Things to do in Bruges: canals, the Belfry and a brewery
Bruges is a small medieval center of canals, brick gables and cobbled squares, and you can cross it on foot in half an hour. One night and two days is plenty. The one thing to know: between about 10:00 and 17:00 the center fills with day-trippers, so the early morning and the evening are when it is at its best.
The short answer
- First trip
- Walk the center, take a canal boat, climb the Belfry, visit one museum and finish in a beer cafe.
- Where to stay
- Inside the canal ring for the evenings, or near the station for a lower price and an easy train.
- How many days
- Two days is enough. A single day works if you start early and skip the museums.
- Best time to go
- April to June and September for mild weather, December for the Christmas market.
- Book ahead
- Weekend hotels and the better restaurants. Check whether the Belfry sells timed tickets in season.
- From the airport
- By train from Brussels Airport with one change, about an hour and a half.
Where to stay in Bruges, in brief
Markt and Burg
being in the middle
The two main squares, the Belfry and most of the sights within five minutes. It is busy by day and the bell rings every quarter hour.
Sint-Anna
quiet evenings
Small brick streets in the north-east, with a cafe and a church or two. Calm at night, and about ten minutes on foot from the Markt.
't Zand and Sint-Jacob
space and the concert hall
The west side, with larger hotels, a big square and the Saturday market. It is not as pretty as the canals but it costs less.
Station and Minnewater
trains and a lower price
South of the center, by the station and the lake. A 20 to 25 minute walk to the Markt, or a short bus ride.
Things to do in Bruges
The Belfry
The medieval tower on the Markt, with 366 steps up a narrow staircase and a view over the roofs. Go first thing, when the queue is shortest.
check for timed tickets in season
Markt and Burg
The two squares at the center of the city. The Markt has the Belfry and the gabled guild houses, and the Burg has the town hall and the Basilica of the Holy Blood.
A canal boat tour
Small open boats leave from several docks near the Rozenhoedkaai and run for about half an hour. It is touristy and a little squeezed, but it shows you the city from the water.
Rozenhoedkaai and the Dijver
The best-known view in Bruges, with the Belfry behind the canal. Come early or at dusk, because from mid-morning it is shoulder to shoulder.
The Begijnhof and Minnewater
A walled courtyard of whitewashed houses around a lawn, and the lake just beyond. Quiet outside the middle of the day.
Church of Our Lady
A brick church with a very tall spire, which holds Michelangelo's marble Madonna and Child. Check opening times, because parts of it close for works.
Groeninge Museum and the Flemish primitives
Early Flemish painting, including Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling. A good wet-weather hour or two.
De Halve Maan brewery
The one brewery still working inside the old center, which makes Brugse Zot and Straffe Hendrik. The tour ends with a beer on the roof.
a day or two ahead at busy times
Kruisvest windmills
A walk along the old ramparts on the east side, past a few working windmills. Away from the crowds and free.
Chocolate shops
Bruges has dozens of chocolatiers. Pick one or two independent makers rather than the big window displays on the main squares.
What to book before you go
These sell out. Most of the rest of Bruges can be decided on the day.
Every tour and ticket in Bruges, and which to pick- Weekend hotels1 to 2 months ahead
The center is small and the number of rooms is limited, so Friday and Saturday nights fill first.
- A table at a well-known restaurant1 to 2 weeks ahead
The good rooms are small, and Flemish stew at a famous address can be fully booked on a weekend.
- Christmas market weekends2 to 3 months ahead
December is the busiest month after summer, and rooms near the squares go first.
What to skip in Bruges
- Eating on the Markt
The terraces on the main square charge for the view. Walk five minutes to a side street for the same food at a better price.
- A day trip at midday in summer
The lanes are most crowded from late morning to mid-afternoon. Come early, or stay the night and walk out after the coaches leave.
- Horse-drawn carriages
They are slow, pricey and share narrow streets with walkers. A canal boat or a walk shows you more.
Best time to visit Bruges
April to June and September are the best months: mild, long days and fewer people than July and August. Summer is warm rather than hot, but it is the most crowded, and showers can arrive in any month.
December has a Christmas market on the Markt and a skating rink, and the city is lit up in the evening. It is cold and dark early. January and February are the quietest and cheapest, with some places closing for a few weeks.
- From Brussels AirportTrains run from the airport station to Bruges with one change, usually in Brussels, in about an hour and a half. Buy the ticket at the machine or on the Belgian Railways app.
- From Brussels South Charleroi airportA shuttle bus runs to Charleroi-Sud station, then trains with a change to Bruges, around two and a half hours in all. It is a long way, so budget for the time.
- On foot and by bikeThe center is flat and compact, and most of it is within 15 minutes of the Markt. Cobbles are hard on wheeled bags. Bikes can be rented in the center, and there are bike lanes out to the windmills.
- BusesCity buses run from the station to the Markt in about ten minutes. Walking takes 20 to 25 minutes.
Bruges in two days
- Day 1
Climb the Belfry early, walk Markt and Burg, then the Rozenhoedkaai. Take a boat in the afternoon and finish at a beer cafe.
- Day 2
Walk the Begijnhof and Minnewater in the morning. Visit the Groeninge Museum, then walk the Kruisvest ramparts to the windmills.
Day trips from Bruges
- GhentAbout 25 to 30 minutes by direct train. A bigger, livelier city with a castle, canals and a large student population.
- OstendAbout 15 minutes by train. A seaside town with a long beach and a promenade, good for fish and a windy walk.
- DammeA small village a few kilometers out, reached by bike along a canal or by bus. Quiet, and known for its second-hand books.
Bruges: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Bruges?
Two days is enough to see the center without rushing. One day works if you start early. A third is only useful if you add Ghent or Ostend.
Is Bruges worth visiting?
Yes, for a short stay. It is one of the best-kept medieval centers in northern Europe. It suits people who like walking and beer more than sights to tick off.
Is Bruges too touristy?
In the middle of the day in summer, yes. Early mornings, evenings and the streets away from the main squares are far calmer, which is why a night there beats a day trip.
What is the best time to visit Bruges?
April to June and September for the weather. December for the Christmas market. January and February if you want it quiet.
Can you visit Bruges as a day trip from Brussels?
Yes. The train takes about an hour, so a day trip works. You will see the sights, but not the city after the day-trippers leave.
How do you get to Bruges from the airport?
From Brussels Airport take a train with one change in about an hour and a half. From Brussels South Charleroi it takes around two and a half hours.