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

Should you visit Bruges or Nantes?

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 Nantes. 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, charming, and historic 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.

Nantes

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

Bruges and Nantes: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bruges or Nantes?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Bruges than Nantes. While Nantes is larger than Bruges, Bruges has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Bruges is very popular for its historical sights, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Nantes attracts visitors for its food, nightlife, and shopping. Bruges is more touristy than Nantes and is known for its scenic old town, charming streets, local chocolate, and unique Christmas market. It is also well known for Bruges' Markt (The Main Square). Nantes is famous for its castles and historical landmarks, local wine, and beautiful parks and gardens.

How is Bruges different from Nantes?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

You'll find a number of great museums and attractions in both Nantes 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.

Nantes offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city is filled with historical monuments, particularly in the Bouffay District. Highlights include Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, Château des Ducs de Bretagne, and the Musée d'Arts de Nantes.

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

Nantes 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 Nantes, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. The region lends itself to unique flavors with a great mix of seafood from the Atlantic, freshwater fish from the Loire, and dairy from the surrounding countryside. The region is also famous for its wine. Local dishes that you should try include Filet de Sandre au Beurre Blanc (fresh fish in butter sauce), Crepes Bretonnes (breakfast crepes), and Le Canard Nantais (duck with Muscadet wine).

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 Nantes Better for Nightlife?

Nantes 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 Nantes for the nightlife scene. The large student population heavily influences the nightlife scene. You'll find a young vibe with a lot of bars and clubs to choose from, particularly around Île de Nantes.

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 Nantes Better for its Old Town?

Bruges is an unbeatable place for its historic old town charm. Also, Nantes is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its historic old town.

With a famous historical old-town, Bruges offers plenty to see. The old town is the main attraction, with its quaint cobblestone streets and beautiful brick architecture.

Many visitors go to Nantes to see the historical old town. The city's old town is in the Bouffay District and it is filled with half-timbered houses and a maze of streets and shops.

Is the Shopping Better in Bruges or Nantes?

Nantes 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 Nantes. There are impressive shopping streets, boutique stores, and grand shopping malls. Make sure you check out Rue Crébillon, Passage Pommeraye, and the shops around the Bouffay District. Talensac Market is also a historical covered market that you can explore.

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 Nantes Better for Families?

Nantes 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 Nantes. It's filled with gardens, museums, and theme parks, making it a great combination of fascinating activities for adults and kids alike. Some of the top kid-friendly activities include a visit to Machine of the Isle of Nantes (both a theme park and a museum), seeing a show at Le Lieu Unique, or experiencing Naudières Park (a smaller theme park). Kids will also enjoy seeing Goulaine Castle or wandering around Jardin Extraordinaire or the Botanical Gardens.

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 Nantes Better for Couples?

Bruges and Nantes both great 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.

Nantes is a very popular place to visit for couples. There is a mix of both natural and historical beauty. Couples can enjoy a nice meal, stroll through one of the many parks and gardens, or even spend the day at the spa.

Is Bruges or Nantes Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bruges is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Nantes is lacking in good options 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.

Nantes is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There aren't as many hostels as you would expect in the area, so finding an affordable and social place to stay may be a bit challenging.

Is Bruges or Nantes Better for Students?

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

It's common for students to visit Nantes. There's a decent sized student population and the city has a welcoming atmosphere. It's also easy to get around with public transportation.

Bruges is not popular with students.

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

Nantes 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 Nantes. There are both trams and buses throughout the city that are operated by TAN (Transport de l'Agglomeration Nantaise).

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 Nantes a more walkable city?

Bruges is an unbeatable place for its ease of walking around. Also, Nantes is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its walkability.

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

Nantes is very walkable. The city is very walkable. Both locals and tourists alike choose to walk in Nantes.

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

Should I spend more time in Nantes or Bruges?

How long in Bruges or Nantes?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Bruges and Nantes. In our opinion, Nantes has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Nantes than Bruges. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bruges, and 2-3 days is enough time in Nantes.

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

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

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

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 Nantes. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Bruges or Nantes?

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.

Nantes is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. 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 Nantes?

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 Nantes. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. 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 Nantes?

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 friendly destination of Nantes. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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 comparing the travel costs between Bruges and Nantes, we can see that Bruges 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 Nantes Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bruges or Nantes?

Nantes has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Bruges. When comparing the sizes of Bruges and Nantes, 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 Nantes?

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 Nantes in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bruges and Nantes. Many visitors come to Bruges in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Nantes for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Bruges is cooler than Nantes in the summer. The daily temperature in Bruges averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Nantes fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Nantes this time of the year. In Bruges, it's very sunny this time of the year. Bruges usually receives less sunshine than Nantes during summer. Bruges gets 202 hours of sunny skies, while Nantes receives 267 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Bruges usually receives more rain than Nantes. Bruges gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Bruges or Nantes in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Bruges as well as Nantes. Most visitors come to Bruges for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Nantes because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Bruges is around the same temperature as Nantes. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bruges in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Nantes averages at about 13°C (56°F).

In the autumn, Bruges often gets less sunshine than Nantes. Bruges gets 105 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nantes receives 141 hours of full sun.

Bruges usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Nantes. Bruges gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bruges or Nantes in the Winter?

Both Nantes and Bruges are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Bruges because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Nantes this time of year.

The weather in Bruges can be very cold. In January, Bruges is generally much colder than Nantes. Daily temperatures in Bruges average around 3°C (38°F), and Nantes fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

Bruges usually receives less sunshine than Nantes during winter. Bruges gets 47 hours of sunny skies, while Nantes receives 72 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bruges usually receives less rain than Nantes. Bruges gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Bruges or Nantes in the Spring?

Both Nantes and Bruges during the spring are popular places to visit. The natural beauty are the main draw to Bruges this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Nantes for the natural beauty.

Bruges is cooler than Nantes in the spring. The daily temperature in Bruges averages around 8°C (47°F) in April, and Nantes fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In the spring, Bruges often gets less sunshine than Nantes. Bruges gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nantes receives 187 hours of full sun.

Bruges usually gets less rain in April than Nantes. Bruges gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Nantes and Bruges