How to spend a day in Bruges, Belgium
Last Updated on October 29, 2023
In March Ryan, Nick, and I took our first family holiday since moving to the UK.
Our destination was Belgium, where we were lucky enough to check out Gent, Antwerp, Brussels, and Bruges.
Our last stop was Bruges, which is a place I’ve wanted to check out for some time, mainly because it seems to be a day trip that you can take from many other European cities I’ve been to.
On first impressions Bruges was a city of cranes and pretty cobblestone streets. I couldn’t wait to explore it.
So here are my highlights from our Bruges adventure:
What to see
Market Square (Markt)
Market Square is in the heart of Bruges, and the Belfry Tower takes centre stage. The Square was packed with tourists on the day we visited, despite the on and off rain.
The Square is also packed with shopping and waffle eating opportunities, guildhouses converted to retail outlets, and restaurants.
If you’re feeling active you can climb the 366 steps of the 83 metre high Belfry Tower for amazing views of the city. Unfortunately by the time Nick and I decided to climb the stairs, it meant that we had to join a massive queue of other tourists wanting to do the same, so we passed.
Address:
Markt 20, 8000 Bruges
Burg Square
Just a short walk through Market Square is Burg Square, which is smaller, and dare I say prettier than Market Square. The most notable building in this area is the City Hall (which is the main image of this blog post).
For €6,00 you can enter City Hall and learn about the building’s and surrounding area’s history, and view historical documents and currency. I’ve also been told that the Gothic Room is worth the entry alone.
Also in Burg Square is the Basilica of the Holy Blood, where a vial containing some cloth thought to be stained with Jesus’ blood is available to view in the upstairs Chapel. Be prepared to queue for this one.
Address:
8000 Bruges, Belgium
St Bonifacius Bridge and the Church of our Lady
If you feel like a walk, take a stroll along the Green Bank, across St Bonifacius Bridge, and into the grounds of the Church of our Lady. It’s a scenic, quiet and calming experience.
Address:
10, Groeninge 6, 8000 Brugge, Belgium
Sint-Janshuis Mill
Nick, Ryan, and I walked to Sint-Janshuis Mill from Burg Square, which took about 30 minutes.
As well as being a working flour grinding mill, this mill also has a museum in it. If you need to walk off some chocolate or waffles, and want to see some of the great little houses Bruges has to offer, as well as view Kruispoort Gate then make sure you visit this attraction.
Address:
Kruisvest 3, 8000 Bruges
Food to try
All I can say is waffles, yep, when in Rome…
Final thoughts
Bruges was very pretty and very compact, making it easy to view everything by foot. One day is more than enough to get a great taste of this city.
What’s on your Bruges to do list?
