It sounds cliché but the nickname ‘Venice of the north’ couldn’t be more befitting of Bruges, Belgium, with its abundance of beautiful ancient buildings towering over its many canals. Postcard-perfect cobblestone streets, expansive squares, and its colourful Grote Markt complete with towering Belfry make Bruges a must-see European travel destination.
If you crave beauty and are a fan of the Belgian staples — chocolate, beer, waffles or Moules-Frites (mussels and fries) — or fancy just getting lost wandering ancient cobblestone streets, then you will find Bruges as enticing as I do to visit.
Let’s explore the reasons why Bruges is one the most picture-perfect, romantic European getaway destinations, and get into the best things to see and do when visiting, including one of the most intriguing things I’ve seen in all of northern Europe.
What is Great About Bruges and What is it Best Known For?
Bruges is best known for its stunning Venice-like canals that encircle its Medieval UNESCO ‘World Heritage Site’ city centre, but there are many other unique things that the city is known for. Perhaps most astounding, The Basilica of the Holy Blood houses a relic, allegedly containing the blood of Jesus.
Bruges is well known for its delicious delicacies. The country of Belgium is famously known for its amazing, high-quality chocolate, with Bruges being home to plenty of its great chocolatiers. You can visit many of the chocolate makers and find exquisite chocolate shops throughout the city centre. Other tasty delicacies include Belgian waffles, distinguished by their crispy, golden sugary crust, and the unique locally produced gingerbread-style cookies of the region.
Belgium, and Bruges in particular, has a fabulous beer culture. With a tradition of brewing dating back to the Roman era, Belgium is known as one of the finest beer producers in the world, with each unique beer style having its own remarkable style of glasses to sip from. Bruges is home to some of Belgium’s great beer producers, including Trappist beers, traditionally brewed by monks in monasteries. Many local breweries fortunately offer tours and tastings.
Some of the most exquisite Flemish ‘Primitive’ (pre-Renaissance) art dating to the Golden Area of Belgium from the 12th to 15th century can be found in abundance in this lovely city. The city has a number of exceptional galleries, some in unorthodox locations such as former churches and medieval hospitals.
In addition, the Michelangelo statue of Madonna and Child is said to be the only statue of the artist’s that existed outside of Italy within his lifetime, exemplifying the power and importance of the city of Bruges during that early time period.
Must-See and Do in Bruges
Basilica of the Holy Blood
I found, without a doubt The Basilica of the Holy Blood to be the most intriguing and fascinating attraction to visit when in Bruges. located in Burg Square and initially constructed in 1134, the Roman Catholic Basilica is divided into two chapels, upper and lower, with the upper Chapel of the Holy Blood holding a relic, allegedly containing traces of the blood of Jesus on a piece of cloth, within a cylindrical glass and gold vessel.
Above the upper altar, a stunning 20th-century painting the Mystery of the Cross located behind the main altar tells the tale of how the ‘Passion Relic’ of blood was given to the bishop of Bruges brought by the Crusaders.
Exploring Bruges by Boat on a Canal Tour
I am not usually one for touristy offerings when travelling but you simply can’t skip doing a canal tour, best done soon after you arrive to get the feel of the city.
There is no better way to see the historic beauty of Bruges than by water. With stunning architecture and seemingly perfectly placed white swans, the canals of Bruges really are one of the most amazing features of the city.
A key reason to tour via boat is there are things you will only be able to see by way of canals as there are generally no canal-side pathways in the way that there are in Amsterdam or other similar canal cities in the Netherlands.
Sint-Janshospitaal (Saint John’s Hospital) Medieval Hospital Museum
One of Europe’s oldest preserved medieval hospitals — dating to around 1150 — The St. John’s Hospital or Sint-Janshospitaal is now a stunning museum filled with art and medical instruments that detail the story of the inner workings of the hospital and how it looked and felt during the period of the mid-17th century.
The museum features the extraordinary works of 15th-century art by early Netherlandish painter Hans Memling, done in the Flemish ‘Primitives’ style. These highly detailed, spiritually thematic paintings are richly painted in stunning bold colours. Many of these paintings also have a dark side showing what sinners will see if they face hell in the afterlife.
The Saint John’s Hospital Museum will be closed for renovations for much of 2023 but the buildings themselves, located next to The Church of Our Lady are incredible and well worth a look.
Visiting Bruges’ Grote Markt square
Bruges’ colourful market square stands proudly in the heart of the historic city centre where it has been located since the 10th century. The Markt is surrounded by shops, lovely cafes and restaurants with terraces, and is perfect for taking a relaxing break while people-watching.
You can also catch a horse-drawn carriage ride from the Markt for an intimate tour of the city. On the north side of the square, traditional Flemish houses with stepped roofs add colourful charm to the square. The houses are now home to a fantastic assortment of restaurants with outdoor seating with views of the Belfry.
Market day is every Wednesday morning from 8 am to 1:30 pm where a traditional European market is setup selling all manner of foods including meats, cheeses fruits and seasonal vegetables, flowers and of course gifts and souvenirs. Admission to the Markt is free.
Christmas is one of the best times of the year to experience when the Grote Markt offers a traditional Christmas Market experience in December.
The Belfry and De Halletoren
Dominating the Grote Markt on the south end is one of Bruges’ most famous monuments, the towering Belfry. The tower sits on an early Gothic-style building de Halletoren, once used as a city treasury and administrative office. At the top, the Belfry has 47 bells that chime every 15 minutes and also can be heard playing regular concerts. Climb the tower’s 366 steps as I did for an exceptional view of the beautiful city, its red roofs and even a little Belgian countryside.
Guide to Finding the Best Beer Tasting and Tours in Bruges
Belgium is often revered as one of the best beer-producing countries in the world. Belgian beers are sought after for their unique, strong and rich velvety taste.
Brouwerij De Halve Maan – ‘Brewery of the half moon’ has the distinction of having one of the only beer pipelines in the world! The pipeline flows at 4000 litres per hour and connects their historic brewery in Bruges’ old city centre where all of their beer is made, with its new modern bottling plant 3.3 km away. The brewery has tours and tastings available. Home of Brugse Zot, it’s one of my favourites. You can find the brewery’s website here. | Tours €16-€26 |+32 50 44 42 22
Brasserie Cambrinus – Good luck getting through the beer menu, there are over 400 types of beers listed, literally an encyclopedia to pick from. Great location, wonderful food, great decor and a fun atmosphere. | $$ | Philipstockstraat 19 | Website | +32 50 33 23 28
2be Beer Wall – A charming pub with a lovely terrace with an amazing canal view, a huge gift shop and of course beer tasting. Home of the expansive ‘Beerwall’ Exhibit! | $$ | Wollestraat 53 | Website | +32 50 61 12 22
When is the best time to travel to Bruges?
Many people say that July or August is the best time of the year to visit, although I much prefer the off-peak or so-called ‘shoulder’ months of early Spring or September and October. During peak summer it can be extremely difficult to get a hotel room and it can be overrun with tourists.
Christmas time is also a wonderful more peaceful time to visit Bruges with its glorious Christmas decorations and charming authentic European Christmas markets. Keep in mind that the weather can be a little wetter and unpredictable during these periods, however, I’ve often travelled to Northern Europe in the early springtime and I find it the most enjoyable season.
Conclusion
You won’t regret making Bruges a stop on your European itinerary and I am sure it will be a memorable one. The city is quite accessible whether you are travelling across Belgium by train or arriving via Cruise Ship or Ferry at the port of Zeebrugge. The city is a little jewel that must be seen to be appreciated.
In conclusion here are a number of things that will be a highlight of your trip if you choose Bruges as your travel destination.
- Picturesque Venice-like canals
- The medieval “Historic Centre of Bruges” is fully intact
- An abundance of Flemish art masterpieces
- Belgian beer culture and brewery tours
- Incredible delicacies like locally produced Belgian chocolate and sugary waffles
- No language barrier for English speakers
Let me know in the comments below if Bruges sounds like a great place to visit (I know it was for me!). Or if you’ve travelled to Bruges before and have any more great places to share, I’d love to hear from you!