with history.

Is the Shopping Better in Bruges or Avignon?

If you're looking to go shopping, Bruges and Avignon both offer plenty of nice spots.

Bruges has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The city offers plenty of shopping, whether you're looking for souvenirs, trendy European brands, or local items. It's more geared towards tourists than locals, and you want find the same diversity that you get in some of the larger nearby cities, but you'll find unique lace items and other local goods in the old town. The streets around Markt Square, Steenstraat, Geld Monstraat, and Jakobstraat are the main shopping areas.

Avignon is a great destination for shopping. There are several shopping streets in town like Rue de la Republique, Rue Joseph-Vernet, and Rue St Agricol.

Is Bruges or Avignon Better for Families?

Both Bruges and Avignon are nice family-friendly destinations.

Bruges offers lots of family activities. Kids will enjoy sampling the unique chocolate around town, eating their fill of waffles, and getting their energy out in the park or at a local playground. There are also canal boat tours and horse drawn carriage rides that are fun for the whole family.

Avignon is a family-friendly place to visit. Families can enjoy cooking classes, boat tours, and exploring the old town together.

Is Bruges or Avignon Better for Couples?

Bruges and Avignon both excellent destinations for a couple.

Bruges is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. This romantic city has amazing restaurants, charming streets, and impressive architecture. Couples will enjoy exploring the canals by boat or taking a horse drawn carriage ride through the old town. There are also a number of cute bed and breakfasts where you can stay.

Avignon is a very popular place to visit for couples. Filled with history, couples can enjoy strolling through the old town or dinner on amazing French food.

Is Bruges or Avignon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bruges is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Avignon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Bruges. There are a few good hostels around town. The city sees its share of tourists, but many arrive as part of tours or river boat cruises. If you stay in a hostel, you shouldn't have trouble meeting other young travelers though. There are also plenty of well known breweries where you can gather with friends.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Avignon. You'll find a few affordable hotels, but hostels are a little bit more difficult to come by.

Is Bruges or Avignon Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Bruges and Avignon both offer nice public transit to get you around.

While Bruges offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is a bus system that connects the train station to the old town. Otherwise, the city is best explored on foot.

Avignon has a few public transit options. There are city buses as well as tourist shuttles around town.

Is Bruges or Avignon a more walkable city?

Bruges and Avignon are terrific when it comes to walkability.

Bruges is a very easy city to get around on foot. The train station is a short walk from the old town but the city is very walkable and best explored on foot.

It is easy to get around Avignon on foot. There's almost no traffic in the city center so it's easy to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Bruges Worth Visiting? and Is Avignon Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Avignon or Bruges?

How long in Bruges or Avignon?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Bruges or Avignon to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Bruges than Avignon because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bruges, and 1-2 days is enough time in Avignon.

Families should spend more time in Avignon than Bruges. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Avignon, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Avignon than Bruges. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Avignon that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bruges than Avignon if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Bruges.

One day in Bruges or Avignon?

In Bruges, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Avignon might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Bruges or Avignon?

In Bruges, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bruges has to offer.

Avignon is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Bruges or Avignon?

Bruges is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Avignon. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Bruges or Avignon?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bruges. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Bruges. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Avignon is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Belgium, The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bruges and Avignon, we can see that Avignon is more expensive. And not only is Bruges much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bruges would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bruges and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Avignon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Avignon than you might in Bruges.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bruges Expensive? and Is Avignon Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bruges or Avignon?

Bruges has a larger population, and is about 30% larger than the population of Avignon. When comparing the sizes of Bruges and Avignon, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Bruges or Avignon?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Bruges or Avignon in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bruges and Avignon. The summer months attract visitors to Bruges because of the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Avignon this time of year.

Bruges is cooler than Avignon in the summer. The daily temperature in Bruges averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Avignon fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Avignon this time of the year. In Bruges, it's very sunny this time of the year. Bruges usually receives less sunshine than Avignon during summer. Bruges gets 202 hours of sunny skies, while Avignon receives 354 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bruges usually receives more rain than Avignon. Bruges gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bruges or Avignon in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Bruges as well as Avignon. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Bruges this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Avignon for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere.

In the autumn, Bruges is cooler than Avignon. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bruges in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Avignon averages at about 16°C (61°F).

In the autumn, Bruges often gets less sunshine than Avignon. Bruges gets 105 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Avignon receives 178 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Avignon. Bruges usually gets less rain in October than Avignon. Bruges gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bruges or Avignon in the Winter?

Both Avignon and Bruges are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Bruges for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Avignon in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Bruges. In January, Bruges is generally much colder than Avignon. Daily temperatures in Bruges average around 3°C (38°F), and Avignon fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

Bruges usually receives less sunshine than Avignon during winter. Bruges gets 47 hours of sunny skies, while Avignon receives 146 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bruges usually receives less rain than Avignon. Bruges gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bruges or Avignon in the Spring?

Both Avignon and Bruges during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Bruges in the spring for the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Avignon for the small town charm during these months.

Bruges is much colder than Avignon in the spring. The daily temperature in Bruges averages around 8°C (47°F) in April, and Avignon fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

In Avignon, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Bruges often gets less sunshine than Avignon. Bruges gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Avignon receives 218 hours of full sun.

Bruges usually gets less rain in April than Avignon. Bruges gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Avignon receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Avignon and Bruges