Bruges Travelers Recommend

One of Belgium's most popular tourist attractions, the medieval city of Bruges is compact enough that even travelers without a lot of time can cover a lot of ground. Here's how to make the most of one day in Bruges. 

Morning: Medieval Bruges

Spend this morning familiarizing yourself with Bruges, beginning in its medieval town center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Start in the Markt, the main square that’s home to landmarks such as the Belfort belfry and the Provinciaal Hof. From here, head over to Burg Square with its Gothic City Hall (Stadhuis) and the 12th-century Basilica of the Holy Blood. Then make your way over to the Beguinage, one of the city's most popular attractions, which served as an abode for Beguines, Christian laypeople who lived semimonastically from the 13th through 16th century. Today this beautiful white complex houses a fascinating history museum and a number of traditional crafts workshops.

Afternoon: Beer and Chocolate

Head back towards the city center for lunch (if the weather is nice, there are plenty of terraces to dine on at the Markt). Just make sure to save some room for an afternoon of beer and chocolate, which, along with fries and waffles, are Belgium’s best-known culinary treats. Start with a visit to Choco-Story, the city's chocolate museum, where you can learn about the history of chocolate making and sample plenty of sweet delights; you can even sign up to learn how to make chocolate yourself. From here, head over to the Bruges Beer Experience, an interactive beer museum with its own 16-tap bar.

Night: Dinner and Drinks

Though Bruges is a quieter town and not particularly known for its nightlife, there are plenty of lovely restaurants serving up hearty Flemish and international fare as well as pubs galore. Your best option is to grab dinner and then head out to one of the many brasseries and bars to sip popular Belgian brews such as tripels, lambics, and dubbels. Finish your time in Bruge with a stroll through the old city, which looks particularly enchanting when it’s softly illuminated at night.

While it’s common for visitors to only spend a day—or even just a few hours—in Bruges, it’s worth basing yourself in the city for a little longer if possible. With three days in Bruges, you’ll have enough time to get a feel for the city’s sights and flavors and still have plenty of time to get out of town to learn about the surrounding region’s World War I history. Here’s how.

Day 1: Historic Highlights

Spend your first day hitting up Bruges’ major sites, starting with its star attraction: the medieval city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site full of Gothic Flemish buildings. At the heart of the old city, set amongst numerous canals and cobblestoned lanes, are two main squares: the Markt, home to the neo-Gothic Provincial Palace, and Burg Square, with its Gothic City Hall (Stadhuis) completed in 1420 as well as the 12th-century Basilica of the Holy Blood. Then make your way toward the Church of Our Lady (Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk), even just to take a quick photo of its 400-foot (122-meter) spire, the tallest structure in the city. From here, it’s a quick walk to the Beguinage, originally built to house Beguines (semimonastic laypeople); today it features a history museum and crafts workshops. Finish your day off at the Lake of Love (Minnewater), a verdant lakeside park popular with couples on romantic strolls.

Day 2: Beer, Chocolate, and Art

Spend your second day exploring two of Belgium's most celebrated exports: chocolate and beer. Join a small-group tour focusing on one or both to see the highlights with a guide, or head out on your own to visit Choco-Story, where you can learn about the chocolate manufacture process, taste locally crafted chocolates, and sign up for a workshop to learn how to make chocolate yourself. From here, make your way over to the Lace Center (Kantcentrum) to learn all about the traditional craft of lace-making and even see a live demonstration. Afterward, choose one of the city’s popular beer-themed attractions: the Bruges Beer Experience, an interactive and family-friendly museum with its own 16-tap bar, or the Halve Maan Brewery, a working brewery dating back to the 16th century that offers regular tours. Alternatively, if you're more into art than beer, the Groeningemuseum is among the finest art museums in the country, with an exceptional collection of pieces from the likes of Jan van Eyck and Hieronymus Bosch.

Day 3: The Fields of Flanders

Travelers with an interest in World War I history will be familiar with the Battle of Flanders, five battles that took place in the area from 1914 to 1918. Monuments and memorials are spread across the region, particularly in Mesen and Ypres. Some of the former battlefields have been transformed into natural areas with interpretive signs detailing the events that took place in the area; the Ypres Salient is particularly worth visiting. Those wanting to deepen their understanding of the sites may opt to hire a private local guide or join a small-group battlefields tour from Bruges.

While many people only spend a few hours or a day in Bruges, two days will give you the chance to properly get a feel for the charming old city and its numerous historic and cultural attractions. Here’s how to make the most of your time.

Day 1: Historic Bruges

**Morning:**Spend your first morning in Bruges in the heart of the medieval city center. Begin with the main square (Markt), which houses numerous cafés and attractions such as the Belfort (belfry) and the Provinciaal Hof. A 2-minute walk away, Burg Square is also worth visiting, even just to gawk at the Gothic City Hall (Stadhuis).

**Afternoon:**After lunch, head over to the Lake of Love (Minnewater), with its romance-inspiring gardens and waterways and elegant resident swans. From here, it's a quick jaunt south to the Beguinage, a medieval complex with traditional whitewashed Flemish architecture, a few craft workshops, and a history museum focused on the semimonastic Beguines of medieval Flanders.

**Night:**As night falls, head back to the Markt area for dinner, where you’ll find plenty of charming restaurants and pubs to choose from. If the weather is nice, try to nab a spot on a brasserie terrace for some top-notch people watching, or take an evening stroll through the narrow medieval streets of the old city.

Day 2: Made in Belgium

**Morning:**Spend your second day learning about Belgian products, notably lace, chocolate, and beer. Start with a morning visit to Choco-Story, a chocolate museum with displays about the history and manufacture of chocolate. Tastings are part of the experience, and optional workshops are available for those who want to deepen their knowledge.

**Afternoon:**In the afternoon, head over to the Lace Center (Kantcentrum), housed in the former Apostline Sisters' lace school. Here you can learn all about lace-making and even see live demonstrations. Next, make your way to the Bruges Beer Experience, which offers an educational, interactive glimpse into the history and manufacture of beer.

**Night:**After the Beer Experience, you can stick around for a beer or two or head back to town for dinner. Beyond bars and restaurants, Bruges doesn’t have much in terms of nightlife, though the city does have a handful of nightclubs along with special evening events, particularly in the summer months. Any time of year, an evening stroll through the illuminated medieval center is a lovely way to top off your time in Bruges.