One day in Bruges
I have long dreamed of spending at least one day in Bruges.
Therefore, when planning a city break in Brussels, I jumped on the opportunity to visit Bruges, one of the best cities in Belgium. It was everything I expected it to be.
This post contains affiliate links to products and services that I may be compensated for, at no extra cost to you. Read more about this on our disclosure page here.
Table of Contents
- One day in Bruges
- Other City Break Options
One day in Bruges
How to get to Bruges
Brussels to Bruges
BY TRAIN
Getting from Brussels to Bruges by train is one of the easiest things to do. We woke up one early cold morning, headed to the Gare du Midi, and bought our tickets from the vending machines in the train station.
The train ride from Brussels to Bruges takes less than one hour. The schedule and prices are available on the Belgian railway website.
If you don’t want to be in a hurry in the morning, you can always book your ticket online ahead of time.
Another thing worth knowing is that train tickets in Belgium are half the price during the weekend. Thus, it might be worth it to buy your ticket from the train station starting on Friday.
BY BUS
Traveling from Brussels to Bruges by bus is also easy, even though the trip might last almost double the time.
One of my go-to bus companies is always Flixbus. They have lots of connections in Europe. When you book ahead of time, you can score lower prices and book up to 2 months before the trip.
However, one thing I disliked about traveling with them was the fact that there was almost always a delay. But for a ticket of 6 EUR, I guess it is a risk worth taking.
Check out the schedule and prices here!
Another helpful place where you might want to look for buses is Omio.com. Here is where you’ll find Flixbus and Bla Bla Car options.
BOOK A GUIDED TOUR
You can always book a guided tour from Brussels to Bruges, especially if you don’t want to worry about organizing any additional trips.
We always choose to go on day tours when we have less time to spend in a place, but we want to see it anyway. Another advantage is that a guided tour allows us to learn a lot about the place.
Book your Bruges and Ghent day tour from Brussels here!
Amsterdam to Bruges
No, Amsterdam is not too far away, and there are plenty of tour options for a day trip from Amsterdam to Bruges.
We considered it during our visit to Amsterdam a few years ago, but we took a tour to see some of the prettiest Dutch villages.
I don’t regret it, but I’m sure happy I got to see Bruges and Ghent some years later.
BY TRAIN
Getting from Amsterdam to Bruges by train is an option, and the ride takes around 3.5 hours.
Check out train prices and timetables here!
BY BUS
Flixbus connects Amsterdam to Bruges, and depending on the time of year, you can book a 4-hour bus ride when you book ahead of time. Check out Flixbus timetables and prices here!
However, you can always use Skyscanner to rent a car and drive yourself. That way, you can organize your itinerary as you wish.
BY TOUR
This is a 12-hour guided day trip from Amsterdam to Bruges, where you will forget about the stress of getting around or booking transportation.
Considering the number of hours spent on the train and the price of the train ticket, a guided tour is more efficient, and you can also save a lot of money when you book in advance.
Also, don’t forget you can always cancel your tickets if something comes up and you cannot make it anymore.
When is the best time to visit
Because of its humid climate, I would say that Belgium can be a rather unfriendly destination at certain times of the year. I’ve visited with my mother in the middle of April, and even though all the beautiful colorful flowers were in bloom, the weather was still really cold.
However, I would still encourage you to plan your trip anytime from April to November, as long as you bring the right clothes. A good jacket will keep you warm while you enjoy all the beauty Bruges has to offer.
Of course, spending one day in Bruges during summer could be a bit crowded. Bruges is, after all, a small village and one of the most beautiful places in Belgium, and it can become packed with people.
Where to stay in Bruges
When you consider allocating more time to Bruges and maybe a Bruges city break, you will want to know the best place to stay in the town.
Stay in Bruges on a budget
Lybeers Traveller’s Hostel is an affordable option in the heart of Bruges. All the main attractions are accessible on foot. Book your stay here!
Ibis Budget Bruges. This is another budget-friendly option right next to the train station and a short walk to the city center. Check out availability here!
Mid Range hotel in Bruges
Grand Hotel Casselbergh Brugge. This is such a nice combination of modern on the outside and traditional on the inside. Guests staying here loved the location, the rooms full of character, and the friendliness of the staff, making them return. See when they are available here!
Affordable luxury hotel in Bruges
Hotel Van Cleef Bruges. It is an exceptional hotel, not only because of its Booking.com rating. This is your hotel if you fancy a bubble bath, an outstanding breakfast, or spacious and comfortable rooms. Guests have returned and booked the same hotel. Check it out here!
One day in Bruges itinerary
Minnewaterpark
In the Southern part of Bruges, as we made our way from the train station towards the city center, we saw this oasis of green.
Trees surround the park, and it hosts a small lake called the Lake of Love. The legend says you will experience eternal love if you walk past the small bridge with your loved one.
On the banks of the river, there’s the romantic Castle de la Faille, which hosts a restaurant where you might want to come back later for a tranquil meal.
Beguinage (Begijnhof)
Behind the park, we found this scene hidden from a fairy tale.
The lined-up white houses once hosted the beguines and are now home to the nuns of the Order of St. Benedict. Stepping through the gate, a magical world unraveled before our eyes, with the birds singing in the trees, the daffodils in bloom, and the little white houses perfectly aligned.
Choosing a favorite place in Bruges is hard, but I might risk saying the Beguinage was mine.
Sint Janshospitaal
One of the oldest hospitals in Europe, the building is now a museum that will transport you back to the 12th century. You will not only see old medical instruments but also artwork.
Moreover, the building is very beautiful and makes for a perfect picture.
A great way to see and learn about a place is to take a short city-guided tour. This is always the best way to learn about the history of a place while also leaving free time in the day to explore on my own.
Here are a few great options for Bruges:
- 2-hour guided tour
- 90 minutes kickstart tour
- 1-2 hours guided rickshaw tour
- Go on a walking tour for free
Gruuthuse Hof House
Considered the best restaurant in Bruges on TripAdvisor, this place is also very photogenic. Its traditional architecture makes for a pretty Instagrammable backdrop for your one day in Bruges.
Church of Our Lady
The Church of Our Lady is hard to miss. It is the tallest building in the city and the second-tallest brickwork tower in the world.
An imposing Gothic-style building dating from the 13th century, very close to the city center, is where you should stop for a minute or two.
Bonifacius Bridge
In the vicinity of the church, you’ll find the famous Bonifacius Bridge and the Arents Courtyard.
Here, you can step off the crowded and shop-filled streets for a breath of fresh air and a quiet moment. It is a fairytale corner of Bruges, but that is hard because the whole town is torn from a story.
The Central Market
One of the most colorful markets, the Central Market of Bruges, is beautiful! It is also filled with history and is where the Christmas Marked in Bruges occurs.
The Belfry Tower is the most prominent building in the square. You can climb the 366 steps on the narrow staircase for an entrance fee and see Bruges from above.
Other important buildings in Bruges’ Central Market are the Provincial Palace on the northern part, the Cranenburg House, where Emperor Maximilian of Austria was incarcerated in 1448, and the Bouckhoute House, the oldest building in the square.
If you visit on a Wednesday morning, you can buy local products directly from the producers present at the market. Just make sure to come here before 1 p.m.
Burg Square
Burg Square is only a few steps away from Market Square. This is the former fortress of Bruges, initially surrounded by walls.
Today, the square has many important buildings, such as the City Hall and the Basilica of the Holy Blood. Also, I found one of the loveliest little chocolate shops in one of the pavilions.
Rozenhoedkaai
Stroll a bit further and find the most photogenic spot in Bruges.
There are many beautiful canals, bridges, and buildings, but this little corner is one of the best! You might have seen it on postcards or in every picture from here.
And there’s a good reason why!
The windmills of Bruges
We went further from this spot and escaped the crowds to discover the famous windmills of Bruges.
Apart from the stunningly pretty little houses and the empty streets, I was surprised to see that the windmills are on the banks of a river in the middle of a green area. There are not only one but four windmills, and you can choose your favorite one.
I just loved the whole area here. And I was sorry I could not spend more time and relax here. I would have chosen to stay in this part of town.
Experience something new
Since you took a day trip to Bruges, you might as well experience something different. You can always take a boat trip on the canals in Bruges, attend a Belgian chocolate workshop or a waffle workshop, or mix chocolate and beer.
Explore Hansa Quarter
This charming little quarter comes back towards the city center from the windmills of Bruges.
We stopped here for lunch and took many pictures of the pretty colorful houses.
Don’t leave without trying!
When you visit Bruges, you will have plenty of options apart from chocolate. There will always be the colorful marzipan in countless flavors or the super Instagrammable waffle on a stick.
Of course, when you don’t feel adventurous, sit down, drink a hot chocolate, and bring some pralines back home. Oliviers Chocolate Shop & Bar or The Old Chocolate House are good options.
The House of Waffles is another place not to miss, no matter if you come for something sweet or savory.
Other traditional meals that we’ve tried are the mussels and fries. Don’t leave Belgium without tasting this super simple yet delicious combination. And try it with a local beer!
What to pack for Bruges
As I’ve said, the weather in Belgium, and Bruges in particular, since it is on the canals, is pretty humid. That’s why temperatures will feel even colder than they are.
The weather in spring is moody and can surprise you with some rain and pretty much a covered sky even if it doesn’t rain. After freezing on the streets of Bruges in mid-April, here is what you must expect:
- March average high-temperature is 10.4°C (50.7°F), and the average low-temperature is 3.1°C (37.6°F)
- April average high-temperature is 14.3°C (57.7°F), and average low-temperature is 6.3°C (43°F)
- May average high-temperature is 18.1°C (64.6°F), and the average low-temperature is 9.2°C (48.6°F)
That’s why I recommend packing with cold weather in mind and the occasional few hours of sun in a day.
I like to bring along plenty of layers whenever I travel during spring. However, when I visited Belgium in April, it looked like I didn’t have quite enough.
Here is what to pack for Bruges in spring:
- a winter jacket
- a pair of gloves – yes, you read that right! I was sorry I haven’t brought mine with me
- some comfortable and stylish boots – I love the ones from Clarks or Dr. Martens
- a cashmere scarf
- a colorful umbrella
- a lightweight raincoat
- Come dressed in layers: a jacket, a sweater, a blouse, a T-shirt
Extra tips and other travel essentials for Belgium
The local currency is the Euro.
The official languages spoken in Belgium are Dutch, French, and German. You will see that the announcements on the train are in Dutch, French, and English. Also, some apply to buses and the metro in Brussels.
Learn more about Belgium and Bruges with a Bruges guide ebook or the Lonely Planet Bruges pocket guide.
You will surely want to charge your phone and other electronic devices. Thus, it is worth knowing that Belgium has the European voltage (230V). A travel adapter plug will be handy when traveling from the US or UK.
Based on the current and past situations that substantially affect travel, I recommend always booking travel insurance and ensuring you are covered in case of cancellation. You never know what could happen, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Request a quotation here!
Extra activities when you spend a Bruges city break
Other City Break Options
- Spend 4 days and discover Hong Kong
- The Ultimate 4 days in London
- 2 days in Vienna
- 3 days in Budapest
- Ho Chi Minh Itinerary: Discover Vietnam’s largest city.
- 2 days in Berlin
- One day in Nuremberg
- One day in Frankfurt
- 3 days in Seoul: A Complete Itinerary
- 2 days in Lisbon
- Unusual things to do in Amsterdam
- Love at first sight: 3 days in Stockholm
- Things to do in Barcelona
- One Day in Bologna
- 3 days in Thessaloniki
- Your perfect 2 days in Rome
- 2 days in Athens
PIN FOR LATER!
