We lived in Bruges for a month
Here is Everything you need to know!
This charming city in Belgium is often overlooked by travelers who are more familiar with names like Brussles and Antwerp, but Bruges is a treasure like no other! We spent a month in this charming city, and we think it should be the center of all your travel plans! Considered to be the best preserved medieval city in Belgium, and possibly Europe, Bruge really feels like a fairytale! If you are a lover of history, architecture, nature, and art, Bruge will enchant you to no end! Bruges gets a 10/10 from us!
In This article we will cover
Know Before You Go
What I wish we had known before visiting Bruges Belgium
Bruges deserves more than a day trip. We visited Brussels, Ghent, and Bruges, but Bruges was our favorite by far! Please plan to spend at least 3 full days here, I promise you will not get bored!
The people of Bruges primarily speak Flemish. Most of them also speak English and French, but they prefer English. In Brussels you will hear a lot of French, but we don’t recommend you use it in Bruges! Stick to Flemish or English. They have a complicated history with France.
The currency is the Euro, keep a few on you in case you need a restroom. Public toilets are not free.
Tipping is not generally necessary, and many locals even say it harms the economy by upsetting the balance of pay. Don’t worry, your waiter already makes a living wage!
There is no free water at restaurants, and soft drinks are not generous. You will be charged for every refill. It can be quite expensive at times, so we recommend bringing a reusable water bottle to help you stay hydrated between stops. There are some fresh water refilling stations throughout the city, and the tap water is very fresh and safe!
Many places do not have air conditioning. The weather in Bruges is generally cool to mild, so this is not a big problem, but if it is important to you, make sure you read the fine print at your accommodation. We did not have air conditioning in our apartment, so we opened the windows at night. It worked well, except we did have some mosquitoes in the room.
Restaurant hours may vary greatly! Belgians value their time off and some restaurants are only open 2 days a week! If there is one you REALLY want to visit, make sure you check the hours in advance! It is also common for them to close for a few hours between lunch and dinner, so plan ahead.
We visited in May and had very beautiful weather for the most part, however you should expect at least some rain! Bring an umbrella and a raincoat, the locals don’t let wet weather stop them, and neither should you!
We do not recommend renting a car unless you absolutely have to. Getting around by walking, biking, bus, and train is the thing here! If you do rent a car, avoid the historic center of town. It is difficult to drive in and requires a permit. Most rental cars will be stick shift.
A Checklist Before You Travel
Do you want Travel Insurance?
Travel insurance can help in case anything unexpected comes up, and you need to cancel, or rearrange plans. Many travel providers offer trip insurance, and so do some credit cards.
Do you know the Visa and entry requirements?
Visa and entry requirements will change from country to country, and depend on where you are coming from. You will need to check with your government.
Are there currently any travel advisories?
Travel advisories are changing all the time. Make sure you are up to date on the most recent situation by checking at Travel.state.gov or your coutry's travel advisory.
What are the local emergency numbers?
It is a good idea to know the local emergency numbers before you arrive. In Europe for example you can call 112 instead of 911.
Does someone know where you are going?
Leave a copy of your itinerary and contact information with a trusted friend or family member in case of emergencies.
Inform your credit cards of upcoming travel.
Credit card companies will usually block charges from unexpected locations. let them know you are traveling ahead of time, so that you don't wind up with a locked credit card.
Take copies of your passports and important documents.
Just in case something gets lost or stolen, it is a good idea to have coppies of important doccuments in a second location.
Do you need an international drivers license?
If you plan to rent a car, it is a good idea to get an international drivers license before you travel. It can save you a lot of paperwork and money later.
What are the vaccine recommendations and requirements?
Most countries have certain vaccinations they recommend, and sometimes they will require them for entry. You can look this up at Travel.state.gov or your country's travel advisory.
When to visit Belgium
The weather in Bruge is best between May and August with average temperatures between 64 and 70. There are Christmas markets from the end of November to the beginning of January but you are likely to encounter rain and snow. Thats ok, just make sure to pack accordingly!
We visited in May 2024 and it was perfect! The locals told us they had received 7 months of rain before we arrived! Yikes! But our time there was perfect! We did have some rainy days, but the majority of our time was mild and sunny! In the middle of Summer it can get hot for a day or two, but again that is the exception, not the rule. If you are traveling in summer, check to make sure your accommodation has air conditioning, many places in europe don’t and you may find hot days harded to cope with in July and August.
Because we visited in May we also got to witness the procession of the holy blood. It is a parade which happens down town once a year, and tells the story of the bible and the holy relic. The holy blood is kept in the Basilica of the holy blood for the rest of the year, but durring the parade it is brought out and walked through the streets! The festival was very well organized and the costumes were impressive! If you want to have a seat reserved ahead of time there are many businesses along the main avenue that sell chairs to watch from. All in all, it is a unique experience and we enjoyed it!
Here are a few special things
What To Bring With You To Belgium
There are a few special things that we think you should bring specifically for Belgium! The first one is a raincoat and an Umbrella! It does rain fairly offten in Belgium, and you don’t want to let it stop you! You will notice that locals go about their daily business rain or shine, and you should too! There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing, so come prepared! This coat by a company called Rains is trendy in Belgium and France, so you will fit right in!
There are a multitude of amazing waterfront parks in Bruges, and you want to take a chance to soak them in! We always carry a couple of turkish towels with us, because they are so versatile, doubling as a towel, scarf, or picnic blanket! Lay out your turkish towel and enjoy a picnic in one of Bruges glorious parks! It might be the highlight of your trip!
Walking Shoes are very important here! The city is very walkable, and there is a lot to see and explore. If you are anything like us, you will find yourself walking for hours at a time, so bring shoes that won’t make your feet hate you! We particularly like barefoot style shoes, which allow our toes to spread naturally to support our knees!
Don’t forget your resuable waterbottle! Water does not come free with meals in Bruges, and it can get very expensive if you are buying 2 liters every meal! Bring a couple of reusable waterbottles with you and you can fill up at the tap. Tap water in Belgium is crystal clear!
We spent a lot of time riding bikes in Bruges, so I was very greatful for my cushioned bicycle shorts! After a few hours on those little seats things start to get sore, so I highly recommend a pair of bike shorts, to make your whole experience a lot nicer!
Packing List
Below you will find a general packing list to help you remember all the little things you need! Of Course these are just suggestions to make sure you don’t forget something important, so feel free to pack according to your own style and comfort! We have included some amazon affiliate links to a few of our favorite products just in case you need a recommendation!
Passport/Visa/ID
Copies of documents
Travel Insurance details
International and normal drivers license
Credit cards
Laptop/Tablet
Phone
Chargers
Camera
Medications
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Sunscreen
Travel shampoo and conditioner
Travel body wash
Skincare
Makeup
Deodorant
Hair Products
Chapstick
Personal hygiene products
Razor (in check luggage)
Bug Spray
Backpack
Sunglasses
Umbrella
Jeans
Leggings
Sport pants
Dress pants
Shorts
Skirts
Tshirts
Dress shirts
Dresses
Pajamas
Socks
Underwear
Sweater
Swimsuit
Sandals/flipflops
Dress shoes
Belt
Scarf
Hat
Jewelry
Where To Stay
The city of Bruge is beautiful all over! Anywhere inside the circle will be a good choice! There are waterfront parks and a bike path encircling the old town. Anywhere near these parks will be excellent. We particularly enjoyed the area around Minnewater park. It is the perfect balance of centrally located without being too loud or crowded. The Hotel in Minnewater Park would be an ideal place to stay with the perfect location, and excellent food on your doorstep.
Many people choose to stay in the very center of town. It certainly has the benefit of being close to all the major attractions and events, but you should be aware that crowds are heavy there. For those who want to be in the center of everything, and dont mind crowds we would recommend a hotel just off Market square.
We do not recommend renting a car, but if you do, you should certainly NOT stay inside of the circle. It is very difficult to drive in the downtown areas and you need a permit. Even locals generally avoid it. If you have a rental you can try staying along Rijselstraat. We rented an apartment there and enjoyed the area very much! It is far enough away from the tourist area to be quiet, but it is still well connected. It is also much easier to drive in this area. A Hotel just outside the circle that provides parking would be a great location.
Top Things To Do In Bruges Belgium
Legends of Bruges Free and Private Tours offers an excellent collection of City Tours. The free walking tour leaves from Market Square and is an excellent way to start your time in Bruges! Our guide was energetic and very knowledgable! You get a history lesson, and a great overview of the city. You should note that “free tours” are NOT FREE! You are allowed to pay as much, or as little as it is worth to you! 10 Euro at the end of the tour is the customary tip. It is a great value, and they give you a 3 euro discount for the canal tour later!
One thing you can’t miss out on in Bruges is a boat tour! The canals of Bruges are some of the most unique and characteristic things about this town, and a boat tour is an affordable and pleasant way to see them! We booked our tour with Boat Tours-stael on Mariastraat next to Saint John’s Hospital. The tour cost us €15 per person and lasted about half an hour. Recorded audio gives snippets of information as you pass major sites. These are popular, so give yourself plenty of time in case lines are long! Visiting on a week day or morning will also cut down on wait times! The office is open from 10am-5pm daily. You can read more on their website at brugesboattour.com
When it comes to Bruges, bikes are the way to go! You will see right away that bicycling is a huge part of the culture here and you should experience it first hand! Roads are almost completely flat, so the workout is kept to a minimum, and riding is very pleasant. There are a number of bike tours available including this retro bike tour which will take you to some of the best parts of the city! Don’t forget to pack your bike shorts to stay comfortable!
4) Visit Damme and Sluis
You may also choose to rent bikes and explore on your own! If you are up for a longer ride, we recommend visiting the towns of Damme and Sluis. There is a canal running from the North East side of Bruges, through Damme, to Sluis in The Netherlands. There is also a boat ride available between Bruges and Damme if you need a break! In total the ride took us about a half hour to get to Damme, and an hour to Sluis. It is Ideal riding conditions on smooth paved roads the whole way! Check out The Chain at Deketting.be for rentals!
It’s no secret, Belgium is known for it’s beer, and in this city, beer is cheaper than water! Take a tour of the local bars and breweries, or just enjoy a few pints with dinner! Check out De Halve Maan brewery with the only beer pipeline in Belgium!
Bruges is a fairytale city, and there is no better way to make you feel like a princess than by taking a horse drawn carriage ride through the cobblestone streets! This would be a particularly good option for anyone looking to turn up the romance. The horses are well looked after, and they get 2 days in the pasture, for every 1 day worked, so relax and enjoy the ride!
7) Visit a Farmers Market
There are a number of excellent antique, and farmers markets around Bruges. Fridays and Saturdays in De Dijver park you will find an local antique market. It is a great place to pick up a souvenier with a little more authenticity and heritage! On Wednesdays in Market Square there is a big farmers market with produce, meats, cheeses, and food trucks! We grabbed a stack of pancakes and headed to Minnewater park for a picnic!
8) Picnic in The Park
After you grab some goodies at the local market, head to one of Bruges’ many beautiful parks for a picnic! Minnewater is a great option, but we also enjoyed Beguinevest, Smedenpoort, and Gentport! Ride your bike to any of them for extra fun!
Belgium is famous for it’s chocolate, and for good reason! You will find chocolate on every corner of the city, but make sure you shop around. Don’t just buy the first thing you see, some shops are very expensive! Look out for the golden chocolate bean on storefronts, which means the chocolate is high quality and made fresh in house. There are also a number of tours, and chocolate making classes for the enthusiast!
10) Check Out The Cathedrals
There are a number of cathedrals all over town, and many of them are free entry. Some of our favorites include Sint-Salvatorskathedraal, Heilige Magdalenakerk, Basilica of The Holy Blood, Saint Jame’s Church, and the Begijnhofkerk sint-Elisabeth. If you love architecture you are in the right place!
Bruges is full of history, and there is no shortage of museums to help you learn about it! If you are a history buff, you should check out The Belfry, Saint John’s Hospital, The Museum of folk life, Groeninge Museum, City Hall, and The Church of Our Lady! You can book the Musea Brugge Card which will give you access to 11 of Bruges most famous museums at a major discount! It only lasts for 3 days, so make sure you plan ahead for what you want to see! Some of the sites such as The Belfry require pre-booking.
The Beguinage in Bruges was founded in 1245 as a community exclusively for women who dedicated themselves to God, but did not cloister themselves away from the world. It is a registered UNESCO world heritage site and the city of Bruge cares for it. Women still ocupy the town so please treat their home with respect!
13) Check Out an Art Show
Art is highly appreciated in Bruges, and you can see this in the many art instalations and galleries throughout the city! They are changing all the time, but we came across them in parks, cathedrals, and galleries. You can visit Burgher’s Lodge for a start!
14) Bike to a Few Castles!
There are a number of castles surounding the city of Bruges that you can’t miss! We reccomend taking your bike for a ride, as the grounds surrounding the castles are very beautiful and pleasant to ride around! You may enjoy Kasteel De Rode Poort, and Streekhuis Castle Tillegem. Castle Loppem was one of our favorites and has glorious grounds for a walk, or picnic. You can find out more about opening hours and events at kasteelvanloppem.be
The Best Places To Eat In Bruges Belgium
Let us help you Find all the best food
As the name indicates, this is not a sit down restaurant, but a small take away spot with the best Liege Waffles in Town! They are made fresh to order which is very important! A plain Liege waffle is full of caramelized sugar and needs no toppings! We recommend you try your first one plain to fully appreciate this piece of culinary art!
Similar to Laurence Take Away, House of Waffles is also an excellent choice for freshly made Liege waffles! Once you have tried one plain, you might opt for Chantilly cream on top! No doubt you will be back for seconds later!
This is a must do for crepes and tea! Each person receives an individual pot of piping hot tea in the flavor of your choice, along with some dainty sweets. The crepe with Chantilly cream and chocolate sauce is a personal favorite! Make sure you visit the bakery, and maybe pick up some chocolates for later!
This is a famous local brewery. You can have a drink and meal here, but why not book a tour of the brewery while you are at it! They do get very busy so it is wise to book ahead of time!
A local friend put us onto this place for the best gelato in town, and it does not disapoint! Treat yourself and thank me later!
The decadent bakery of your dreams! It makes a great stop for brunch with a glass of wine, some sweet Merveilleux samples, and a big loaf of fresh chocolate Brioche! The bakers make everything right there, and it’s lovely to watch them as you eat!
A trendy upscale bar and restaurant in Minnewater park. It makes for a romantic evening with outstanding food and service! There is a cozy sunroom that would be an excellent option on cold or rainy days! The beef stew here is top notch!
Sitting prominently on the water in Minnewater park, this is one of the most glorious and romantic locations in town. We recommend you stop here for a drink to take in the beautiful Atmosphere. The food is very simple, so you will need to manage your expectations if you choose to eat here. They do NOT accept credit cards so you will need to bring cash.
How to get around town
The way that you move through a place can totally transform your experience there. Overall navigating Bruge is a very pleasant experience, and we have a few pointers to make it even easier for you!
Walking around Bruge is very pleasant and we recommend you plan to spend a lot of time exploring on foot! There are so many hidden side streets and winding alley ways to explore along the canals. Walking through the city will give you time to take in your surroundings, and we recommend you linger and explore slowly!
You will quickly notice how popular bicycles are in Bruges! Riding bikes is a huge part of the culture, and people of every age participate! Bruges is designed to accommodate a lot of bicycle traffic, and riding your bike here is very pleasant. We highly recommend you take the chance to tour the city on bike, either with a tour group, or exploring on your own. There are some excellent bike paths wrapping around the entire city, and you can ride along the canals through parks the whole way. Bicycles almost always have the right of way in Bruge, over both cars and pedestrians.
Within the city center there is a free shuttle which comes every 20 minutes from 7 am to 7pm. Look for green signpost that indicate bus stops. You can find more information including a map of the city shuttle and schedule at Brugge.be
If your destination is not along the free shuttle route you can book bus tickets in and around bruges on delijn.be
For travel outside of the city center you will need to book a bus ticket at flixbus.com There is an additional charge for large items of luggage which are stored under the bus in the cargo area. If you fly into Brussels like we did, you can take the flixbus to Bruges for about €9 each, not including luggage. The ride takes just over an hour and drops you off outside the train station, south of Minnewater park.
You could also opt for a train at belgiantrain.be We generally prefer trains over buses when possible, as the ride is typically smoother and faster. Your luggage is not stored under the train and you will need to hold it if a storage bin is not available. There are trains running between Bruges and Ghent, which make for an easy day trip!
We don’t recommend renting a car if you don’t have to. The public transportation here is very good and we found driving to be much more stressful than taking the bus or train. Most rental cars will be stick shift, so be sure you are confident driving one. It is likely that an automatic will not be available. If you do rent a car we recommend you stay away from the downtown area. The streets are narrow and crowded with pedestrians and bicycles. To drive downtown you need a permit most times of day and even locals avoid it. If you choose to drive in Bruges remember to keep an eye out for bicycles, and always give them the right of way!
7 perfect days
The Ideal Itinerary for 7 days in Bruges Belgium
Here is our ideal itinerary for anyone visiting Bruges! This little city is packed full of gems and we hope this itinerary will help you make the most of your time! It does not account for travel days. You may want to plan for a few days in Brussles before you visit Bruges! Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to rest and recover from the flight so you can really enjoy this magical town!
Day one – Monday
Breakfast – Liege Waffles at House of Waffles.
Leisure Walk and get acquainted with the city. Tour Sint-Salvatorskathedraal (free) and stop by The Old Chocolate House, and The Chocolate Line.
Lunch – Bistro Den Amand
2pm Free Walking tour of Bruges. Book at legendstours.be Bring cash for a tip.
Dinner – The Olive Tree
Day Two – Tuesday
Breakfast – Liege Waffles at Laurence Take away
Canal Boat Tour, don’t forget the discount card from your free tour!
Then Visit Sain John’s Hopsital with the Museums card
Lunch – Bistro Boreas
Tour Groeninge museum of art, Gruuthusemuseum, and The Church of Our Lady with the Museum card.
Dinner – De Gastro
Day Three – Wednesday
Breakfast – Chocolate Brioche at Aux Merveilleux De Fred Bruges
Check out the Wednesday farmers market at Market Square then pack up your goodies and head to the nearest park for a picnic! We enjoyed Smedenpoort, Beguinevest, Koningin Astrid, and Minnewater parks.
Lunch – Picnic in the park
Visit Kasteel Minnewater for a drink, and soak in the view! Make sure you bring chash!
Visit any other museums you may have missed.
Dinner – In The Mood
Day Four – Thursday
Breakfast – Chocolate Crepes at Carpe Diem Bakery and Tea House
Take a retro City Bike Tour
Lunch – Vlaminck ’14
Free time for walking, shopping, or visiting anything you have missed so far.
Dinner – ONE Restaurant
Day Five – Friday
Breakfast – Het Kleine Huis
Get off the beaten path and take you bike to Loppem Castle. Check out bike rentals at The Chain
Check out the surrounding grounds and the maze.
Lunch – Bring a picnic or check out Cafe St. Eloi
Ride over to Streekhuis Castle Tillegem next. The rows of copper beech trees on the grounds are glorious.
Dinner – De Lekpot Loppem or Restaurant D’hoeve
Day Six – Saturday
Breakfast – Balthasar Brugge
Take a chocolate and beer tour
Lunch – Restaurant Diligence
Take a ride in a horse drawn carriage. They pick up in Market square, and Wijngaardplein. You can read more on visitbruges.be
Dinner – Malesherbes Delicatessen
Day Seven -Sunday
Breakfast – Fluffy Pancakes at Yarn
Pick up rental bikes at The Chain, then Bike to Damme. Stop in at Tijl en Nele for coffee and a snack. Check out Our Lady of Ascension church and walk around the town. Zuidervaartjepad is a pleasant walking path behind the cathedral.
Bike to Sluis
Lunch – Ristorante Romagna Sluis or La Traviata Van Sluis
Walk around Sluis and do some shopping before you head back.
When you reach Damme again, hop on board the canal boat for a lift home! The last boat returns at 5pm check out lammegoedzakdamme.com for more information.
Dinner – Restaurant ‘t Gezelleke
A cheat sheet to make it easy
Useful Phrases in Flemish
Language plays a huge part in heritage, and cultural identity. As you travel it is good practice to learn at least a few phrases in your host country! It shows respect for the culture, and makes people more likely to want to help you. We have compiled a few phrases to make it easy for you! Try to remember a new one each day! We also recommend you download the google translate app, which will help you with pronunciation.
Hello – Hallo
Good day – Goededag
Yes – Ja
No – geen
Please – Alsjeblieft
Thank you – Bedankt/dank u
Good bye – Tot zirns/ Vaarwel
Excuse me – Excuseer me alsjeblieft/ Pardon
Sorry – Het spijt me/ Sorry
I don’t speak Flemish – Ik spreek geen Vlaams
Do you speak English? – Spreekt u Engels?
I would like this – Ik zou dit graag willen
I like (I like it) – Ik hou van/ ik vind het leuk
How much – Hoe veel
Where is the toilet? – Waar is het toilet
It’s very good! – Het is erg goed!
Can you help me? – Kun je me helpen?
No problem! – Geen probleem!
It’s ok. – Het is ok.
Exit – Uitgang
Pardon me – Pardon alstublieft
Good – Goed
Bad – Slecht
Nice to meet you! – Aangenaam!
What’s your name? – Wat is je naam?
Do you have…? – Heb jij…?
Can I pet your dog? – Mag ik je hond aaien?
Helpful Apps For Travel
Excelent for getting around, Google maps also allows you to save points of interest for future refference. The public transport navigation is suprisingly good also!
This little app is a must unless you already speak the language! It has standard translation, but also allows you to take photos of a menu, and talk to text!
Outside of the US almost everyone uses this app. If you want to be able to text you tour guide, exchange photos, and make friends as you travel do yourself a favor and get whatsapp.
I am never bored when we travel, even on long plane flights and train rides! Audible’s collection of audiobooks make the down time enjoyable, and I never stop learning things! Amazon Prime includes a lot of audiobooks for free, and there is a large library to pick from even without a monthly subscription. Check out my favorite books for your next trip!
Get your guide is the easiest place to start for tours! Even if you decide not to book through them in the end, they make it easy to see whats going on in your destination!
Finding a good place to stay is so important for a good trip! We use AirBNB to book at least half of our accomodations! Their search engine is so user friendly, and reliable, plus the reviews are super helpful! AirBnB also offers experiences, which usually help us find more local experiences.
If we don’t book on AirBnB, we use Booking.com They have less fees and plenty of options in budget and luxury ranges! They also have options for car rentals, Taxis, and excursions!