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

Should you visit Santorini or Bruges?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Santorini 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.

Santorini

Santorini is a romantic, stunning, and historic island. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Since it has a quaint atmosphere, you'll want to spend time soaking it all in. It's also popular because of the nightlife, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling.

Bruges

Bruges is a historic, charming, 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.

Santorini and Bruges: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santorini or Bruges?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Santorini than Bruges, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Santorini is more popular for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and shopping, while Bruges is known for its museums, food, historical sights, and quaint atmosphere. Santorini is popular for its beautiful volcanic beaches, stunning natural beauty, and breathtaking sunsets over the whitewashed villages. It is also home to The Caldera and Volcano of Santorini. Bruges is popular for its scenic old town, charming streets, local chocolate, and unique Christmas market.

How is Santorini different from Bruges?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Bruges is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Santorini is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its sights and museums.

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 Santorini. One of the most impressive historical sights is Akrotiri Archaeological Site. The island has many archeological sites as well as the Archeological Museum in Fira.

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

Bruges is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Santorini is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Bruges has a huge number of terrific 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.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Santorini area. Popular foods on this island include fava, Greek salad, and kofta.

Is Santorini or Bruges Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find good options in both Santorini and Bruges.

If you're looking for night time activities Santorini has a few options to choose from. It is one of the calmer, more romantic islands in Greece. For the best nightlife, you'll want to stay near Fira.

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 Santorini or Bruges Better for Resorts?

Santorini is very popular for its luxury resorts. However, Bruges is not a resort destination.

Vacationers flock to Santorini for its luxury resorts. The resorts range from all-inclusive options to resorts with a more local feel. The island is one of the most romantic of the Greek Islands, and the resorts are no exception.

Bruges is not a resort destination.

Is Santorini or Bruges Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santorini is a good destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Bruges is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Grab a mask and fins and explore the underwater scenery in Santorini. Some of the best snorkeling places are found at Red Beach, White Beach, and the less accessible Kambia. One of the island's best diving spots is Caldera Beach.

Bruges is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Santorini or Bruges Better for Beaches?

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

Santorini offers a nice beach destination. The island has many beaches, most of which are made of black pebbly sand that are a result of the island's volcanic history. Popular beaches include Perissa Beach, Kamari Beach, and Perivolos Beach.

Bruges is not a beach destination.

Is Santorini or Bruges Better for its Old Town?

Bruges is an unbeatable place for its old town. However, Santorini does not have a historic old town.

With a famous historical old-town, Bruges offers plenty to see. The old town is the main attraction, with its quaint cobblestone streets and beautiful brick architecture.

Santorini does not have a historic old town.

Is Santorini or Bruges Better for Hiking?

Santorini is a good destination for hiking. However, Bruges is not a hiking destination.

Santorini offers some nice hiking trails. The best hiking trails on the island pass by quaint villages and offers stunning ocean views. You can also hike along the edge of a volcano.

Bruges is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Santorini or Bruges?

Santorini 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 Santorini. Towns around the island are filled with clothing and jewelry boutiques as well as many unique Greek shopping experiences.

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 Santorini or Bruges Better for Families?

Santorini and Bruges are both good destinations for the whole family.

Santorini offers lots of family activities. It is a calmer destination than many of the Greek Islands. While it's a great place to relax with kids, the beaches aren't as good as they are on some of the other islands. Most families hang out in Kamari and Perissa Beach.

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 Santorini or Bruges Better for Couples?

Santorini is very popular for couples. Also, Bruges is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Santorini is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. It is a dream honeymoon destination that is famous for its picturesque setting and luxury resorts. For many couples, this is a top pick for a romantic trip to the Greek Isles.

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 Santorini or Bruges Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Santorini is a good island to visit for backpackers. The island has its share of 5 star resorts, but if you head a few streets in you'll find some surprisingly affordable accommodation. Backpackers are welcomed on the island and beaches are free, so it's possible to get by on a relatively low budget.

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

Santorini and Bruges both offer good public transit to get you around.

While Santorini offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is a bus system, KTEL Santorini Buses, that runs 23 buses during the summer months but only a small fraction of that operate during the winter months.

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 Santorini or Bruges a more walkable city?

Bruges is an unbeatable place for its high level of walkability. Also, Santorini is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its ease of walking around.

Bruges is a very easy city to get around on foot. The train station is a short walk from the old town but the city is very walkable and best explored on foot.

Santorini is a somewhat walkable island. Many towns on the island are walkable, including Fira, but the actual island is too large to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Bruges or Santorini?

How long in Santorini or Bruges?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Santorini and Bruges. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Santorini than in Bruges. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Santorini, and 1-3 days is enough time in Bruges.

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

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

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the quaint destination of Santorini. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

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 Santorini or Bruges?

Santorini is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historic 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 Santorini or Bruges?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santorini. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the cultural 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 Santorini or Bruges?

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the romantic destination of Santorini. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

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 Luxury Tours to Greece, The Best Budget Tours to Greece, The Best Cultural Tours in Belgium, and The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium.

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

Which is Bigger, Santorini or Bruges?

Santorini has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Bruges. When comparing the sizes of Santorini 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.