A Complete Guide to Picturesque Bruges, Belgium

Often described as the Venice of the North, Bruges is a beautiful medieval city that you shouldn’t miss if you’re heading to Belgium. It’s located in the Northern part of the country and just a 1-hour train ride from Brussels. With its cobblestoned streets, medieval buildings and beautiful canals, Bruges is easy to fall in love with, and it comes as no surprise that it’s one argued to be one of the prettiest European cities.

Being half from Bruges, I’ve spent quite some time exploring this city and I can say that I’ve come to know it quite well. I recommend staying here for at least two days, but it all depends on your pace and what you want to do. Here’s my complete guide to Bruges, Belgium.

A Complete Guide to Bruges

Top things to do in Bruges

Grote Markt and the Belfry of Bruges

The Belfry of Bruges, which is located on the Grote Markt (right in the heart of the city), is a medieval bell tower that stands 83m tall. It was built around 1240 and rebuilt three times because of devastating fires. The tower served as an observation post to spot fires and other dangers, and today, this tower is Bruges most famous landmark.

It’s possible to enter the Belfry tower and climb its 366 steps leading to an amazing view over the city. Prices vary from €10 to €12 (as of 2020).

Burg Square

This square was already inhabited in the 2nd century AD. Here you’ll find Bruges City Hall, which dates back to the 14th century, the Old Court of Justice and the Basilica of the Holy Blood.

The City Hall can be visited for €5 to €6, and its Gothic Hall is quite famous and impressive. There’s also a museum inside the City Hall that will tell you more about the history of Burg Square. For another €2,50, you can also visit the Basilica of the Holy Blood. I was a little hesitant to visit it at first, but I’m happy I did because it has a rich history and is very beautiful inside.

Rozenhoedkaai (Rosary Quay)

The Rozenhoedkaai is one of the most photographed parts of the city and it’s also the place you see in most postcards of Bruges. It’s a stunning place with amazing views of the canals and Bruges historical buildings.

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Bonifacius Bridge and Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk (Church of Our Lady)

The area around the Bonifacius Bridge also called the lovers’ bridge, is one of these parts of Bruges that look so enchanting. Don’t be fooled though, *SPOILER ALERT*, this bridge might look a few centuries old but actually dates back to the beginning of the 20th century.

Right behind the bridge, you’ll find the Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Church. This is the second-highest brick tower in the world, and it dates back to the 13th century. Inside the church, you will find Michelangelo’s Madonna with child. A visit to this church costs €5 to €6.

Canal cruise

Although a canal cruise might be touristy, it’s also a nice way to see Bruges from another point of view. A canal cruise takes 30 minutes and will show you Bruges most beautiful spots. You can hop on a boat in different locations (check out this website to see the different locations) and a tour costs €10.

Begijnhof (beguinage)

The Begijnhof is one of the quietest and most peaceful parts of Bruges. This court used to be home to the beguines: women living lives of religious devotion without taking any vows. There are no beguines left today, but the Begijnhof is now inhabited by nuns of the Order of St. Benedict.

It’s free to visit the beguinage, but there’s a €2 fee if you want to visit one of the beguines houses that have been turned into a museum where you can see how these women lived.

Minnewater Park

If you arrive in Bruges by train, chances are that you’ll walk through Minnewater Park on your way to the city centre. It’s a beautiful park with a lake called the Lake of Love. The park is the ideal place to escape the city and enjoy some tranquillity.

Jan van Eyck Square

This beautiful square with a statue of the famous Bruges painter Jan van Eyck is another place you shouldn’t miss on your visit to Bruges. The Jan van Eyck Square is the city’s old harbour and you’ll be amazed by the beautiful architecture surrounding the square.

Brewery De Halve Maan

Brewery De Halve Maan is an authentic brewery located in the centre of Bruges. This is the place where Bruges city beer, the Brugse Zot, is brewed. It’s possible to take a 45-minute tour of the brewery for  €12 per person (which includes a beer afterwards).

The brewery also has a bar and restaurant and it’s a nice place to enjoy a good beer while eating lunch or dinner.

Windmills of Bruges

Even though the Netherlands might be more famous for its windmills, Belgium has mills too! Back in the 16th century, Bruges had 23 of them, but today, only four remain. You can find them between the Dampoort and the Kruispoort.

The oldest remaining mill is called the Sint-Janhuismill, it was built in 1770, and it’s the only windmill that’s still standing in its original position. It’s also the only mill that still grinds flour and that can be visited inside for €3 to €4. 

Museums

If you’d like to learn more about Bruges history and art or about… Belgian chocolate, Bruges has some nice museums you can visit:

• Groeningemuseum: This museum exhibits works by Belgian painters from the 14th to the 20th century.
• Sint-Janshospitaal: Showing what life was like in Bruges from the middle ages to the 18th century, this museum includes topics like healthcare, faith and art.
• Gruuthuusemuseum: A museum displaying 500 years of history in historic objects.
• Historium: This is the place you’re looking for if you want to imagine what Bruges was like back during the time of Jan van Eyck. This museum will take you back to the Middle Ages.
• Museum of Folk Life: You can learn about daily life in Bruges during the 19th and early 20th century here. The museum lets you enter an old classroom, an old pharmacy, an old grocery store and more.
• Chocolate Museum: If you like chocolate, this museum might be something for you. The museum will tell you everything about the history of chocolate and how it’s made.

Want to see more of the region? There are some fun things to do in Damme too! This charming town is located just 6 km (3,7 mi) from the centre of Bruges.

When to visit Bruges

Bruges can be visited all year round as it’s charming during every season. The period you’ll like the most depends on your personal preferences:

• Winter (December to March): It can get pretty cold during the winter and it might freeze, but if you have the chance to see Bruges when it’s snowing (although it doesn’t happen that often anymore), it will look like a fairytale.
• Spring (March to June): This is my favourite season to visit Bruges as temperatures start to rise, flowers start to bloom and there aren’t too many tourists yet
• Summer (June to September): The weather is at its best during the summer months, especially from June to August, but this is also the time of the year with the most tourists.
• Fall (September to December): Temperatures are still nice during September. It might rain a little bit more than usual from mid-October to December though (depending on the years).

Do you only have 1 day in Bruges? Check out my post about how to see the best of Bruges in One Day.

How to get to Bruges

One of the perks of travelling in Belgium is that everything’s easily accessible and nothing’s very far away. You can catch a train from Brussels or another place you’re heading from. Check out the train’s timetables here.

Note that the train station isn’t in Bruges’ city centre, you can either walk (20 minutes), take the bus or rent a bike to go to the centre (you’ll find more information in the how to get around section below).

How to get around in Bruges

Bruges is not that big, so it’s easy to visit it on foot. However, if you don’t feel like walking, there are some other options:

• Bus: There are lots of De Lijn buses in Bruges. The price is cheaper if you buy a ticket in advance, and you might want to consider buying a day pass, a 3-day pass or a 5-day pass if you plan on using the bus multiple times.
• Bicycle: A fun way to discover Bruges is by renting a bike. There are a lot of bike rental shops all over the city.
• Taxi: Taxis are expensive in Belgium, so I wouldn’t recommend using them unless you have no other choice.

If you’d like to explore Bruges with a guide that can tell you more about the history of the places you visit, I can recommend you Eric Vandelanotte (+32 477 29 80 57 / [email protected]). Eric is a Bruges native and part of the Hello Bruges Guide Association. He can guide you around in English, Dutch, French and Italian.

Cost of travel in Belgium

The price for a dorm bed in a hostel ranges between €20 and €30 per bed, while prices for private rooms start at about €50. You’ll pay slightly less for an Airbnb.

Meals in Bruges cost anything between €10 and €60, depending on where and what you’re eating (the city centre is the most expensive and fast food is quite cheap). A week of groceries costs about €60 in Belgium.

Where to eat and drink

Since you’re in Belgium, you should definitely try some French fries, waffles, chocolate and beer. If you’d like to try beer from Bruges, Brugse Zot and Straffe Hendrik are some good choices. Apart from beer and snacks, here are some nice restaurants to grab a bite:

• Brewery De Halve Maan: As I mentioned before, this is a great place to drink a beer, eat lunch or have dinner. Make sure to check out the opening hours of the kitchen on their website.
• Bistro Pro Deo:  A beautiful restaurant located in a 16th-century building that serves Belgian cuisine.
• The Olive Tree: A very cosy restaurant with Greek cuisine in the heart of Bruges.
• Bistro ‘t Zwart huis:  A nice place to enjoy good food, beers and cocktails with live music playing in the background a couple of times a month.

If you’re looking for a place to go out and party, I’d suggest heading to the area near the Eiermarkt, which is known for its pubs. Bruges is not a wild party city though.

Where to stay in Bruges

Although I haven’t stayed in any hotels in Bruges myself, here are some options for every budget which I’ve heard good things about.

Budget:
Snuffel Hostel
St. Christopher’s Inn Hostel at the Bauhaus

Mid-Range: 
Monsieur Ernest
Hotel Goezeput

Luxury:
Hotel Dukes Palace 
Hotel De Orangerie