Bruges, Belgium is a fairytale city and one of the most unique and charming I’ve been to. Even though millions of people flock to Bruges each year, it’s oddly still a place that some people haven’t heard of. Whether or not you’ve heard of it or not, it’s someplace that should definitely be on your radar.

The History of Bruges

Bruges was founded by the vikings but a lot of Bruges’s history revolves around its high time in the late medieval period to the early Renaissance (1000s-1400s). Because of its location, it served as a large trading port, primarily in cloth, with a huge international influence. It is said (though sometimes disputed) that Bruges even created the world’s first Stock Exchange in 1309, called “the Bourse”. When power shifted away from the Low Countries, Bruges lost its power and even became a place of poverty. Thankfully its downfall didn’t bring about the city’s ruin. Maintaining its medieval charm, Bruges has in recent centuries become increasingly popular due to tourism.

Today, it’s one of the several cities nicknamed “Venice of the North” for its canals.

Things to Do in Bruges

The main square, “markt,” is absolutely gorgeous and one of the most colourful places in the city. Here you can visit the Historium Bruges, where you go back in time and follow lovers from Renaissance Bruges. It’s more for children and not super informative but the top level has a great view of the square. Alternatively (or additionally) you can go to the top of the bell tower. The bell tower building holds exhibitions.

They also have an actual market in the market square on Wednesdays.

You should also stop by de Burg square for more stunning architecture. Here is one of my favorite buildings in Bruges called the Brugse Vrije, a medieval building that’s currently decorated as it was as an 18th century courthouse. Unfortunately I haven’t been inside because at the time of my visit, it was under construction (of course), but it does look absolutely beautiful inside as well as out.

It’s also here you can visit the Statehouse as well as the Chapel of the Holy Blood. The chapel, which is said to have the blood of Christ, is another gorgeous building that’s well worth a look into.

But what I love about cities is what lies beyond their main squares. The Flemish architecture and gilded buildings don’t end there, and the medieval part of Bruges is actually quite expansive. You can take a canal tour to get some unique views of the city (something I recommend), or simply stroll along the streets. You can see Church of Our Lady Bruges or St Salvador’s Cathedral soaring above several centuries’ worth of buildings.

I also mentioned that Bruges is said to be the home of the world’s first stock exchange. Keep note of the Bourse’s location, a bit near the Jan Van Eyck statue. In a place with so many stunning building, the Bourse does not look that remarkable so it is easy to miss.

However the city does have some smaller museums to keep visitors preoccupied. Surprisingly the art museum I visited, Groeningemuseum, was quite small. I heard it’s supposed to have Flemish art but I remember it having a large Picasso exhibit. There’s also the Gruuthusemuseum which houses medieval decorative art.
One of the most important places in Bruges is the hospital, Sint-Janshospitaal, which dates back hundreds of years. You can even go inside to visit.

But I don’t think the highlight of Bruges is its museums. Really, the best way to spend time in the town is exploring all the architectural and historical beauty that hides around each corner.

Don’t forget that when you’re in Belgium, you absolutely must indulge on fries, chocolate, waffles, and beer! I have to say that Belgian chocolate is amongst some of the best, beyond Godiva, which you may have already tried. Bruges also specialises in lace and tapestry so you can get some cute souvenirs during your visit. There’s also a ton of other shopping to be had.

You can also visit the Begijnhuisje which is a very tranquil, monastery-like complex that has some exhibits on life several centuries ago. I recommend making this a stop since you’ll get to see a lot of gorgeous Bruges on your way there. There’s a bunch of swans on the water outside and it’s a very pleasant place. One of the other places I stumbled upon is the Minnewater, which is a park with a lot of old brick buildings on a canal. It felt like I had left the town and was wandering around sparse forest.

You’ll have to leave the city centre to visit Kruisvest Park but it has centuries-old windmills, a staple of Lowland culture.

Before I went, I heard that it was beautiful, and I heard it was very tourist-y. I went in the off season and it was an amazing experience, not tourist-y in the annoying sense. I went again in the summer and it was sooo crowded, to the extent it was difficult to sit down and eat since every place was packed.

A lot of people compare Bruges and Ghent but Bruges is more relaxed and tranquil than the latter city especially in the off season. Even though it’s large, it’s really more of a town. Yes, it does cater to tourism but a lot of it is lace and textiles such as tapestry, which can be great souvenirs. They also have horse-drawn carriage rides and boat tours that tourists take, but it’s nothing that gets in the way of a good visit. I didn’t think that the souvenirs and attractions were particularly overbearing, just the crowds we encountered in the high season.

It’s quite enjoyable but may not appeal to everyone as an overnight or long-term destination. It makes an excellent day trip, no question, but you can see and do a lot in Bruges in a day. Unless you’re a slow traveller, that’s really all you need. I do recommend spending the full day in Bruges to see as much as you can.

For cities like Bruges, I recommend getting a map and marking off where you’ve been so you can cover everything and see as many hidden corners as possible. Though there are several canals, you can easily see on a map where the center of town is. I also recommend going outside the city center even if it’s just a block or two. Even during the high season, these areas were a respite from the crowds.

The charming architecture stretches far over the town, but it’s reasonably small so you can see it in a few hours if you go quickly. If you want to spend two days here, you can probably have a relaxing two days with plenty of free time. If you are in the area, I highly recommend setting at least a day aside to visit Bruges because it’s a unique experience and an absolutely stunning place.

Have you ever been to Bruges? What did you think?

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This post was updated July 22, 2024, following a second trip to Bruges.

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