Day Trip to Bruges

Often called the “Venice of the North,” a day trip to Bruges, Belgium is like traveling back in time to a medieval fairytale.

This gorgeous city is packed with a rich history and culture, and is wildly romantic. Compact and walkable, it’s totally doable in a day, or maybe two if you want to stretch it out into a weekend.

Quick history

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Bruges in some iteration dates all the way back to the Roman era, but didn’t really flourish til medieval times, when at one point it was considered one of Europe’s most important commercial centers.

Way back in the 9th century, Bruges was home to a fortress, with a small fishing village growing steadily around it. By the 12th century, it became an important center for trade and commerce, joining the Hanseatic League and exporting high-quality textiles, particularly wools and linens, but also spices, wine, and other luxury goods. Merchants from all over Europe flocked to Bruges to buy and sell goods, and the city became a melting pot of different cultures and nationalities.

All this peaked by the 15th century, as the Hanseatic League lost power over time due to the opening of new trade routes. This in turn led to the city’s decline as well– a decline that lasted several hundred years.

It was only in the 19th century that Bruges began to recover, thanks in part to the efforts of King Leopold I, who recognized the city’s historic and cultural importance. The king ordered the restoration of many of the city’s historic buildings, and Bruges became a popular destination for tourists– and this is certainly still the case today!

Getting There

Bruges is technically doable as a day trip from Amsterdam, but it’s a bit tight if you’re relying on the train. Indeed, Bruges is an ideal day trip from nearby Brussels or Ghent, as it’s only about an hour away on the train and there are several departures each hour.

Tip: If you visit on a weekend, make sure to purchase the discounted tickets available.

If you do choose to go from Amsterdam, you’ll need to take the train to any of the main train stations in Brussels, and then transfer to the local trains going to Bruges. Once you arrive in Bruges, it’s about a 15 minute walk from the station to the medieval city center, and it’s an absolutely charming walk.

Tip: try to arrive early in the morning to get the best photos as you enter the city center, and don’t miss the tranquil Minnewaterpark and its semi-demolished castle.

The Perfect Day Trip to Bruges

While small in size, Bruges is packed with fun things to do. Here are our top tips for a wonderful visit to this world-class city.

Wander through the historic city center:

The city center in Bruges is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to beautiful buildings, cute cobbled streets, and quaint canals. One of the best-preserved medieval city centers in Europe, it is relatively small and can be easily explored on foot.

The Markt is the town’s main square, home to many beautiful period buildings. Particularly of note are the 13th-century Belfry Tower and the Provinciaal Hof. You can also climb the Belfry Tower if you so choose, taking in breathtaking views of the city from the top.
The square is also packed with cafes and restaurants, though we recommend venturing a few streets in any direction to get a bit less touristy fare.
Consider doing a free walking tour! We really enjoyed Stephanie’s (English-language) walking tour, Walking AdvenTours. Like other “tip tours,” you give your guide a monetary contribution at the end of the tour.
Bruges is known worldwide for its lace production. If you’re into handicrafts, Bruges is a great place to be.
Burg Square is another beautiful square in the city center, home to several historic buildings like the Gothic-style Stadhuis (the Bruges city hall, worth a peek inside) and the Basilica of the Holy Blood.
The Rozenhoedkaai is a picturesque spot along the canal that is known for its stunning views of the city. It is one of the most photographed spots in Bruges and a fabulous spot for people-watching.
The Begijnhof (or Beguinage) is an often-overlooked piece of the city’s history. Dating all the way back to 1245, it was originally used as a sanctuary for Beguines, or lay religious women (i.e., women who weren’t ordained as nuns but lived a pious and celibate life.) Situated on a quiet street, it has a number of historic buildings, including a church dedicated to St. Elizabeth of Hungary, several adorable white-washed houses, and a central courtyard green space. Beguines no longer live there today– rather, the houses are occupied by Benedictine nuns. To us, this is a must-see in Bruges that we likely wouldn’t have heard of!
Nearby, give your loved one a smooch at the Bonifaciusbrug (Boniface Bridge): legend says that if you do, your love will last forever. It’s located right by the Church of Our Lady and the stately Gruuthuse Palace.

Check out the city’s churches:

The Church of Our Lady is a stunning Gothic church with a towering spire that dominates the Bruges skyline. The church is home to several works of art, including a marble sculpture of Madonna and Child by Michelangelo.
St. Salvator’s Cathedral is also Gothic in style, dating back to the 12th century. The interior has gorgeous stained glass windows and ornate paintings and sculptures.
The Basilica of the Holy Blood is home to a vial said to contain the blood of Jesus Christ. Brought to Bruges by crusaders in the 12th century, this relic gave the church its name. A popular pilgrimage site, you can see the relic and take part in a special procession each day.
The Church of St. Anne departs from the Gothic theme, built in the 17th century in more of a Baroque style. Check out its fancy marble columns, gilded altar, and organ.
The Jeruzalemkerk, or Jerusalem Church, is a very unique church– built in the 15th century to resemble the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, it also has a courtyard modeled after the Garden of Gethsemane.

Visit the Groeningemuseum:

The Groeningemuseum is home to an eye-popping collection of Flemish art, a very popular era of art in this part of the world. The museum has works from loads of famous artists, like Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling.

Try some Belgian chocolates:

It goes without saying that Belgium is world-famous for its delicious chocolates. Bruges in particular is home to many chocolatiers. There are some chocolate tours available, but you can also just pop into one of the many chocolate shops in the city. Just make sure that you confirm that the chocolatier is local to Bruges (and not imported from elsewhere) prior to buying. Some local chocolatiers to check out include:

The Chocolate Line, which has won several international awards for its chocolates.
Dumon Chocolatier, a family-run chocolatier established in 1992.
Chocolaterie Sukerbuyc, also family-run, dating back to 1983.

Sample Belgian beers:

Hand-in-hand with local chocolates is Belgian beer culture. Bruges has loads of pubs and bars where you can try local brews in a variety of settings, from cozy and cute to more modern options. Here are a few favorites:

De Halve Maan is arguably the most famous brewery in town, and indeed it’s the last remaining brewery located in the city center. Famous for Brugse Zot and the Straffe Hendrik, you can take a beer-making history tour that includes samples.
Bourgogne des Flandres is a brewery that specializes in the production of the traditional Flemish red-brown beer, also offering tours and tastings.
Fort Lapin is a small craft brewery with a nice taproom.
Struise Brouwers is known for its more unusual beers, located more on the outskirts of Bruges.
Our favorite (despite not-so-great service) is De Garre, a small brewery that only produces 1 beer, a (strong!) Belgian tripel that you can only get at the bar. The bar itself is so cozy and lovely, and has a surprising amount of seating for its size.

Check out some fantastic local eats:

We had a great food experience in Bruges. From fresh Liege-style waffles to moules frites and more, here are a few recommendations for great food in Bruges:

Breakfast/brunch: That’s Toast
Mussels and other traditional dishes: Poules Moules
Beer: De Garre or Le Trappiste
Fries: The Potato Bar

Bonus: take a boat tour!

Bruges is known as the “Venice of the North” for its wide network of canals. While we didn’t do so, many other blogs recommend taking a boat tour for a different perspective of the buildings and wonderful photo opportunities.

We hope you enjoyed this guide to a day trip to Bruges. For more “Benelux” content, don’t miss our day trip guides to nearby Brussels and Ghent (dropping in the next few days!), as well as our varied content on day trips from Amsterdam and the Netherlands in general, Why Not Walk’s home base 😉

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