Ghent vs Bruges: Which One to Pick
Ghent / Bruges, Belgium
Heres the short answer: Bruges if you want postcard pretty and dont mind tourists. Ghent if you want the same Flemish vibe but with actual locals, a younger energy, and fewer chocolate shops. We did both in one weekend, you can too.
Day by Day
Bruges Day
- Morning.
- Markt square coffee, Belfry climb, slow canal walk.
- Afternoon.
- Begijnhof, then beer at De Garre.
- Evening.
- Dinner and chocolate then train to Ghent for the night.
Ghent Day
- Morning.
- Coffee at Mokabon, walk the Graslei.
- Afternoon.
- St. Bavo's Cathedral for the Van Eyck altarpiece. Stunning.
- Evening.
- Beer at Dulle Griet, dinner at Pakhuis.
Where to Stay
- Budget. Hostel Uppelink in Ghent - on the river, central.
- Mid-range. 1898 The Post - in a converted post office in Ghent.
- Splurge. Sandton Grand Hotel Reylof - old mansion in Ghent.
Where to Eat
Pakhuis (Ghent)
Buzzy brasserie in a warehouse. Great atmosphere.
Den Dyver (Bruges)
Belgian beer cuisine - everything cooked in beer.
Mokabon (Ghent)
Coffee institution since 1933. Old-school, no-nonsense.
One local tip nobody tells you
Base yourself in Ghent and day-trip to Bruges. Ghent has a better food scene and far better nightlife.
Gallery
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