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BRUGES, BELGIUM – Bruges began life in about AD 862 as a castle on an island in a swamp formed by the river Reie. The castle has disappeared, but the charming square that replaced it, the Burg, had remained the historic heart of the city over the centuries.
Location of Bruges
Bruges, the seat and biggest city of West Flanders in Belgium’s Flemish province, is located in the country’s northwest and is ranked sixth in terms of population.
History of Bruges
In the Middle Ages, Bruges was one of the most magnificent cities in Europe. The city owed its wealth to trade, which supplied the bustling canal network with silk, furs, Asian carpets, wine, fruit, and exotic animals. Then, around 1500, Bruges fell into disgrace and lay dormant for four decades. It remained a small medieval town, its poverty alleviated by hospices, religious institutions, and a cottage industry that supplied Europe’s demand for lace.
By the end of the 19th century, antiquarians recognized Bruges as a historical treasure and launched a campaign of preservation and restoration. The reason why the city has seen a second renaissance, with a new generation revitalizing hotels, restaurants, and pubs, making it a popular tourist destination.
Since then, Bruges has gained international recognition for its famed art collections, as well as for being a delightfully walking city, with surprising views on every corner.
Getting in and around Bruges
By Plane
Most international flights arrive at Zaventem International Airport 15 km away from Brussels. You can reach central Brussels from Zaventem Airport by taxi or by train and from there change the train l to Bruges.
By Train
Belgium’s excellent national rail service called SNCB in French and NMBC in Dutch is clean, punctual, efficient and reasonably priced. Regular services link all the cities in Belgium. You can check the timetables and ticket price at www.b-rail(dot)com
By Bus
Flix Bus runs a regular bus service from Brussels to Bruges and there are also bus services that connect the cities of northern Britain to the Hull-Zeebruge ferry crossing.
By Car
Reaching Bruges by car is not very favorable because of the Belgian drivers bad reputation. Practical driving tests in Belgium began to be established in the 1960s. Today they are no worse than any other European drivers and faults such as driving too close on the freeway are virtually universal.
Driving into Bruges
Bruges does all it can to encourage you to park in one of the big car parks on the periphery of the city. The best solution is to go along with this, and walk half a mile from the car parks to the city center. However, it is possible to drive to your hotel and indeed to park close to the city center, especially outside the summer high season.
Park and walk
Car parking is most expensive in city center and much cheaper on the outskirts of the city. Parking in Bruges at the station in the south-west part of the city, is less than half the price of parking in the center.
On Foot
This is probably the best way of all to get around Bruges. Most of the places of interest you want to see are located close to the center, and within easy walking distance of one another.
By Bike
Belgians are keen cyclists, but dedicated cycle paths are not common. You can hire bikes and equipment in all the cities. Tourist offices will provide you with all the details.
Places of interest in Bruges
Bruges tends to be very busy in the summer. Tour coaches arrive in droves, and release their throngs at car parks in the south-west of the city to pour in to the streets leading to the center. One way of dealing with this is to stay for several days, so you can see the city in its more tranquil moments. Another is to explore the quieter areas, just about anywhere but the south-west.
The Burg
A day of wandering in Bruges can easily start with a visit of Burg and the most impressive building in this historic part of the town Stadhuis. It is a classic late medieval town hall built when Bruges was a hub of international trade. Just about every century is represented by the buildings on the Burg, and visiting them discloses many of the fascinating secrets that lie behind its walls.
Head south across Blinde Ezeistraat lingering beside the canals you’ll reach Steenhousewersdijk and Groenerei.
Steenhouwersdijk and Groenerei
This magnificent section lies south of the castle and is one of the most beautiful stretches of the canal, where medieval bridges and the skyline are reflected in the calm water. Steenhouwersdijk means stonemason’s dam. Here, the Steenhouwersdijk becomes the Groenerei, the Green Canal, and is flanked by a picturesque hospice called “De Pelikan“ built in 1714 and named after the symbol of Christian charity, the pelican. From here, you can visit Belfort and enjoy the most beautiful views of the city.
Belfort
Climb the 366 steps to the top of the Belfort and enjoy the breathtaking view over Bruges medieval streets. The set of bells at the top include the 47 carillon bells that are rung by a mechanism installed in 1748. They can also be played manually from a keyboard on the floor below by the town’s ”beiaardier” (carillon player) — Bruges highest paid official, as the joke goes. Take a break for a divine hot chocolate spot at De Proeverie and continue walking towards Begijnhof.
Begijnhof
This town quarter is a charming enclave that held a Beguine colony from 1245 to 1928 and is an essential part of Bruges’ identity. The whitewashed 17th and 18th century Beguinages may be seen around the woodland park. You may tour the gardens, the chapel, and one of the mansions. Return to Katelijnestrat for lunch and try some local dishes at one of the numerous eateries in the Vismarkt neighborhood. After lunch, explore the city’s historic retail area.
Markt
Bruges’s central market square has largely retained its original layout and is lined with historic guildhalls with stepped gables, although the Provinciaal Hof – the provincial government building on the east side, was built in the late 19th century. The market remains the center of Bruges and hosts a large market every Wednesday morning and a modest Christmas market in December. The Beursplain is accessible on foot from the market via the Vlamingstraat.
The world’s first stock exchange
The area of Beursplain is known as the headquarters of foreign traders. Back in the past there was a cluster of national ”lodges” such as the Genoese Lodge and the location of the world’s first stock exchange Huis ter Beurze. This much restored house is a medieval inn where merchants used to exchange credit notes.
Damme
Following the Academiestraat and alongside the canal within walking distance is the Damme. A pretty cluster of late medieval buildings is all that remains of the once prosperous — town at the head of the canal to Bruges. It is here where the goods were transferred from ships to canal barges.
Visit the Groeningemuseum, one of the greatest north European collection, with star roles played by the late medieval masters of Flemish painting, such as Jan Van Eyckand and Hans Memling.
Food & Beverage in Bruges
Good restaurants in Bruges are busy every day of the week. If you set your heart on going to a particular one, make a table reservation in advance. Special two or three-course menus are offered at a fixed price, and can have fantastic value. It’s not simply a question of price. Fixed — price menus in the restaurants in Bruges are changed on a daily basis.
Tourist restaurants
You can spot them a mile off: plastic-coated menus printed in at least four languages, waiters who solicit your custom at the door, an entirely foreign clientele and restaurant terraces that occupy the most desirable locations in the city center.
The food in tourist restaurants is generally mediocre and poor value. Try to explore the city a bit further afield, where to eat. The effort will be repaid. BHI recommends you the below listed specialized fine dining restaurants.
Den Dyver Beer Restaurant
If you’d like to test the best Belgian beer visit Dyver restaurant. It is a real paradise for beer pilgrims where most of the dishes are cooked with Belgian beer, and come with a selected beer. They are also demonstrating an astounding range of flavors. Google search : Dyver 5 for a location.
Florentijn French cuisine restaurant
Fond of authentic French cuisine, Florentijn restaurant is the best option. This stylish designed restaurant offers French cuisine and over 300 wines combined for a memorable meal. Google search : Acadamiestraat 1 for a location.
Den Gouden Karpel Fish restaurant
This is a fine fish restaurant located beside the Bruges Fish Market. With its favorable location it offers tasty fish specialities with recommended local wines and beer.
Shopping in Bruges
The city center of Bruges is packed with all sorts of clothes, souvenir, praline and beer shops. Many items are imported, but the prices may still seem good value.
Chocolate shops in Bruges
There are chocolate shops at very turn in Bruges. The big names are on Steenstraat and Zuidzandstraat. One of the great things about good- quality Belgian filled chocolates or pralines, is that they contain fresh cream — which means they have a limited shelf-life. If you refrigerate them, however they should be fine for about three weeks.
Lace Shops in Bruges
Genuine hand-made lace is expensive. To ensure you are getting the real thing, insist on a certificate of authenticity. There are still some lace makers in Bruges, though not the 10 000 there were in 1840.
Beer and Wine shop
Bruges has two well-known breweries. De Gouden Boom and De Halve Maan. The Bottle shop sells their beers, but most of the better known beers can be bought in ordinary food shops and supermarkets.
The Belgians tend to drink French wine, and shop prices for wine are similar to French prices.
Events and Festivals in Bruges
Bruges as well as the other cities in Belgium is famous for many festivals and events that are held throughout the year.
Praalstoet van de Gouden Boom
This festival was firstly performed in 1958 and its celebrates the Pageant of the Golden Tree. In a vast costumed parade the citizens of Bruges evoke the glory of the Burgundian era. It is held every five years in Late August.
Reiefeest Festival
Bruges river name is Reie and in favor of its role’s in the city history this festival takes place every third year. A series of historical scenes is performed at night at various points beside the water, creating a magical effect and bringing the city’s architecture to life.
Our favorite Bruges Tours
Despite being inland Bruges was once thriving port by virtue of its canals and canalized rivers. Canal trips are very popular way to tour the city. Tour boats leave from various points in the city center.
Tour operators who arrange both transport and accommodation may offer a good choice of hotels and courier back-up on the ground.
Among the Tours the most attractive excursions near Bruges are Damme and Ostend. Damme represents a pretty cluster of late medieval buildings, all that remained of the once-prosperious town at the head of the canal to Bruges. Ostend on the other hand is famous as a resort and for its excellentb seafood. It also has surprisingly good collections of art, in the Provincial Museum voor Moderne Kunst and the Museum voor Schone Kunsten.
Tourist offices can arrange for a private guide to show you around the city, or take you to see a particular aspect of the city. Most of these guides belong to one of the professional guide associations.
Our Favorite Bruges Tour
Min_H, Mar 2025
Zeebrugge to Bruges: Small-Group Shore Trip with opt Canal Cruise
” We took this tour to Bruges from our cruise ship. It was very well organized. They picked us up at port, and we had a a nice tour of Bruges, s well as some free time. The tour included a stunning canal boat. We were in a small group as opposed to what hte ship was offering, which we really appreciated”
Read more about – Zeebrugge to Bruges: Small-Group Shore Trip with opt Canal Cruise”
Want to book tickets and discover Bruges?
Booking hotel in Bruges
Hotel prices in Belgium reflect the predicted ebb and flow of business and holiday trade. Thus fore, summer is busy in Bruges, but less so in Brussels, Antwerp or Ghent. For small hotels that are very comfortable and full of character, Bruges is way ahead of the other cities. In the rest of the Belgian cities such hotels are scarce. Many hotels offer weekend rate, Friday to Sunday and public holidays. They sale their rooms far cheaper that the standard ”rack rate”. Consider the fact before booking the hotel room that many hotels also offer special rates if you stay several nights.
NH Brugge Luxury Hotel
Of the many hotels along the Zand River west of the city, NH Brugge Luxury Hotel is arguably the best choice. The rooms are comfortable, and the indoor pool is a huge plus.
Hotel Navara
This former trading house of Navarrete merchants has been transformed into a hotel of rare elegance and is located north of the Grand Place. This Best Western hotel offers exceptional service and comfort, as well as a fitness center and swimming pool.
Adornes Hotel
The Adornes Hotel is located among a row of reconstructed 16th to 18th-century mansions overlooking the canal in the quieter eastern part of town, yet within walking distance of the city center. The beamed — ceilinged furnishings exude a fresh, rustic charm. Bicycles are available for free use for our hotel guests.
Prinsenhof Hotel
This small, well-maintained hotel belongs to the Relais du Silence group and is nestled on a side street in the west of town, in an area that was once the magnificent palace of the Dukes of Burgundy.
Botaniek Hotel
A small but attractive centraly located hotel, stacked vertically on the narrow footprint of an 18th century mansion. The rooms are straightforward but pleasant and the public rooms very attractive. Above all the welcome is friendly and helpful.
Great location – friendly staff – Excellent stay – Booking hotel in Bruges by Trivago
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