Travel tips · Bruges · Belgium
Bruges travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Bruges is in Flanders, so its language is Dutch (Flemish), though English is spoken almost everywhere in hotels, shops and restaurants. The city's wealth in the Middle Ages came from the cloth trade and its port, and the art, lace-making and religious traditions of that era are still visible. Residents value the calm of their city, especially in the quieter residential streets and the Begijnhof.
Key facts
- Language
- Dutch
- Currency
- EUR
- Plugs
- Type C and E sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency
- 112 (European emergency number)
Things to know
- Greet people in Dutch or English rather than French; 'Goeiedag' or a simple 'Hello' is fine.
- Keep out of marked cycle lanes and watch for bikes, which come quickly and quietly.
- Keep your voice down in the Begijnhof and residential streets; people live there.
- Don't feed the swans or sit on the edge of the unfenced canals.
- In churches, dress modestly and avoid visiting during services.
- Book Belfry of Bruges ahead: Only a limited number of people are allowed in the tower at once; book a time slot online to avoid a long wait.
- The Begijnhof, the Basilica of the Holy Blood, St. Salvator's Cathedral, the windmills and the canal-side walks are free.
Tipping
Service is included in Belgian restaurant prices. Rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is appreciated but optional, and tipping in cafés and bars is not expected.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Goeiedag | Hello / good day |
| Dank u wel | Thank you very much |
| Alstublieft | Please / here you are |
| De rekening, alstublieft | The bill, please |
| Schol! | Cheers! |
| Tot ziens | Goodbye |
What to wear
Casual clothing and comfortable, flat shoes with good grip for cobbles that turn slippery in the rain. A waterproof jacket is useful year-round.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C and E sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Phone and internet
- Free Wi-Fi is common in hotels, cafés and some public squares; EU roaming applies to European SIMs, and eSIMs work well for other visitors.
- Time zone
- Europe/Brussels
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.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Belgium's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Bruges?
Service is included in Belgian restaurant prices. Rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is appreciated but optional, and tipping in cafés and bars is not expected.
+Can you drink the tap water in Bruges?
Tap water is safe to drink.
+What plugs are used in Bruges?
Type C and E sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Bruges?
Dutch.