A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Toledo vs. Brussels for Old Town, Attractions, Food, and Families

Should you visit Toledo or Brussels?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Toledo or Brussels, 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.

Toledo

Toledo is a fascinating, beautiful, and ancient city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Brussels

Brussels is a colorful, multicultural, and historic city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Toledo and Brussels: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Toledo or Brussels?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Brussels than Toledo, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Brussels is more popular for its shopping and big city activities, while Toledo is known for its historical sights and impressive beauty. Toledo is more touristy than Brussels and is popular for its medieval buildings, ancient landmarks, and fascinating history. Brussels is popular for its beautiful architecture, grand squares, diverse population, and delicious waffles. It is also home to La Grand Place (Grote Markt).

La Grand Place (Grote Markt)

How is Toledo different from Brussels?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Toledo or Brussels?

Spend time exploring the great sights and museums in either Toledo or Brussels.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Toledo can be an interesting and educational experience. This medieval city is filled with ancient landmarks including the iconic Catedral de Toledo. In the old town you'll find many many historic buildings and a fascinating Jewish Quarter. Other notable sights include the Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes, the Alcázar de Toledo, and the Museo de Santa Cruz.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Brussels. Popular sights include Saint-Michel Cathedral, Place Royale, and the Belgian Royal Museum of Fine Arts. The city is filled with impressive architecture, fascinating art museums, and innovative science and technology museums.

Is the Food Better in Toledo or Brussels? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Toledo and Brussels can be difficult as they are each great in their own way.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Toledo. The city offers a great cuisine at a reasonable price. The dishes are influenced by the city's diverse past. You'll find many meat dishes due to the area's long running tradition of hunting. There are also classic dishes like carcamusas, which is pork covered in a tomato sauce. Dishes in general tend to be heavy and saucy with filling and delicious flavors.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Brussels. While the city is most known for its waffles and fries, the diversity of dishes and international restaurant selection continues to grow. There are Lebanese, Japanese, and Indian restaurants among others. Popular local dishes include moules-frites, waterzooi (a stew), and stoemp (made with mashed potatoes and vegetables).

Is Toledo or Brussels Better for Nightlife?

The good nightlife scene is relatively similar in Toledo and Brussels.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Toledo. Most tourists visit the town as a day trip, so things can quiet down somewhat at night. There is a large student population that frequents the bars around town and help keep things lively.

Brussels has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The city's nightlife is quieter and more mellow than some other major cities around Europe. That doesn't mean there aren't plenty of dance clubs and bars where you can hang out. Keep your wits about you after the sun goes down as some areas are a bit rougher than others.

Is Toledo or Brussels Better for its Old Town?

Toledo is renowned for its historic old town. Also, Brussels is still popular, but not quite as popular for its old town.

The old town of Toledo is one of the most recognized in the world. Perched on a hill and spilling out around the cathedral, this Spanish old town is filled with historic landmarks.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Brussels. The old town in the city center is where you'll find the greatest concentration of historic sights. The area is surrounded by tree-lined boulevards and is easy to explore.

Is the Shopping Better in Toledo or Brussels?

Brussels is an amazing city to visit for shopping. Also, Toledo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping opportunities.

People travel from around the world to go shopping in Brussels. Although it's famous for diamonds, the city also has many shopping streets where you can find designer brands, vintage shops, and other unique boutiques that are fun to explore.

Toledo offers some nice shopping areas. Calle Comercio is the main shopping street in town and there are two major shopping malls in the new part of town.

Is Toledo or Brussels Better for Families?

Brussels is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Toledo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Brussels is a very family-friendly destination. The city has a number of unique kid-friendly activities including a Mini-Europe Museum, a Comic Strip Museum, and Train World. The city is also a chocolate lover's dream with many factories and chocolate shops around town.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Toledo. The ancient streets are fun to explore. There are city gates, ancient Arab walls, and older kids will be fascinated by a visit to the Toledo Torture Museum. The city is known for its swords, and there are shops that you can visit to learn about this craft.

Is Toledo or Brussels Better for Couples?

Brussels is a very popular place for romance. Also, Toledo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Brussels makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. From beautiful buildings and museums to shopping, dining, and chocolate shops, there are plenty of romantic spots around town. There's a vibrant nightlife scene and many diverse restaurants that couples can enjoy exploring.

Toledo makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's an ancient city that is filled with fascinating history and impressive historic sights. Couples will enjoy wandering the medieval streets and visiting the ancient gates.

Is Toledo or Brussels Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Brussels is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Toledo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Brussels is very popular with the backpacker crowd. The city has an active nightlife and a number of hostels that are great for backpackers, but do take note that some areas can get a bit rough at night, so make sure you understand where you are.

Toledo is a good city to visit for backpackers. Many travelers visit Toledo as a day trip from Madrid, but for backpackers who want to spend more time, there are a handful of hostels in town.

Is Toledo or Brussels Better for Students?

Both Toledo and Brussels are great destinations for students.

Toledo is a great city to visit as a student. The city is popular with students, and you'll find many activities and a lively atmosphere both during the day and at night.

Students come from all over to stay in Brussels. The city has a number of universities that attract students from around the world. The multicultural setting is great for students of the world.

Is Toledo or Brussels Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Brussels is an amazing city to visit for times when you don't have a car. Also, Toledo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Public transit in Brussels is top-notch. Transit options include train, tram, metro, bus, and waterbuses.

You'll find some public transit in Toledo, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There is a good bus system through town.

Is Toledo or Brussels a more walkable city?

Toledo and Brussels are great when it comes to walkability.

Toledo is very walkable. It's a compact and easily walkable city, particularly within the old town. The bus and train stations are also about a 15 or 20 minute walk from the city center.

Brussels is a very walkable city. If you stay in the historical area, it's easy to walk around and many boulevards are being converted to pedestrian areas.

For even more information, also check out Is Toledo Worth Visiting? and Is Brussels Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Brussels or Toledo?

How long in Toledo or Brussels?

In either Toledo or Brussels, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Brussels than Toledo because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Toledo, and 1-5 days is enough time in Brussels.

Families should spend more time in Brussels than Toledo. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Brussels, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Brussels than Toledo 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 Brussels.

One day in Toledo or Brussels?

The city of Toledo offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Brussels is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Toledo or Brussels?

Toledo is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Toledo, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Brussels is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the shopping, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Toledo or Brussels?

Toledo is a popular choice for travelers. 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Brussels. Don't miss the shopping, as that's what most people do. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Toledo or Brussels?

Toledo is a great place to explore. 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. This city offers something for everyone.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cosmopolitan big city of Brussels. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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 Adventure Tours to Spain, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, The Best Cultural Tours in Belgium, and The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium.

When comparing the travel costs between Toledo and Brussels, we can see that Brussels 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 Toledo Expensive? and Is Brussels Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Toledo or Brussels?

Brussels has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Toledo. When comparing the sizes of Toledo and Brussels, 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.