Brugge's Old Town is compact and made for walking. 

• The canals and architecture of Brugge are the highlights of a visit to this enjoyable town.

• Its museums are interesting, but Brugge's shops, streets, walkways, humpbacked bridges, and out of the way "nooks and crannies" are its main attractions. 

• Walk as much as you can - it will be hard on the feet, as many of the streets are cobblestone - but it is the best way to experience Brugge.

Attractions

The architecture, setting, and ambiance of Old Town Brugge endear it to visitors.  Crisscrossed by canals that are sided with scenic, historic buildings, Brugge is a cornucopia of treats.  It is easy to visualize what Brugge must have looked like several hundred years ago.

• Be sure to take a stroll through  Markt Square and along the canals at night when these sights are illuminated.  Brugge at night is beautiful and a sight that you should not miss.  Spend an evening or two in this town to soak-up its charming, historical ambiance.

• Give in and head to one of the many delightful pastry shops for a tasty treat or buy some delicious Belgian Chocolate and wander through the many Christmas shops – it will make you feel like a kid again.

• Be sure to take time for a boat tour of the canals.  You will find the boat captains good tour guides and the beautiful view of the town's buildings from the canals is worth the modest price (approximately 5 €).

  • Be prepared for the boat operator to tell you that he is “just” the driver and not qualified to be or paid as well as a tour guide – this is just setting the stage for you to provide him with what he hopes will be a generous tip.

• The Markt square is focused on the Belfort (Belfry) (1), the towns notable bell tower, and is the place to meet in Brugge.  The Markt is surrounded by shops and restaurants. 

  • If you have the time and are in the mood for a climb, you can ascend the Belfry for a dramatic view of the town. 

    • The Belfry has a fine carillon and concerts are played throughout the week. (Trust us, if you are in town, you will not miss hearing them.)  

  • The Markt is the place to catch a horse drawn carriage for a tour of the city (lap blankets provided when it is cold) or to board the more modern, City Tour bus for a fifty-minute introduction to Brugge, departing on the hour.

•   The Burg (2) is less expansive than the Markt, but the buildings in this  medieval square  are very impressive (especially when illuminated at night).  The buildings surrounding the Burg include the Stadhuis (City Hall) and the Basilica of the Holy Blood.  Both buildings have interesting interior detailing and should be toured if you have the time.  The Basilica, as its name implies, contains a reliquary preserving what it believed to be the blood of Jesus.

  • The Burg contains the local Tourist Information Office.

    • Stop in and purchase the excellent “Tourisme Map of Brugge” for .20€ (the map provided by the Tourist Office is rendered at a large scale with easy to read type, includes symbols showing all tourist attractions, and is of better quality than commercial tourist maps that you can purchase elsewhere).

Two of Brugge's  museums attract the most visitors. 

•   The Groeningemuseum is an art museum featuring the Flemish masters.

  • It has a modest, although quality art collection but is not as interesting a museum as the Memling Museum - St. John’s Hospital. 

•   The Memling is focused on presenting several masterpieces of Franz Memling and, at the same time, telling the story of one of the oldest surviving medieval hospitals in Europe (Old St. John's Hospital).

  • A recorded museum tour is free with the price of admission and describes the major treasures of the museum, as well the building that houses the collection.

  • A compact printed guide (in English and Dutch) that explains all of the displayed items is available just inside the entrance to the exhibits.

  • The Memling is an interesting place to visit.   It features some wonderful art and well-displayed triptychs (three paneled, hinged paintings that were used as altar decorations in medieval times).

  • Be sure to examine the  Museum's collection of medieval medical instruments and furniture from the Old Hospital. 

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Immediately across from the Memling is the Church of Our Lady .

•   The church, which dates from the 13th century, is noticeable due to its 122-meter high bell tower (3). 

  • Constructed to hold the relics of St. Boniface, the church is a fine example of Gothic architecture. 

• The main attraction is Michelangelo’s statue of the Madonna and Infant (4), brought to Brugge by a local merchant in 1504.

  • The statue was carried off several times by French and German forces but always returned to its home. 

• The church’s pulpit is a beautiful work of art and considered by some to be a Baroque masterpiece.

Another of Brugge’s churches deserving a visit is the St. Salvator-Kathedrale  . 

•   The Cathedral is being restored and is a visual treasure including breathtaking art, spectacular tapestries, and dramatic architecture.

The Beguine’s House (Begijnenhuisje) seems to attract a large number of tourists but has little to offer other than solitude and beautiful grounds. 

•   The building, which is currently a nunnery, was historically a home for women who aspired to a religious life but not necessarily to take the vows required of nuns. 

  • The Beguinage in Brugge has a spacious grassy layout and  is a place where you can seek some quiet time amidst a comforting landscape.

    • If you have walk to the Beguinhof from the Markt, it is also a good place to take a rest before you head back towards the center of town.

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Regardless of where you go in Brugge, you will see  memorable buildings and scenes. Click on the cameras below for some of our favorite photographs of Brugge.

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