2 days in Bruges

Day by day

1. Day 1: Markt and Belfry of Bruges

   Markt, Belfry of Bruges, Burg and City Hall and Basilica of the Holy Blood, then Rozenhoedkaai in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Markt

      A weekly market fills it on Wednesday mornings, and the Christmas market and ice rink take over in winter.

   2. Late morning

      Belfry of Bruges

      At the top, the view stretches over the red roofs and canals to the coast on clear days. It is part of the UNESCO-listed belfries of Belgium and France.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Moules-frites

      Brasseries around the Markt and the Burg; restaurants a street or two away usually offer better value.

   4. Afternoon

      Burg and City Hall

      Its Gothic Hall has a carved wooden vaulted ceiling and wall paintings of the city's history. Next door, the Liberty of Bruges building has a huge Renaissance chimneypiece carved in oak and marble.

   5. Late afternoon

      Basilica of the Holy Blood

      The relic is venerated daily and carried through the city in the Procession of the Holy Blood on Ascension Day.

   6. Evening

      Rozenhoedkaai

      Come at dusk, when the lamps come on and the Belfry is floodlit.

2. Day 2: Groeningemuseum and Canal boat tour

   Groeningemuseum, Canal boat tour, Bonifacius Bridge and Arentshof and Gruuthusemuseum, then Beer cafés near the Markt in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Groeningemuseum

      Later rooms continue to Belgian expressionism and surrealism.

   2. Late morning

      Canal boat tour

      Boats run mainly from spring to autumn, with reduced service in winter.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Frites

      The two frites stalls at the foot of the Belfry on the Markt, and neighbourhood frituurs away from the centre.

   4. Afternoon

      Bonifacius Bridge and Arentshof

      Despite its medieval look, the bridge dates from the early 20th century, and it is one of the most photographed corners of the city.

   5. Late afternoon

      Gruuthusemuseum

      A private oratory looks directly into the choir of the Church of Our Lady next door.

   6. Evening

      Beer cafés near the Markt

      Historic bars such as De Garre, hidden down a narrow alley, and 't Brugs Beertje pour long lists of Belgian beers.

Before you go

• Belfry of Bruges: Only a limited number of people are allowed in the tower at once; book a time slot online to avoid a long wait.

If it rains

• Swap in Old St. John's Hospital (Begijnhof and Walplein): Look closely at the St Ursula Shrine; its tiny painted panels tell the saint's journey to Rome and Cologne.
• Swap in Choco-Story (Markt and Burg): Time your visit around the chocolate-making demonstration, which runs several times a day.
• Swap in Frietmuseum (Markt and Burg): Visit just before lunch and eat the frites in the vaulted cellar afterwards.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 6–7 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 7.9 hours in December to 16.6 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Walking. The Markt to the Begijnhof is about 10 minutes on foot, and you can cross the whole old town in about 20–25 minutes.

More or fewer days

• One day in Bruges
• 3 days in Bruges

Questions travellers ask