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

Should you visit Bruges or Bremen?

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 Bremen. 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 beautiful, historic, and charming city. You'll find world class beauty here as well. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bremen

Bremen is a lively, historic, and beautiful city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Bruges and Bremen: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bruges or Bremen?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Bruges than Bremen. While Bremen is larger than Bruges, Bruges has more sights and attractions for tourists. Bruges is very popular for its food, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Bremen attracts visitors for its nightlife and shopping. Bruges is more touristy than Bremen and is popular for its scenic old town, charming streets, local chocolate, and unique Christmas market. It is also well known for Bruges' Markt (The Main Square). Bremen is famous for its beautiful historic center and its role as a cultural hub in Germany.

How is Bruges different from Bremen?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Bremen 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 Bremen?

You'll find a number of high quality museums and attractions in both Bremen and Bruges.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Bruges. 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.

Bremen offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Many of the city's landmarks are located around the famous Marktplatz. You can tour the Bremen Town Hall or wander around the Medieval Schnoor Quarter. Also make sure you check out the Cathedral of St. Peter.

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

Bruges is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Bremen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Dining out in Bruges is an experience not to be missed. 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.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Bremen. The food is hearty and filling with many meat heavy dishes. Vegetarians may struggle to find local options. Traditional regional dishes include Kohl und Pinkel (kale and sausage), Labskaus (meat and stew), and fried smelt.

Is Bruges or Bremen Better for Nightlife?

Bremen is great for its evening party scene. Also, Bruges is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife.

Many people head to Bremen for the nightlife scene. There's a variety of evening activities including cocktail bars, trendy clubs, and fine dining restaurants. Head to the Viertel District for some of the most lively clubs.

There's a variety of activities in the evening 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.

Is Bruges or Bremen Better for its Old Town?

Visitors enjoy the first-rate old town areas in both Bruges and Bremen.

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 Bremen is revered around the world. The old town is beautiful with its charming streets and beautiful buildings. There's a main market square which is filled with many landmarks and tourist sights.

Is the Shopping Better in Bruges or Bremen?

Bremen is great for its shopping areas. Also, Bruges is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Bremen. The city offers a mix of historic shopping areas and large shopping malls. Some of the biggest shopping malls include Karstadt Bremen, Lloyd Passage, and Weserpark.

Bruges is a great destination for shopping. 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.

Is Bruges or Bremen Better for Families?

Bremen is great for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Bruges is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Bremen. Kids will appreciate a Sunday visit to the Bremen Town Musicians play which performs popular fairy tales. If the season isn't right, there are many other kid-friendly activities around town including Bürgerpark, the puppet theater, or visiting the beach at Café Sand. Popular museums in town for kids include Universum and Bremer Geschichtenhaus.

Bruges is a family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Is Bruges or Bremen Better for Couples?

Bruges is notable for couples. Also, Bremen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for romance.

Bruges is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.

Bremen is a nice destination for couples. From its beautiful old town to its many great restaurants and shopping streets, couples will enjoy a romantic trip away in this beautiful city.

Is Bruges or Bremen Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bruges is notable for backpackers. Also, Bremen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Bruges is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. 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.

It's common for backpackers to visit Bremen. Backpackers love the old town and lively atmosphere. There are enough tourists around that you'll find a decent social scene and the atmosphere makes for a great visit.

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

Bremen is great for times when you don't have a car. Also, Bruges is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its public transit.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Bremen. The city has both trams and buses that offer easy accessibility to most of the tourist areas.

Bruges has a few public transit options. There is a bus system that connects the train station to the old town. Otherwise, the city is best explored on foot.

Is Bruges or Bremen a more walkable city?

Bruges and Bremen are first-rate 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 Bremen on foot. It's one of the most walkable cities in Europe.

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

Should I spend more time in Bremen or Bruges?

How long in Bruges or Bremen?

It's fun to spend time in either Bruges or Bremen. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Bremen due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bruges, and 2-4 days is enough time in Bremen.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bruges than Bremen 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 Bremen?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the quaint destination of Bruges. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Bremen. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Bruges or Bremen?

Bruges 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.

Bremen 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 Bremen?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bruges. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bremen. 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 Bremen?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historic destination of Bruges. This city 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the beautiful destination of Bremen. This city 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 Music Tours in Germany, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Germany.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bruges and Bremen, we can see that Bremen 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 Bremen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bremen 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 Bremen Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bruges or Bremen?

Bremen has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Bruges. When comparing the sizes of Bruges and Bremen, 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 Bremen?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Bruges or Bremen in the Summer?

Both Bremen and Bruges during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Bruges for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Bremen in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

Bruges is around the same temperature as Bremen in the summer. The daily temperature in Bruges averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Bremen fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

It's quite sunny in Bruges. In the summer, Bruges often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Bremen. Bruges gets 202 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bremen receives 191 hours of full sun.

Bruges usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Bremen. Bruges gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Bremen receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bruges or Bremen in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bruges and Bremen. Many visitors come to Bruges in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Bremen for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Bruges is a little warmer than Bremen. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bruges in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Bremen averages at about 10°C (50°F).

Bruges usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bremen during autumn. Bruges gets 105 hours of sunny skies, while Bremen receives 100 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Bruges usually receives more rain than Bremen. Bruges gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Bremen receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bruges or Bremen in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Bruges as well as Bremen. Most visitors come to Bruges for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Bremen because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Bremen can be very cold. Bruges can be very cold during winter. In January, Bruges is generally much warmer than Bremen. Daily temperatures in Bruges average around 3°C (38°F), and Bremen fluctuates around 1°C (33°F).

In the winter, Bruges often gets more sunshine than Bremen. Bruges gets 47 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bremen receives 41 hours of full sun.

Bruges usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Bremen. Bruges gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Bremen receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bruges or Bremen in the Spring?

Both Bremen and Bruges are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Bruges because of the natural beauty. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Bremen this time of year.

Bruges is around the same temperature as Bremen in the spring. The daily temperature in Bruges averages around 8°C (47°F) in April, and Bremen fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

Bruges usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bremen during spring. Bruges gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Bremen receives 153 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bruges usually receives around the same amount of rain as Bremen. Bruges gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Bremen receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bremen and Bruges