A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Inverness vs. Bruges for Attractions, Food, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Inverness or Bruges?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Inverness and Bruges can help you decide which place is right for you.

Inverness

Inverness is a historic, cultural, and traditional city. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Bruges

Bruges is a beautiful, historic, and charming city. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It also has a unique and quaint vibe that attracts lots of visitors. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Inverness and Bruges: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Inverness or Bruges?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Bruges. Although Inverness and Bruges are both popular with visitors, Bruges has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Bruges is more popular for its historical sights, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Inverness is known for its shopping and small town charm. Bruges is more touristy than Inverness and is popular for its scenic old town, charming streets, local chocolate, and unique Christmas market. It is also home to Bruges' Markt (The Main Square). Inverness is popular for its surrounding countryside, but also its regional heritage, local festivals and proximity to the famous Loch Ness.

How is Inverness different from Bruges?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Plenty of people visit the high quality sights and museums in both Inverness and Bruges.

Many visitors head to Inverness specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. As a city rich in culture and heritage, you'll find a number of sights and museums in town. Check out the Highland House of Fraser, Culloden Moor, and Clava Cairns.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Bruges can be an interesting and educational experience. 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 Inverness or Bruges? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Inverness and Bruges.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Inverness. The city makes a great spot to fill your belly after a few days exploring the Scottish Highlands. You'll find local restaurants that serve up regional specialties, and when the weather's nice, there are some spots with outdoor seating.

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.

Is Inverness or Bruges Better for Nightlife?

Both Inverness and Bruges are good when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Inverness. Nightlife isn't the first thing that comes to mind with this town, but there are actually lots of distilleries in the area and there's a surprising number of high quality bars and pubs that make for a fun evening.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe 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 Inverness or Bruges Better for its Old Town?

Bruges is terrific for its old town. However, Inverness does not have a historic old town.

Bruges has a unique history which comes to life in its historic area. The old town is the main attraction, with its quaint cobblestone streets and beautiful brick architecture.

Inverness does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Inverness or Bruges?

Inverness 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 Inverness. The town is at the cultural heart of the Scottish Highlands you'll find plenty of local shops where you can pick up local products. Make sure you check out the Inverness Victorian Market.

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 Inverness or Bruges Better for Families?

You'll find good kid-friendly activities in either Inverness or Bruges.

Inverness is a family-friendly place to visit. The city has some parks and activities that are great for kids. Make sure you explore Inverness Castle and the Inverness Mystery Treasure Trail.

Bruges is a family-friendly city. 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 Inverness or Bruges Better for Couples?

Bruges is a well-known place for its romantic activities. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

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.

Inverness is a good city for couples to visit. Located in the Scottish Highlands, there ae many scenic spots and nice activities that couples can enjoy in the area.

Is Inverness or Bruges Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bruges is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Inverness is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Bruges is a great city to visit for backpackers. 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.

Inverness is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There a some hostels and student hotels, but this isn't one of the major backpacker spots in the UK.

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

Bruges is very good for its public transit. However, Inverness is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

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.

Public transit is mostly limited in Inverness. There are local buses that pass through the town.

Is Inverness or Bruges a more walkable city?

Bruges is terrific for its high level of walkability. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its ease of walking around.

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.

Inverness is a very walkable destination. It's compact enough that you can explore much of the town on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Bruges or Inverness?

How long in Inverness or Bruges?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Inverness and Bruges. In our opinion, Bruges has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Bruges than Inverness. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Inverness. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

You'll find shopping and museums around the quaint city of Bruges. Visiting the old town is also a must. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bruges has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Inverness or Bruges?

Inverness 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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the beautiful destination of Bruges. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Inverness or Bruges?

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

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the beautiful city of Bruges. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. 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 Inverness or Bruges?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural destination of Inverness. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Bruges is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from London, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, The Best Cultural Tours in Belgium, and The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Inverness and Bruges, we can see that Inverness is more expensive. And not only is Bruges much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bruges would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bruges 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 Inverness would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Inverness than you might in Bruges.

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

Which is Bigger, Inverness or Bruges?

Bruges has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Inverness. When comparing the sizes of Inverness 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 Inverness or Bruges?

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 Inverness or Bruges in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Inverness as well as Bruges. Many visitors come to Inverness in the summer for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Bruges for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Inverness is cooler than Bruges. Typically, the summer temperatures in Inverness in July average around 14°C (58°F), and Bruges averages at about 17°C (63°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bruges. In the summer, Inverness often gets less sunshine than Bruges. Inverness gets 147 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bruges receives 202 hours of full sun.

Inverness usually gets less rain in July than Bruges. Inverness gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Bruges receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Inverness or Bruges in the Autumn?

Both Bruges and Inverness are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Inverness for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Bruges because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Inverness is generally cooler than Bruges. Daily temperatures in Inverness average around 9°C (49°F), and Bruges fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Inverness usually receives less sunshine than Bruges during autumn. Inverness gets 84 hours of sunny skies, while Bruges receives 105 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Inverness usually receives less rain than Bruges. Inverness gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Bruges receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Inverness or Bruges in the Winter?

Both Bruges and Inverness during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Inverness because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Bruges this time of year.

It's quite cold in Bruges in the winter. The weather in Inverness can be very cold. Inverness is around the same temperature as Bruges in the winter. The daily temperature in Inverness averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Bruges fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

In the winter, Inverness often gets less sunshine than Bruges. Inverness gets 42 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bruges receives 47 hours of full sun.

Inverness usually gets less rain in January than Bruges. Inverness gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Bruges receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Inverness or Bruges in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Inverness and Bruges. The small town charm are the main draw to Inverness this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Bruges for the natural beauty.

In the spring, Inverness is cooler than Bruges. Typically, the spring temperatures in Inverness in April average around 7°C (44°F), and Bruges averages at about 8°C (47°F).

Inverness usually receives less sunshine than Bruges during spring. Inverness gets 136 hours of sunny skies, while Bruges receives 158 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Inverness usually receives less rain than Bruges. Inverness gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Bruges receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bruges and Inverness