Which place is cheaper, Bruges or Leiden?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Leiden 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 Leiden and Bruges can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Leiden or Bruges?
Leiden
Leiden is a city in the province of South Holland. It is south of the Netherlands capital, Amsterdam, and has a population of about 190,000. It is known for its university, museums, markets, and of course, canals. Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands and is a sister school of Oxford, which is England's oldest university.
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 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam, The Best Cultural Tours in Belgium, and The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeiden €133Bruges €123
The average daily cost (per person) in Leiden is €133, while the average daily cost in Bruges is €123. 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 Leiden and Bruges in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeiden €78Bruges €59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeiden €156Bruges €118
Compare Hotels in Leiden and Bruges
Looking for a hotel in Leiden 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: Leiden Hotel Prices and Bruges Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leiden €26Bruges €17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leiden
Also for Leiden, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zero Emission Tesla Taxi Transfer from Leiden Area to the Airport: $93
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€15
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Bike Rental for Day€8.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bruges
Also for Bruges, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Shuttle Bruges <-> Disneyland Paris (1 to 8 SEATS): $291
- Transfer Ghent <-> Schipol Airport Amsterdam (1 to 8 Places): $175
- Transfer Bruges <-> Schipol Airport Amsterdam (1 - 8 Places): $229
- Shuttle Transfer Bruges <-> Paris (1 to 8 PLACES): $291
- PrivateTransfer from Zeebrugge Port to Ostend Bruges Airport(OST): $86
- Private Transfer from Zeebrugge Cruise Port to Brussels hotels : $143
- Private Transfer from Zeebrugge Cruise Port to Bruges hotels : $33
- 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 Bruges City Hotels to Zeebrugge Cruise Port: $33
- Private Direct Transfer From Bruges to Amsterdam: $274
- Brussels airport transfer (BRU) <-> from or to Bruges (3 pax sedan): $261
Is it cheaper to fly into Leiden or Bruges?
Prices for flights to both Bruges and Leiden 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 dayLeiden €39Bruges €52
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€2.00
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Sandwich for Lunch€3.25
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.Leiden €17Bruges €15
Tours and Activities in Leiden
For Leiden, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 90 minutes Walking tour and Escape room in Leiden: $21
- Discover Leiden with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!: $27
- Dutch Windmills & Polder Walking Tour: $33
- Half-Day Private Guided Tour in Leiden: $163
- Highlights Walking Tour in Leiden with Audio and GPS Guide: $7.59
- Historical Private Tour with Local Guide: $320
- Leiden City Tour with Live guide in Netherlands: $41
- Escape Tour - Self-Guided Citygame: $32
- Guided City Canal Cruise: $13
- Hortus Botanicus Entry Ticket: $9.62
- Murder Crime Game Self-Guided Interactive City Tour: $74
- Walking City Tour with Live guide: $32
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€8.00
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 dayLeiden €26Bruges €11
Sample the Local Flavors in Leiden
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Leiden:
- Leiden Private Self-Guided Pub Crawl Pub Quiz: $21
- Leiden Private Self Guided Pub Crawl: $22
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 Leiden and Bruges, we can see that Leiden 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 Leiden Expensive? and Is Bruges Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leiden or Bruges?
Leiden has a larger population, and is about 3% larger than the population of Bruges. When comparing the sizes of Leiden 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 Leiden 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 Leiden or Bruges in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Leiden and Bruges. Furthermore, most visitors come to Bruges for the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Leiden is around the same temperature as Bruges in the summer. The daily temperature in Leiden averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Bruges fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bruges this time of the year. In Leiden, it's very sunny this time of the year. Leiden usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bruges during summer. Leiden gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Bruges receives 202 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Leiden usually receives more rain than Bruges. Leiden gets 75 mm (3 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 JulyLeiden 17°C (62°F)Bruges 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Bruges in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Leiden as well as Bruges. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Bruges because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Leiden is cooler than Bruges. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Leiden in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Bruges averages at about 12°C (54°F).
In the autumn, Leiden often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Bruges. Leiden gets 99 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bruges receives 105 hours of full sun.
Leiden usually gets less rain in October than Bruges. Leiden gets 72 mm (2.8 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 OctoberLeiden 11°C (51°F)Bruges 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Bruges in the Winter?
Both Bruges and Leiden are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, 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 Leiden can be very cold. In January, Leiden is generally much colder than Bruges. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 2°C (36°F), and Bruges fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
Leiden usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bruges during winter. Leiden gets 46 hours of sunny skies, while Bruges receives 47 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Leiden usually receives more rain than Bruges. Leiden gets 66 mm (2.6 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 JanuaryLeiden 2°C (36°F)Bruges 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Bruges in the Spring?
Both Bruges and Leiden during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Bruges for the natural beauty.
Leiden is cooler than Bruges in the spring. The daily temperature in Leiden averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Bruges fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
In the spring, Leiden often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Bruges. Leiden gets 166 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bruges receives 158 hours of full sun.
Leiden usually gets more rain in April than Bruges. Leiden gets 52 mm (2 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 AprilLeiden 8°C (46°F)Bruges 8°C (47°F)
Typical Weather for Bruges and Leiden
| Leiden | Bruges | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 75 mm (2.9 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 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.