Brugge or Ghent?

I prefer Ghent as a homebase. Ghent is one of my favorite cites.

Ghent. Bruges is barely worth a full day.

If you want peace and quiet at night, Brugge. If you want some nightlife, less souvenir shops and overall better restaurants, Ghent. I personally prefer Ghent. Brugge is more immediately pretty, but the old center feels like it's been mummified for the benefit of tourists, whereas Ghent is a thriving university town.

I visited the area last month, my third visit to Bruges...first to Ghent. Ghent is stunningly beautiful, less touristy, and less crowded with organized bus tours. Having said that I still prefer Bruges. Bruges is just as beautiful (it's historic center encompasses a larger geographic area), there are more things to do, and the shopping is better. The bus tours go away by 4pm so in the evening the city is peaceful, you can also get away from the crowds by exploring the back streets. Was there for two full days, and still didn't get to see/do everything I wanted in Bruges. So I guess I'm saying base yourself in Bruges, and definitely visit Ghent as a day trip. When in Ghent, be sure to take the city walking tour from the TI office...it was fascinating.

Thanks for the replies. We will be going first week in May so I understand the crowds may be starting to affect Bruge. I still need to research hotels but understand Ghent is cheaper to stay in than Brugge.

I liked Ghent better than Bruges. I did a daytrip to both (on different days) and when I left Ghent I felt like there was still a lot to see.

Brugge, definitely!!! We have been for as little as a daytrip from Paris and as much as three weeks in the last dozen years. I would go back again and again. Ghent we have visited from Brugge a couple of times.

We prefer Gent but I have just realized something. When we stay in Brugge we stay at (really hard to find if you don't book early - way early) B&Bs. They are inexpensive (ish) and lots of fun. There are some really good ones in Brugge. When we stay in Gent we have always stayed at hotels - the Ibis, Sofitel (where we got our favourite little bear - now the NH and have no bears), Novotel and our favourite the Harmony. What I realized is we have never cracked the B&Bs in Gent. I understand that RS now has added a Gent chapter to the book. Haven't got the newest one, I wonder if he has included B&Bs?

We visited both on day trips from Brussels. While I think Bruges is a bit overrated as a place to spend much time, I would definitely choose it over Ghent as a place to stay and use as a base. I would say that each can be covered in less than a day. However, Bruges is a far more beautiful place to walk around in the evening. Can't comment on restaurants, although we saw many in Bruges. Also, from the old downtown, it is a long hike to the train station in Ghent. Even though we walk a lot, we took a bus. Bruges train station isn't right downtown either, but it is much closer.

Ghent is a town that combines all of the best a historical town in Western Europe can offer.
Bruges is the Disney World version of the above description. ;-)

" ...Bruges is the Disney World version of the above description..." Except that Bruges is a real place where real people live and work. It's no theme park. Those folks you see zooming around the city center on bicycles aren't government paid actors:) As Kelly LeBrock once said: Don't hate me because I'm Beautiful

Except that the majority of Brugge's population lives and works outside the historical ring, in what is mostly an ordinary, non-descript modern city.

Yeah there is a "modern" section of the city (Bruges has a 40,000 seat soccer stadium), but there are plenty of people of do live in historic core (it's not a movie set or Epcot Center), enough folks to justify running multiple bus lines.

Your question is really tough, because both cities have so much to offer. They also have superficial similarities, like attractive canals and much history. They are also both jammed with tourists, but Brugge is particularly reputed for pressing crowds on weekends. Both old towns almost require a bus ride from the station, but I've walked it in both places. (Remember that except in Brussels, all the transit tickets in Belgium are from the same agency. Get enough on your card to use in both towns.) I think there might be a little more for children in Ghent, as well as more space to run around. But the Beguinage and town park in Brugge have lots of space. Ghent might also be a little cheaper. If you are stuck with a Monday, I think there's a bit more in Ghent on Mondays. While I might approve with the thought (and only the thought) that Brugge looks like Disneyland, it's not a useful term, because it's real. Ghent has many pretty, old buildings, but you don't quite feel the weight of history that you do in Brugge. Bottom line, I would make the decision based on how much you like the available (and for you, affordable) housing options. Don't bother with Osteende (the end of the same train line) unless you're spending a whole day at the beach and a night rehydrating at the bars. I just went there and was disappointed.

Totally subjective, of course, but as someone who has been to both....I'd prob select Bruges; such a pretty, scenic city with very nice people. I just loved it!

Thanks for all the replys. Just booked 3 nights in Brugge. Bummer is having to wait to go.