A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ghent vs. San Jose for Nightlife, Attractions, Food, and Couples

Should you visit Ghent or San Jose?

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 Ghent and San Jose. 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.

Ghent

Ghent is a cultural, historic, and under-rated city. Ghent is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Ghent travel costs.

San Jose

San Jose is a colorful, bustling, and authentic city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping. See San Jose travel costs.

Ghent and San Jose: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Ghent or San Jose?

Travelers will usually find more to do in San Jose than Ghent, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. San Jose is more popular for its big city activities, while Ghent is known for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Ghent is more touristy than San Jose and is popular for its medieval buildings, large squares, and weekly markets San Jose is popular for its colorful markets and vibrant nightlife, as well as its easy access to the rest of the country. It is also home to The National Museum of Costa Rica.

How is Ghent different from San Jose?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between San Jose and Ghent. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Ghent or San Jose?

Ghent is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, San Jose is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Ghent can be an interesting and educational experience. The city has many different sights that are concentrated in a compact area. Make sure you check out the Cathedral of St. Bavo, The Fortress of Gravensteen, and The Belfry. The audio tour at Gravensteen really brings the history to life and makes for an enjoyable activity.

San Jose offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Despite most people rushing through town, there are a number of museums, plazas, and interesting buildings that are worth checking out.

Is the Food Better in Ghent or San Jose? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Ghent is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, San Jose is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Ghent. The food scene is diverse and international, but there are also many local dishes and flavors that you should try. Pas de Rouge is a local cheese and mastel is a local bread. Ganda ham is also a popular meat that is dried and salted. In additional to traditional restaurants, you'll find almost any international cuisine that you could want.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in San Jose. Most people miss out on local cuisine during their time in Costa Rica, but the capital city offers the best opportunities to eat like a local. You can sample favorite local dishes such as chifrijo, gallo pinto, rondón, and casado. You should also wander through the Central Market and dine at one of the many local restaurants.

Is Ghent or San Jose Better for Nightlife?

Ghent is very popular for nightlife. Also, San Jose is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Ghent is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. With its young student population, you'll find plenty of lively bars and clubs around town. There are many places where you can party or dance into the early hours of the morning and some of the best places are around Oude Beestenmarkt, De Overpoort, and De Vlasmarkt. There's also the famous Ghent Festival every July.

San Jose is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. This city has the best nightlife in all of Costa Rica. You'll find a diversity of clubs and bars that are fun to explore. Check out the reggae bars, dance clubs, and sports bars (where you can enjoy a soccer game) while you're in town.

Is Ghent or San Jose Better for its Old Town?

Ghent is a very popular place for its historic old town. However, San Jose does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Ghent to see the historical old town. The medieval old town follows along the canal and offers great architecture and a unique atmosphere.

San Jose does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Ghent or San Jose?

Both Ghent and San Jose are great shopping destinations.

Ghent is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The city has the largest pedestrian shopping area in Belgium, making it a great place to explore on foot. The city has several different shopping areas which each have their own style and personality. You'll find everything from major European brands to local boutiques and street markets.

San Jose is well-known for its shopping. There are a number of unique things you can buy in the city including jewelry, handbags, and wood workings. Make sure you check out the Central Market.

Is Ghent or San Jose More Beautiful?

Ghent is very popular for its scenery and beauty. However, San Jose is not a destination known for its beauty.

Ghent is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. With its medieval architecture and beautiful waterfront areas, the city has a lot to offer.

San Jose is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Ghent or San Jose Better for Families?

Ghent is a nice place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, San Jose is lacking in good options for its family-friendly activities.

Ghent is a family-friendly city. The city has a fun atmosphere with kid-friendly restaurants and a number of attractions that appeal to all ages. Kids and adults alike will enjoy exploring Gravensteen, which is the "Castle of Counts". You can also take a boat tour, rent bikes, or head to one of the town's playgrounds so the kids can burn off some energy.

San Jose doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Most people pass through the city quickly, but if you have a day or two to explore, you can visit the Children's Museum (Museo de los Niños), Spirogyra Butterfly Gardens, or explore the Central Market.

Is Ghent or San Jose Better for Couples?

Ghent is a very popular place for romance. However, San Jose is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

Ghent makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It makes a great weekend getaway with a diverse restaurant scene, nice hotels, and plenty of historic attractions that you can explore.

Most people don't think of San Jose as a couple's destination. While Costa Rica is a popular honeymoon destination, the capital city is often overlooked for the beaches and rainforests around the country.

Is Ghent or San Jose Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Backpackers come from all over to visit San Jose. Backpackers appreciate the affordability of the city and the wide range of hostels that you can choose from. The city also offers an authentic glimpse of life in Costa Rica.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Ghent. The city has a number of hostels to choose from as well as a young vibe with a large student population. Many people overlook Ghent, but it feels more genuine than nearby Bruges, which attracts the larger tourist crowds.

Is Ghent or San Jose Better for Students?

Ghent is very popular for its student-friendly activities. Also, San Jose is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

Ghent is a great destination for students. The city is very popular with international students so it has a young and energetic vibe with plenty to do throughout the year.

San Jose is popular with students. Many students come to Costa Rica to study the country's amazing environment and unique ecological systems. San Jose makes a good base as its easy to travel to other parts of this small country.

Is Ghent or San Jose Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Ghent is very popular for times when you don't have a car. Also, San Jose is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Ghent has an effecient and thorough public transportation system which can take you anywhere in the city. Buses and trams travel to most parts of the city and are convenient and efficient.

You'll find some public transit in San Jose, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are local buses that travel through the city during the daytime hours.

Is Ghent or San Jose a more walkable city?

Ghent is a very popular place for its walkability. Also, San Jose is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

Ghent is very walkable. The area's with the most tourist attractions are generally walkable.

San Jose is a somewhat walkable place. It can feel a bit chaotic, but it's relatively easy to get around on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Ghent Worth Visiting? and Is San Jose Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in San Jose or Ghent?

How long in Ghent or San Jose?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Ghent or San Jose to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Ghent than San Jose because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Ghent, and 1-2 days is enough time in San Jose.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Ghent than San Jose 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 Ghent.

One day in Ghent or San Jose?

The beautiful city of Ghent offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

In San Jose, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this traditional destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Ghent or San Jose?

Ghent is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Ghent, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in San Jose. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. 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.

Five days in Ghent or San Jose?

Ghent is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that nightlife is why people visit. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

San Jose is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of San Jose. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Ghent or San Jose?

Ghent is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that nightlife is why people visit. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

You'll find food and shopping around the colorful destination of San Jose. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Belgium, The Best Budget Tours to Belgium, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ghent and San Jose, we can see that Ghent is more expensive. And not only is San Jose much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ghent is in Europe and San Jose is in Central America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to San Jose would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Jose 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 Ghent would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ghent than you might in San Jose.

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

Which is Bigger, Ghent or San Jose?

San Jose has a larger population, and is about 45% larger than the population of Ghent. When comparing the sizes of Ghent and San Jose, 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 Ghent or San Jose?

Ghent has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Jose experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Ghent or San Jose in the Summer?

Both San Jose and Ghent during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Ghent in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round.

Ghent is much colder than San Jose in the summer. The daily temperature in Ghent averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and San Jose fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

It's quite sunny in Ghent. In the summer, Ghent often gets more sunshine than San Jose. Ghent gets 202 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 164 hours of full sun.

San Jose gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Ghent usually gets less rain in July than San Jose. Ghent gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Ghent or San Jose in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ghent and San Jose. Most visitors come to Ghent for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the autumn, Ghent is much colder than San Jose. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ghent in October average around 12°C (54°F), and San Jose averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Ghent usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during autumn. Ghent gets 105 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

San Jose receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Ghent usually receives less rain than San Jose. Ghent gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to April in San Jose is the dry season. May to November in San Jose is the hurricane season.

Should I visit Ghent or San Jose in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Ghent as well as San Jose. The winter months attract visitors to Ghent because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year.

The weather in Ghent can be very cold. In January, Ghent is generally much colder than San Jose. Daily temperatures in Ghent average around 3°C (38°F), and San Jose fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Jose. In the winter, Ghent often gets less sunshine than San Jose. Ghent gets 47 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Jose receives 264 hours of full sun.

Ghent usually gets more rain in January than San Jose. Ghent gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Ghent or San Jose in the Spring?

Both San Jose and Ghent are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The natural beauty are the main draw to Ghent this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Ghent is much colder than San Jose in the spring. The daily temperature in Ghent averages around 8°C (47°F) in April, and San Jose fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

It's quite sunny in San Jose. Ghent usually receives less sunshine than San Jose during spring. Ghent gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while San Jose receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Ghent usually receives more rain than San Jose. Ghent gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while San Jose receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in San Jose is December to April. The hurricane season in San Jose is May to November.

Typical Weather for San Jose and Ghent