Bruges WestFlanders
3
Day Itinerary •
Belgium
Three days in Bruges and West Flanders delivers the most extraordinary preserved medieval city in northern Europe, where the remarkable 13th-century canal network, the extraordinary Belfry carillon, the finest Flemish Primitive painting in the world at the Groeningemuseum and the remarkable Begijnhof UNESCO enclosure make Bruges the finest undamaged medieval city on the continent. This focused route covers the essential Bruges and West Flanders experience. The extraordinary Markt and Belfry, the remarkable Burg Square Gothic ensemble, the fine canal boat tour from Rozenhoedkaai, the extraordinary Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling paintings, the remarkable Begijnhof and Minnewater, the fine Damme canal cycle and the extraordinary North Sea coast and De Haan Belle Epoque resort.
Best Time To Visit
March to June for finest weather and canal reflections
Getting There
Train from Brussels Midi 1 hour, Eurostar from London 2 hours
Getting Around
Walking and cycling within Bruges, train or hire car for excursions
Budget Per Day
Approx 80 to 180 EUR per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, flat city walking and cycling
DAY 1
HISTORIC HEART
MORNING
MARKT SQUARE, BELFRY AND HISTORIC HEART
The extraordinary Markt, the most beautiful medieval market square in northern Europe, where the remarkable 13th-century Belfry tower rises 83 metres above the extraordinary guild houses that line the cobbled square. The remarkable Belfry climb of 366 steps gives the finest elevated view over the extraordinary medieval roofscape of Bruges and the flat West Flanders countryside beyond. The extraordinary carillon of 47 bells plays from the remarkable Belfry tower every quarter hour. Entry approx 14 EUR. 15 min walk
MIDDAY
BURG SQUARE AND BASILICA OF THE HOLY BLOOD
The extraordinary Burg Square adjacent to the Markt, the finest architectural ensemble in Belgium, where the remarkable Gothic Town Hall from 1376 is the oldest in the Low Countries and the extraordinary Basilica of the Holy Blood contains the remarkable relic of Christ's blood brought from Jerusalem by Count Thierry of Alsace in 1150. The fine upper chapel of the Basilica is an extraordinary example of High Gothic Flemish architecture. Entry to Basilica free, treasury approx 2.50 EUR. 15 min walk
AFTERNOON
ROZENHOEDKAAI CANAL AND BOAT TOUR
The extraordinary Rozenhoedkaai, the most photographed canal view in Belgium, where the remarkable junction of the Dijver and Groenerei canals creates the finest medieval waterscape in northern Europe with the extraordinary Belfry framed between the remarkable 15th-century merchant houses. The fine canal boat tour from the Rozenhoedkaai gives the extraordinary view from water level through the remarkable medieval bridges and the fine Begijnhof gardens. Tour approx 11 EUR.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Bonifaciusbrug footbridge in the Begijnhof quarter, a remarkable 1910 neo-Gothic stone arch bridge crossing the fine Groenerei canal, gives the most extraordinary intimate canal view in Bruges entirely free of the tourist crowds that fill the Rozenhoedkaai. The remarkable combination of the bridge, the canal and the fine Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk tower above is the finest hidden viewpoint in Bruges.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe Terrastje, Bruges Outstanding breakfast near the Markt. Fine Belgian pastries and excellent coffee before the Belfry opening. | Lunch: Restaurant De Beurze Outstanding traditional Belgian lunch. Extraordinary waterzooi and fine Flemish beef stew near the Burg. | Dinner: Den Dyver, Bruges The finest beer-cuisine restaurant in Bruges. Every extraordinary dish paired with a remarkable Belgian beer.
DAY 2
MUSEUMS AND CULTURE
MORNING
GROENINGEMUSEUM FLEMISH PRIMITIVES
The most extraordinary collection of Flemish Primitive painting in the world, housed in the fine Groeningemuseum on the Dijver canal. The remarkable works of Jan van Eyck, Hans Memling, Gerard David and Hieronymus Bosch represent the finest 15th-century Flemish painting on earth. The extraordinary Madonna with Canon van der Paele by Jan van Eyck from 1436 is the finest single painting in Belgium. Entry approx 14 EUR. 10 min walk
MIDDAY
BEGIJNHOF AND MINNEWATER LAKE
The extraordinary Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaarde, a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in 1245 and the finest surviving Beguine enclosure in Belgium. The remarkable whitewashed houses around the extraordinary courtyard garden retain the fine atmosphere of a medieval religious community. The remarkable Minnewater Lake immediately south, known as the Lake of Love, is the finest willow-shaded water in Bruges with the extraordinary swans that have been resident since the 15th century. 20 min walk
AFTERNOON
CHOCO-STORY AND BELGIAN CHOCOLATE TOUR
The extraordinary Choco-Story Museum, the finest chocolate museum in Belgium, tracing the remarkable history of Belgian chocolate from its Mayan origins to the extraordinary Belgian praline invented by Jean Neuhaus in Brussels in 1912. The fine demonstration of extraordinary Belgian chocolate making is followed by the remarkable tasting session. Entry approx 12 EUR. The remarkable chocolate shops of the Katelijnestraat outside are the finest in Bruges.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary St Janshospitaal Hans Memling Museum, one of the finest preserved medieval hospitals in Europe and home to the most remarkable collection of Hans Memling paintings in the world, is the finest hidden cultural gem in Bruges. The extraordinary Shrine of St Ursula from 1489 is the finest example of Flemish Gothic miniature painting. Entry approx 14 EUR.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast Good breakfast before the Groeningemuseum. Arrive at opening for the finest experience of the extraordinary Jan van Eyck. | Lunch: De Garre, Bruges Outstanding Belgian bistro in the extraordinary hidden alley De Garre. Fine stoemp and remarkable local cheese. | Dinner: Restaurant Zet'joe The finest modern Belgian restaurant in Bruges. Extraordinary seasonal Flemish ingredients and fine wine.
DAY 3
WEST FLANDERS
MORNING
DAMME VILLAGE AND CANAL WALK
The extraordinary Damme village 7km north of Bruges along the remarkable poplar-lined Napoleon Canal, the finest cycle or walking route in West Flanders. The remarkable medieval village of Damme was the outer harbour of Bruges in its 13th-century commercial peak and retains an extraordinary late-Gothic Town Hall from 1464 and the remarkable ruined Church of Our Lady. The fine cycling along the extraordinary straight canal towpath through flat Flemish polder landscape is the finest easy cycling in Belgium. 20 min by bike
MIDDAY
ZEEBRUGGE AND NORTH SEA COAST
The extraordinary Zeebrugge harbour and the remarkable North Sea coast 15km north of Bruges, where the fine De Haan resort village retains the most extraordinary Belle Epoque seaside architecture in Belgium and the remarkable dunes of the Zwin nature reserve harbour the finest birdwatching on the Belgian coast. The extraordinary fresh North Sea grey shrimp from Zeebrugge are the finest single seafood product in Belgium. 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
BRUGES EVENING CANAL WALK
The extraordinary Bruges canal network at golden hour, when the remarkable medieval facade reflections in the extraordinary still canal water are at their finest and the crowds thin to give the most atmospheric experience of the medieval city. The remarkable Langerei canal north of the Markt and the extraordinary Spinolarei give the finest quiet canal views in Bruges away from the tourist routes.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Lissewege village 10km north of Bruges, a remarkable whitewashed Flemish polder village with an extraordinary 13th-century Gothic church rising from the flat landscape that makes it visible for miles across the fine West Flanders polder, is the finest and most overlooked village near Bruges. The remarkable combination of whitewashed cottages, the extraordinary church and the flat polder is the finest hidden scene in West Flanders.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast before Damme Good breakfast before the Damme canal cycle. Hire bikes from the Markt. | Lunch: Damme village cafe Outstanding fresh grey shrimp croquettes and fine Belgian beer at a Damme village bistro. | Dinner: De Karmeliet, Bruges The finest restaurant in Bruges. Extraordinary three-Michelin-star Belgian cuisine. Book weeks ahead.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Bruges Historic Centre Hotel de Orangerie or Hotel Jan Brito. Canal views. Approx 120 to 300 EUR per night. Quiet Alternative B Hotel or Hotel Heritage. Fine location. Approx 100 to 220 EUR per night. Budget Snuffel Hostel or Bauhaus Hostel. Approx 25 to 70 EUR per night.
Top Tips
1. Visit the Belfry at opening (9:30am). The extraordinary 366-step climb gets crowded by 11am.
2. The Groeningemuseum Jan van Eyck room is the finest 15 minutes in any Belgian museum.
3. Canal boat tours run March to November. The Rozenhoedkaai departure gives the finest route.
4. Book Den Dyver and De Karmeliet well ahead. Both fill completely in peak season.
5. Cycle to Damme along the Napoleon Canal towpath. Hire bikes from the Markt from 8 EUR per day.
6. Bruges crowds peak on summer weekends. Visit the extraordinary Begijnhof before 9am for solitude.
Total Budget
65 to 410 EUR/day