Location: Belgium
Great for: Singles, Couples, Families, Groups, and Honeymoons
So you love Medieval towns in Belgium and have a choice to make: Ghent or Bruges. How do you choose? We’ve got you covered. While both cities are well-preserved and known for their city squares and bell towers, Ghent is larger and tends to be less touristy. It’s a typical working city and may give a visitor a more “normal” peek into Belgian life. On the other hand, Bruges, which is situated around canals, offers a bit more touristy vibe.
Below is a quick list covering popular sights, food favorites, and how to get around both towns providing you with a few items to help you choose.
Ghent
Let's start with the sights in this beautiful town. There are so many so don't just stick to these.
1. The Gravensteen, or “The Castle of the Counts”: A large castle from the 1180s. In East Flanders, the current castle dates from 1180 and was the residence of the Counts of Flanders until 1353. Later, it was used as a court, prison, mint, and even as a cotton factory at one time.
2. St. Bravo’s Cathedral: This Catholic Cathedral took over 500 years to construct and was finally finished in 1569. During that period various styles complemented the Gothic style. It stands 292 feet tall!
3. The Bellfry of Ghent: A UNESCO World Heritage site and the largest bell tower standing overlooking the old city center. At 298 feet tall it is the tallest in Belgium.
4. The St. Michael’s Bridge area: One of the most picturesque areas in the city. It's a must-see simply for the view. If you can catch the view at night, it is beautiful.
Ghent offers plenty of the traditional and expected Belgian fair, including beer, chocolate, waffles, and fries. Consider seeking out Brussels’ Bread and Speculoos if you are a sweets-lover. Alternatively, look for any one of a variety of local soups and stews for sale.
Easily explored on foot, Ghent also offers trams, busses, boats, and bikes as a way to see the area. You’ll need some form of transportation to get to Gravensteen.
Bruges
Now on the Bruge. First the name. Bruges is the correct spelling in English and Brugge is the Flemish spelling. So whichever way you spell it, you are right!
1. Bruges City Hall: This Gothic-style building was built in 1421 and is one of the oldest in the Netherlands.
2. Church of our Lady Bruges: A Catholic cathedral showcasing Bruges’s wealth over the centuries. The most famous element of the Church of Our Lady in Bruges is the white marble sculpture of the Madonna and Child created by Michelangelo c1504. It is one of just a handful of Michelangelo’s sculptures to be found outside Italy.
3. The Bellfry of Bruges: An enormous, city-center bell tower and the site of movies and let's not forget the poem by Longfellow. If you love a good view take the 366 steps to the top and look out on Bruges. But watch your step, like most of that time period the winding stairs become very narrow.
4. Market Square: Surrounded by some of the city’s most iconic buildings including the Belfry of Bruges, the main square in Bruges has held a weekly market since 958. You'll notice carriages waiting to offer rides. What a great way to see Bruges.
Elderberry Soup and Curried Mussel and Butternut Squash Soup are popular Bruges fare. Don’t bypass the town’s soft and creamy Passendale cheese or the local sweet, the Brugsch Swaentje, which means, Bruges swans, an iconic Bruges symbol. The real swans are easy to spot in the canals. And don't forget the amazing waffles, the best you'll ever have. And the chocolate...oh the chocolate!
Bruges is small and much of the city does not allow for cars, making it an excellent place for walking. Busses can take you outside the city center but are often not necessary. You must take a canal boat ride while there to see the area at that view is just wonderful. Boats are everywhere.
We have given you just a few sights in each area but they are full of many historic sights, museums, shops, pubs, and more. Most ocean cruises and river cruises to the area offer tours of both places giving you an opportunity to explore on your own or with a tour. While one day wandering around each place is a great way to see the towns and is highly recommended, you may have an option to see both. The choice is yours to immerse in one town or get a flavor of each.
Choosing between Ghent and Bruges may be tough, but it’s not impossible. While Ghent and Bruges share many traits, the bottom line is this: If you’re looking for a more bustling, day-to-day peek into Belgian life, go with Ghent. But, if you’re looking for a more nostalgic, days-gone-by look into Belgium, Bruges is worth a look. Either way, Belgium is not to be missed!
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