Nicknamed the “Venice of the North” thanks to its winding canals, Bruges beautifully mixes old-world European charm with a dynamic modern energy. There is no shortage of things to see and do in this medieval city, where horse-drawn carriages clip-clop down postcard-perfect cobblestone streets lined with Gothic architecture.
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Cruise Bruges’ Picturesque Canals | Explore the canals and admire medieval buildings. |
| Climb the Belfry Tower Overlooking Market Square | Enjoy panoramic views from the historic Belfry tower. |
| Lose Yourself in Bruges’ Fairy Tale Streets | Wander through picturesque lanes and step-gabled houses. |
| Tour the Groeningemuseum’s Flemish Masterpieces | Explore a collection of Flemish Primitives art. |
| Sample Belgian Beers (and Chocolates!) | Indulge in Belgian beers and chocolates. |
| Wander Through the Begijnhof Courtyard Village | Visit the serene Begijnhof courtyard village. |
| Tour Historic Breweries | Take interactive tours of traditional breweries. |
| Experience the Markt Food Market | Explore the bustling outdoor food market on Saturdays. |
| Discover Bruges’ Holy Blood Procession Tradition | Witness the annual religious parade on Ascension Day. |
| Tour Historic Churches and Abbeys | Visit exquisite churches and abbeys with stunning artwork. |
| Bike Through Bruges’ Countryside | Explore the Flemish countryside by bike. |
As we look ahead to 2024, new events, exhibits, renovations and openings are bringing more reasons than ever for travelers to visit Bruges. Foodies, history buffs, art aficionados, and road-tripping families alike will all find plenty to fill their itineraries over a few days…or even a few weeks! Read on for the 15 top things to do in Bruges to make the most out of your 2024 Belgium vacation.
Cruise Bruges’ Picturesque Canals
Name and Location:
Canal tours in Bruges, often starting from various points in the city center.
History and Significance:
Bruges’ canals, known as the city’s lifelines, have been crucial for trade and transportation since medieval times.
What to Expect:
A scenic boat tour offering views of historic buildings, quaint bridges, and charming streets. A relaxing way to see the city from a different perspective.
Visitor Information:
Boat tours are available daily, weather permitting, with multiple departures throughout the day. Tickets can be purchased on-site.
Gliding silently along Bruges’ canals offers a unique vantage point to admire the exquisite medieval buildings along the water’s edge. Look up to see historic churches, burgher’s houses, bridges and even a brewery reflected in the calm waters as you pass.
Several boat tour operators offer routes ranging from quick loops revealing Bruges’ postcard panoramas to longer rides deep into the quieter residential canals. Bring your camera – catching Bruges’ swans paddling alongside or iconic buildings like the Church of Our Lady peeking through foliage makes for idyllic photos. Bundle up against the North Sea breezes as you see this fairy-tale city from a magical new perspective.
Climb the Belfry Tower Overlooking Market Square
Name and Location:
The Belfry of Bruges, located in the Market Square.
History and Significance:
A medieval bell tower dating back to the 13th century, it’s an iconic symbol of Bruges and offers panoramic views of the city.
What to Expect:
Climb the tower’s 366 steps to reach the top, where you’ll be rewarded with stunning views. The tower also houses a carillon with 47 bells.
Visitor Information:
Open to visitors with an admission fee. Due to narrow staircases, access may be limited during busy times.
The soaring 366-foot Belfry tower has been keeping watch over Bruges’ bustling Market Square since the late 13th century. Venture inside to climb its winding stone staircases all the way to the top for unbeatable views over the red-tiled rooftops.
On a clear day you can see for miles, from the North Sea dunes across Flanders’ fields dotted with castles and abbeys. The bell still rings daily and the tower’s 47-bell carillon plays songs including the cheerful Bruges city anthem at regular intervals too. After working up an appetite, stop at one of the cafés or chocolate shops surrounding the square below your feet!
Lose Yourself in Bruges’ Fairy Tale Streets
Name and Location:
The historic streets of Bruges, particularly around the city center.
History and Significance:
Bruges is renowned for its well-preserved medieval architecture, giving it a fairy tale-like ambiance.
What to Expect:
Wander through cobbled streets, past historic buildings, tranquil canals, and hidden courtyards. It’s a photographer’s paradise.
Visitor Information:
Easily walkable, these streets can be explored independently or through guided walking tours.
Bruges seems to have invented the quintessential image of a European fairy tale town. Meandering lanes lined with colorful step-gabled houses look like something straight out of a storybook. Delicate church spires and ancient clock towers poke over the rooftops, with golden lights reflecting off quiet canals below.
Wander aimlessly without a map and discover romantic hideaways, adorable plazas filled with the chatter of dining locals, soaring Gothic cathedrals, and tiny shops specializing in lace, chocolate or beer. Let your imagination drift back in time during the Middle Ages or Golden Age of Flanders walking Bruges’ atmospheric streets.
Tour the Groeningemuseum’s Flemish Masterpieces
Name and Location:
Groeningemuseum, located in the city center of Bruges.
History and Significance:
This museum houses a significant collection of Flemish and Belgian art, spanning several centuries.
What to Expect:
View works by Flemish Primitives, Renaissance and Baroque masters, and modern artists. Highlights include pieces by Jan van Eyck and Hieronymus Bosch.
Visitor Information:
Open daily except on Mondays. Admission fees apply, and guided tours are available.
Housing one of the world’s finest collections of Flemish Primitives art, a visit to Bruges’ Groeningemuseum lets you discover works by Jan Van Eyck, Hans Memling, and Hieronymus Bosch up close. Their Renaissance era paintings provide a glimpse into 15th century Flanders.
Marvel at the mind-boggling details in “Madonna with Canon van der Paele” by Van Eyck or see Bosch’s creepy, surreal style unfold in paintings like “The Last Judgment.” The museum also holds impressive collections of subsequent Flemish masters including Pieter Paul Rubens. After admiring all that vivid color and precise intricacy, you’ll likely see why the Flemish painters were so revered during their era.
Sample Belgian Beers (and Chocolates!)
Name and Location:
Various breweries, pubs, and chocolate shops throughout Bruges.
History and Significance:
Belgium is world-famous for its beers and chocolates, both integral to the country’s culinary culture.
What to Expect:
Taste a wide range of Belgian beers and artisanal chocolates. Many places offer tastings and pairings.
Visitor Information:
Breweries and chocolate shops have varying opening hours. Some offer guided tours and tasting sessions.
Belgium is world-famous for two of life’s greatest culinary pleasures – beer and chocolate! Bruges offers endless opportunities to indulge in both. Lace up your walking shoes to visit the family-run Half Moon Brewery, Fort Lapin artisan chocolate shop, and Chocolaterie Siska for their specialty pralines.
Pair your samples with a meal at local favorite Cambrinus Beer Brasserie, where you can choose from over 400 Belgian beers to accompany traditional dishes like Flemish stew or beef and beer casserole. Or stop into t’Brugs Beertje pub, boasting over 300 Belgian brews that seem to grow right out of the walls! By trying all of Bruges’ amazing beer and chocolate, you’ll be supporting small businesses and getting a delicious taste of Belgian culture at the same time.
Wander Through the Begijnhof Courtyard Village
Name and Location:
The Begijnhof (Beguinage) of Bruges, near Minnewater Park.
History and Significance:
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this was once a community for Beguines, women who lived in a semi-monastic community.
What to Expect:
Tranquil gardens and traditional white houses surrounding a quiet courtyard. A peaceful escape from the bustling city.
Visitor Information:
Open to the public year-round, free of charge. Some parts may be restricted as they are still residential.
On the eastern edge of Bruges’ city center lies a serene compound that seems a world apart. The Begijnhof was founded in 1245 as a community for religious lay sisters called Beguines. Today the enclosed courtyard surrounded by historic white-washed homes maintains its peaceful atmosphere.
Accumulate some zen wandering under the trees, admiring the simple church, and grabbing a table for two at the on-site café terrace. Early risers can even meditate during a free morning yoga class within the Begijnhof’s grounds. It remains an island of tranquility in the city center perfect for resting weary feet after long days exploring Bruges.
Tour Historic Breweries
Name and Location:
Historic breweries in Bruges, such as De Halve Maan Brewery.
History and Significance:
These breweries often have centuries of brewing history, showcasing traditional Belgian beer-making methods.
What to Expect:
Guided tours explaining the brewing process, followed by beer tastings. A unique insight into the city’s brewing heritage.
Visitor Information:
Tours usually require a fee
While Bruges has its fair share of excellent bars for trying different Belgian beers, why not see how the brews are actually made? Two family-run Bruges breweries welcome visitors to take interactive tours where you’ll learn traditional brewing methods, see equipment up close and best of all – enjoy samples poured straight from conditioning tanks.
The original De Halve Maan Brewery dates from 1856 and produces the beloved Straffe Hendrik Quadrupel and Brugse Zot Blond Ale varieties. Their excellent tour even ends with a pint atop the brewery’s rooftop beer garden overlooking town!
For a contrast between traditional and contemporary brewing, also visit Bruges Beer Company. Their modern facility utilizes automation and futuristic fermenters to create new varieties like Blackberry Porter and Spiced Honey Ale. With Bruges’ longstanding brewing heritage, it’s fascinating to compare old and new production side-by-side.
Experience the Markt Food Market
Name and Location:
Markt Square, the main market area in Bruges.
History and Significance:
A historical trading spot, now a vibrant market with an array of local foods, crafts, and more.
What to Expect:
A bustling atmosphere with stalls selling fresh produce, Belgian specialties, and souvenirs. Great for experiencing local flavors.
Visitor Information:
The market is typically open on specific days of the week, usually in the morning.
On Saturdays, Bruges locals flock to this bustling outdoor food market for fresh seasonal produce, artisan baked goods, cheeses, cured meats, and street food specialties. Graze your way through the stalls trying new flavors and chatting with vendors and shoppers alike. Pick up fixings for the perfect Belgian picnic like crusty bread, local butter and chocolate, charcuterie, and Gentse Strop waffles drizzled in caramel sauce.
Or fill up on hearty Belgian comfort foods like steaming waffles smothered in toppings, fries doused in mayo, or a paper cone filled with piping-hot frites sauce. If you brought an empty suitcase for all the Belgian chocolate and beer you’ll sample, fill it with locally grown fruits and veg or handmade products from Markt’s vendors.
Discover Bruges’ Holy Blood Procession Tradition
Name and Location:
Annual Procession of the Holy Blood, held in the streets of Bruges.
History and Significance:
A centuries-old tradition, this procession is a religious and cultural event, commemorating the relic of the Holy Blood of Christ, reportedly brought to Bruges from the Holy Land.
What to Expect:
A solemn yet festive procession with historical reenactments, religious tableaux, and music. It attracts thousands of spectators.
Visitor Information:
Held annually, usually in May. It’s advisable to arrive early to find a good viewing spot.
On Ascension Day (May 18th in 2024), Bruges celebrates an annual religious parade through the city streets honoring what legend says is a vial containing Christ’s blood. The colorful pageant recreates a medieval biblical atmosphere with actors in biblical costumes, cheering crowds waving flags, trumpet fanfare, and solemn Knights carrying the ornate “Holy Blood” reliquary.
After being cancelled due to Covid in 2021 and 2022, excitement is high for the Holy Blood Procession’s triumphant return in 2023 and 2024. Visitors planning an Ascension Day arrival can score one of the best-value hotel rates all year and take part in this fascinating tradition unique to Bruges.
Tour Historic Churches and Abbeys
Name and Location:
Various churches and abbeys throughout Bruges, such as the Church of Our Lady.
History and Significance:
These historic buildings are architectural marvels with rich religious and artistic heritage.
What to Expect:
See impressive Gothic architecture, religious art, and sometimes relics. Many churches offer guided tours.
Visitor Information:
Open to visitors, often free of charge. Some may have restricted access during religious services.
Bruges holds some exquisite churches and abbeys that exemplify extravagant medieval architecture, vivid stained glass, and exquisite artwork. The soaring spire of the Church of Our Lady is visible across town, beckoning you to come marvel at Michelangelo’s serene white marble “Madonna and Child” sculpture inside. Intricate frescoes and Renaissance tomb sculptures adorn St. James Church, said to be the parish church of the actual St. James.
Just outside town sits tranquil Lake of Love, overlooked by the ruins of brick-red Jeruzalemkerk with its eerie Knights Templar cemetery. History and architecture buffs shouldn’t miss touring Bruges’ magnificent religious sites!
Bike Through Bruges’ Countryside
Name and Location:
Countryside around Bruges, with various bike rental shops in the city.
History and Significance:
Cycling is a popular way to explore the Belgian countryside, offering a different perspective of the region’s natural beauty.
What to Expect:
Scenic routes through fields, villages, and along canals. Suitable for all levels of cyclists.
Visitor Information:
Bike rentals are available throughout Bruges. Maps and suggested routes are often provided by rental shops.
While Bruges’ compact cobblestone center is easily walkable, hopping on a bicycle lets you cover more ground to see beyond the city limits. Laced with designated bike paths leading through photogenic rolling fields dotted with Dutch windmills, riding through the Flemish countryside surrounding Bruges feels like biking straight into a postcard!