A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Brussels vs. Banff for Couples, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Brussels or Banff?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Brussels and Banff. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Brussels

Brussels is a cosmopolitan, authentic, and colorful city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping. See Brussels travel costs.

Banff

Banff is a sporty, adventurous, and scenic town. As this is a charming small town, visitors also come to explore the sights and local activities. Banff is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for nightlife, food, and hiking. See Banff travel costs.

Brussels and Banff: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Brussels or Banff?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Brussels. Although Brussels and Banff are popular destinations, Brussels has more sights and attractions for tourists. Brussels is very popular for its museums and attractions, historical sights, shopping, and big city activities, while Banff attracts visitors for its skiing, nightlife, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Banff is more touristy than Brussels and is known for its stunning beauty, pristine nature, and nearby lakes. Brussels is famous for its beautiful architecture, grand squares, diverse population, and delicious waffles. It is also well known for La Grand Place (Grote Markt).

La Grand Place (Grote Markt)

How is Brussels different from Banff?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Banff and Brussels. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is Brussels or Banff Better for Skiing?

Banff is renowned for winter skiing. However, Brussels is not a skiing destination.

Banff is a top destination for snow skiing, and it attracts visitors from around the world. The town makes a great base for experiencing the three nearby ski resorts: Banff Sunshine, The Lake Louise Ski Resort, and Mt Norquay. You can purchase a SkiBig3 Lift Ticket and experience the area's best skiing. There's a long ski season and a stunning setting within the Canadian Rockies.

Brussels is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Brussels or Banff?

Brussels is notable for its sights and museums. However, Banff does not have museums and landmarks.

Brussels offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Popular sights include Saint-Michel Cathedral, Place Royale, and the Belgian Royal Museum of Fine Arts. The city is filled with impressive architecture, fascinating art museums, and innovative science and technology museums.

Banff does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Brussels or Banff? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at superb restaurants in both Brussels and Banff.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Brussels makes for a great culinary experience. While the city is most known for its waffles and fries, the diversity of dishes and international restaurant selection continues to grow. There are Lebanese, Japanese, and Indian restaurants among others. Popular local dishes include moules-frites, waterzooi (a stew), and stoemp (made with mashed potatoes and vegetables).

Banff has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The downtown has bistros, taverns, and many casual eateries. For a more fine dining experience, you can go to one of the luxury hotels, which have nice dining areas. Throughout town you'll find classic Canadian food like poutine, as well as pizza and bar food.

Is Brussels or Banff Better for Nightlife?

Banff is well known for nightlife. Also, Brussels is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife and partying.

Banff is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. It's a great town for partying and it's compact and easy to barhop if you want. For the town's size, you'll find a huge number of bars and breweries to choose from, and there's always something going on.

If you're looking for night time activities Brussels has a few options to choose from. The city's nightlife is quieter and more mellow than some other major cities around Europe. That doesn't mean there aren't plenty of dance clubs and bars where you can hang out. Keep your wits about you after the sun goes down as some areas are a bit rougher than others.

Is Brussels or Banff Better for its Old Town?

Brussels is notable for its old town. However, Banff does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Brussels. The old town in the city center is where you'll find the greatest concentration of historic sights. The area is surrounded by tree-lined boulevards and is easy to explore.

Banff does not have a historic old town.

Is Brussels or Banff Better for Hiking?

Banff is renowned for its hiking experiences. However, Brussels is not a hiking destination.

Banff is well-known for its hiking and trekking. The town is set within Banff National Park, and is surrounded by world class hiking. There are more than 1,000 miles of trails that wander alongside rivers, lead to waterfalls, or climb mountain peaks. You may also see local wildlife.

Brussels is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Brussels or Banff?

Brussels is an unbeatable place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Banff is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Brussels make it a world-class shopping destination. Although it's famous for diamonds, the city also has many shopping streets where you can find designer brands, vintage shops, and other unique boutiques that are fun to explore.

Banff has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are tons of downtown shops that sell local items, art, sports gear, or clothing.

Is Brussels or Banff More Beautiful?

Banff is well known for its scenery and beauty. However, Brussels is not a destination known for its beauty.

Banff is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. The dramatic Rocky Mountains and stunning natural beauty make this an iconic and beautiful destination.

Brussels is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Brussels or Banff Better for Families?

Both Brussels and Banff are superb family-friendly destinations.

Brussels is a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has a number of unique kid-friendly activities including a Mini-Europe Museum, a Comic Strip Museum, and Train World. The city is also a chocolate lover's dream with many factories and chocolate shops around town.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Banff is very family-friendly. Kids will enjoy the low key hikes like Tunnel Mountain hike. There's also the Banff Gondola and several playgrounds in downtown Banff. For adventure activities, check out the Golden Skybridge or Lake Louise.

Is Brussels or Banff Better for Couples?

Banff is renowned for romance. Also, Brussels is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.

Banff is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. It's a beautiful destination for a honeymoon or anniversary trip. There are countless hikes and stunning natural beauty. There are also spas, horseback riding, and many great restaurants.

Brussels is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. From beautiful buildings and museums to shopping, dining, and chocolate shops, there are plenty of romantic spots around town. There's a vibrant nightlife scene and many diverse restaurants that couples can enjoy exploring.

Is Brussels or Banff Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Brussels and Banff are superb places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Brussels. The city has an active nightlife and a number of hostels that are great for backpackers, but do take note that some areas can get a bit rough at night, so make sure you understand where you are.

Many backpackers visit Banff. There are a couple of hostels around town and plenty of natural beauty that appeals to backpackers.

Is Brussels or Banff Better for Students?

Brussels is notable for students. However, Banff is not popular with students.

Brussels is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. The city has a number of universities that attract students from around the world. The multicultural setting is great for students of the world.

Banff is not popular with students.

Is Brussels or Banff Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Brussels is an unbeatable place for its public transit. Also, Banff is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors in Brussels can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. Transit options include train, tram, metro, bus, and waterbuses.

Banff has some public transit options. There's a bus system, Roam, that connects the towns of Canmore, Banff, and Lake Louise.

Is Brussels or Banff a more walkable city?

Brussels and Banff both are superb when exploring on foot.

Brussels is very walkable. If you stay in the historical area, it's easy to walk around and many boulevards are being converted to pedestrian areas.

Banff is a very walkable city. The downtown is very walkable and there are trailheads nearby as well.

For even more information, also check out Is Brussels Worth Visiting? and Is Banff Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Banff or Brussels?

How long in Brussels or Banff?

In either Brussels or Banff, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. You can fill a similar amount of time in either place. In general, 1-5 days is a good amount of time for Brussels, and 2-5 days is enough time in Banff.

Families should spend more time in Brussels than Banff. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Brussels, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Banff than Brussels. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Banff that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Brussels than Banff if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Brussels.

One day in Brussels or Banff?

Each neighborhood in Brussels has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Lots of people come for the shopping. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

Banff is a small town where visitors enjoy the nightlife and food. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Brussels or Banff?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Brussels. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Banff is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Banff, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Brussels or Banff?

Brussels is a fun place to experience. Each neighborhood in Brussels has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. Lots of people come for the shopping. Visiting the old town is also a must. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Banff is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Banff, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Brussels or Banff?

You'll find food and shopping around the multicultural big city of Brussels. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the shopping. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Banff is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Belgium, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Belgium, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, and The Best Camping Tours in Canada.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Brussels and Banff, we can see that Brussels is more expensive. And not only is Banff much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Brussels is in Europe and Banff is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Banff would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Banff and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Brussels would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Brussels than you might in Banff.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Brussels Expensive? and Is Banff Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Brussels or Banff?

Brussels has a larger population, and is about 140 times larger than the population of Banff. When comparing the sizes of Brussels and Banff, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.