Bruges Bucket List: Best Things To Do

Craving canals, gables, and great beer? Head to Bruges.

This Belgian beauty is straight out of a postcard. It’s a UNESCO site for good reason.

Think cobbled streets, medieval squares, and dreamy swan-filled canals. The pointy, gilded buildings are a visual treat.

And you can wash them all down with mussels, chocolate, frites, and the world’s best beer.

Overview & Tips

Here’s a snapshot glance of what you can see and do in Bruges:

I highly recommend getting a Bruges Museum Card. That will make your entry easy and efficient with no standing in line.

Aside from the museum card, there are some things you might consider booking in advance:

• guided walking tour
• guided food tour
• beer and chocolate tour
• chocolate making workshop
• guided bike tour
• Chocolate Museum tour and tastings
• Groeninge Museum ticket

Best Things To Do in Bruges

Market Square

Markt Square is the pulsing heart of Bruges, and one of the prettiest in Europe. It’s a grand medieval square packed with history, frilly architecture, and buzz.

The Belfry dominates the square’s south side. All around are colorful stepped-gable buildings.

Some housed powerful medieval guilds. Others were the houses of wealthy medieval merchants.

Look for the ancient Cranenburg House. Its Bruges’ oldest house, and was once a prime vantage point for public spectacles in the 15th century.

On Wednesdays and Saturdays, the square transforms into a food and flower market.

There are plenty of cafes. And horse drawn carriages leave from here, if you want a relaxing ride.

Bell Tower

The belfry has stood over the Markt since 1300. It’s almost 300 feet high.

You enter through the courtyard. There’s a paid WC here and benches to sit on.

This is a popular activity in Bruges. You’ll definitely need to pre-book a ticket online if you want to climb. Entry is limited to 70 visitors at a time.

The tower has 47 bells that chime periodically. The tower has 366 steps. And, like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, it’s leaning 3 feet.

As you get to near the top, you can stop and see the carillon. It’s a musical instrument that plays a little ditty every 15 minutes.

Burg Square

Burg Square is the main plaza in the city. For over 1,000 years, this opulent square has been Bruges’ historical birthplace, political center, and religious heart.

As you look around, you’ll see every different type of architecture: Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque.

City Hall

City Hall dominates the Burg Square. It’s a beauty inside and out.

Outside, the handsome white facade is adorned with 489 statues of key figures in Bruges’ history.

Inside, the ornate Gothic Room is the star of the show. There is an elaborately carved wooden ceiling with hanging pendentives.

The walls feature 19th century Romantic era murals depicting episodes from the city’s history. Star with the large p painting on the left and work clockwise.

In the adjoining room, old paintings and maps show how the city once looked in its glory days. One maps shows Bruges as it looked in 1562. It once had 28 windmills! (Only 4 now.)

>>> Click here to pre-book a ticket

Basilica of the Holy Blood

The gleaming night and ladies on the church facade remind us that this church was built by a brave crusader. He wanted it to house the blood of Christ he’d brought back from Jerusalem.

Even more surprising, the relic is still here today in the upper chapel. The vial of blood is stored in a tabernacle on the altar.

On ceremonial days, it’s paraded around in a gold and silver, gem-studded reliquary, which you can see in the church treasury.

The interior, previously Romanesque, was redone in a a Neo-Gothic style by the 19th century Romantic architects. The nave is quite colorful and has stained glass windows of the dukes of Flanders.

The church’s lower chapel reeks of pure Romanesque medieval piety. Step into the annex to see the somber statues.

Canal Cruise

Taking a canal cruise in Bruges is one of those must-do experiences. The kind that makes the city truly feel like the “Venice of the North.” 

You’ll glide past medieval mansions, peaceful green banks, and enchanting bridges—from Jan van Eyck Square to the serene Beguinage. You’ll see swans paddling alongside.

Your skipper will regale you with stories and legends about the city.

Most cruises are a relaxed 30 minute loop. Just show up at your nearest dock, grab a ticket on the spot, and hop aboard.

Boats run daily from 10:00 am to around 6:00 pm, seasonally from March through mid-November

Memling Collection

The Memling Collection sits inside the atmospheric Old St. John’s Hospital. It’s a centuries old care facility that feels anything but stuffy. It was my favorite museum in Bruges!

It’s an unexpected blend of medieval medical history and Flemish art. You’ll walk past surgical instruments and historic panels before entering a bright gallery filled with glowing Memling masterpieces.

Hans Memling, a 15th century German-born painter who flourished in Bruges, is the undisputed star here. He didn’t upend art history like Jan van Eyck.

But he refined it with his serene compositions, jewel-toned colors, and quietly radiant portraits. His work had major prestige in its day, especially among the elite and religious communities of Bruges.

Standout pieces include the exquisite St. Ursula Shrine and the large St. John Altarpiece.

You’ll also find intimate devotional panels and a series of Memling’s portraits: calm, clear-eyed studies of merchants, monks, and noblewomen.

>>> Click here to pre-book a ticket

Groeninge Museum

The Groeninge Museum packs a mighty punch despite its compact size.

Tucked into the heart of Bruges, it offers a deep dive into Flemish art history, from the 15th century Flemish Primitives to Belgian Surrealists. All without overwhelming you.

Start with the Early Netherlandish wing. Highlights include Jan van Eyck and Rogier van der Weyden’s artworks.

In later rooms, you’ll find Bosch’s intense Last Judgment triptych, along with a range of Neo-classical, Symbolist, and Surrealist works.

Keep an eye out for René Magritte’s quietly unsettling The Assault. It’s a good example of how Belgian art shifted over the centuries.

The museum is small, just ten rooms on one floor, so give it about 60 to 90 minutes.

The QR code gives you access to a free audio guide. It’s included in the Bruges Museum Card, and booking ahead is smart in high season.

>>> Click here to pre-book a ticket

Church of Our Lady

This towering church is a reminder of Bruges in the heyday of its wealth and power.

Step inside. You can marvel at most of the interior for free. To get an up close look at the historic tombs and Michelangelo sculpture, you’ll pay a small fee.

I didn’t think the interior was much to write home about. it’s very whitewashed and the old stained glass was destroyed by iconoclasts.

The altar features the Passion Triptych from 1534, with 5 scenes leading up a crucifixion.

A small marble statue by Michelangelo, Madonna and Child, sits in the center of the intricate Baroque altar.

Michelangelo might have been horrified by his Renaissance statue stuck in such an over-the-top space.

It’s the only Michelangelo sculpture to leave Italy during the artist’s lifetime. He created it as he was making his David in Florence’s Galleria Accademia.

It’s highly polished. That’s a telltale sign that Michelangelo liked it.

Gruuthuse Museum

The Neo-Gothic Gruuthuse Museum was one of my favorite spots in Bruges. This is how you experience how a wealthy 17th century merchant lived!

The museum is a bit of a hidden gem for history and design lovers. It’s housed in a beautifully restored 15th century city palace, once home to the wealthy Gruuthuse family.

Inside, over four floors, you’ll find 600 artifacts bring Bruges to life across three defining eras: the medieval Burgundian age, the evolving 17th and 18th centuries, and the 19th century rediscovery of the city with lavish gothic revival decor.

You can admire stained glass, tapestries, beamed ceilings, lace, porcelain, musical instruments, medieval weapons, tombs, and beautiful floors. Kids can even try on wigs from the time.

From the oratory, you can peak straight into the Church of our Lady next door. And there’s swim sweet city views.

Tickets are sold in the courtyard next door. There’s a 13 minute video to watch inside. And a QR code to scan for the audio guide.

It’s refreshingly empty, and a quiet escape from the crowds.

>>> Click here to book a ticket

Chocolate Tasting

With chocolate shops seemingly around every corner, Bruges might just have the highest truffle-to-resident ratio in Europe. You’ll pass window after window stacked with pralines, ganaches, and glossy chocolate bars.

It can be hard to know where to begin. When the sugar cravings hit, skip the touristy boxes and head to one of the city’s most inventive chocolatiers: Dominique Persoone’s Chocolate Line.

Persooone is the mad scientist of chocolate. And this isn’t your average sweet shop. It’s more like a flavor laboratory where wild creativity meets culinary precision.

Think bitter chocolate ganache spiked with vodka, or truffles infused with passion fruit, lime, or even wasabi. Every bite is a surprise, and somehow it works.

Just be prepared for crowds! The store was packed when I was there in April.

Another chocolatier to try is Dumon. It’s in a tiny shop off Markt Square.

You can also go on an official chocolate tasting tour or workshop and learn how they make the goodies. I did this and loved it!

Belgian Fries

You might not feel hungry in afternoon, especially if you’ve been nibbling on chocolate. But that makes it the perfect moment to sample another Belgian specialty: fries.

Don’t expect anything resembling the fast-food variety. These are thick-cut, twice-fried, and wonderfully crisp.

They’re served golden and steaming, with toppings like creamy mayonnaise or spiced curry sauce. 

Don’t worry, you can get ketchup too!

Sound Factory

Let your inner carillonneur ring at the Sound Factory. It’s a new interactive museum inside the contemporary Concert Hall building.

Compose a symphony on the rooftop, inspired, perhaps, by the lovely views across town.

An touch-screen exhibit that puts control of (recorded) chimes from the city’s various church bells at your fingertips.

Then, descend the staircase through an eerie auditory installation to the fifth floor, where the highlight is the colorful artwork-cum-synthesizer titled “OMNI.”

Jan Van Eyck Square

Jan van Eyck Square is a charming, historic plaza where you can soak up medieval flair and merchant class grandeur.

The centerpiece of the square is a van Eyck Statue. It’s a bronze likeness of the famed 15th century master painter, installed in 1878.

Surrounding the square are impressive row houses and guildhall facades. They were once the stalls of merchants thriving in what was medieval Bruges’s “Manhattan” of trade.

Many date back to the 13th through 15th centuries and are classic stepped gables and ornate architecture. The one with the bright red doors was once a firehouse and a tollhouse.

Bike Ride

When the crowds start to take over the streets, there’s no better way to escape than by bike. Rent one from the train station and head northeast along the broad canal that circles the city.

The ride is easy and scenic. It’s about 30 minutes along a shady bike path that winds through parks, crosses a wooden footbridge, and passes all four of Bruges’s surviving windmills.

On your way back, make a short detour to the Begijnhof, a lovely courtyard surrounded by whitewashed cottages.

Once home to Bruges’s beguines (pious single and widowed women who formed a semi-monastic community in the 13th century) the area is now inhabited by Benedictine nuns.

Silence is still observed here. And the quiet, tree-lined paths offer some of the most tranquil moments you’ll find in the city.

Sample Belgium Beer

You can’t go to Belgium and not try a beer! Beer flows in Belgium much like wine flows in Italy and France.

There are quite a few excellent breweries in Bruges. I toured De Halve Maan Brewery (Half Moon Brewery). It’s the oldest and most famous brewery in Bruges, with a history dating back to 1856

The 45 minute brewery tour includes panoramic rooftop views and a look at the underground beer pipeline (yes, a real one!).

The brewery’s signature beer is Brugse Zot (Fool from Bruges) and Straffe Hendrik (Strong Henry). You can get it with up to 3x the regular amount of alcohol.

Chocolate Museum

Bruges’s Choco‑Story Chocolate Museum is a delight for chocoholics and culture lovers alike.

It’s hosted in the historic Maison de Croon, a 15th century townhouse. The museum chronicles the 5,500 year story of chocolate from ancient Mayan and Aztec roots to today’s indulgent Belgian confectionery.

Over 1,000 original tools, molds, and objects explain chocolate’s spread across continents and centuries. And there are hands on demos and tastings.

The museum isn’t included in on the Bruges Museum Card, which is a bummer. But it’s still worth a stop if you’re craving chocolate.

You can also roll up your sleeves and learn to make chocolate yourself at a chocolate workshop.

Lace Center

Bruges lace is world famous. This niche museum lets you learn all about lacemaking and see lace being made.

Your tour starts with a brief movie about the history of lacemaking. A computer even lets you try different technique for making lace yourself.

Upstairs is the demonstration room. Every afternoon, ladies chat merrily while making lace.

You can hand select some of their good in the shop. Or, stock up for your own lacemaking.

Check Out The Windmills

In its heyday, Bruges was loaded with windmills (28), mostly used to grind grain.

Sint‑Janshuis Mill was built in 1770 and still grinding grain in its original location. It’s the only windmill in Bruges open to visitors, with fully operational internal mechanics

A steep climb via ladder-like narrow stairs takes you into the mill. Plus, you get a lovely view of the ramparts from the top.

Langerei

The Langerie is an underrated canal and canal-side street in northern Bruges.

It’s lined with historic Flemish stepped-gabled houses, making it a great spot for a quiet walk or a photo stop.

It’s less touristy than areas like the Markt, and it offers a more local, residential vibe.

Practical Tips For Visiting Bruges

How To Get There:

Bruges has a clean train station. From there, you can taxi, take the free shuttle bus, or walk 20 minutes into town. You can also rent a bike at the station.

If you are driving, you want to avoid the historic center. Best to park your car in the lot behind the train station.

You can also visit on a guided day tour from Brussels or on a tour from Amsterdam.

If you are visiting by cruise ship, it might be easiest to book a guided tour from the cruise port.

How To Get Around:

Bruges is compact and super walkable. You can walk across the entire city in 20-30 minutes.

If you need a taxi, they’re at the Markt Square.

You can also call a cab. But Uber doesn’t operate in Bruges yet.

Where To Stay:

Hotel Heritage is a luxurious space with chandeliers everywhere. I love that they have Nespresso machines in every room.

Hotel Patritius is in a centrally located Neo-Classical mansion. It comes complete with high ceilinged rooms and a courtyard garden.

Grand Hotel Casselbergh has 118 stylish rooms and a modern silver-tiled facade that stands out among the quaint gables. 

Wedged between a quiet cobblestone lane and the Dijver canal, the elegant Hotel de Orangerie boasts 20 cozy, romantic rooms with antiques, floral-print décor and canal views. 

When To Visit

I think late spring (May to early June) is the best time to visit Bruges. You get mild weather, longer daylight, and blooming gardens.

Bruges is packed to the gills in summer. And winter is cold and blustery, except for the atmospheric Christmas markets.

If hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to the best things to do in Bruges. You may find these other Belgium guides helpful:

• Best things to do in Ghent
• Guide to the Ghent Altarpiece
• Guide to Ghent’s Gravensteen Castle
• Guide to Brussels’ Magritte Museum
• Guide to Brussels Old Masters Museum
• Guide to Bruges’ Groeninge Museum

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