Bruges feels like a fairytale with its medieval architecture and a whimsical food and drink scene. The city is also home to museums showcasing Northern Renaissance art, much of it painted right in Bruges. Hop in a canal boat or grab a bicycle as we tour around the best things to do in Bruges!
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Overview of Bruges
Bruges–or Brugge as they say in Dutch–is a really unique city. During the Middle Ages it became an important trading port, and it flourished as one of the richest cities in Europe during the 15th century. But Bruges’ luck changed. The river silted up and changing politics sent business to other cities. Bruges declined into almost a ghost town until 19th century tourists “discovered” it.
Today Bruges has a gorgeous skyline filled with medieval and faux-medieval spires. It may look like a fantasy world, but it’s not Disneyland. There’s real history, world-class art, and some truly excellent beer.
Bruges is suuuper popular, so staying on top of your advance reservations is key to having a good visit (especially in summer). If you’re staying for a couple days, the Musea Brugge card is a good value. For €49 you’ll get entry to 12 different sights around town with a reusable card. Check out Tips for Visiting Bruges below for details.
Best Things to Do in Bruges
Visit Bruges’ Art Museums
During Bruges’ 15th century Golden Age, the wealthy city became a magnet for the best painters. You can still see fantastic examples of their Northern Renaissance art in the city’s museums. I’m a big fan of Renaissance art, so I’m writing an in-depth post about them. But here are three museums I would prioritize for a half-day of art highlights (and they’re all within ~5 min walk).
#1 Groenige Museum
The Groenige Museum (Groenigemuseum) is Bruges’ largest art museum, with a collection that spans from the Renaissance through the 20th century. Highlights include Hans Memling’s masterful Moreel triptych, key works by Jan van Eyck, and Heironymous Bosch’s fiery Last Judgment. The museum is basically in presented in chronological order, so casual art fans may want to skip everything after Bosch.
#2 Church of Our Lady Museum
The Church of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk or O.L.V.-kerk) is famous because it has a sculpture by the great Michelangelo. Wealthy merchants from Bruges managed to buy it back in 1506. Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child is certainly worth the stop. You can also see the impressive tombs of Mary of Burgundy and Maximillian I while you’re there. Part of the church is free to visit, but you’ll find the museum entrance to the left once you’re inside.
#3 St. John’s Hospital Museum
St. John’s Hospital Museum (Museum Sint-Janshospitaal) features exhibits about the historic hospital and a gallery of masterpieces by painter Hans Memling. In fact, Memling painted some of the pieces specifically for the hospital during the 15th century. His St. John Altarpiece is a truly epic work that’s my favorite in Bruges.
All of these museums are covered by the Musea Brugge card (€49), just make sure to book a free time slot if you’re going during busy hours. Other notable museums are BRUSK, a new art gallery/museum with rotating exhibits, and the Gruuthuse Museum, which is more of a city museum and described below.
Tour De Halve Maan Brewery
De Halve Maan Brewery (Huisbrouwerij De Halve Maan) is a wondrous place. They make fine Belgian beers in a historic old building in Bruges that you can tour! You’ll start in a room with the huge modern tanks used to brew their beers. Then you’ll ascend through a maze of rooms learning about the brewing process and history. (Beware of some seriously steep stairs.)
Eventually you’ll pop out on the roof and enjoy a fantastic panoramic view of Bruges. But the craziest thing about De Halve Maan is actually hidden below: an underground beer pipeline. Believe it or not, the brewery built a pipeline to transport beer to their off-site bottling facility about 2 miles away!
After the tour, you’ll get to try your choice of fine beers ranging from the light Blanche De Bruges (5% ABV) to the heavy-hitting Straffe Hendrik Quad (11% ABV). My advice is to hang around the restaurant terrace and try a few. Make sure to reserve your spot for this popular brewery tour in advance (€16).
Go on a Bike Tour
Bruges is a very walkable city, but the ultimate way to see it might be on a bicycle. I went on a small group tour with Quasimundo Bike Tours and it was the perfect introduction to the city!
After we got our bikes, we set off to see some of Bruges’ most historic buildings. Our guide helped us imagine what the city was like during its Golden Age. Merchant ships came in on the canals, and huge wooden cranes unloaded goods to be weighed, stored, and traded. Our guide showed a few illustrations to help with the visuals.
After we made our way past the belfry tower, we headed toward the beautiful Minnewater. This “Lake of Love” is home to swans that glide through its picture-perfect water. Definitely worth the photo op!
It was easy to cover a large are of the city with the help of bicycles. Admittedly, we had to walk our bikes a couple of times due to crowds of pedestrians, but all in all it was a wonderful introduction to Bruges. I highly recommend Quasimundo Bike Tours.
See the Church of Our Lady
The Church of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk or O.L.V.-kerk) has a beautiful sanctuary, some impressive art, and one really unique window. If you head into the church’s museum area, the window is one of the first things you’ll come to. This balcony-like extension is actually a window connected to the home of local VIP and devout churchgoer Louis de Gruuthuse. He built himself the ultimate luxury amenity: a private window into his church.
The church has some wonderful early Flemish art, and I particularly appreciated the stately tombs of Mary of Burgundy and Maximillian I. Also impressive is the Baroque-era pulpit. The canopy seems to defy gravity as it’s supported by tiptoeing angels.
But the most famous piece in the church is actually marble sculpture by the great Michelangelo (pictured above). Wealthy merchants from Bruges bought it from the master himself in Italy. It’s a classic Madonna and Child that glows with Michelangelo’s realism and captures emotions with grace. Entry to OLV church museum is €10 or included with the Musea Brugge card.
Climb the Belfry of Bruges (Belfort)
The Belfry of Bruges (Belfort van Brugge) is a towering symbol of the city with a fantastic view. This structure used to house the city archives and treasury. Several rebuilds have left the belfry with unique Neo-gothic architecture. And you can climb it!
Ascending the Belfry, you’ll clamber up a winding route of 366 stairs to a viewpoint 272 feet above ground level. Surrounded by bells, you’ll have a 360-degree view of Bruges from the very center of town. Take in the scene of red-tiled roofs across one of Europe’s great medieval cities!
Along the way, you’ll also see the carillon with its 47 bells and ingenious mechanisms. The carillon can be played manually with a keyboard or automatically through the operation of a huge metal drum. It works like a giant music box, with an array of pins that trip levers to strike the bells. It’s worth sticking around long enough to see this thing in action (every 15 minutes).
The Belfry of Bruges can only fit a limited number of people at a time, so make sure to book your entry time in advance (€15/included in Musea Brugge card).
Eat Waffles and Chocolate
Two things Belgium does better than just about anywhere are waffles and chocolate. So when you’re visiting Bruges, it’s essential to make time to try these local treats. I suggest getting them daily if possible. Here are my recommendations for waffles and chocolate in Bruges:
- Otto Waffle Atelier – The state-of-the art waffle in Bruges! Their beautifully presented waffles come with an array of toppings like fruit, ice cream, and chocolate.
- Go.fre – The ultimate in convenience is Gro.fre’s waffle-on-a-stick. You can get their freshly made waffles dipped in your choice of milk/dark/white chocolate and sprinkled with various toppings. They also have a location on Katelijnestraat.
- Chocolatier Dumon – A traditional chocolate shop where you can get a wide array of flavors. You can buy a whole box all the way down to just a single chocolate. You’ll see many shops selling “Belgian chocolates,” but Dumon is the real deal! Choose any of their 3 locations in town.
- The Chocolate Line – A chocolate shop with a rock-and-roll flair, the Cholocate Line offers a range of avant-garde treats. You’ll find chocolates shaped like skulls and bold flavors like mezcal and lime zest.
- Dame blanche at any good restaurant – If you’re looking for dessert at a restaurant, try the classic dame blanche (“white lady”). It’s a simple but great thing: vanilla ice cream topped with molten Belgian chocolate.
Take a Canal Boat Cruise
Cruising along in a canal boat is a classic staple of tourism in Bruges and honestly a lovely way to see the city. There are several operators running canal boat tours continuously. The canal boats all follow approximately the same route through the city center, so I’d just pick whatever boat seems convenient.
I hopped in a boat at Bruges Boat Tour on Katelijnestraat and really enjoyed our spin around the old canals (€15). Gliding serenely under stone bridges, we passed many of Bruges’s famous buildings. Pairs of swans were swimming beneath old trees as our intrepid captain gave the tour in three different languages. Bonus: Katelijnestraat is also where you’ll find Otto Waffle Atelier.
Visit the Gruuthuse Museum
House in medieval-era home of Louis de Gruuthuse, the Gruuthuse Museum is essentially a city museum that tells the story of life in Bruges. You’ll see old maps, Renaissance fashions, fine furniture, and plenty of art. My recommendation is to let your eyes be your guide and look at whatever exhibits interest you as you go. I enjoyed learning about Bruges’ merchant history–they have a cool model ship!
The things not to miss are both related to the Gruuthuse home itself. First of all, there’s the window into the OLV Church. It’s cool to see the opposite view of this medieval VIP balcony. Also cool is the terrace with a fantastic view of the famous Boniface Bridge. It’s a time-warp scene that feels a bit like a fairytale. Tickets are €15 or included with the Musea Brugge card.
Walk Around Bruges’ Old Town
I don’t know why I thought of this last, but wandering the streets of Bruges is one of the best parts of visiting. It’s best to do early or late in the day, when the crowds are at their lowest. Even then, you’ll likely find people taking photos at Instagram-famous spots like the Rozenhoedkaai and the Boniface Bridge. Wandering can lead to you lovely spots like Jan van Eyckplein and the Begijnhof park. Or maybe you’ll just find a good spot for a beer.
If you want some direction for your walk, I recommend the walking tour outlined in the Rick Steves guidebook. You can also check out an app called GPSMyCity that has walking tours and lets you easily check off places you’ve seen.
Getting Around Bruges
Arriving by train
The easiest way to reach Bruges is by train! Most trains are coming from Brussels (1 hour) or Antwerp (1.5 hours). I recommend using Belgium’s official railway app to check times and buy tickets: the SNCB/NMBS app. (If you’re wondering why there are so many letters, it’s because the name is abbreviated in French and Dutch.) For those coming from outside Belgium, check the website for your country of origin or look at a third-party seller like Trainline.
The train station is walkable to Bruges’ old town, but you may want to catch the bus or a taxi if your hotel is far.
Local buses
Bruges is really enjoyable to walk around, so I didn’t use too many buses. There are routes that basically circle the old town and connect to the train station (lines 1 and 2). Google Maps is your friend here. I would check directions to see how far the walk is before waiting for a bus. I only took one to get to my hotel.
Bicycles
I really enjoyed taking a bicycle tour around Bruges. It’s so scenic and not so heavy on traffic. That said, the middle of the old town around the Markt and Rozenhoedkaai can get really packed with pedestrians and isn’t very fun to ride through during the day. I ended up doing a guided bike tour instead of a rental, but there are options. You can also check with your hotel–some of them have bicycle rentals!
Tips for Visiting Bruges
Advance reservations needed
Bruges is very popular and can get crowded at times. That means it can be hard to get reservations for tours, dinner restaurants, and even some sights. I highly recommend booking things in advance. Sometimes checking the day before is enough to get you in! I was able to walk in to many of the museums, but I had to schedule a time later in the day to get into the Belfry.
Musea Brugge museum card
As mentioned above, the Musea Brugge card is a great value. €49 gives you entry to 12 different museums and monuments around Bruges, including the belfry (Belfort) and the city hall (Stadhuis). Most of these cost €10-15 each, so figure the card is worth it if you’re going to at least 4 locations. You can buy the Musea Brugge card online or at any of the included sites. Each location uses a timed entry system which you can book online for free. If there are spots open, you can show up and get immediate entry. But times for the popular sites like the Belfry can fill up.
Avoiding cruise crowds
Bruges has a love/hate relationship with its modern cruise port. As the number of annual visitors increased by millions, Bruges put limits on the cruise ships. But it’s still a lot of people. They follow a predictable route from mid-morning to afternoon, so beware the central area around the Markt and Rozenhoedkaai during these times. It’s better to enjoy a crowd-controlled museum during peak hours and wander the city in the early or late hours.
