Which place is cheaper, Bruges or Ephesus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ephesus or Bruges?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ephesus or Bruges, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Ephesus or Bruges?
Ephesus
The ancient city of Ephesus was famed for the Temple of Artemis (completed around 550 BC). It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The temple was destroyed in 401 AD and rebuilt by Emperor Constantine I along with new public baths. The town was again partially destroyed by an earthquake in 614 AD. The city's importance as a commercial center declined as the harbor was slowly silted up by the Cayster River (Kucuk Menderes).
Bruges
Located in the northern part of Belgium, in Flanders, Bruges is one of the most charming and well preserved cities in Europe. With its stone streets and charming shops, it is a postcard perfect city that seems to have jumped out of the pages of a Disney fairytale. The city itself is quite compact, adding to the charm and making it easily walkable. Even given its old world charm, it manages to present a cosmopolitan air as well. There's an active nightlife, but during the day the historical city center is best enjoyed at a leisurely pace. You can take a carriage ride through the cobblestone streets or you can wander around on your own. Be sure to swing into some of the museums, cathedrals, and churches you'll see along the way. There are now shops everywhere that are designed to appeal to tourists. While some may be easy to walk by, it takes the strongest souls to ignore the chocolate shops you'll see on your way.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Turkey, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Turkey, The Best Cultural Tours in Belgium, and The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEphesus $143Bruges $132
The average daily cost (per person) in Ephesus is $143, while the average daily cost in Bruges is $132. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Ephesus and Bruges in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEphesus $70Bruges $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEphesus $140Bruges $126
Compare Hotels in Ephesus and Bruges
Looking for a hotel in Ephesus or Bruges? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Ephesus Hotel Prices and Bruges Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ephesus $51Bruges $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ephesus
Also for Ephesus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Airport Transfer In Ephesus: $205
- Private Transfer From Kusadasi to Pamukkale: $196
- Private Transfers From Kusadasi: $173
- Kusadasi Hotels to Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers: $169
- Akbuk Hotels to Izmir Airport ADB Transfers: $164
- Milas Bodrum Airport (BJV) Transfer to OR from Kusadasi: $140
- Kusadasi to Pamukkale Hotels Private Transfer: $136
- Private Transfers İzmir City or Adnan Menderes Airport to/from Kusadasi Town: $131
- Private Transfers İzmir City Adnan Menderes Apt to/from Selçuk, Ephesus, Şirince: $131
- VIP Transfer Kusadasi From/To Bodrum Airport: $128
- Private Transfer | KUSADASI - IZMIR Airport: $120
- Didim (Altinkum) Hotels to Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers: $115
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bruges
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Bruges:
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Five Day Bus Pass$16
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Bike Rental for Day$8.57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bruges
Also for Bruges, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shuttle Transfer Bruges <-> Paris (1 to 8 PLACES): $291
- Brussels Shuttle Transfer <-> Disneyland Paris (1 to 8 SEATS): $291
- Transfer Shuttle Bruges <-> Disneyland Paris (1 to 8 SEATS): $291
- Private Direct Transfer From Bruges to Amsterdam: $274
- Brussels airport transfer (BRU) <-> from or to Bruges (3 pax sedan): $261
- Transfer Bruges <-> Schipol Airport Amsterdam (1 - 8 Places): $229
- Transfer Ghent <-> Schipol Airport Amsterdam (1 to 8 Places): $175
- Private Transfer from ZeeBrugge or Bruges to Antwerp By Luxury car: $163
- Private Transfer from Bruges to Brussels By Business car: $152
- Private Transfer from Zeebrugge Cruise Port to Brussels hotels : $143
- Brugge Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Brugge: $111
- PrivateTransfer from Zeebrugge Port to Ostend Bruges Airport(OST): $86
Is it cheaper to fly into Ephesus or Bruges?
Prices for flights to both Bruges and Ephesus change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayEphesus $33Bruges $55
Typical Food Prices in Ephesus
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ephesus:
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Sandwiches$0.15
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Dessert$0.17
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Lunch at Beach (for 2)$0.59
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Snacks$0.25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ephesus
For Ephesus, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class in Kusadasi Ephesus: $110
- Ephesus Tour with Cooking Class in the Village: $149
- Taste of Traditional Turkish Cuisine | Small Group Kusadasi Food Tour: $211
- Cooking Class in Ephesus Selcuk Town: $228
Typical Food Prices in Bruges
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Bruges:
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Cup of Tea$2.14
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Sandwich for Lunch$3.48
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bruges
For Bruges, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The 10 Tastings of Bruges With Locals: Private Food Tour : $133
- Private Food Tour – 10 Tastings with Locals: $142
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ephesus $59Bruges $16
Tours and Activities in Ephesus
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ephesus.
- Ephesus Half Day Small Group Tour: $40
- Ephesus Shared Tour from Kuşadası Port: $130
- Ephesus Tour With Small Group From Kusadasi: $76
- Ephesus Tour from Kusadası Port: $44
- Ephesus small groups Tour For Cruisers (skip the line): $100
- Ephesus tours Sirince Village from Kusadasi Port with lunch: $63
- Ephesus tours and Virgin Mary's House Temple Artemis tours : $67
- Private Tour Ephesus for Cruise Guests : $250
- Private Tour to Ephesus, Virgin Mary, and Artemis Temple From Cruise Ship/Hotel: $120
- Small Group Pamukkale Day Tour from Selcuk or Kusadası : $93
- "Ephesus Tours" Port Kusadasi lunch guide bus shopping Caravanserai artemis : $58
- "No Better Way to Explore History - Affordable Ephesus Tour": $30
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bruges
For Bruges, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Groeninge Museum Entrance$8.57
Tours and Activities in Bruges
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Bruges.
- "Essential Brugge" Photo Tour (3hr private city tour & workshop): $273
- "Hidden Brugge" Photo Tour (2hr open city tour & workshop): $76
- "Shades of Brugge" Photo Tour (3hr private city tour & workshop): $273
- 2-Hour Private Walking Tour of Bruges: $229
- BRYGGJA ROMANTICA - 3 Hour Romantic Tour in Bruges: $55
- Beery Bruges Tasting Tour: $58
- Bike Your Way Through Bruges A Fun & Active Sightseeing Adventure: $44
- Breathtaking Bruges - Private Walking Tour: $152
- Bruges : Highlights & Hidden gems Walking Tour: $80
- Bruges Beer Tour with chocolate pairing by a young local: $60
- Bruges Beer and Chocolate Walking Tour: $95
- Bruges Guided Walking Tour: Stories, Mysteries and People: $3.21
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEphesus $15Bruges $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ephesus
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Ephesus from other travelers:
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Beer$0.12
Sample the Local Flavors in Ephesus
Also in Ephesus, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Skip-the-line Ephesus & Wine Tasting Tour From Kusadasi Port: $53
- Ephesus port tours and Wine Tasting Tours : $70
- Ephesus&Sirince Village with Wine Tasting Shore Ex: $100
- Ephesus and Sirince with Wine tasting Private Half Day Shore Excursion: $100
- Ancient Ephesus tour with Wine Tasting in the village and visit to Mother's Mary House: $130
- Private Ephesus Tour with Wine Tasting: $134
- Virgin Mary Bread and Wine Tour included Lunch: $300
Sample the Local Flavors in Bruges
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Bruges:
- Bruges Pub Trail: Pub crawl with interactive online game: $12
- Bourgogne des Flandres Brewery and Distillery Visit: $17
- Private: Discover Bruges beers & brewery with chocolate pairing by a young local: $191
- Beer walking tour with visit Brewery Bourgogne de Flandres: $642
When comparing the travel costs between Ephesus and Bruges, we can see that Ephesus 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 Ephesus Expensive? and Is Bruges Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ephesus or Bruges?
Bruges has a larger population, and is about 85% larger than the population of Ephesus. When comparing the sizes of Ephesus and Bruges, 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 Ephesus or Bruges?
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 Ephesus or Bruges in the Summer?
Both Bruges and Ephesus are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Bruges in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Ephesus is much warmer than Bruges. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ephesus in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Bruges averages at about 17°C (63°F).
It's quite sunny in Bruges. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ephesus. Ephesus usually receives more sunshine than Bruges during summer. Ephesus gets 378 hours of sunny skies, while Bruges receives 202 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Ephesus usually receives less rain than Bruges. Ephesus gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Bruges receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyEphesus 27°C (81°F)Bruges 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Ephesus or Bruges in the Autumn?
Both Bruges and Ephesus during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Bruges for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Ephesus is generally much warmer than Bruges. Daily temperatures in Ephesus average around 19°C (66°F), and Bruges fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
It's quite sunny in Ephesus. In the autumn, Ephesus often gets more sunshine than Bruges. Ephesus gets 232 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bruges receives 105 hours of full sun.
Ephesus usually gets less rain in October than Bruges. Ephesus gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Bruges receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberEphesus 19°C (66°F)Bruges 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Ephesus or Bruges in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Ephesus and Bruges. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Bruges because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Bruges can be very cold. Ephesus is much warmer than Bruges in the winter. The daily temperature in Ephesus averages around 10°C (50°F) in January, and Bruges fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
Ephesus usually receives more sunshine than Bruges during winter. Ephesus gets 131 hours of sunny skies, while Bruges receives 47 hours of full sun in the winter.
Ephesus gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Ephesus usually receives more rain than Bruges. Ephesus gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Bruges receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryEphesus 10°C (50°F)Bruges 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Ephesus or Bruges in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Ephesus as well as Bruges. Additionally, the natural beauty are the main draw to Bruges this time of year.
In the spring, Ephesus is much warmer than Bruges. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ephesus in April average around 15°C (59°F), and Bruges averages at about 8°C (47°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ephesus this time of the year. In the spring, Ephesus often gets more sunshine than Bruges. Ephesus gets 231 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bruges receives 158 hours of full sun.
Ephesus usually gets less rain in April than Bruges. Ephesus gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Bruges receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilEphesus 15°C (59°F)Bruges 8°C (47°F)
Typical Weather for Bruges and Ephesus
| Ephesus | Bruges | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (50°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (53°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (58°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 75 mm (2.9 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (53°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.