Must-see attractions in Bruges

  • Markt

    Bruges

    The heart of ancient Bruges, the old market square is lined with pavement cafes beneath step-gabled facades. The buildings aren't always quite as medieval…

  • Woman viewing paintings (Hugo Van der Goes - St Hippolyte's Triptich) at Groeningemuseum.

    Groeningemuseum

    Bruges

    Bruges’ most celebrated art gallery boasts an astonishingly rich collection that's strong in superb Flemish Primitive and Renaissance works, depicting the…

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    Museum Sint-Janshospitaal

    Bruges

    In the restored chapel of a 12th-century hospital building with superb timber beamwork, this museum shows various torturous-looking medical implements,…

  • Belfort

    Bruges

    Towering 83m above the square like a gigantic medieval rocket is this fabulous 13th-century belfry. There’s relatively little to see inside, but it’s…

  • Burg

    Bruges

    Just east of the Markt, the less theatrical but still enchanting Burg has been Bruges' administrative centre for centuries. It's in this area you'll find…

  • Kasteel van Loppem

    Bruges

    Around 10km south of Bruges, Kasteel van Loppem is a mid-19th-century brick castle-mansion which had its moment of fame at the end of WWI when it was…

  • Begijnhof

    Bruges

    Bruges’ delightful begijnhof dates from the 13th century. Despite the hordes of summer tourists, remains a remarkably tranquil haven. Outside the 1776…

  • Holy Blood Basilica in the Burg.

    Basiliek van het Heilig Bloed

    Bruges

    The western end of the stadhuis morphs into the Basiliek van het Heilig Bloed. The basilica takes its name from a phial supposedly containing a few drops…

  • View of Town Hall of Brugge

    Stadhuis

    Bruges

    The beautiful 1420 stadhuis features a fanciful facade that’s second only to Leuven’s for exquisitely turreted Gothic excess. Inside, an audioguide…

  • Jeruzalemkerk

    Bruges

    Within the so-caled Adornesdomein estate is one of Bruges’ oddest churches, the 15th-century Jeruzalemkerk, built by the Adornes family. Supposedly based…

  • Gotische Zaal

    Bruges

    Within the stadhuis, this hall's polychromatic ceiling almost drips with medieval carvings. Murals depicting the town's history add to the room's…

  • Groenerei or Green Canal of Bruges, Belgium

    Brugse Vrije

    Bruges

    Eye-catching with its early baroque gables, gilt highlights and golden statuettes, this was once the seat of the ‘Liberty of Bruges’, the large autonomous…

  • BRUGES, BELGIUM - MAY 25: The Church of Our Lady is a gothic style church was built in XII - XIII century on May 25, 2011 in Bruges.; Shutterstock ID 148605974; Your name (First / Last): Josh Vogel; GL account no.: 56530; Netsuite department name: Online Design; Full Product or Project name including edition: Digital Content/Sights

    Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk

    Bruges

    Dominating its surrounds, this 13th-century church was reopened in 2015 after extensive renovations. Its enormous 115m spire is unmissable throughout much…

  • Old timber houses at Hof Arents.

    Hof Arents

    Bruges

    Behind the Arentshuis, Hof Arents is a charming little park with a hump-backed pedestrian bridge, St-Bonifaciusbrug, that crosses the canal, offering…

  • Historium

    Bruges

    The Historium occupies a neo-Gothic building on the northern side of the Markt. The immersive one-hour audio and video tour aims to take you back to…

  • Ten Wijngaarde

    Bruges

    Just inside the main entrance of the begijnhof this is a charming 17th-century house now converted into an endearing little four-room museum. In the…

  • Het Zand Square

    Bruges

    Under ongoing redevelopment since 2015, ’t Zand is Bruges' largest public square and a major transport hub, fringed with shops, hotels and restaurants…

  • Volkskundemuseum

    Bruges

    This appealing Museum of Folk Life presents visitors with 18 themed tableaux illustrating Flemish life in times gone by – a 1930s sweets shop, a hatter’s…

  • Brouwerij De Halve Maan

    Bruges

    Founded in 1856, though there has been a brewery on the site since 1564, this is the last family brouwerij (brewhouse) in central Bruges. Multilingual, 45…

  • St-Salvatorskathedraal

    Bruges

    Stacked sub-towers top the massive central tower of 13th-century St Saviour’s Cathedral. In daylight the construction looks somewhat dour, but once…

  • OLV-ter-Potterie

    Bruges

    Admission to this small historical church-hospital complex is free with a St-Janshospitaal museum ticket. Ring the bell to gain entry and you’ll find fine…

  • Koeleweimolen

    Bruges

    In the 13th century, Bruges' great walls were dotted with molens (windmills) where cereals were ground into flour – at one time 25 ringed the city. Today,…

  • Diamantmuseum

    Bruges

    While Antwerp is now the centre of the diamond industry, the idea of polishing the stones with diamond ‘dust’ was originally pioneered in Bruges. This is…

  • St-Janshuismolen

    Bruges

    In the 13th century, Bruges' great walls were dotted with molens (windmills) where cereals were ground into flour. Four still stand on the eastern rampart…

  • The Beer Experience

    Bruges

    The Markt's newest attraction will appeal to the many who love a Belgian beer. Guided by a multilingual iPad app, the museum takes you through the history…

  • Kantcentrum

    Bruges

    The Kantcentrum displays a collection of lace in a row of interlinked old cottages. In the afternoons (2pm to 5pm) you can watch bobbin lace being made by…

  • Arentshuis

    Bruges

    This stately 18th-century patrician house displays the powerful paintings and dark-hued etchings of Frank Brangwyn (1867–1956), a Bruges-born artist of…

  • Markt Hallen

    Bruges

    The 13th-century former market halls occupy a rectangular building at the base of the Belfort, only 44m across but 84m deep. The halls have been at the…

  • Lumina Domestica

    Bruges

    The enlightening Domestic Lamp Museum has over 6500 artefacts relating to domestic lighting throughout history, making it the largest collection of its…

  • Museum-Gallery XPO Salvador Dali

    Bruges

    Located within the Belfort, this small gallery has one of the largest private collections of work (primarily sketches, painting and sculpture) of the…

  • St-Jakobskerk

    Bruges

    Originally built around 1420, St James' Church was significantly expanded into its present structure in 1459, but it wasn't until the late 17th and early…

  • St-Bonifaciusbrug

    Bruges

    Stand atop the 20th-century stone Bonifacius bridge, itself amply photogenic, for lovely vistas of the canal and surrounds.

  • St-Annakerk

    Bruges

    The church of St Anne features a plain Gothic exterior which belies its flamboyant baroque interior.

  • St-Walburgaskerk

    Bruges

    This 17th-century Roman Catholic church was built by the Jesuits in the baroque style.

  • Gentpoort

    Bruges

    One of Bruges' four remaining city gates now houses a small local history museum.

  • St Gilliskerk

    Bruges

    Gothic church where artist Hans Memling is buried.

  • BRUGES, BELGIUM - 12 august 2006 ; Choco-Story, the Chocolate Museum in Bruges, Belgium, is located in the sixteenth-century "Huis de Crone" building; Shutterstock ID 372617662; Your name (First / Last): Daniel Fahey; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: POI image

    Choco-Story

    Bruges

    This highly absorbing chocolate museum traces the cocoa bean back to its role as an Aztec currency. Learn about choco history, watch a video on cocoa…

  • Tower in Minnewater park in Bruges, Belgium; Shutterstock ID 525022591; Your name (First / Last): Daniel Fahey; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: POI image

    Minnewater

    Bruges

    Known in English as the 'Lake of Love', the Minnewater harks back to Bruges' medieval heyday. This waterway was once a dock; ships from as far afield as…

  • Sint-Donaaskerk Foundations

    Bruges

    In the 1990s, when excavating for the foundations of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, workers literally hit a wall. This wall, it turned out, belonged to the 10th…

  • Gruuthusemuseum

    Bruges

    The museum takes its name from the flower-and-herb mixture (gruut) that used to flavour beer before the cultivation of hops. The romantic heraldic…

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