Among Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities, Bruges is small, historic, and gorgeous. Having been built around the same time, Bruges looks a lot like a smaller and much calmer Amsterdam. If you’ve only got time for one I’d choose Amsterdam, but hopefully you’ve got time for both.
Bruges (or Brugge in Flemish/Dutch) is one of the more touristy cities in Europe, but it’s also charming and authentic as well. It’s also small, so most people can see most everything of interest in only 2 days or so.
The attractions may not be terribly cheap, but the very helpful Bruges Card is available for free at all the hostels and some budget hotels, and that shaves a couple euros off the prices of most things.
| Population | 120,000 |
| Area | 120,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+1 |
| Currency | Euro |
| Airports | Brussels Airport (BRU) |
Bruges isn’t as expensive as one might think, considering it’s so often jammed with visitors. Prices in general are typical of this part of Europe, and things become more affordable if you go at least a few blocks away from the main squares in the city center, especially with hotels and hostels.
Hotels in Bruges tend to be most crowded in summer, and particularly during July and August. It’s definitely wise to book ahead if you are coming during high season, as the better places do fill up early. Bargains can be found at the fancier places from November through March, though prices at Bruges hostels and cheap hotels don’t change much through the year.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 28.72 - 63.83 |
| 42.55 - 107.45 |
| 53.19 - 129.79 |
| 87.23 - 164.89 |
| 265.96 - 265.96 |
Hans Memling Hotel Doubles from €76/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central 3-star hotel in Bruges |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 19.15 - 29.79 |
St. Christopher’s Inn – Bauhaus Hostels Beds from €24/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central hostel in Bruges |
Bruges has no huge checklist attractions so it’s really about enjoying the stunning architecture and wandering around the historic city center.
There are a few breweries in Bruges, allowing you to experience perhaps Europe’s best beer-drinking and making culture.
A canal boat ride is definitely worth the hour and it’s a great way to get oriented when you first arrive.
The free (tips-based) walking tours of Bruges are highly recommended and an ideal way to learn your way around town. This is a very pedestrian-friendly city so you can see almost all of the main sights on a leisurely walking tour of two hours or so.
The canal boats are the other tour of Bruges that everyone should try to do as well.
| Location | Description | Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groeninge Museum | The top local museum for classical art by local painters. | adults | 15.96 |
| Belfry Tower | The exterior (but not the interior) of this clock tower was featured in the film In Bruges. | adults seniors | 15.96 15.96 |
| Canal boat trip | Take a 30-minute cruise around the gorgeous canals. | adults | 10.64 |
| Bruges Card | Get this free card at any hostel for discounts of around 25% from the above and many more attractions. | all | 0.00 |
Food and drinks are also of typical prices for the region, and again, walking a couple blocks away from the main squares will save money if your budget is tight.
| Food Type | Description | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget breakfast | Breakfast often comes included at hotels and hostels. If not you can find a neighborhood cafe. | 5.32 - 8.51 |
| Budget lunch | There are not many fast-food or casual dining options in the tourist district. | 6.38 - 9.57 |
| Budget dinner | Restaurants along the main squares and roads offer ambiance for a price. | 10.64 - 19.15 |
| Beer (pint) | Local lagers can be good value, but the other Belgian beer options are easy to find too. | 3.19 - 6.38 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Taxi from Brussels airport to Bruges | 196.81 - 244.68 |
| Train from BRU airport to Bruges | 10.64 - 22.34 |
| Train from Brussels to Bruges | 9.57 - 20.21 |
| 3km taxi ride in Bruges | 8.51 - 14.89 |
| Bus ride in Bruges | 1.06 - 2.13 |
There are no major international airports in or near Bruges, so nearly everyone arrives by train. The train from Brussels takes about an hour each way and they leave once or twice each hour during the day.
Bruges is a wonderful walking city and as long as you are staying in the compact historical center you can get around on foot.
Taxis are available to get to and from the train station if you’ve got more luggage than you can carry.
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 39 | 35 | 1.5 |
| February | 39 | 34 | 1.1 |
| March | 45 | 38 | 0.8 |
| April | 51 | 44 | 1.0 |
| May | 58 | 49 | 1.0 |
| June | 63 | 54 | 1.3 |
| July | 66 | 58 | 1.5 |
| August | 68 | 59 | 1.5 |
| September | 64 | 55 | 1.5 |
| October | 58 | 51 | 1.5 |
| November | 48 | 43 | 1.8 |
| December | 45 | 41 | 1.5 |
Being so near the coast helps keep temperatures in Bruges mild all year long, although that also brings gray skies and damp through much of the year. Summers are usually nice, though often cloudy for days in a row. Winters are mild, with snow and freezing temperatures being somewhat rare.
| 21 Mar | 6:48am | 7:02pm |
| 21 Jun | 5:31am | 10:06pm |
| 21 Sep | 7:31am | 7:48pm |
| 21 Dec | 8:49am | 4:41pm |