Bruges (Bruges in Dutch), the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in Belgium, is located in the northwestern corner of Belgium. Bruges is only 44 km from Ghent to the southeast and 145 from Brussels.
The medieval center of Bruges is remarkably well preserved and is a UNESCO world heritage site. Bruges had its golden age around 1300 when it became one of the most prosperous cities in Europe. Around 1500, the Zwin Canal, which provided Bruges its access to the sea, began to settle, and Bruges began to lose its economic strength to Antwerp. People began to leave the center, which helped preserve its medieval characteristics.
Bruges is a city of art. The famous Bruges painter Jan van Eyck (1370-1441) spent most of his life in Bruges and a statue in honor of him is found in the square named after the sculptor, Jan Calloigne.
Today Bruges is once again a thriving community with a population of 120,000 people, and the medieval center is one of the most beautiful in Europe.
Get there
Brussels National Airport is the main airport in Bruges.
Ostend’s smallest airport is only 15 miles from Bruges on the coast, but offers very few flights.
Bruges is on the train line from Ostend to Brussels (see our Map of Belgium for the railway lines). There are frequent trains from Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent. It is a ten minute walk from the train station to the historic center.
For detailed instructions, see: How to get from Brussels to Bruges or Ghent.
If you have a car, don’t try to drive through the narrow streets downtown. Park outside the walls (easiest early in the morning) or head to the main train station and use the underground parking lot.
If you are going to be in London, you can take the Eurostar train directly to Brussels. Your ticket actually includes travel to any city in Belgium – free trip to Bruges! Read more about the main Eurostar destinations from London.
Getting to Bruges the romantic way
During the summer season, Lamme Goedzak, a steamboat, will take you from the interesting little town of Damme to Bruges in about 35 minutes along the canal. You will find plenty of parking in Damme, and you can also rent bikes there.
Museums
The most important detail to remember is that all museums in Bruges are closed on Mondays.
The most popular art museum is the Groeninge Museum, which covers Low Country painting from the 15th to 20th centuries, with painters such as Jan van Eyck, Rogier van der Weyden, and Hieronymus Bosch.
Museum hours and entrance fees (don’t forget to scroll down to special offers) can be found on the Groeninge Museum website.
You knew there had to be a potato chip museum, so yes, there is a Frietmuseum.
Places to stay
There are many hotels in Bruges, as it is a very popular European destination. High-rated hotels tend to sell out in the summer, so book early.
Compare Hotel Prices in Bruges with TripAdvisor
You can also peruse our list of recommended hotels in Bruges.
Rail passes
If you are coming to Belgium on the Eurostar, remember that on the route from London to Brussels, your Eurostar ticket (buy tickets directly) is good to continue to any station in Belgium.
Don’t miss the attractions in Bruges:
One of the most popular attractions in this medieval city is a trip through the canals. Boats depart from the Georges Stael jetty at Katelijnestraat 4 every 30 minutes, daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. Closed from mid-November to mid-March.
Bruges is known for chocolate, lace and, to a lesser extent, diamonds. The diamond museum is at Katelijnestraat 43. You can buy a rock of your choice at Brugs Diamanthuis on Cordoeaniersstraat 5. Chocolate shops are everywhere; You can also visit the Choco-Story chocolate museum. The municipal lace museum is on the main canal at Dijver 16.
The Belfort in Hallen (market bell tower) is a symbol of Bruges and the tallest bell tower in Belgium. Climb the 366 steps to the top for a panoramic view of Bruges; on a clear day, you will see all the way to the sea.
The 12th-century basilica Heilig-Bloedbasiliek, or Chapel of the Holy Blood, in Burg Square contains a rock crystal vial containing a fragment of cloth stained with what is said to be the coagulated blood of Christ. On Fridays they take it out to venerate it, but if that’s not your thing, the basilica is worth a visit. On Ascension Day, the relic becomes the focus of the Procession of the Holy Blood, in which 1,500 citizens of Bruges, many in medieval garb, form a mile-long procession behind the relic.
You probably won’t think of visiting public housing sites early on your vacation, but Bruges has a sizable number of whitewashed charities, many clustered around a cozy inner courtyard. They were popular ways of winning God’s favor in the 14th century by the townspeople or wealthy guilds and then 46 blocks of these have been preserved.
Bruges is a great city for walking (or you can rent bikes and ride like a native). The cuisine is top-notch (if a bit pricey), and the beer is some of the best in the world (try the De Gouden Boom brewery at Langestraat, 47, which has a small but interesting museum).
Do you like old motorcycles? You can see more than 80 motorcycles, mopeds and scooters at the Oldtimer Motorcycle Museum in Oudenburg (near Ostend).
Witches, beer and chocolate
Bruges hosts a popular beer festival in early February that runs until early March. You buy a glass and get tokens to fill it with your selected beers. There is also a culinary side: the chefs showcase dishes cooked with beer. This is Belgium after all.
If you miss the festival, don’t worry, there are many bars and restaurants that prepare and serve Belgian beer. A popular place is’ t Brugs Beertje on Kemelstraat 5, between the Market and the Zand, not far from the Bruggemuseum-Belfort. Opens at 4 pm to 1 am, closed on Wednesdays.
The Bruges Chocolate Museum is located in the Maison de Croon, dating from around 1480 and
It was originally a wine tavern. Inside you will learn about the history of chocolate in Bruges. Workshops for adults and children are also held.
And if you go to Choco-Late, you could also stay at the Ice Wonderland Witch Sculpture Festival starting in late November.
And speaking of festivals, the largest religious festival in Bruges is the Heilig-Bloed Procession, the Procession of Blood, which takes place on Ascension Thursday, 40 days after Easter. The relic of the holy blood is carried through the streets and the people who follow are dressed in medieval costume.
