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

Should you visit Southampton or Bruges?

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

Should I visit Southampton or Bruges? 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.

Southampton

Southampton is a dynamic, up-and-coming, and waterfront port city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Bruges

Bruges is a cultural, beautiful, 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.

Southampton and Bruges: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Southampton or Bruges?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Bruges than Southampton. While Southampton is larger than Bruges, Bruges has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Bruges is more touristy than Southampton and is known for its scenic old town, charming streets, local chocolate, and unique Christmas market. It is also home to Bruges' Markt (The Main Square). Southampton is popular for its popularity as a cruise ship port as well as its focus watersports.

How is Southampton different from Bruges?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Bruges offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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 Southampton. Museums are a favorite activity in town. There are a surprising number of options including SeaCity Museum, the Tudor House and Garden, and Southampton City Art Gallery.

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

Bruges is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Southampton is not as popular, but is still a nice port city 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 Southampton area. While most people used to pass through Southampton on their way somewhere else, the city now offers a dynamic food scene with local restaurants mixed with international options and even fine dining.

Is Southampton or Bruges Better for Nightlife?

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

If you're looking for night time activities Southampton has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene is filled with restaurants, pubs, and bars as well as a few nightclubs mixed in.

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 Southampton or Bruges Better for its Old Town?

Bruges is an amazing city to visit for its old town. However, Southampton does not have a historic old town.

Bruges offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The old town is the main attraction, with its quaint cobblestone streets and beautiful brick architecture.

Southampton does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Southampton or Bruges?

If you're looking to go shopping, Southampton and Bruges both offer plenty of good spots.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Southampton. The city has two indoor shopping centers, as well as a range of markets and several independent vendors.

Many visitors go to Bruges to go 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 Southampton or Bruges Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Southampton or Bruges.

Southampton offers lots of family activities. This cruise port city offers a handful of fascinating activities for kids including learning about the Mayflower and the Titanic. There are also many parks and gardens as well as the Mayflower Theater, which regularly has kid-family productions.

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 Southampton or Bruges Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Southampton and Bruges make for a superb place to visit.

Southampton is a great port city if you're traveling as a couple. Museums, parks, gardens, and chartered boats all offer a romantic experience for couples visiting the area.

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 Southampton or Bruges Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bruges is a great city for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Southampton is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

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.

Southampton is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

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

Bruges is a popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Southampton is not known for its public transit.

While Bruges offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. 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 generally limited in Southampton. There are buses around town that make some areas accessible even without a car.

Is Southampton or Bruges a more walkable city?

Bruges is an amazing city to visit for its high level of walkability. Also, Southampton is not as popular, but is still a nice port city 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.

Southampton is a somewhat walkable port city. It's possible to walk in parts of Southampton but in general it's easier to take a taxi.

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

Should I spend more time in Bruges or Southampton?

How long in Southampton or Bruges?

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

Families should spend more time in Bruges than Southampton. 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 Southampton. 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 Southampton 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 Southampton or Bruges?

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

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the historic city of Bruges. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Southampton or Bruges?

Southampton 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.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the historic destination of Bruges. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Southampton or Bruges?

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

The beautiful city of Bruges offers shopping and museums. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Southampton or Bruges?

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

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Bruges. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, The Best 10-Day Tours from London, The Best Cultural Tours in Belgium, and The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium.

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

Which is Bigger, Southampton or Bruges?

Southampton has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Bruges. When comparing the sizes of Southampton 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 Southampton 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 Southampton or Bruges in the Summer?

Both Bruges and Southampton are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Southampton for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Bruges because of the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Southampton is around the same temperature as Bruges. Typically, the summer temperatures in Southampton in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Bruges averages at about 17°C (63°F).

It's quite sunny in Bruges. Southampton usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bruges during summer. Southampton gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Bruges receives 202 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Southampton usually receives less rain than Bruges. Southampton gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Bruges receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Southampton or Bruges in the Autumn?

Both Bruges and Southampton during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Southampton 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 Bruges this time of year.

In October, Southampton is generally around the same temperature as Bruges. Daily temperatures in Southampton average around 12°C (53°F), and Bruges fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the autumn, Southampton often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Bruges. Southampton gets 107 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bruges receives 105 hours of full sun.

Southampton usually gets less rain in October than Bruges. Southampton gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Bruges receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Southampton or Bruges in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Southampton and Bruges. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Southampton this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Bruges for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Bruges. It's quite cold in Southampton in the winter. Southampton is a little warmer than Bruges in the winter. The daily temperature in Southampton averages around 4°C (40°F) in January, and Bruges fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

Southampton usually receives more sunshine than Bruges during winter. Southampton gets 52 hours of sunny skies, while Bruges receives 47 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Southampton usually receives less rain than Bruges. Southampton gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Bruges receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Southampton or Bruges in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Southampton as well as Bruges. Many travelers come to Southampton for the natural beauty. Additionally, many visitors come to Bruges in the spring for the natural beauty.

In the spring, Southampton is around the same temperature as Bruges. Typically, the spring temperatures in Southampton in April average around 9°C (48°F), and Bruges averages at about 8°C (47°F).

In the spring, Southampton often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Bruges. Southampton gets 147 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bruges receives 158 hours of full sun.

Southampton usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Bruges. Southampton gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Bruges receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Bruges and Southampton