Top 10 Sites, Activities, and Gastronomic Delights to Enjoy In Bruges, Belgium
Bruges is a UNESCO World Heritage site offering canals, medieval architecture, cobblestoned streets, museums, and more. Horse-drawn carriages and larger restaurants with outdoor dining line the main square for tourists, yet the city still exudes old-world charm.
The city is a relaxing destination with most activities within walking distance of each other. There are day tours to Bruges from Amsterdam, but if you’re able to stay in the city for 2 or 3 nights, all the better.
Here are some recommendations for your first visit to this historic city center:
Cruise The Canals
Bruges canal tours on a rainy spring day. (Photo: Erik Kramer)
If I compare the canals in Amsterdam versus Bruges, I think of Bruges canals as more narrow and more quaint. Boats are open-top and smaller than most tour boats in Amsterdam.
The captain will point out different key buildings along the way but their main job is navigating the boat safely so expect the information to be brief and factual. That said, we enjoyed the experience.
The view from the water is different than from the streets. Plus, there were several buildings, including Sint-Janshospitaal (Old Saint John's Hospital) one of the oldest hospitals in the world (founded in the mid-12th century) that we would have missed altogether if we hadn’t taken the boat cruise.
Consider A Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride
Catching a quick horse-drawn carriage ride between bursts of rain during our visit to Bruges. (Photo: Edie Kramer)
At Le Markt, the main square, there are horse-drawn carriage rides available for 60 EU (2024 price) plus a tip for the driver if you find their commentary interesting. The ride is about a half-hour long plus there’s a 10-minute stop halfway through so that the horse can be fed and given water.
My one cautionary comment is that picking a driver is key. Our driver was a young woman who said barely anything about the city and was difficult to hear when she did speak. I’ve read online comments from people with similar experiences. For that reason, I would recommend you think of the carriage ride itself as the experience and don’t think of it as a city tour. You might see a few streets off the beaten path but you won’t learn a lot about the city from your driver.
Climb the Belfry
The Belfry of Bruges at night. (Photo: Meineresterampe, Pixabay)
If you’re looking for an aerial view of the city, the Belfry is your ticket. Climbing the narrow, curved staircase is an adventure in itself.
Additionally, on the way, you’ll get to see the impressive clock mechanism and the carillon, an instrument that is played with a keyboard and consists of 47 bells (each bell weighs from 2 to 11,000 lbs.)
Relax at Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea at Hotel De Orangerie, Bruges. (Photo: Edie Kramer)
Afternoon tea is fairly popular in Bruges with several tea houses and hotels offering their versions. Like any other meal, the presentation is as important as the tastes you’ll experience.
Expect the traditional tiered tray of savory tea sandwiches on the bottom, scones in the middle, and sweets on top. Of course, there will be clotted cream and jams, and your choice of tea. China tea cups, saucers, and small plates (usually having a delicate pattern) will be used. You’ll feel as if you’ve stepped back in time.
Visit the Chocolate Museum
A resident master chocolatier demonstrates the process of making Belgian pralines. (Photo: Edie Kramer)
What’s the secret of great chocolate? You’ll learn that and more at
Choco-Story Bruges, The Chocolate Museum. The museum tour includes over a thousand artifacts related to the world of cocoa and chocolate. There are also some interactive exhibits.
A visit concludes with a demonstration of the manufacturing process of the traditional Belgian praline by an in-house master chocolate maker, as well as learning what you should look for in a quality Belgian praline.
The museum kitchen also offers public and private workshops. Learn how to make mendiants (chocolate disks studded with nuts and dried fruits) or Belgian pralines. Registration and additional fees are required.
See The Basilica of The Holy Blood and Religious Relic
The Basilica of the Holy Blood is located in a corner of Burg Square, a few blocks from Le Markt Square. (Photo: Erik Kramer)
The Basilica of the Holy Blood was originally built between 1134 and 1157. Major renovations took place in the 16th and 19th centuries.
Instead of stained glass behind the main altar, you’ll find a beautiful painted mural done in 1905. Stained-glass windows along the sides of the choir represent the sovereigns who reigned over the County of Flanders (where Bruges resides) rather than saints or stations of the cross that one might find in many Catholic Churches. Stations of the Cross are painted along the side walls below the windows.
The Church is best known for its storing of a respected religious relic—a vial said to contain a piece of cloth with the blood of Christ on it from washing His body after the crucifixion. It is shown every afternoon from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, except Fridays (10:15 AM to 11:00 AM).
Visit The Church of Our Lady; View Michelangelo Sculpture
The Church of Our Lady in Bruges. (Photo: Erik Kramer)
The Church of Our Lady is an impressive medieval church built in the 13th-15th centuries. It has the highest spire in all of Belgium and it includes the second tallest brickwork tower in the world.
The Church of Our Lady Museum is best known for housing a white marble sculpture of Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child. It is one of the very few sculptures of Michelangelo’s found outside of Italy. You must pay the museum fee to see this sculpture and much more within a corded-off section of the Church.
If you visit or walk past the Church of Our Lady, don’t miss a photo op of the nearby St. Bonifacius Bridge. This pedestrian bridge that crosses over a narrow side canal is the most photographed in the city. Because it is very picturesque and romantic, it can get crowded. Go early or late in the day.
Taste The World’s Best Chocolate
Some chocolatier shop windows are extravagant with piles of truffles and bars. Others simply showcase their pralines. (Photo: Edie Kramer)
There is no comparison to Belgian chocolate and Bruges is a great place to enjoy these treats. With 40+ artisanal chocolatiers in the medieval historic center, you’ll be tempted multiple times a day to buy a sample or two.
As you walk through Le Markt and the surrounding streets, you’ll see multiple chocolate shops every 100 feet. Their windows are works of art displaying truffles, pralines, ganache, and various molded chocolates. Those with pralines, the queens of Belgian chocolate, are prominently displayed in rows.
Enjoy a Paddle-Flight (or 2) of Belgian Beer
Le Trappiste is located in an 800-year-old cellar in historic Bruges. (Photo: Edie Kramer)
Bruges loves its beer as do the city’s visitors. There are many small, local bars with broad selections of Belgian and other beers. When visiting a new place, I recommend ordering a tasting paddle-flight to start. I’m not a beer enthusiast but I enjoyed Belgian beer, particularly the Kriek lambics that are fermented with sour Morello cherries.
One bar, Le Trappiste, is located in an 800-year-old medieval cellar just a short walk from Le Markt. They have 27 beers on tap and 150 bottled beers. The bartender was helpful with recommendations based on our preferences. Le Trappiste does not take reservations, you must have a seat (no standing), and they do not serve food. They know their brand experience is all about the beer. Although we did not have to wait for a table, it’s worth a wait if necessary.
2BE Beer Wall is another bar worth stopping at. They have a whole beer wall showcasing hundreds of Belgian beers—each with its unique serving glass. They have about a dozen beers on tap plus a huge selection of bottled beers.
Snack On An Authentic Belgian Waffle
Order a freshly-made waffle (takeaway) for a mid-day snack. (Photo: Edie Kramer)
You can order a waffle with all the fixings at several waffle restaurants or takeaway establishments. We tried both and found we preferred a plain waffle as a snack mid-afternoon while we walked around the city.
There are two types of Belgian waffles. The Liege waffle is bread-like with a crunchy crust. The Brussels waffle is made with yeast-leavened batter and is lighter. Try both and decide which one you prefer.
What Else Makes Bruges Special?
For starters, the majority of restaurants and shops are small and still locally owned and operated. Locals are welcoming and genuinely happy. Unprompted, hotel and restaurant workers told us they liked their jobs and living in Bruges. Happy people make great hosts.
Most locals speak Flemish and English, and many also speak French.
