Bruges or Ghent

The question Bruges or Ghent you will be asked if you visit Belgium few days. That is, which of the two cities is more advisable to visit. And the first thing we should tell you is that, if you have time, know both, because these are true wonders.

Also, they are not big cities, so you can visit each of them in one day. Ghent is the third city in the country after Brussels y Antwerp, with about two hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants. For its part, Bruges has approximately one hundred and twenty thousand. However, the latter is more touristy, which means that its population increases considerably, mostly in summer. Therefore, if you have the option to do so, visit both. But, if not, we are going to explain everything you need to know to choose Bruges or Ghent.

Bruges or Ghent: distance, prices and other aspects to take into account

The Trains They work very well in Belgium. We tell you this because, in our opinion, it is the best way to get to both cities from Brussels. Ghent is about fifty-seven kilometers away and the train takes approximately thirty-eight minutes. For its part, Bruges is further away, specifically about ninety kilometers, which can be traveled in one hour and ten minutes.

Therefore, distances are not a problem when visiting the two locations. Furthermore, both Bruges and Ghent are in the same train line. That is, to go to the first, you stop at the second. On the other hand, Bruges station is close to the city center, while Ghent station is a little further away. However, you have buses to make the journey.

Another interesting point when deciding on one city or another is the prices. Regarding these, you should know that Belgium is expensive in general terms and much more so for the visitor. To give you an idea, the estimated cost for a single person per month is around two thousand euros. It is true that this refers to living in the country, not traveling to it as a tourist.

But, in any case, aspects such as hospitality and catering, which directly affect the traveler, are among the most expensive. However, there are no big price differences between Bruges and Ghent. While, as we indicated, the first is a more touristy city, the second is more cosmopolitan. Therefore, the prices are very similar.

Which of the two cities is visited faster?

As we have already told you, you can visit both Bruges and Ghent in one day. However, to better discover all the secrets of these two gems, it is better that you spend a little more time on them. The ideal would be, at least forty-eight hours for each.

But we cannot give you an answer to the question of what to visit, Bruges or Ghent. Both are beautiful and the decision depends on each person's tastes. If you are more attracted to visiting historical monuments, we recommend the first of these cities. On the other hand, if you prefer a more modern and cosmopolitan city, we recommend the second one. And this leads us to show you the main attractions of each. Knowing them will help you decide between Bruges or Ghent.

Bruges, the city of canals

It is the capital of the province of West Flanders and is located in the northwest of the country. Its name derives from the large number of bridges it has and which, in turn, serve to bridge its many interior channels (bridge means "bridge" in Dutch). In fact, it is also known as "the Venice of the North", a name that is also applied to Amsterdam y San Petersburgo.

All the great monuments of Bruges are concentrated in its historic center, declared Heritage in the year 2000. But, in accordance with him, a good part of the most modern city, which was built in the XNUMXth century, responds to the neo-gothic style. Below, we show you the main attractions of Bruges.

La Grote Mark or Plaza Mayor

In it you will see two statues dedicated to Jan Breydel y Pieter de Koninck, two local heroes from the so-called Battle of the Golden Spurs, which pitted the Flemings and the French in 1302. But, above all, it will catch your attention the Bell Tower, since it is an impressive medieval construction that responds to the canons of Gothic. It was built at the end of the 13th century and is on a building from the same period that was used as a market.

To give you an idea of ​​how impressive the bell tower is, we will tell you that its height is eighty-three meters and that its clock is a carillon with forty-seven bells.

Burg Square

It is the other large square in Bruges and one of its main tourist attractions. In it is the Town Hall, an imposing construction from the late 14th century and a flowery Gothic style. Inside it houses two very well-known rooms: the Historical, where old documents and the Gothic, which stands out for its large murals and its impressive hanging wooden vault.

The other large building in this square is the Basilica of the Blood, whose name is due to the fact that it houses a relic of the blood of Christ. It was built in the 12th century as a chapel for the residence of the Count of Flanders. But, in reality, it is made up of two chapels. The upper one is in Gothic style, while the lower one, dedicated to Saint Basil the Great, it is Romanesque.

On the other hand, be sure to pay attention to the medieval houses that are scattered throughout the historic center of the city. For example, those of the Rosario dock, but, above all, the Charity Houses, dating from the 14th century.

The Church of Our Lady and other religious monuments

In the extensive religious heritage of the Belgian city, three monuments stand out, in addition to the aforementioned Basilica of the Blood: the church of Our Lady of Bruges, the cathedral of San Salvador and the beguinage of La Viña.

The latter is an old convent of beguines or women who lived as nuns, but without professing. It is made up of a church and approximately thirty small houses that served as their residence, all in Gothic style.

The church of our lady, which, at more than one hundred and twenty meters high, is the second tallest brick building in the world. Likewise, inside it houses the Madonna of Bruges, a sculpture by Miguel Angel, and the painted mausoleums of Charles the Bold and his daughter Mary of Burgundy.

With regards to cathedral of san salvador, dates back to the 9th century, but the current building dates from the mid-14th century. For this reason, it combines Romanesque with different variants of Gothic. Likewise, inside you can see beautiful tapestries and portraits.

Ghent, living history of Europe

When choosing between Bruges or Ghent, you should also know what the latter offers you. First of all, we will tell you that, in the 14th century, it was the largest city in northern Europe after Paris. Likewise, it is the capital of the province of East Flanders and is located where the Scheldt and Lys rivers meet. But, without further ado, we present its main monuments.

Castle of the Counts of Flanders, Town Hall and other civil monuments

You will find the castle in the heart of the city. It was built in the 12th century by order of Philip of Alsace as a fortress to defend the town. It is completely restored and even preserves its old moat with water. For his part, the Town Hall It combines styles such as flamboyant Gothic and Renaissance.

Ghent also has its bell tower, built at the beginning of the 14th century. In its lower part it housed the textile market and, currently, it offers an exhibition of bells among which is the mythical one. Roland, with its dragon painted in gold.

But it is also essential that, if you decide to visit Ghent, you visit the Herb Quay or Graslei, one of the most beautiful corners of the city. It is a small medieval port surrounded by Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance buildings. The boats that take you through the canal leave from it and, in addition, it is full of terraces.

St. Bavo's Cathedral and other temples

When choosing between Bruges or Ghent, you should also consider the religious monuments of the latter city. Among them stands out the Cathedral of San Bavón, where the emperor was baptized Carlos I of Spain and V of Germany, born in Ghent. The construction is a marvel that combines Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque styles. But, in addition, inside it keeps painting gems such as The worship of the mystical lamb, of the brothers Jan and Hubert van Eyck.

Finally, the Church of San Nicolás It dates back to the 13th century and responds to the so-called Scaldian Gothic, or early Flanders Gothic, which is characterized by its verticality and its large buttresses.

In conclusion, we have tried to answer the question of whether to visit Bruges or Ghent. Both are beautiful cities with all the services. Therefore, we cannot opt ​​for one of them. Consequently, we try to provide you with all the necessary information so that you can decide for yourself. But, if you have time, Dare to visit these two cities in Belgium, since, without forgetting Antwerp, are among the most beautiful of Europe.