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

Should you visit Graz or Ghent?

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

Should I visit Graz or Ghent? 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 cultural, historical, and beautiful city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Ghent

Ghent is a youthful, high energy, and cultural city. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Graz and Ghent: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Graz or Ghent?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Graz. Although Graz and Ghent are popular destinations, Graz has more sights and attractions for tourists. Graz is very popular for its historical sights, while Ghent attracts visitors for its nightlife and impressive beauty. Graz is more touristy than Ghent and is popular for its many cultural activities, its impressive old town, and its beautiful Baroque architecture. It is also well known for The Schlossberg and the Clock Tower. Ghent is famous for its medieval buildings, large squares, and weekly markets

How is Graz different from Ghent?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Ghent specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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.

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

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

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 Ghent is an experience not to be missed. 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.

Is Graz or Ghent Better for Nightlife?

Ghent is renowned for nightlife and partying. Also, Graz is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its evening party scene.

Ghent is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. 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.

Graz has plenty to do after the sun goes down. 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.

Is Graz or Ghent Better for its Old Town?

Graz is a world-class destination for its historic old town. Also, Ghent is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its old town.

The historic old town of Graz is revered around 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.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Ghent. The medieval old town follows along the canal and offers great architecture and a unique atmosphere.

Is the Shopping Better in Graz or Ghent?

If you're looking to go shopping, Graz and Ghent both offer plenty of superb spots.

Graz is well-known for its shopping. 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.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Ghent. 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.

Is Graz or Ghent Better for Families?

Graz is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Ghent is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Graz is a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

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.

Is Graz or Ghent Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Graz and Ghent 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.

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

Is Graz or Ghent Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Graz and Ghent are nice places to visit.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Graz. There are hostels and budget-friendly hotels around town that make this a nice town to explore as a backpacker.

Ghent is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. 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 Graz or Ghent Better for Students?

Ghent is renowned for its student-friendly activities. Also, Graz is not as popular, but is still a nice city for students.

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

Graz is very popular with students. 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.

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

Ghent is renowned for times when you don't have a car. Also, Graz is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its public transit.

Ghent has a great public transit system. Buses and trams travel to most parts of the city and are convenient and efficient.

Graz offers a very effecient public transportation network. There are buses and trams that travel around the town.

Is Graz or Ghent a more walkable city?

Graz is a world-class destination for its walkability. Also, Ghent is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

It is easy to get around Graz 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.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Ghent or Graz?

How long in Graz or Ghent?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Graz and Ghent. You can spend similar amounts of time exploring each one. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Graz, and 1-3 days is enough time in Ghent.

Families should spend more time in Graz than Ghent. 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.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Ghent than Graz 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 Graz or Ghent?

In Graz, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this medieval destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Ghent. 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 Ghent?

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

Ghent is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the nightlife. 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 Ghent?

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

You'll find museums and nightlife around the under-rated destination of Ghent. 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 Ghent?

You'll find food and shopping around the historical destination of Graz. 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.

The under-rated city of Ghent 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 Ghent, we can see that Ghent 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 Ghent Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Graz or Ghent?

Ghent has a larger population, and is about 4% larger than the population of Graz. When comparing the sizes of Graz and Ghent, 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 Ghent?

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 Graz or Ghent in the Summer?

Both Ghent and Graz during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Graz for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Ghent because of the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Graz is generally a little warmer than Ghent. Daily temperatures in Graz average around 23°C (73°F), and Ghent fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

In Ghent, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Graz. In the summer, Graz often gets more sunshine than Ghent. Graz gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ghent receives 202 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Graz. Graz usually gets more rain in July than Ghent. Graz gets 126 mm (5 in) of rain, while Ghent receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Graz or Ghent in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Graz and Ghent. The autumn months attract visitors to Graz because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Ghent this time of year.

Graz is around the same temperature as Ghent in the autumn. The daily temperature in Graz averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Ghent fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Graz usually receives more sunshine than Ghent during autumn. Graz gets 139 hours of sunny skies, while Ghent receives 105 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Graz usually receives less rain than Ghent. Graz gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Ghent receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Graz or Ghent in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Graz as well as Ghent. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Graz this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Ghent for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Ghent. It's quite cold in Graz in the winter. In the winter, Graz is much colder than Ghent. Typically, the winter temperatures in Graz in January average around 1°C (34°F), and Ghent averages at about 3°C (38°F).

In the winter, Graz often gets more sunshine than Ghent. Graz gets 95 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ghent receives 47 hours of full sun.

Graz usually gets less rain in January than Ghent. Graz gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Ghent receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Graz or Ghent in the Spring?

Both Ghent and Graz are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Graz for the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Ghent in the spring for the natural beauty.

In April, Graz is generally much warmer than Ghent. Daily temperatures in Graz average around 13°C (55°F), and Ghent fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

Graz usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Ghent during spring. Graz gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Ghent receives 158 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Graz usually receives more rain than Ghent. Graz gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Ghent receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Ghent and Graz