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During the 14th and 15th centuries, Bruges was one of the most important seaport towns in Europe. Its’ burghers grew rich from their profits from the sea and built churches, palaces, and public buildings situated around the city’s lovely canals. Then fate played what, at the time, was a dirty historical trick. Bruges’ river to the sea became filled with silt, leaving the maritime city isolated and inland from its connection to the world.
Today, Belgium’s most visited city is a beautifully preserved medieval marvel. It is the perfect town to see on foot, from above, or from the water. The center of Bruges is virtually reserved for pedestrians. You can walk everywhere – from the stately Stadhuis and the 18th century Vismarkt, to the octagonal Belfry that provides a bird’s eye view of the old town. From a quiet boat ride along the canals, you pass ancient bridges and picturesque houses. Walk arm in arm with your sweetheart along the wonderful old streets by the canals. Enjoy the local markets and the impressive museums. Feel the medieval atmosphere all around you in historic Bruges.

Bruges Pictures

Things to do in Bruges

There are some who say the city itself is a museum, and once you get there, surrounded by gothic and medieval architecture you’ll understand why. However, there are a lot of museums and known buildings in Bruges too, one being the the Holy Savior Cathedral, the oldest parish church in Bruges.

Bruges is where Flemish painting began. Jan Van Eyck discovered painting with oils in the 1420s. Many of his works are on display at local museums. If you’re coming for the art, you can’t miss the Groeninge Museum (Museum of Fine Art), which displays Belgian and Dutch art over the span of 600 years. If you’re craving something different from a museum, go to the Gruuthuse Museum which has artifacts dating back to the 6th century, as well as weapons, tapestries, musical instruments, and coins. The Museum Combo ticket covers your entrance to these two, plus a couple of others.
Summer is high season in Bruges, so it gets pretty touristy (particularly on the weekends) during July and August (same time as the National Day festivals). Locals will tell you that Bruges is always lovely, even in the winter, when temperatures hover just around the freezing mark, but spring appears to be your best bet, despite the rain. You can get cheap flights to Brussels, and from there Bruges is a quick train ride or a ride in a rental car.

Nightlife in Bruges

Bruges is a good town for taking quiet walks at sunset, or stopping in for a beer at one of the bars or cafes, with your sweetheart. The free monthly brochures, Exit and Agenda Brugge, will tell you what’s going on after the sun goes down. Pick one up at the tourist office or your hotel. Among other things, Bruges is also known for it’s homemade beer, which you can find in bars and cafés throughout the city. Several breweries, like Straffe Hendrick, will take you on a tour of their family establishment that goes back generations.

There are plenty of friendly bars and cafés filled with locals (and tourists) to chat with, a night club or two, but this is a pretty quiet city as far as nightlife goes. A better time may be had walking with your sweetheart after a glass of wine at a cafe, counting the stars, or seeing them reflected in the waters of the canals.

Dining in Bruges

Bruges is a good town for taking quiet walks at sunset, or stopping in for a beer at one of the bars or cafes, with your sweetheart. The free monthly brochures Exit and Agenda Brugge will tell you what’s going on after the sun goes down. Pick one up at the tourist office or your hotel. Among other things, Bruges is also known for it’s homemade beer, which you can find in bars and cafés throughout the city. Several breweries, like Straffe Hendrick, will take you on a tour of their family establishment that goes back generations.
There are plenty of friendly bars and cafés filled with locals (and tourists) to chat with, a night club or two, but this is a pretty quiet city as far as nightlife goes. A better time may be had walking with your sweetheart after a glass of wine at a cafe, counting the stars, or seeing them reflected in the waters of the canals.

Shopping in Bruges

You can find the more posh shops and boutiques around the Markt and ‘t Zand, and, of course, there are souvenir shops everywhere. Besides handmade lace (which is available everywhere, but expensive), Bruges is known for its diamond polishing technique. So if you’re in the market for one, this may be a good place to make that once in a lifetime purchase. Upmarket shops and boutiques can be found in the streets around the Markt and ‘t Zand, including Geldmuntstraat, Noordzandstraat, Steenstraat, Zuidzandstraat, and Vlamingstraat. There are souvenir, lace, and small specialty shops all over.

Bruges Travel Tips

• Most of the narrow streets are cobble stone so make sure you bring comfortable shoes.
• Some of the roads in Bruges are one-way for cars but two-way for bikes so be aware whether in a car on or a bike.
• Horse-drawn carriages are a popular way to get around and stroll down the historic center.