Bruges v.s. Brussels: Which Is Better?

Belgium is a small country in Northwestern Europe sandwiched between the Netherlands, France, and Germany. This has resulted in a multicultural blend of languages, cuisines, and architecture. 

Due to the small size of the country, Belgium is usually a quick stopover en route to one’s next destination, with Bruges and Brussels being some of the top destinations people visit. This leaves one to ask which is better to visit if they too find themselves with limited time in the country.

As someone who has visited both cities and found there to be a clear winner between the two, I’ll discuss the key factors setting these destinations apart from each other, like their food, attractions, and overall vibe.

Disclaimer: This blog contains some affiliate links that may generate a small commission from clicks that result in a purchase at no extra cost to you. All opinions in this blog are based solely on my own experience.

Bruges v.s. Brussels: Overall Vibe and Atmosphere

Bruges

Stepping into Bruges felt like stepping into a fairytale! With the main streets about a 15-minute walk from the train station, you’ll soon find yourself immersed in medieval architecture, cobblestone streets, and dreamy bridges over the canals.

Having just been to Amsterdam, I couldn’t help but notice the resemblance of the canals. However, Bruges felt more fairytale-like. 

Although Bruges might be described as a small town, it didn’t seem to feel small at all. We spent an entire day walking through the streets, finding street after street of surprises. From lovely homes to hidden history to chocolate shops galore, this town was brimming with personality and warmth, a great contrast to what we felt in Brussels.

Brussels

Brussels, on the other hand, had somewhat of a dark energy. While I certainly know of people who have been here and loved it, it felt like a city that couldn’t pick an aesthetic. In my eyes, there was nothing particularly special about Brussels that made it stand out from any other European city. One street felt gothic, while another felt modern, and the inconsistency just didn’t align for me.

As the capital city, I was expecting a bit more but found myself let down by the vibes. Even upon visiting on Belgium National Day, the spirit in the air was less than I expected. If you’re into a more metropolitan feel, then you might find yourself to fancy Belgium. 

There are certainly some streets with some charm, but they felt few and far between for me. Overall, it felt less safe and of little character to me.

Bruges v.s. Brussels: Things to Do and See

Bruges

Bruges made a lovely day trip and had a variety of things to do. As mentioned earlier, my brother and I spent the whole day exploring the streets. This included weaving in and out of chocolate stores, indulging in waffles and hot chocolate at The Old Chocolate House, grabbing drinks by the canals, viewing a church, and chasing the far-off sounds of a street parade.

In addition to these activities, you can take a canal boat ride in the summer months. We saw several groups doing this and would have considered taking one if we hadn’t already done so a few days prior in Amsterdam. 

Overall, there is plenty to keep busy with in Bruges. However, the town can easily be explored in a single day and might not be the best overnight option.

Brussels

Similar to Bruges, Brussels can also be done in a single day or less. However, as we didn’t find the town to be as fun to explore, we didn’t get around to as much. Nevertheless, there are a handful of things to do here for those interested.

Our favorite thing we did in Brussels was a chocolate-making tour. The entire country is renowned for its chocolate, so what better place than its capital city to learn how to make chocolate?

In our particular tour, we created our own chocolate bars and even made truffles, my personal favorite. Even though you can find chocolate all throughout the city, it felt special to take back our own handmade chocolate. Although, I must confess that I finished the truffles by the end of the day. I just couldn’t help myself!

Aside from making chocolate, some other things to do in Brussels include visiting the Grand Palace, government buildings, Mannekin Pis, and various restaurants. 

In terms of nightlife, Brussels did seem to have a larger selection of places to choose from, whereas it seemed like Bruges was more of a day destination. 

Bruges v.s. Brussels: Food and Drink

Bruges

We had some amazing food in Bruges and found a great selection of restaurants and dessert shops. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many chocolate shops in my life! I recommend eating at The Old Chocolate House, a warm eatery serving waffles and hot chocolate of various degrees. You can customize your waffles and hot chocolate, making it a truly unique experience.

Aside from this restaurant, there are a variety of places to choose from, and you’ll smell the scent of sweet waffles down pretty much every street. The town has a number of breweries to choose from as well, my favorite of which was Bourgogne des Flandres. This brewery is situated along the water and also offers wine for those who do not fancy beer, like myself.

Ultimately, you won’t be disappointed with the food in Bruges!

Brussels

Since Brussels is the capital city, it has a wider variety of restaurants and cuisines to choose from. You can go for Italian, Greek, Belgian waffles, etc. I appreciated all of the options and had some good food during our stay here.

As mentioned before, the nightlife here is a bit more lively than Bruges. I was still underwhelmed compared to other European cities I’ve been to, but the options are there if you’re looking for a night out.

Bruges v.s. Brussels: Transportation and Getting Around

Bruges

It’s rather easy to visit Bruges from Brussels. Getting to the correct spot in the main station in Brussels proved to be the most difficult part of the trip for us. However, once we found where the train departed from, it was a straight shot to Bruges. You’ll have to purchase a ticket to Bruges in the station before departing, however.

Once on the train, it takes about an hour to get to Bruges, and no connections are needed. I recommend following along with a navigation app of your choosing just to ensure that you are getting off at the correct station and not accidentally getting off early in Ghent.

After arriving at the main station, the majority of people will be walking to the main streets in Bruges, making it easy to follow the crowd. However, your navigation app can also direct you in the right direction. 

Given the smaller feel of Bruges, it doesn’t have much (or any) public transportation available. It is truly a town meant for walking, which I loved! 

The public transportation within the town itself isn’t necessary, but the nearby train station will connect you to all other major parts of the country.

Brussels

Because of its size, Brussels does have more public transportation options, like the metro, buses, and trams. We didn’t use any of these and opted for walking, other than taking a train to Bruges. However, these options are available if you want to use them.

Due to the ease of being able to travel to other cities, however, Brussels was a great overnight base for us. As much as we loved Bruges, it was best visited during the day, as staying overnight would’ve added extra time to our journey the following day.

Search for accommodations in Brussels here!

Conclusion: Which Is Better Overall?

If you couldn’t tell by my somewhat biased and opinionated review, Bruges is the clear winner in all the categories for me. Sometimes you’ll come across a city you don’t fall in love with, and that’s okay! My brother and I felt very strongly that Bruges was the superior town, Belgium’s very best, if I may say it.

While Brussels does have lots of food options and a better nightlife scene, I think its target audience is very niche. Bruges had such character and was truly a delight to explore.

I always recommend visiting for yourself to form your own opinion. But if you’re trying to decide between the two cities as to where to spend a full day, Bruges stands out more. Basing yourself in Brussels for the night can still give you time to explore it when it lights up a bit more, though.

Practical Travel Tips and Final Thoughts

I hope I’ve helped you form an educated decision if you’ve been stuck between whether to visit Bruges or Brussels. If you’ve visited both, I’m curious to hear which destination you thought was better. Sound off in the comments below!

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