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

Should you visit Saint Andrews or Bruges?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Saint Andrews or Bruges, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Saint Andrews

Saint Andrews is a historic, charming, and quaint university town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Bruges

Bruges is a historic, charming, and historic 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.

Saint Andrews and Bruges: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Saint Andrews or Bruges?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Bruges. Although Saint Andrews and Bruges are both popular with visitors, Bruges has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Bruges is more popular for its museums, historical sights, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Saint Andrews is known for its beaches, hiking, shopping, and small town charm. Bruges is more touristy than Saint Andrews 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). Saint Andrews is popular for its reputation as the birthplace of golf.

How is Saint Andrews different from Bruges?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Saint Andrews or Bruges?

Bruges is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Saint Andrews is not as famous, but is still a good university town to visit for its museums and history.

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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Saint Andrews. For many, a highlight of their trip is to play a round of golf at St. Andrews Links Golf Courses. Golf enthusiasts will also appreciate a visit to the British Golf Museum. Other interesting sights in the area include a visit to the ruins of the Cathedral of St. Andrew, visiting the St. Andrews University Museums, or stopping by St. Andrews Castle.

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

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

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Saint Andrews. The town holds on to its history and heritage, and that stands out with the restaurant selection. There are a range of of independent cafes and pubs and surprisingly few major chain restaurants and fast food joints.

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 Saint Andrews or Bruges Better for Nightlife?

Both Saint Andrews and Bruges are good when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Saint Andrews. There are a large number of pubs and bars throughout the town, and you'll find students hanging out and keeping things lively.

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 Saint Andrews or Bruges Better for Beaches?

Saint Andrews is a good destination for the beach. However, Bruges is not a beach destination.

Saint Andrews offers a nice beach destination. Adding to the natural beauty is the beautiful coastline around St. Andrews. Some of the best beaches include West Sands Beach, Kingsbarns Beach, Castle Sands, and Saint Andrews Beach.

Bruges is not a beach destination.

Is Saint Andrews or Bruges Better for its Old Town?

Bruges is terrific for its old town. However, Saint Andrews 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.

Saint Andrews does not have a historic old town.

Is Saint Andrews or Bruges Better for Hiking?

Saint Andrews is a good destination for hiking. However, Bruges is not a hiking destination.

Saint Andrews offers some nice hiking trails. There are some beautiful hikes just outside of town. Check out the views from Chamcook Mountain or wander down the Van Horne Trail.

Bruges is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Saint Andrews or Bruges?

Saint Andrews 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 Saint Andrews. The town is filled with boutique shops and local markets where you can buy unique items like artisan food, handmade crafts, or local art.

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 Saint Andrews or Bruges Better for Families?

Saint Andrews and Bruges are both good destinations for the whole family.

Saint Andrews is a family-friendly place to visit. There are some great playgrounds, parks, and gardens that kids will enjoy. Check out Kingbrae Gardens, Ministers Island, and Katy’s Cove. For museums, head to Ross Memorial Museum and Huntsman Fundy Discovery Aquarium.

Bruges is a family-friendly university town. 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 Saint Andrews or Bruges Better for Couples?

Saint Andrews and Bruges are both great to visit as a couple.

Saint Andrews is a very popular place to visit for couples. The scenic landscapes, stunning views, and quaint charm make this a perfect place for couples to escape to. You can enjoy boat rides, seafood restaurants, golfing, and spas all while you soak up the natural beauty.

Bruges makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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 Saint Andrews or Bruges Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bruges is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Saint Andrews is not a good university town 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.

Saint Andrews is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not really a backpacker's destination, but there are some guesthouses and apartments that are more affordable.

Is Saint Andrews or Bruges Better for Students?

Saint Andrews is very popular for its student-friendly activities. However, Bruges is not popular with students.

Saint Andrews is a very popular place to visit for students. At its heart, this is a university town with a long standing history in teaching. You'll find the town's population doubles when students are in town.

Bruges is not popular with students.

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

Both Saint Andrews and Bruges offer good public transit options.

Saint Andrews has a few public transit options. There are buses through St. Andrews.

Bruges has some 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 Saint Andrews or Bruges a more walkable city?

Bruges is terrific for its high level of walkability. Also, Saint Andrews is not as famous, but is still a good university town 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.

Saint Andrews is a somewhat walkable university town. Parts of the town are compact enough to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Bruges or Saint Andrews?

How long in Saint Andrews or Bruges?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Saint Andrews and Bruges. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Bruges than in Saint Andrews. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Saint Andrews, and 1-3 days is enough time in Bruges.

Families should spend more time in Bruges than Saint Andrews. 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.

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

Saint Andrews might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural destination of Bruges. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

A weekend in Saint Andrews or Bruges?

Saint Andrews 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bruges. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Five days in Saint Andrews or Bruges?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Saint Andrews. 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 cultural destination of Bruges. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

A week in Saint Andrews or Bruges?

Saint Andrews is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This university town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find food and shopping around the beautiful city of Bruges. 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. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Cultural Tours in Belgium, and The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Andrews and Bruges, we can see that Saint Andrews 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 Saint Andrews would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Andrews 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 Saint Andrews Expensive? and Is Bruges Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Saint Andrews or Bruges?

Bruges has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Saint Andrews. When comparing the sizes of Saint Andrews 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 Saint Andrews 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 Saint Andrews or Bruges in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saint Andrews as well as Bruges. Many travelers come to Saint Andrews for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Bruges in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Saint Andrews is cooler than Bruges. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Andrews 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, Saint Andrews often gets less sunshine than Bruges. Saint Andrews gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bruges receives 202 hours of full sun.

Saint Andrews usually gets less rain in July than Bruges. Saint Andrews gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Bruges receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Andrews or Bruges in the Autumn?

Both Bruges and Saint Andrews are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Saint Andrews in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Bruges for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In October, Saint Andrews is generally cooler than Bruges. Daily temperatures in Saint Andrews average around 10°C (49°F), and Bruges fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Saint Andrews usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bruges during autumn. Saint Andrews gets 100 hours of sunny skies, while Bruges receives 105 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint Andrews usually receives less rain than Bruges. Saint Andrews gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Bruges receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saint Andrews or Bruges in the Winter?

Both Bruges and Saint Andrews during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Saint Andrews for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Bruges because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Bruges can be very cold. Saint Andrews can be very cold during winter. Saint Andrews is around the same temperature as Bruges in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Andrews averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Bruges fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

In the winter, Saint Andrews often gets more sunshine than Bruges. Saint Andrews gets 58 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bruges receives 47 hours of full sun.

Saint Andrews usually gets more rain in January than Bruges. Saint Andrews gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Bruges receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Andrews or Bruges in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Andrews and Bruges. The spring months attract visitors to Saint Andrews because of the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty. Furthermore, the natural beauty are the main draw to Bruges this time of year.

In the spring, Saint Andrews is cooler than Bruges. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Andrews in April average around 7°C (45°F), and Bruges averages at about 8°C (47°F).

Saint Andrews usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bruges during spring. Saint Andrews gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Bruges receives 158 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saint Andrews usually receives less rain than Bruges. Saint Andrews gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Bruges receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bruges and Saint Andrews