Things to do in Bruges: must-sees and where to stay

In short: Bruges, a medieval city listed by UNESCO, is explored on foot and by boat. Climb the belfry on the Markt, see the Burg square, glide along the canals, wander the Béguinage and the Minnewater, admire Michelangelo’s Madonna and the Flemish Primitives. In the evening, once the day-trippers have left, the city is magical.

The Markt and the belfry

A great square lined with gabled houses, the Markt is dominated by the belfry: 366 steps lead to the top and a view over the whole city.

The Burg and the Basilica of the Holy Blood

Nearby, the Burg square brings together the Gothic city hall and the Basilica of the Holy Blood, which holds a relic venerated since the Middle Ages.

The canals

A canal boat trip offers another view of the city, under bridges and along façades. The Rozenhoedkaai is one of the most photographed viewpoints.

The Béguinage and the Minnewater

The Béguinage, a peaceful enclosure of white houses around a garden, invites silence. Nearby is the Minnewater, the “Lake of Love”, with its swans.

Michelangelo and the Flemish Primitives

The Church of Our Lady holds a Madonna and Child by Michelangelo, one of the few works by the artist to leave Italy in his lifetime. The Groeninge Museum displays the Flemish Primitives, including Jan van Eyck.

Day trips from Bruges

• Ghent, another great Flemish art city, about half an hour away by train.
• Damme, a small village reached by bike along the canal.
• The Belgian coast, close by, for a day by the North Sea.
• Brussels, about an hour away by train.

Getting around

• On foot: the centre is compact.
• By bike, like the locals, for the surroundings.
• From the station, about twenty minutes on foot or a bus to the centre; Brussels is about an hour away by train.

All our tips for the country: Travel in Belgium.

Where to stay in Bruges?

• Historic centre (Markt and Burg). At the foot of the belfry, among squares, canals and lanes, all on foot. Ideal for: first visit, couples.
• Around the Minnewater. Near the Beguinage and the ‘Lake of Love’, peaceful in the evening, minutes from the centre. Ideal for: couples, quiet.
• Near the station. Handy for train travel, about twenty minutes’ walk from the centre. Ideal for: arriving by train.

The areas and useful services are on our Bruges page.