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Bruges is a short train ride from Brussels, the Belgian capital. I’d heard so many great things about this little town that I just had to visit when I was spending a few days in Brussels. I was only there for a day, and I kind of wish I’d stayed a little longer. Brussels was a wonderful city, but there was something charming about Bruges, something you can’t get in a big city. But before we get into all you can do in Bruges Belgium, or at least some of what I experienced when I was there, we should probably talk about how to get there.
Getting to Bruges from Brussels
I was staying near the center of Brussels in the easyHotel Brussels City Centre (think easyJet), and since our train was early in the morning (to maximize time in Bruges) the easiest way to get to the train station was Uber. Now I’m from Vancouver, and for some reason British Columbia might be the last place on Earth to ever get Uber. Because of that I’m not too familiar with it, but there were two benefits here: 1) it’s easier than flagging down a cab, something that doesn’t seem too easy in Brussels; 2) with Uber you put in your destination before you book your ride, so there are no language problems like in a taxi.
One unforeseen complication though was that Brussels had more than one train station. But with some serious mapping skills and a prayer to the travel Gods above, we landed on the right one.
We arrived at the station in time to get some breakfast for our hour long train journey through the Belgian countryside. The station was rather large, but we managed to find our way after a bit of running and a last minute platform change. Getting to the platform involved an arduous number of steps due to a faulty escalator, but we made it onto the train. Breathless and sweating despite the cold weather, we were on our way to Bruges…hopefully.
What is there to see and do in Bruges Belgium?
After having our tickets checked, we were confident about being on the right train, and sat back for the journey to Bruges. When we arrived at the train station, we followed the signs and the other obvious tourists towards the main town center.
It was a short walk over a busy road and down some residential streets. We passed ornate, colorful looking houses lining cobble stone streets. People on bicycles passed us while locals carrying baked goods back to their homes made it feel like a scene from a Disney movie. Were they all going to burst into song? Probably not, but it was delightful.
The rest of the day was spent in the main central part of the city checking out the local sights. Here are some of the things we did that I would recommend if you visit Bruges, especially if you only have one day like us.
Walk around Bruges Markt
The market place in Bruges Belgium is really quite impressive. Much like many European cities, the main market square can be quite lively depending on the time of year or day of the week. Even in April, the market area was buzzing with people. There were so many really nice restaurants, granted all with probably a bit of inflated pricing due to the number of tourists, but nice nonetheless.
The buildings are really colorful and ornate, and many of the buildings have a lot of history like the 13th Century Belfry. It is such a beautiful building, and can be seen from the surrounding streets. Entrance is 12 EUR for adults, however the lines can be big, so earlier in the day might work better for you to get in. There are a number of other amazing buildings in the Markt to look at though. A great way to spend some time is in one of the cafes around the square with a Belgian hot chocolate watching the world go by.
Eat everything delicious
It’s Belgium, so of course you’re going to get beer and chocolate at every turn. You can’t walk more than a few yards without seeing something yummy to eat. I think half of my luggage allowance was filled with chocolate from our few days in Brussels. Bruges was no exception. Cobbled streets lead you from chocolate shop to chocolate shop.
But Bruges had some wonderful cakes and desserts too. I stood salivating at shop windows only to find myself walking out with pastries under each arm, not knowing how it happened. Mesmerizingly beautiful flans and pies filled every cafe and bakery window, tempting in every passer-by without the willpower to say no. I was that person.
Check out the churches and cathedrals of Bruges Belgium
Bruges has plenty of them, and they are all so historic. It felt like we went in all of them. You know how in Asia you can get “templed out”? In Europe you can definitely get “churched out”. Don’t get me wrong, they are all amazing to see, but I have to decide which ones I really want to see otherwise it’s like a pub crawl with churches. In Bruges we went to the Basilica of the Holy Blood which is in a smaller square to the East of the Belfry and the Markt area. The chapel is somewhat hidden within an unassuming building in the corner of the square, but when you get inside there are amazingly vibrant stained glass windows and views onto the square below.
The Holy Saviour Cathedral (Sint-Salvatorskathedraal) is another historic church in Bruges Belgium. The Church of Our Lady Bruges is a spectacular building. All three of these amazing places are within a few minutes of each other, right in the middle of Bruges. The good thing about churches is that they are generally a free or very cheap activity. Plus they are incredibly beautiful to look at from both inside and out. Bruges is filled with quaint little streets. It’s always nice to turn a corner and see something so magnificent as a church or cathedral.
Walk the streets and visit the small shops
Bruges has some adorable small cobbled streets, lined with individual shops selling craft items and souvenirs. Sure, some of the souvenirs are your typical Belgian flag on a bottle opener, but there are some unique gifts too. Bruges is famous for it’s lace, with many shops selling intricate handmade tablecloths, decorations and even cards with lace designs.
The Belgians are famous for a number of things you can find in almost any shops: chocolate and beer. We found a number of really good beer stores like The Bottle Shop which had lots of fun beers to buy and try.
There are amazing drool-worthy chocolate shops around every corner and bakeries that you gain pounds by just looking in the window, they’re that good. You won’t leave Bruges feeling hungry, but you might end up needing to increase your luggage allowance.
Have a beer by the canals
I was in Bruges Belgium earlier in the year. It was April, and unfortunately not as sunny and warm as I had hoped it might be. I don’t know why I thought it would be any different from the UK, but mainland Europe always brings to mind warmer weather. Anyway, at one point it started raining and quite heavily, so it was as good a time as any to run inside. We ended up in a pub overlooking one of the canals, watching the rain beat down while we were inside. Warm and dry with a beer. A relatively cheap, local activity.
I mean, you have to admit that the Belgians make good beer. No, I’m not talking Stella Artois, which although palatable is not what springs to mind when I think “good beer”. Instead I was excited to try some other, lesser heard of outside of Belgium, beers. This was the theme of my entire trip to Belgium, but especially a good thing to do in Bruges. There are a number of really nice waterside cafes and bars to grab a frothy beverage. Get your cheap ticket to the Bruges Beer Experience here.
Remember to take a reusable water bottle with you on your travels, like this one from FastTech
Spend more than a day in Bruges Belgium
I’ve talked about all the cheap/free things to do in the city, but there are lots of other sights to keep you happy. We saw people taking boat rides along the canals. There are also a number of museums such as the Salvador Dali museum which looked really cool. Read more about my trip to Salvador Dali’s hometown of Figueres Spain.
Whatever you choose to do in Bruges I think you’ll have a great time in this almost idyllic city. I would love to go back and spend a night there and have a bit more time to explore. Although not a big place, there are things to keep you busy. And like the rest of Belgium, if all else fails you can have great food and a cold beer.
If you’ve enjoyed this post, please leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Have you been to Bruges Belgium? What did you love most about this city?
