Nightlife · Bruges · Belgium
Bruges nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Bruges, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Navy8300, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Bruges nightlife is about cosy beer cafés and wine bars rather than clubs; evenings are calm, and the old town is pleasant to stroll after dinner. The main areas are Beer cafés near the Markt, Eiermarkt and Langestraat.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 3
- Local drink
- Bruges beers
Where to go out
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.
Eiermarkt
A small square just behind the Markt with bars that stay busy later on weekends.
Langestraat
Local bars and casual restaurants in the Sint-Anna area, popular with residents.
Nightlife tips
- Many bars close earlier than in big cities, especially midweek; start your evening by 9pm.
- Ask for the house beer at historic cafés; several pour beers you will not find elsewhere.
Evening sights
![Wolfgang Staudt [1]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bruges_Market_Square_and_Belfry.jpg){kind=link}
Landmark · Markt and Burg
Markt
Grab a cone of frites from the stalls at the foot of the Belfry and eat it on the statue steps.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- After dark
Viewpoint · Markt and Burg
Rozenhoedkaai
Come at dusk, when the lamps come on and the Belfry is floodlit.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Views
- After dark
What to drink
- Bruges beers — De Halve Maan brews the blonde Brugse Zot and the strong Straffe Hendrik in the city centre, and Bourgogne des Flandres, a sweet-sour red-brown ale, is also brewed in Bruges.
- Jenever — The juniper-flavoured spirit that preceded gin, served chilled in a small tulip glass, either young (jonge) or aged (oude), sometimes flavoured with fruit.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 13°C (55°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 17:08 | 1°C (34°F) | 12 |
| April | About 20:42 | 5°C (41°F) | 9 |
| July | About 21:57 | 13°C (55°F) | 9 |
| October | About 18:55 | 8°C (46°F) | 12 |
Getting home late
- 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.
- Bus — De Lijn buses run frequently from the railway station to the Markt and other central stops in about 10 minutes; most buses from the station head for the centre.
- Taxi — Taxis wait at the station and the Markt and are useful with heavy luggage on cobbled streets.
Late-night bites
- Frites — The two frites stalls at the foot of the Belfry on the Markt, and neighbourhood frituurs away from the centre.
- Kletskoppen — Bakeries and biscuit shops in the old town; they are sold in tins as gifts.
Staying safe at night
Bruges has low crime, but pickpockets work the crowds on the Markt and in the Christmas market. Watch for cyclists, who move fast and quietly, and take care near canal edges, which are mostly unfenced, and on cobbles that become slippery in the rain.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
Where to stay for nightlife
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Bruges?
Beer cafés near the Markt, Eiermarkt and Langestraat. Historic bars such as De Garre, hidden down a narrow alley, and 't Brugs Beertje pour long lists of Belgian beers.