What to see in Bruges

Bruges is a picturesque Belgian city located in the Flanders region, famous for its canals, cobblestone streets and well-preserved medieval architecture. It is known as the "Northern Venice"and this beautiful city offers visitors a unique and unforgettable experience.

Although Bruges is a small city, it is full of historical sights and there are plenty of things to see. Some people tend to combine the Ghent and Bruges tour in a single day, but if you have enough time, we recommend dedicating a full day to Bruges. It is the perfect destination for a getaway from Brussels or Ghent, as it is approximately 1h by train from both cities.

To make sure you don't miss a minute of your visit, here are some of the must-sees what to see in Bruges in one day. We also leave at the end of the article a map with the walking route If you click on the map, it will open in Google maps so you can follow it.

If you are going to eat in Bruges, you can go to the post with our recommendations of the best restaurants in Bruges. best restaurants in Bruges.

👀 Check out these plans for Bruges!
Guided tour of Bruges
Free tour of Bruges

1. Minnewater Park (Minnewaterpark)

If you go to Bruges by train and approach the city center on foot, one of the first places you will find is this fantastic park. From the moment you enter, you are enveloped by the beauty of nature, with tall trees and lush green meadows.

The most impressive feature of the park is the lake, known as the Lake of Love. It has crystal clear waters and is full of swans swimming in it. It is the old port of the city, which operated until the late sixteenth century, and its name has given rise to many legends. In addition to the lake, some of the points of interest that we recommend you to visit are:

• Minnewaterbrug: bridge XVI century that is located at the entrance of the park. From the shore of the lake there are beautiful views of the lake, with some benches hidden by trees where you can enjoy the privacy and the incredible views.
• The Gunpowder Tower (Poertoren): right at one end of the bridge is this 18 meter high defense tower. If you enter the park in the direction of the center you will surely pass right next to it.
• Falle Castle: small gothic castle of stone. It is the typical fairytale castle that gives a nice touch to the area in which it is located.

2. Begijnhof (Begijnhof)

Following the route from Minnewater Park to the center, you can make a short detour to visit the Begijnhof, o Beaterio. If you are wondering what a beaterio is, as we did when planning our trip, read on!

The Beaterio is a complex of houses from the 13th century that used to be the home of a religious community of women. In the Middle Ages, women who entered the convent were known as Beguines, women who lived together in community, but without taking vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Beguines were independent women who worked to support themselves and help the poor of the city. The Beguine Beaterio was a place where they could live in peace and dedicate themselves to prayer and meditation.

Today, the Beaterio continues to be a place of prayer and reflection, but it has also become a museum and a popular tourist attraction. It is one of the most picturesque places to see in Bruges if you have never seen a beguinage (there are others in other cities in Belgium). The entrance to the complex is through a small gate that leads to a beautiful inner garden full of trees and flowers, surrounded by old buildings and a church. It is a haven of tranquility that is well worth a visit.

3.Church of Our Lady Bruges (Church of Our Lady Bruges)

This church is an impressive example of gothic architecture and has an imposing tower of more than 115 meters high It is one of the highest points in the city and one of the tallest brick towers in the world. It is said that the first church was built on this site in the 9th century, but the present structure was completed in the 15th century. The bell tower took over 200 years to build!

It is a must-see for lovers of history and art, as it contains the tombs of Charles the Bold (the Duke of Burgundy) and his daughter, Mary of Burgundy, as well as the heart of Philip the Fair, various works of art, and the famous Michelangelo's sculpture Virgin and Child" or "Madonna".

The part of the church can be visited as follows free Monday to Saturday from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, and on Sundays from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Admission to the museum where the "Madonna", the works of art and the tombs are located costs 7€ for adults.

4. Groeninge Museum and Memling Museum

The Museum Groeninge is the Bruges' most important art museum The museum has an impressive collection of Flemish art ranging from the 14th to the 20th century. It is especially known for its collection of Flemish and Belgian paintings, including works by Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling.

The Museum Memling The museum, on the other hand, is a small museum dedicated to the famous painter Hans Memling, who lived in Bruges in the 15th century. The museum houses an impressive collection of his works, including his masterpiece "The Last Judgment".

The visiting hours for both museums is from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:30 am to 5 pm. The general admission price for the Groeninge Museum is 15 €, while the ticket for the Memling Museum costs 8 €. If you want to see both museums, there is also a combined option.

5. St. Savior's Cathedral (Sint-Salvatorskathedraal)

Already approaching the center of Bruges we find this Gothic cathedral and its imposing facade of the thirteenth century. The interior of the cathedral is also impressive, with its stained glass of all colors rich tapestries and paintings, medieval tombs and a spectacular organ. The oldest church in Bruges is well worth a visit.

Entrance to both the cathedral and the museum is free. It can be visited from Monday to Friday from 10h to 13h and 14h to 17:30h. Saturday until 15:30h. Sunday from 11:30h to 12h and from 14h to 17h.

6. Bruges Main Square (Grote Markt)

The historic center of Bruges is articulated around this square, which is the commercial and social center of the city. It is surrounded by historic buildings and typical guild houses, which surprise the eye as soon as you enter. Here you will find the famous Bell Tower (Belfort) with its 83-meter height, which offers a panoramic views of the city, the market covered (Hallen) or the Palace Provincial.

In addition, the square also has a large number of restaurants, bars and cafes where you can have a drink to recharge your batteries, although these are more expensive than in other areas of the city.

In one of the corners of the square there is a curious museum of Bruges (Historium Bruge) which has a bar up with terrace. Even if you don't take anything, you can go up and admire the square from above to take some pictures. Right next to the museum, you will see that there are some colorful houses with a lot of people in front of them taking pictures, we leave you the specific location on the map if you don't want to miss one! fotaza!

At Christmas time, the square becomes a Christmas market full of light and color. You can eat typical Belgian food, drink mulled wine or Belgian beer, buy all kinds of gifts and enjoy live music. We were lucky enough to see it since we went in December and the truth is that the atmosphere is spectacular.

7. Belfort (Bell Tower)

As we mentioned before, this bell tower is right on the main square of Bruges and is hard to miss. This impressive Gothic tower, built in the thirteenth century, is one of the most important most popular sites and World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO.

The bell tower, which is more than 80 meters high, has long been a symbol of Bruges' independence and freedom. It houses a collection of 47 Belgian carillon bells, and its use has varied over time (place of surveillance, prison, treasury room or court).

The bell tower offers fantastic views of the old town and the city of Bruges and its surroundings. But keep in mind that to get to the top you have to climb no less than 366 steps! The entry to climb the steeple slope 8€.

8. De Burg (Square)

After admiring the Plaza Mayor you can continue to this beautiful square, smaller but just as charming. Here you will find several historical buildings such as the City Hall the Palace of Justice or the Basilica of the Holy Blood where a relic which is believed to contain the blood of Jesus Christ. In the next point we tell you more about this church, which has been one of the most surprising in Belgium.

There is also a statue of Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck, two medieval heroes from Flanders who led a popular revolt against French oppression.

We recommend especially if you can see it both day and night, as all the buildings are illuminated creating a magical atmosphere, and if you go at Christmas even more, as everything is full of Christmas trees and decorations.

9. Basilica of the Holy Blood

This basilica is for us one of the must-see in the city of Bruges. It is surprising both from the outside and from the inside, and it houses aunique eliquid that has attracted pilgrims for centuries.

The basilica is located on Burg Square as we already told you, and is an impressive example of 12th century Gothic architecture. But what makes the Basilica of the Holy Blood so special is its relic: it is said that the church contains a glass ampoule that contains a drop of blood of Jesus Christ which was collected after the crucifixion.

This relic can be seen in the upper chapel The church of gothic and neo-gothic style, in which there is a very dark and solemn atmosphere, full of colorful murals and stained glass windows. We recommend you to go and see it as we found it very curious. In the lower part there is another small chapel with a totally different style, with a Romanesque structure that remains practically in its original state.

The entrance to the Basilica of the Holy Blood is free so don't hesitate to come in and take a look.

10. Rosary Quay (Rosary Quay or Rozenhoedkaai)

This magical corner is one of the most more picturesque and photographed and certainly deserves a stop on the tour of Bruges.

The Muelle del Rosario is located on the shores of the Dijver channel, and is the perfect place to watch the sunset while admiring the landscape of exposed brick medieval buildings, with a spectacular view of the canals and the boats sailing through them.

When it gets dark and the city lights are turned on, the atmosphere becomes magical. The lights of the buildings reflected in the water of the canal make for a spectacular sight.

11. Groenerei (Green Pier)

Near the Rosario dock is another dock, Groenerei. It is known as the Green Pier because of the large green area full of trees and shrubs that border it, creating a quiet and relaxing atmosphere. Our recommendation is to stroll aimlessly along the canal, enjoying the views and the historic buildings.

In addition to being an ideal place to go for a walk the Groenerei is also a perfect place to spend some time in peace and quiet photos incredible with some bridges and the bell tower in the background.

12. Jan Van Eyck Square (Jan Van Eyckplein)

As a last recommendation on what to see in Bruges if you still have been left wanting more, we have the square of Jan Van Eyck. Dedicated to this famous Flemish painter, has a statue of him right in the center and is surrounded by historic buildings. Most of the buildings are financial buildings In the 14th-15th centuries, this is where most of Bruges' merchandise and trade was concentrated.

In the Jan Van Eyck Square there are a few cafes and restaurants with terraces, ideal for a drink and a short stop to regain strength on our tourist route through the city. Although it is a nice place, if you do not have enough time we would not consider it essential.

📍 Route through Bruges in a day (MAP)

Here we leave you the walking route we follow to visit Bruges in one day, from the moment you leave the train station to the historical center of the city. All the sites we tell you about can be seen following the route marked on the map.

As you can see the city is small enough to walk around it completely. At one day will give you plenty of time to see the must-see sites of Bruges.

If you want to read other articles ideal for your trip that complement What to see in Bruges you can visit our posts about Belgium.