Itinerary for a single day (8-10 hours) in Bruges, Belgium.
Best spots for sight-seeing, food, and Belgian beer!

Bruges, Belgium

Bruges, Belgium - 1 Day

Visit Bruges for its enchanting medieval architecture, romantic canals, world-class chocolate, and rich history. It's a picturesque fairytale destination, perfect for a day trip from Brussels.

After arriving by train, the best of Bruges can be accessed on foot. Starting and ending at the Brugge train station, this guide provides a walking tour that would last approximately 10 hours.

Stop into House of Waffles to find out why the Belgians are famous for their waffles. Offering both sweet and savory options, the waffles with toppings range from €3 to €8 depending on your selection.

Walk south down Katelijnestraat, stopping into shops based on your time and hunger level. Your next desination is “In the Mood - dinner in the park”. Enjoy an early dinner before sunset with a view of Minnewater park.

Leaving Brugge train station on foot, walk north on Oostmeers toward the city center. Stop into Maro (one street over) to fuel your day.

After coffee and breakfast, continue to the Market Square to admire architecture in the center of Bruges and prepare for the ascent up the Belfry.

 Now for the real view, tickets are approximately €15. The climb to the top is 366 stairs, but worth the work to see a 360 degree view of Bruges from 83 meters high. Expect the trek up and down to take approximately 30 minutes.

Nearby is a Basilica (Roman Catholic Church that is accorded special privileges by the Pope) that houses a vial with cloth believed to be stained with the blood of Jesus Christ. A great visit for the religious or for those that will appreciate beautiful interior architecture. 

If timed just right, you’ll be walking through the  Minnewater park as the sun sets.  The romantic setting, known as the "Lake of Love" holds a legend that if you walk over Minnewaterbrug bridge with your partner, your love will last forever.

Finally head back to the train station for your return, full of waffles, beer, and new memories!

The entrance fee is €2.50 and you can plan to spend 30-60 minutes within the church museum.

After, head next door to 2be Bar. The plentiful selection of Belgian beers and the "beer wall" are nice, but the real prize at 2be is the terrace view over the canal. Beer lovers or not, all will enjoy sitting and watching the boats go by. 

No trip to Bruges is complete without a boat tour through the canals. I recommend this charter group as the service and tour guide was entertaining and friendly and the cost per adult is ~€12. The tour itself was around 30 minutes.

Take your time between these two stops. While I recommend booking in advance, if you haven't booked a ticket already for a boat tour, check on available times before these two so that you can plan your visits accordingly.

Bruges, Belgium - 1 Day

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