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

Should you visit Graz or Bruges?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Graz or Bruges? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Graz

Graz is a medieval, cultural, and historical city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Bruges

Bruges is a cultural, beautiful, and historic city. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. It also has a unique and quaint vibe that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Graz and Bruges: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Graz or Bruges?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Graz than Bruges, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Graz is more popular for its nightlife and shopping, while Bruges is known for its impressive beauty and quaint atmosphere. Bruges is more touristy than Graz and is known for its scenic old town, charming streets, local chocolate, and unique Christmas market. Graz is popular for its many cultural activities, its impressive old town, and its beautiful Baroque architecture. It is also home to The Schlossberg and the Clock Tower.

How is Graz different from Bruges?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Graz or Bruges?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Graz and Bruges.

Graz offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The old town is among the largest in Europe and it's filled with sights and museums. The Schlossberg and the Clock Tower are among the most iconic sights but other highlights include the GrazMuseum, the Mohren Apotheke's Theriak Museum, a Gothic Franciscan Church, and the Robert Stolz Museum.

Many visitors head to Bruges specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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.

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

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at superb restaurants in both Graz and Bruges.

Graz has a huge number of terrific restaurants. There's a huge focus on sustainable dining in town, so you'll find many restaurants that use a farm to table approach. Local ingredients are heavily valued and it's fun to sample the many local flavors. Backhendl is a classic fried chicken dish that you must try.

Dining out in Bruges is an experience not to be missed. 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 Graz or Bruges Better for Nightlife?

Graz 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 Graz for the nightlife scene. The large student population means that there's an active nightlife scene that is diverse and fun. There's a wide variety of bars and pubs with almost any music genre you could want. There are also dance clubs for those who are looking for a party.

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 Graz or Bruges Better for its Old Town?

It's fun to wander around the amazing old towns in both Graz and Bruges.

The old town of Graz is one of the most recognized in the world. The medieval city center is very well preserved and one of the largest in Europe. The city has a lot of hidden charm and quaint streets to explore.

Bruges offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The old town is the main attraction, with its quaint cobblestone streets and beautiful brick architecture.

Is the Shopping Better in Graz or Bruges?

Graz 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 Graz. You'll find a lot of shopping around both Jakominiplatz and Hauptplatz Squares. There are also a number of shopping streets in town including Herrengasse which is filled with shops, restaurants, and more.

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 Graz or Bruges Better for Families?

Graz 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 Graz. Kids will love the fairytale train and there's also a 4D cinema that is fun for the whole family. In Schlossberg Hill, families should check out The Slide, which is the largest underground slide in the world. Other highlights include a Children's Museum, a Folklife Museum, and a Natural History Museum.

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 Graz or Bruges Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Graz and Bruges make for a superb place to visit.

Graz is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. It's filled with culture, history, and amazing food. Couples will appreciate the romantic old town and the many world class sights around town.

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 Graz or Bruges Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bruges is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Graz is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

Many 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.

Graz is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are hostels and budget-friendly hotels around town that make this a nice town to explore as a backpacker.

Is Graz or Bruges Better for Students?

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

Many students visit Graz. It's long been an education center in Austria and students make up a significant portion of the population. It's also a chill city with a relaxed and student-friendly vibe.

Bruges is not popular with students.

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

Graz 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 Graz. There are buses and trams that travel around the town.

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 Graz or Bruges a more walkable city?

Graz and Bruges are amazing when it comes to walkability.

Graz is a very easy city to get around on foot. You'll find everything you'd want to see in the old town, which is large, but still compact enough to explore on foot.

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.

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

Should I spend more time in Bruges or Graz?

How long in Graz or Bruges?

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

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

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

One day in Graz or Bruges?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Graz. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Bruges. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Graz or Bruges?

Graz 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.

Bruges is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Graz or Bruges?

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

You'll find museums and nightlife around the cultural destination of Bruges. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Graz or Bruges?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the beautiful destination of Graz. 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.

The historic city of Bruges offers nightlife and food. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Christmas Market Tours in Austria, The Best Bicycle Tours in Austria, The Best Cultural Tours in Belgium, and The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium.

When comparing the travel costs between Graz and Bruges, 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 Graz Expensive? and Is Bruges Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Graz or Bruges?

Graz has a larger population, and is about 90% larger than the population of Bruges. When comparing the sizes of Graz 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 Graz 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 Graz or Bruges in the Summer?

Both Bruges and Graz are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Graz for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Bruges because of the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Graz is a little warmer than Bruges. Typically, the summer temperatures in Graz in July average around 23°C (73°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 Graz. Graz usually receives more sunshine than Bruges during summer. Graz gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Bruges receives 202 hours of full sun in the summer.

It's quite rainy in Graz. In July, Graz usually receives more rain than Bruges. Graz gets 126 mm (5 in) of rain, while Bruges receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Graz or Bruges in the Autumn?

Both Bruges and Graz during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Graz because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Bruges this time of year.

In October, Graz is generally around the same temperature as Bruges. Daily temperatures in Graz average around 13°C (55°F), and Bruges fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the autumn, Graz often gets more sunshine than Bruges. Graz gets 139 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bruges receives 105 hours of full sun.

Graz usually gets less rain in October than Bruges. Graz gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Bruges receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Graz or Bruges in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Graz and Bruges. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Graz this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bruges for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Bruges. It's quite cold in Graz in the winter. Graz is much colder than Bruges in the winter. The daily temperature in Graz averages around 1°C (34°F) in January, and Bruges fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

Graz usually receives more sunshine than Bruges during winter. Graz gets 95 hours of sunny skies, while Bruges receives 47 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Graz usually receives less rain than Bruges. Graz gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Bruges receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Graz or Bruges in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Graz as well as Bruges. Many travelers come to Graz for the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Bruges in the spring for the natural beauty.

In the spring, Graz is much warmer than Bruges. Typically, the spring temperatures in Graz in April average around 13°C (55°F), and Bruges averages at about 8°C (47°F).

In the spring, Graz often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Bruges. Graz gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bruges receives 158 hours of full sun.

Graz usually gets more rain in April than Bruges. Graz gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Bruges receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Bruges and Graz