Bruges, Belgium. A popular destination amongst Europeans, I had never even heard of this tiny town in northwest Belgium until I was studying abroad in Luxembourg. Bruges is a gothic fairytale. It is a small, cozy city with a slow pace of life. A beautiful canal lazily flows through the cobblestone streets, passing breweries and beautifully decorated shops at every turn. Gorgeous, extravagant gothic towers stand proudly in the town square as the smell of freshly baked waffles wafts through your senses. Yeah, this place is unreal. I plan to come back to Bruges, as I could truly see myself settling down here and living a peaceful, uncomplicated life among the Belgian people. Keep reading for tips on how to maximize your time in this blissful town meant for travelers.

Travel Tips

I went to Bruges in early September and stayed for 2.5 days, from late Friday night to Sunday afternoon. I believe 2.5 days was a great amount of time for you to see Bruges because the town isn’t too big. There’s lots to do and see, but I felt satisfied with the time we had to explore. The weather was perfect — bright blue skies and a cool 65 degrees. I’d highly recommend going in early September.

I traveled to Bruges by train, as I believe most people do. The train from Lux –> Bruges was ~3 hours and cost €55, but we did book last minute. Listen to me when I tell you: be careful to get off at the right stop. There are 5 different train stops in Brussels (where you will have to change to get to Bruges), and make sure it’s Brussels Midi that you’re getting off on and not Brussels Main. We got off on the wrong platform and started freaking out LOL. Thankfully, a nice Dutch woman helped us out, but don’t make the same mistake that we did!

Stay at this Airbnb if you can. Jeanne and her husband were absolute angels. There were five of us (with plenty of extra space) and we each paid €28 / night. It is within ~15 minute walking distance to the town and has everything you need for a quick stay.

Activity Tips

There’s an open market on Saturdays that is lovely to walk through. The vendors sell unique and well priced items, ranging from jewelry to frames of butterflies (see below) to knickknacks carved from wood. I bought a silver ring made from recycled materials and even bartered with the guy! On a sunny day, there’s nothing better than strolling through an outdoor market, observing everything going on around you.

Frames of butterflies in vendor market in Bruges

A canal tour is a must-do in Bruges. It is €10 for an hour-long trip through the town in a gondola. The guide talks about the rich history of Bruges, and I learned a lot about the medieval architecture of each building too. There are tons of options about who to buy from, but my advice is to just pick the first one you see and go from there, because the options are a bit overwhelming. Tip: you have to pay in cash, so make sure you have some with you.

Do a brewery tour! I recommend the Bourgogne des Flanders tour. You walk through the stages of making beer and see some extra cool views of the medieval tower called the Belfry of Brugges. It cost €15 for the tour + a free beer of your choosing in the beer garden afterward. Tip: order some coffee if you’re going to do more activities after this. I was so so sleepy from all the beer in the middle of the day!

View of Belfry of Bruges Tower on brewery tour — View from the brewery tour!

For a free activity, walk around the art exhibits in the Belfry of Bruges bell tower. The tower itself is beautiful, and they are constantly changing the exhibits. We saw a really cool one on the Mexican artist Diego Rivera! You can also take a tour inside, but when we tried to buy tickets they were sold out, so if that is something you want to do make sure you book tickets beforehand.

Another free activity is to explore the Minnewaterpark (lake of love park). We strolled past the scenic pond and stunning castle views on our last day there, and it was magical and peaceful.

There are hundreds of shops scattered throughout Bruges. Walk around and pop in some! My favorite was a Christmas wonderland shop! I’m sure Bruges has a wonderful winter market that I’d love to come back to as well. Tip: A good gift idea are Belgian beer coasters. I got some for my brewery-obsessed brother for only €5! A unique, inexpensive gift that easily fits in a backpack.

Food Tips

Ah, so many fantastic places to eat … where do I even begin? Bruges is known for beer, chocolate, waffles, and french fries, so don’t come here if you’re on a diet LOL.

First, you have to try a waffle at the House of Waffles. Chefs in white pastry hats and outdoor gardens with intricately placed flowers makes you feel like you’re in a fancy place. My friends and I showed up in tennis shoes and tshirts and were still let in, LOL. I got the banana chocolate waffle with the best whipped cream I’ve ever had in my life on top. It was €9.5 which I guess is a bit pricey, but I was stuffed afterward so I’d say it was worth it. You gotta get an authentic Belgian waffle while you’re in Belgium, I mean c’mon!

There are tons of different options for breweries, but I’d recommend De Halve Maan. We sat in an outdoor garden, people-watching and sipping on delicious, crisp beers. I ordered Brugs Tarweiber and Bruge Zot Blond for a total of €6.5. The Bruge Zot Blond was the best beer I’ve ever had.

Go to this dope underground bar called t’Poatersgat. This place has the BEST fruit beer — I got raspberry and apple and it was refreshing and delicious. They also have darts set up and good music pumping underground. The atmosphere was awesome, highly recommend this place for a nightcap or two.

Go to this amazing coffee house called Vero Caffe. I got an iced macchiato and ham & cheese croissant for €8. It hit the spot. The inside is filled with plants and has an art deco interior design.

Bruges is meant for travelers — the streets are clean, all shop windows drip with detailed perfection, and everyone speaks English. This place is a break from reality. When I wasn’t in a beer-induced haze, I absolutely loved walking through medieval towers and past bright flowers lining the canal. Every person we met was truly kind and helpful. Go here! It’s an affordable European secret traveling destination that Americans have never heard of. And when you are in Bruges, make sure to savor all of the delicacies because my mouth is watering just remembering how good we ate here!