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

Should you visit Bruges or Girona?

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 Girona. 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. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It also has a unique and quaint vibe that attracts lots of visitors. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Girona

Girona is a ancient, charming, and beautiful city. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Since it has a quaint atmosphere, you'll want to spend time soaking it all in. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping.

Bruges and Girona: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bruges or Girona?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Bruges than Girona, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Bruges is more popular for its nightlife, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Girona is known for its shopping and small town charm. Bruges is more touristy than Girona and is popular for its scenic old town, charming streets, local chocolate, and unique Christmas market. It is also home to Bruges' Markt (The Main Square). Girona is popular for its ancient ruins, colorful old town, grand cathedral, and impressive local cuisine.

How is Bruges different from Girona?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

You'll find a number of excellent museums and attractions in both Girona 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.

Girona offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Wander the ancient city walls, explore the beautiful Girona Cathedral, and learn about the Church of Sant Feliu. There are also some interesting museums in town including the Museum of Jewish History, the Archaeology Museum, and the Film Museum. Also make sure you walk across the famed Eiffel Bridge.

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

Both Bruges and Girona offer excellent local cuisine and restaurants.

Bruges has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Girona makes for a great culinary experience. The small city is filled with cafes and restaurants that spill out into the street. There are also markets such as El Lleó Marketplace where you can check out fresh, local items. Many restaurants also have Catalonian style tapas, seafood such as octopus, and garlic shrimp. For breakfast, there are many pastry shops where you can enjoy a European breakfast.

Is Bruges or Girona Better for Nightlife?

Bruges is a good destination for nightlife and partying. However, Girona is not a good city for its evening party scene.

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.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Girona. It's a surprisingly quiet town, especially compared to other nearby party cities, but there are some nightclubs, bars, and music venues that are worth checking out.

Is Bruges or Girona Better for its Old Town?

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

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 Girona is revered around the world. It's a beautiful medieval old town with many wandering streets that are lined with storefronts and classic European cafes.

Is the Shopping Better in Bruges or Girona?

Girona 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 Girona. In and around the old town you'll find modern shops, local eateries, charming markets, and anything you might need to purchase. There's also no shortage of souvenir and trinket shops, but they have a bit of personality and character to them.

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 Girona Better for Families?

Bruges is a good destination for its family-friendly activities. However, Girona is not a good city for its kid-friendly activities.

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.

Girona is not always a place people visit with their families. While the old town is beautiful, with charming colorful buildings, the city itself doesn't have a wide number of activities for kids. There are ice cream shops where they can enjoy a sweet treat. There are also several museums and many restaurants have kid-friendly menus.

Is Bruges or Girona Better for Couples?

Bruges and Girona 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.

Girona is a very popular place to visit for couples. The setting is both beautiful and romantic. Couples can enjoy wandering the streets, popping in the many shops, and soaking up the atmosphere. There are also many great restaurants that make for a wonderful night out. Head up the hills towards the cathedral for the best viewpoints, or wander along the river and enjoy the colorful atmosphere.

Is Bruges or Girona Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bruges is a well-known place for backpackers. Also, Girona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Bruges is a great city to visit for backpackers. 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 Girona. Prices aren't too crazy and it's not hard to find a place to stay for an affordable price, but you won't find the lively backpacker scene that is common in many nearby cities.

Is Bruges or Girona Better for Students?

Girona is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Bruges is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Girona. It's a smaller city with affordable accommodation and many great restaurants. It has a quintessential European atmosphere that makes it a fun place to spend some time as a student

Bruges is not popular with students.

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

Bruges and Girona both offer good 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.

Girona has a few public transit options. The town is small enough that you can likely walk anywhere you want to go, but if you need transit, there are 10 local bus routes.

Is Bruges or Girona a more walkable city?

Bruges and Girona 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 Girona on foot. Everything is easily accessible on foot and its best not to bring a car into town.

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

Should I spend more time in Girona or Bruges?

How long in Bruges or Girona?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Bruges or Girona to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Bruges than Girona 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 Girona.

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

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

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 shopping and museums when visiting the quaint destination of Girona. 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 Girona?

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.

Girona 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 Girona?

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 Girona. 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 Girona?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural 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 colorful destination of Girona. 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid.

When comparing the travel costs between Bruges and Girona, we can see that Girona is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Bruges or Girona?

Bruges has a larger population, and is about 30% larger than the population of Girona. When comparing the sizes of Bruges and Girona, 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 Girona?

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 Girona in the Summer?

Both Girona and Bruges during the summer are popular places to visit. 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 Girona this time of year.

In July, Bruges is generally cooler than Girona. Daily temperatures in Bruges average around 17°C (63°F), and Girona fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

In Girona, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Bruges. In the summer, Bruges often gets less sunshine than Girona. Bruges gets 202 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Girona receives 279 hours of full sun.

Bruges usually gets more rain in July than Girona. Bruges gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Girona receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bruges or Girona in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bruges and Girona. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Bruges this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Girona for the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

Bruges is cooler than Girona in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bruges averages around 12°C (54°F) in October, and Girona fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Bruges usually receives less sunshine than Girona during autumn. Bruges gets 105 hours of sunny skies, while Girona receives 170 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Bruges usually receives around the same amount of rain as Girona. Bruges gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Girona receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bruges or Girona in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Bruges as well as Girona. Many travelers come to Bruges for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, many visitors come to Girona in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Bruges. In the winter, Bruges is much colder than Girona. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bruges in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Girona averages at about 8°C (46°F).

In the winter, Bruges often gets less sunshine than Girona. Bruges gets 47 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Girona receives 148 hours of full sun.

Bruges usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Girona. Bruges gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Girona receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bruges or Girona in the Spring?

Both Girona and Bruges are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Bruges in the spring for the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Girona for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Bruges is generally cooler than Girona. Daily temperatures in Bruges average around 8°C (47°F), and Girona fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Bruges usually receives less sunshine than Girona during spring. Bruges gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Girona receives 177 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bruges usually receives less rain than Girona. Bruges gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Girona receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Girona and Bruges