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

Should you visit Bruges or Siena?

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 Siena. 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. It also has that perfectly quaint feel that is like no other place. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Siena

Siena is a history, beautiful, and romantic city. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Bruges and Siena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bruges or Siena?

You'll generally find more things to do in Bruges than Siena. Bruges is bigger than Siena, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Bruges is more touristy than Siena and is popular for its scenic old town, charming streets, local chocolate, and unique Christmas market. Also, Bruges is famous for Bruges' Markt (The Main Square). Siena is well known for its beautiful medieval architecture, its delicious local restaurants, and the twice yearly Palio horserace.

How is Bruges different from Siena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Siena offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. At the heart of the city is Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and Piazza del Campo. Other world famous sights include Palazzo Pubblico and Museo Civico, Torre del Mangia, and Pinacoteca Nazionale.

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

Both Bruges and Siena offer high quality 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, Siena makes for a great culinary experience. The town is all about local flavors and many restaurants use local ingredients in their dishes. Pecorino of Pienza is the local cheese, and you'll also find many cured meats. Local pasta dishes include wild boar ragu and a local spaghetti. You'll also find local meats such as lamb, rabbit, chicken and pork.

Is Bruges or Siena Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is notable in both Bruges and Siena.

If you're looking for night time activities Bruges has a few options to choose from. 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.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Siena. The nightlife is laid back and relaxed. Most visitors enjoy socializing in the evening and meeting friends at Piazza del Campo. There are often live performances which you can enjoy as well as many cafes and wine bars around town.

Is Bruges or Siena Better for its Old Town?

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

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 Siena is revered around the world. The beautiful old town is filled with medieval brick buildings. At the heart of the city is Piazza del Campo, which is a lively square with many neighborhoods spreading out from there.

Is the Shopping Better in Bruges or Siena?

If you're looking to go shopping, Bruges and Siena both offer plenty of notable 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.

Siena is a great destination for shopping. The main shopping street in town is Via Banchi di Sopra, which has many boutiques that sell clothing, bags, and other items. The town also has many leather goods, ceramics, and other local items available.

Is Bruges or Siena Better for Families?

Bruges is very good for its family-friendly activities. However, Siena is a mediocre 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.

Siena is not always a place people visit with their families. The beauty and history may be lost to the little ones but there is a great atmosphere that even the young ones will appreciate. Kids will enjoy climbing to the top of Torre del Mangia or visiting one of the many playgrounds around town.

Is Bruges or Siena Better for Couples?

Siena is very popular for couples. Also, Bruges is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Siena is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. With its impressive beauty and long running history, this is a truly romantic city. The atmosphere is relaxed and there are plazas and neighborhoods that are great for exploring. There are also many great restaurants, superb wine, and world class sights that are not to be missed.

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.

Is Bruges or Siena Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Backpackers come from all over to 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.

It's common for backpackers to visit Siena. Many backpackers visit Siena as a daytrip from nearby Florence. While there are some affordable places to stay here, the atmosphere isn't as backpacker friendly as nearby Florence.

Is Bruges or Siena Better for Students?

Siena is great for its student-friendly activities. However, Bruges is not popular with students.

Many students visit Siena. It's home to one of the oldest universities in Italy, and it's a wonderful study abroad destination for any student who wants to spend some time in Italy.

Bruges is not popular with students.

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

Bruges and Siena both offer notable 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.

Siena has a few public transit options. TIEMME is the bus service that runs in and around town. Many lines pass through the train station and provide service from there.

Is Bruges or Siena a more walkable city?

Bruges is very popular for its walkability. Also, Siena is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

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

Siena is a very walkable city. The compact town center is best explored on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Siena or Bruges?

How long in Bruges or Siena?

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

Families should spend more time in Bruges than Siena. 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.

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

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

In Bruges, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this historic destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Siena. 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 Siena?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bruges. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Siena 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 Siena?

Bruges is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the quaint destination of Bruges. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

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

You'll find food and shopping around the charming destination of Bruges. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the beautiful destination of Siena. 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 Family-Friendly Tours to Italy, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between Bruges and Siena, we can see that Siena 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 Siena Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bruges or Siena?

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

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 Siena in the Summer?

Both Siena 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 Siena in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Bruges is cooler than Siena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bruges in July average around 17°C (63°F), and Siena averages at about 23°C (73°F).

In Siena, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Bruges. In the summer, Bruges often gets less sunshine than Siena. Bruges gets 202 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 316 hours of full sun.

Bruges usually gets more rain in July than Siena. Bruges gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Siena receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bruges or Siena in the Autumn?

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

In October, Bruges is generally cooler than Siena. Daily temperatures in Bruges average around 12°C (54°F), and Siena fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Bruges usually receives less sunshine than Siena during autumn. Bruges gets 105 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 177 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Bruges usually receives less rain than Siena. Bruges gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Siena receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bruges or Siena in the Winter?

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

Bruges can be very cold during winter. Bruges is much colder than Siena in the winter. The daily temperature in Bruges averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Siena fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

In the winter, Bruges often gets less sunshine than Siena. Bruges gets 47 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 105 hours of full sun.

Bruges usually gets less rain in January than Siena. Bruges gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Siena receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bruges or Siena in the Spring?

Both Siena 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 Siena this time of year.

In the spring, Bruges is cooler than Siena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bruges in April average around 8°C (47°F), and Siena averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Bruges usually receives less sunshine than Siena during spring. Bruges gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 192 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bruges usually receives less rain than Siena. Bruges gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Siena receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Siena and Bruges