A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Brussels vs. Santa Elena for Backpackers, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Brussels or Santa Elena?

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 Santa Elena. 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 historic, cosmopolitan, and authentic city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Brussels travel costs.

Santa Elena

Santa Elena is a scenic, tranquil, and outdoorsy town. Santa Elena is a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for hiking and shopping. See Santa Elena travel costs.

Brussels and Santa Elena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Brussels or Santa Elena?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Brussels than Santa Elena, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Brussels is better known for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and big city activities, while Santa Elena is more popular for its hiking and impressive beauty. Santa Elena is more touristy than Brussels and is popular for its birdwatching and environmental conservation. Brussels is well known for its beautiful architecture, grand squares, diverse population, and delicious waffles. Also, Brussels is famous for La Grand Place (Grote Markt).

La Grand Place (Grote Markt)

How is Brussels different from Santa Elena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Brussels or Santa Elena?

Brussels is great for its historical sights. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for its sights and museums.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Brussels. 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.

Santa Elena offers a few options for museum-goers. The area is filled with outdoor gardens, parks, and nature reserves, but there are few museums to visit.

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

Brussels is great for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Brussels has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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).

Santa Elena offers some easy restaurants to choose from. You'll find some basic but good restaurants around town. Many offer pasta, pizza, and typical Costa Rican dishes.

Is Brussels or Santa Elena Better for Nightlife?

Brussels is a good destination for its evening party scene. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for nightlife.

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.

Most people don't head to Santa Elena specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. There's a couple of bars but not much else for nightlife in town.

Is Brussels or Santa Elena Better for its Old Town?

Brussels is great for its historic old town charm. However, Santa Elena does not have a historic old town.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of 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.

Santa Elena does not have a historic old town.

Is Brussels or Santa Elena Better for Hiking?

Santa Elena is well known for its hiking experiences. However, Brussels is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Santa Elena. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has a range of trails including a walk along the Continental Divide. There's also the famous red hanging bridge.

Brussels is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Brussels or Santa Elena?

Brussels is a must-visit destination for its shopping areas. Also, Santa Elena is not as popular, but is still a nice town for shopping.

Many people travel to Brussels specifically to go shopping. 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.

Santa Elena is a great destination for shopping. There are some art galleries and artisan shops around town where you can pick up some interesting souvenirs.

Is Brussels or Santa Elena More Beautiful?

Santa Elena is a good destination for its scenery and beauty. However, Brussels is not a destination known for its beauty.

Santa Elena is a gorgeous place to visit. The cloud forest and canopy walks give you access to breathtaking views and unique wildlife.

Brussels is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Brussels or Santa Elena Better for Families?

Both Brussels and Santa Elena are excellent 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, Santa Elena is very family-friendly. Monteverde has many canopy walks, zipline courses, and animal parks that the kids will love. The nature and wildlife make this a fun and educational destination for everyone.

Is Brussels or Santa Elena Better for Couples?

Brussels and Santa Elena both excellent destinations for a couple.

Couples visit Brussels frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. 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.

Santa Elena is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. The cloud forest is filled with romantic views and unique landscapes. Couples who enjoy the outdoors will fall in love with this magical setting.

Is Brussels or Santa Elena Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santa Elena is renowned for backpackers. Also, Brussels is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Santa Elena is a mecca for backpackers and budget travelers. Backpackers will enjoy hiking and affordable activities. There are also many hostels with social activities that make this a great backpacker-friendly destination.

Many backpackers 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.

Is Brussels or Santa Elena Better for Students?

Brussels is great for its student-friendly activities. However, Santa Elena is not popular with students.

Many students visit Brussels. The city has a number of universities that attract students from around the world. The multicultural setting is great for students of the world.

Santa Elena is not popular with students.

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

Brussels is a must-visit destination for times when you don't have a car. Also, Santa Elena is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its public transit.

Brussels has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. Transit options include train, tram, metro, bus, and waterbuses.

Santa Elena has a few public transit options. There are buses through town that travel to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.

Is Brussels or Santa Elena a more walkable city?

Brussels is great for its ease of walking around. Also, Santa Elena is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its walkability.

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

Santa Elena is somewhat walkable. It's relatively easy to walk around, but you will need to take a bus to Monteverde.

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

Should I spend more time in Santa Elena or Brussels?

How long in Brussels or Santa Elena?

It's fun to spend time in either Brussels or Santa Elena. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Brussels due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-5 days is a good amount of time for Brussels, and 2-4 days is enough time in Santa Elena.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Brussels than Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena?

Brussels is a colorful city where you can fill many days. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Most people visit for the shopping. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

The town of Santa Elena offers shopping. 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 Santa Elena?

Brussels is a cosmopolitan big city where you can fill many days. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Brussels or Santa Elena?

Brussels is a multicultural city where you can fill many days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Many people spend five days here.If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Santa Elena is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Brussels or Santa Elena?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Brussels. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people visit for the shopping. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Santa Elena 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 G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Brussels and Santa Elena, we can see that Brussels is more expensive. And not only is Santa Elena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Brussels is in Europe and Santa Elena is in Central 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 Santa Elena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena.

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

When is the best time to visit Brussels or Santa Elena?

Brussels has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Santa Elena experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Brussels or Santa Elena in the Summer?

Both Santa Elena and Brussels during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Brussels because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round.

In July, Brussels is generally much colder than Santa Elena. Daily temperatures in Brussels average around 18°C (65°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

In the summer, Brussels often gets more sunshine than Santa Elena. Brussels gets 186 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 164 hours of full sun.

Santa Elena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Brussels usually gets less rain in July than Santa Elena. Brussels gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Brussels or Santa Elena in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Brussels and Santa Elena. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Brussels this time of year. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Brussels is much colder than Santa Elena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Brussels averages around 12°C (54°F) in October, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Brussels usually receives less sunshine than Santa Elena during autumn. Brussels gets 114 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Santa Elena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Brussels usually receives less rain than Santa Elena. Brussels gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The hurricane season in Santa Elena is June to October.

Should I visit Brussels or Santa Elena in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Brussels as well as Santa Elena. Many travelers come to Brussels for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Brussels. In the winter, Brussels is much colder than Santa Elena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Brussels in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 27°C (81°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. In the winter, Brussels often gets less sunshine than Santa Elena. Brussels gets 49 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 264 hours of full sun.

Brussels usually gets more rain in January than Santa Elena. Brussels gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, February to May in Santa Elena is the dry season.

Should I visit Brussels or Santa Elena in the Spring?

Both Santa Elena and Brussels are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Brussels in the spring for the activities around the city. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In April, Brussels is generally much colder than Santa Elena. Daily temperatures in Brussels average around 10°C (49°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

It's quite sunny in Santa Elena. Brussels usually receives less sunshine than Santa Elena during spring. Brussels gets 147 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Brussels usually receives more rain than Santa Elena. Brussels gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Santa Elena is February to May. June to October is the hurricane season in Santa Elena.

Typical Weather for Santa Elena and Brussels