Where to stay · Bruges · Belgium
Where to stay in Bruges
6 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Marc Ryckaert, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Markt and Burg. The two central squares, the Belfry and the Gothic City Hall. Best alternatives — families: Begijnhof and Walplein; budget: Sint-Anna.
Key facts
- First visit
- Markt and Burg
- Families
- Begijnhof and Walplein
- Budget
- Sint-Anna
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Markt and Burg | The two central squares, the Belfry and the Gothic City Hall |
| Families | Begijnhof and Walplein | The Beguinage, Minnewater swans and the De Halve Maan brewery near the station |
| Couples | Markt and Burg | The two central squares, the Belfry and the Gothic City Hall |
| Budget | Sint-Anna | Quiet residential quarter across the canal with windmills, almshouses and a lace centre |
| Luxury | Markt and Burg | The two central squares, the Belfry and the Gothic City Hall |
| Solo travellers | Ezelstraat and Sint-Jakobs | Quieter streets north-west of the Markt leading to the medieval Ezelpoort gate |
| Shopping | 't Zand | A large square with the Concertgebouw, mid-range hotels and the main shopping street |
| Quiet stays | Sint-Anna | Quiet residential quarter across the canal with windmills, almshouses and a lace centre |
Bruges neighbourhoods in detail
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples and luxury
Markt and Burg
Staying around the Markt and the Burg puts the Belfry, the Basilica of the Holy Blood, the canal boat jetties and most restaurants within five minutes' walk. Many hotels occupy historic buildings with small rooms and steep stairs. The streets are crowded by day but quiet late in the evening.
- Good
- Everything on the doorstep; Historic hotel buildings; Lit-up squares at night
- Watch out
- Highest prices in Bruges; Daytime crowds and carillon bells
- Nearby
- Markt, Belfry of Bruges, Burg, Basilica of the Holy Blood
$$ · Best for quiet stays, budget and couples
Sint-Anna
East of the centre across the Spiegelrei and Sint-Annarei canals, Sint-Anna is a peaceful grid of small houses, almshouses and churches, including the Jerusalem Chapel and the Lace Centre. The windmills on the Kruisvest ramparts are at its edge, and Langestraat has local bars and restaurants. The Markt is a 10–15-minute walk.
- Good
- Quiet and local; Lower prices than the centre; Walks along the ramparts
- Watch out
- Fewer restaurants; A 10–15-minute walk to the main sights
- Nearby
- Jerusalem Chapel, Kruisvest windmills, Langestraat
$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays and culture
Sint-Gillis and Langerei
The Langerei and Spinolarei canals run north from the Jan van Eyckplein through a district of merchant houses and small family-run B&Bs. Day-trippers rarely come this far, so mornings and evenings are especially quiet, and the Markt is about 10 minutes away on foot.
- Good
- Some of the most peaceful canal views; Charming B&Bs; Walkable to the centre
- Watch out
- Few shops and cafés; Longer walk to the station
- Nearby
- Jan van Eyckplein, Spiegelrei, Sint-Gillis Church
$$$ · Best for families, first-timers and couples
Begijnhof and Walplein
The southern part of the old town includes the white-walled Begijnhof, the Minnewater lake and the Walplein square with the De Halve Maan brewery. Katelijnestraat has hotels, chocolate shops and the Church of Our Lady, and the railway station is about a 10-minute walk away through Minnewater park.
- Good
- Easy walk from the station; Near museums and the brewery; Green space at Minnewater
- Watch out
- Tour groups pass through all day; Katelijnestraat is souvenir-heavy
- Nearby
- Begijnhof, Minnewater, De Halve Maan, Church of Our Lady
$$ · Best for budget, shopping and first-timers
't Zand
't Zand is the big square at the western edge of the old town, home to the modern Concertgebouw concert hall and a Saturday market. Mid-range and chain hotels are common here, and the pedestrian Zuidzandstraat and Steenstraat lead straight to the Markt in about 10 minutes. The station is a short walk south.
- Good
- Good-value hotels; Close to the station; Shopping street to the Markt
- Watch out
- Less picturesque than the canal districts; Square can feel windswept
- Nearby
- Concertgebouw, Steenstraat, St. Salvator's Cathedral
$$ · Best for quiet stays, budget and solo travellers
Ezelstraat and Sint-Jakobs
Around St James's Church and along Ezelstraat, the old town is residential, with small hotels, guesthouses and neighbourhood restaurants. The street ends at the Ezelpoort, one of Bruges's four surviving medieval city gates, beside the green ring of the ramparts.
- Good
- Quieter than the centre; Reasonable prices; Close to the ramparts for walks and cycling
- Watch out
- Fewer sights in the immediate area; Some streets are on bus routes
- Nearby
- Ezelpoort, St James's Church, Markt
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Markt and Burg | $$$$ | Markt, Belfry of Bruges, Burg, Basilica of the Holy Blood |
| Sint-Anna | $$ | Jerusalem Chapel, Kruisvest windmills, Langestraat |
| Sint-Gillis and Langerei | $$$ | Jan van Eyckplein, Spiegelrei, Sint-Gillis Church |
| Begijnhof and Walplein | $$$ | Begijnhof, Minnewater, De Halve Maan, Church of Our Lady |
| 't Zand | $$ | Concertgebouw, Steenstraat, St. Salvator's Cathedral |
| Ezelstraat and Sint-Jakobs | $$ | Ezelpoort, St James's Church, Markt |
Getting to your hotel
Most visitors fly into Brussels Airport (BRU), which has direct trains to Bruges in about 1.5 hours. Brussels South Charleroi (CRL) is about 2–2.5 hours away by shuttle coach and train. Ostend-Bruges Airport (OST), about 25 km away, has a small number of mainly holiday flights.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Bruges for first-time visitors?
Markt and Burg. Staying around the Markt and the Burg puts the Belfry, the Basilica of the Holy Blood, the canal boat jetties and most restaurants within five minutes' walk.
+Where should families stay in Bruges?
Begijnhof and Walplein: Easy walk from the station.
+Which area of Bruges is best for a budget stay?
Sint-Anna ($$): Quiet residential quarter across the canal with windmills, almshouses and a lace centre.