Things to Do in Bruges
With Funbooker, find the best things to do in Bruges, in Belgium. Bike tour of the old town, food tour, chocolate museum or treasure hunt, there is something for everyone. Online Booking - Best Price Guaranteed
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Frequently asked questions
What are the must-do activities in Bruges?
The essentials are a boat trip on the canals, the climb up the Belfry for the view over the city, and a stroll through the Begijnhof and along the Minnewater. Add the Groeningemuseum for Flemish art, a tour of the De Halve Maan brewery and a stop at Choco-Story to round off your stay.
Is one day enough to visit Bruges?
The historic centre is compact and easy to explore on foot, so one day is enough to see the main sights. To also visit the museums, join a guided bike tour or take part in a food tour without rushing, plan two days.
What to do in Bruges when it rains?
Bruges has plenty of indoor options: the Choco-Story chocolate museum, the Groeningemuseum and its collection of Flemish Primitives, or a tour of the De Halve Maan brewery. Some outdoor activities, such as the guided bike tour, also provide a poncho on rainy days.
What to do in Bruges with children?
Choco-Story offers an educational trail designed for children, and a 30-minute canal boat trip appeals to all ages. Some activities, such as the Walking Dead treasure hunt, are aimed at adults: the age conditions are stated on each listing.
Can I give an activity in Bruges as a gift?
Yes. Most activities in Bruges can be bought as a gift voucher, sent by email in 2 minutes. The recipient then chooses the date that suits them. It is an ideal gift for a weekend in Belgium.
Can I cancel my booking for an activity in Bruges?
It depends on the activity: some include free cancellation while others are non-refundable. The cancellation conditions are clearly stated on each listing before you book.
Summary
Summary
The 9 best things to do in Bruges
Medieval canals, a belfry visible from all over town and chocolate makers on every corner. Bruges can be explored on foot in a day, as long as you know where to start. Here are nine ideas, from the great classics to the tours worth booking ahead.
Canal boat trip
You cannot leave the Venice of the North without seeing it from the water. Five jetties share the historic centre, and all the companies follow the same route, from Jan van Eyck Square to the Begijnhof.
Expect a 30-minute boat trip with no stops, with a skipper who tells the story of the city as you go. No booking is needed for individual visitors, you simply turn up at the jetty.
- Departure: one of the five jetties in the historic centre
- Duration: 30 minutes
Bike tour of the hidden gems of Bruges
The meeting point is the secret garden of Hof Bladelin, a 15th-century medieval mansion, where you hop on a retro bike with a front basket. Your guide, born and raised in Bruges, knows the corners that hurried visitors never see.
In 2.5 hours, the bike tour links the Belfry, the Minnewater, the windmills and the Begijnhof. Chocolates, waffles and a local drink punctuate the route, and a poncho is provided on rainy days.
- Address: Grauwwerkersstraat 29, 8000 Brugge
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Price: from €75
The Belfry (Belfort)
366 steps is what it takes to see the whole city from above. The 83-metre tower has overlooked the Markt since the 13th century and leans slightly, by just over a metre.
On the way up, you pass through the treasury before reaching the drum that drives the 47-bell carillon. The carillonneur plays live on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, in the late morning.
- Address: Markt 7, 8000 Brugge
Choco-Story, the chocolate museum
A Mayan temple opens the visit, a reminder that cocoa beans were already being consumed 5,000 years ago. More than 600 objects then tell the story of how chocolate is made and how it became so popular.
A demonstration and tasting are included in the ticket, as is the audio guide. Children have their own educational trail, which makes it a safe bet for families, especially on a grey day.
- Address: Wijnzakstraat 2, 8000 Brugge
- Price: from €16
De Halve Maan Brewery
Behind Brugse Zot, the city's own beer, stand six generations of brewers still based in the heart of town. An unusual detail: an underground pipeline more than 3 km long runs all the way to the bottling plant.
During the 45-minute brewery tour, you climb up to the roof for a 360° view over the city. The tour ends with an unfiltered Brugse Zot that you will not find anywhere else.
- Address: Walplein 26, 8000 Brugge
- Duration: 45 minutes
Bruges food tour
No tourist restaurants on the menu: this tour links at least four food stops, in places mainly frequented by locals. It starts on the Burg square, in front of the City Hall.
Over the 3.5 hours of this food tour, you taste Flemish beef stew, waffles, beer and chocolate, in a small group. The guide shares anecdotes and cultural insights between bites, so come on an empty stomach.
- Meeting point: Burg, in front of the City Hall, 8000 Brugge
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Price: from €129.94
Groeningemuseum
Most of the Flemish Primitives worked in Bruges, and the Groeninge Museum holds one of the finest collections of their work in the world. Jan van Eyck, Hans Memling and Gerard David hang alongside their contemporaries.
Magritte and the Flemish Expressionists extend the visit, which covers six centuries of Flemish and Belgian painting. A good option on a rainy day, with the Dijver quay right outside for a stroll afterwards.
- Address: Dijver 12, 8000 Brugge
Begijnhof Ten Wijngaerde
As soon as you step through the gate, the noise of the city fades away. Founded in the 13th century by the Countess of Flanders, this UNESCO-listed enclosure is still home to Benedictine nuns and women of Bruges.
The garden is free to visit, only the museum house that recreates the life of the beguines charges admission. The Minnewater, or Lake of Love, and its swans are right next door, best kept for the end.
- Address: Begijnhof, 8000 Brugge
The Walking Dead treasure hunt
A change of mood with this game that turns the historic centre into a city overrun by walkers. Smartphone in hand, your team meets Daryl, Maggie or Rick and earns survival points depending on its choices.
There is no game master on site: the treasure hunt is played independently, in teams of 2 to 6, in 2 to 2.5 hours. The level is aimed at adults rather than families with young children.
- Departure: city centre, exact meeting point sent by email
- Duration: 2 to 2.5 hours
- Price: from €69
