Bruges tours and tickets
Bruges is small, and much of it is free to walk. The Belfry, the canal boats and the brewery are the three things people queue for. None is hard to book, but timed slots sell out on summer weekends and at Christmas. The museums are quiet enough to enter without notice. Ghent, Ostend and Damme are all easy day trips.
Book these first
- Weekend hotels
- 1 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 restaurant
- 1 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 weekends
- 2 to 3 months ahead. December is the busiest month after summer, and rooms near the squares go first.
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Museums and galleries
Groeninge Museum
Early Flemish painting, including Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling, in a calm series of rooms. Tickets are sold at the door, and an audio guide is available.
Which to pick. Buy at the door and give it two hours. A guided visit helps if you do not know the painters, but the labels are clear.
Not needed, buy at the doorVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorChurch of Our Lady
A tall brick church that holds Michelangelo's marble Madonna and Child. Parts of it close for works, so check before you go.
Which to pick. Buy a ticket for the museum section at the door. Visit early, when the sculpture is quiet.
On the day is fineVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Monuments and landmarks
The Belfry
The medieval tower on the Markt, with 366 steps up a narrow staircase, a carillon and a view over the roofs. Entry is controlled, and in season tickets may be timed.
Which to pick. Go first thing or buy a timed slot online. It is not a climb for anyone who dislikes narrow stairs.
Check for timed tickets in seasonVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorMarkt and Burg squares
The two squares at the center, with the gabled guild houses, the town hall and the Basilica of the Holy Blood. Everything is on foot.
Which to pick. Walk them early or in the evening. A guided walk is a good first morning if you want the history.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
On the water
Canal boat tour
Small open boats leave from several docks near the Rozenhoedkaai and run for about half an hour, with commentary in several languages.
Which to pick. Go on the day and take the first boat with space. The best light is in the late afternoon. Queues are shorter on weekdays.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorBike tour to Damme
A flat ride along a canal lined with poplars to a small village, with second-hand bookshops and a mill. Bikes can be rented in town.
Which to pick. Choose a self-guided ride with a rental bike, or a small group with a guide. It takes half a day.
A day ahead in summerTours and tickets on Viator
Experiences and nights out
De Halve Maan brewery tour
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.
Which to pick. Book a time slot online and go in the afternoon. Tours sell out at weekends and in summer.
A day or two ahead at busy timesOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorChocolate workshop
Short classes in which you temper chocolate, fill moulds and decorate your own pralines, in small groups with a maker. Several independent chocolatiers run them, and you take your work home.
Which to pick. Choose a workshop with a maker you like, and book a morning slot. Check the language and the group size.
A few days aheadTours and tickets on Viator
Day trips
Ghent
About 25 to 30 minutes by direct train. A bigger, livelier city with a castle, canals and a large student population.
Which to pick. Go for a full day. Walk, take a boat and visit the Gravensteen if you want a castle.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorOstend
A seaside town about 15 minutes away by direct train, with a long sandy beach, a wide promenade and a fish market, good for a windy walk and a plate of fish.
Which to pick. Go on a clear day and take the train. No ticket is needed in advance, and the beach is a short walk from the station.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
City and museum passes in Bruges
- Musea Brugge CardA pass for the city's main museums, valid for several days. It suits a visit with three or more museums, and it saves the queue at the cash desk. It does not cover the Belfry. Official page
Booking tours and tickets in Bruges
Do I need to book the Belfry?
Not always, but in season it can be timed, and the queue is long at midday. Go first thing, or buy a slot online if the site offers one.
Is a canal boat worth it?
Yes, once. It is short, cheap and shows the city from a different angle. Go late in the afternoon for the light, and expect to share a boat.
What is free in Bruges?
The squares, the Begijnhof courtyard, the Minnewater, the windmills on the ramparts and many churches are free. The Belfry, the brewery and the museums need tickets.
Is a museum pass worth buying?
It is if you plan three or more museums in two or three days. For one or two visits, separate tickets are simpler.
Can I cancel a brewery tour?
It depends on the seller. The brewery's own tickets are usually fixed to a time slot. Read the terms, and note any rule for late arrivals.
What can I leave until I arrive?
Canal boats, walks, Ghent and Ostend can be done on the day. Book the brewery tour and Christmas market weekends before you travel.