Bruges holidays

How to reach Bruges

• Flight time: There are no direct flights to Bruges. Flights to Brussels from London and other UK airports take around 1 hour 15 minutes.

• Transfer time: From Brussels Airport, it’s about 90 minutes to Bruges by train and two hours by bus.

• Price: A train ticket from Brussels Airport to Bruges costs around €20, while a bus fare costs around €10 to €15. A taxi or private transfer from Brussels Airport can cost upwards of €100.

Best time to visit Bruges

Think about what you want to do during your Bruges holidays. While the weather is more pleasant during the spring and summer, winter has its own attractions.

• March to May: Expect temperatures to warm to between 10°C and 17°C, and while the threat of rain is undeniably omnipresent, at least it keeps things green.

• June to August: High season, when Bruges is inundated with tourists; that said, this is the ideal time for exploring the city by canal or picnicking in the city's parks. Temperatures hover around 20°C–25°C, with rainfall of around 60–80mm per month and 8 hours of sunshine per day.

• September to November: Best time of the year to visit Bruges as it settles into its autumnal rhythm. Average highs range from 17°C in September to 10°C in November. Rainfall varies from 50–70mm, and there are about 4–6 hours of sunshine daily.

• December to February: December and early January can be a lovely time to visit, thanks to the city’s legendary Christmas market. Temperatures are chilly, between 0°C and 7°C, and there’ll be the occasional brutal blast of snow and ice in January and February.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: Flemish (Dutch) is the official language, but some residents also speak French. English is widely understood.

• Local habits and customs: It’s nearly impossible to make a faux pas among the Belgians – they’re a relaxed bunch who take life at a leisurely pace. Leave a 10 percent tip in restaurants, and greet acquaintances with three kisses, not two.

• Currency: Belgium uses the Euro. ATMs are plentiful, and most places accept credit and debit cards.

• Getting around: Local buses are operated by De Lijn. A standard one-way fare costs €2.50. Tickets are valid for an hour and can be purchased at automatic ticket machines. A city transport pass, the Dagpas (24hr), costs €7.50. Cycling is popular, with rentals around €10–€15 per day, and Bruges’ well-marked bike lanes make it safe and simple.

• Electricity and plug types: Belgium uses the continental 220 volts with two-pin plugs, so UK travellers will need an adaptor.

• Time zone: Bruges is on Central European Time, which is 1 hour ahead of GMT, and observes Daylight Saving Time.

• Required travel documentation: UK travellers can enter Belgium for up to 90 days without a visa.

Best things to do in Bruges

By any measure, Bruges is one of Western Europe’s most beautiful cities, with its jangle of ancient houses overlooking a cobweb of picturesque canals and superlative medieval architecture.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Belfort: Climb the 366 steps of this 83m tower, whereupon you emerge onto the roof and fabulous views, especially in the late afternoon when the warm colours of the city are at their deepest.

The best districts

• The Begijnhof: A rough circle of old and infinitely pretty whitewashed houses surrounds a central green, which looks a treat in spring when a carpet of daffodils pushes up between the elms.

• The Markt: At the heart of Bruges is this airy open space edged on three sides by rows of gabled buildings which form a charming architectural ensemble, their mellow, ruddy-brown brick shaped into a long series of crow-step gables, each slightly different from its neighbour.

Museums

• Groeninge Museum: Possessing one of the world’s finest samples of early Flemish paintings, from Jan van Eyck to Jan Provoost. Unmissable.

• St-Janshospitaalmuseum: The first part of this remarkable museum, in the old hospital ward, explores the historical background of the hospital through documents, paintings and religious objets d’art; the museum also holds six wonderful works by Hans Memling.

Historical monuments

• St-Salvatorskathedraal: The high and mighty Holy Saviour Cathedral is a bulky Gothic edifice that mostly dates from the late 13th century.

• Church of Our Lady: A 13th-century architectural marvel with a towering spire and magnificent stained glass, its most acclaimed objet d’art is a delicate marble Madonna and Child by Michelangelo in the south aisle, the only one of Michelangelo’s works to leave Italy during the artist’s lifetime.

Parks and gardens

• Minnewater Park: Often hyped as the city’s ‘Lake of Love’, a footbridge spans the southern end of the Minnewater to reach the leafy expanse of Minnewaterpark – or you can keep on going along the footpath that threads its way along the old city ramparts, now pleasantly wooded.

Day trips in the area

• Brussels: Spend a day touring the dynamic capital: sip a beer in a time-forgotten estaminet, visit the world-class art galleries and take a selfie with the diminutive Manneken Pis.

• Ypres: This handsome town in West Flanders is home to the In Flanders Fields Museum, an excellent introduction to World War I, and is also the site of the Menin Gate, a moving memorial to thousands of British and Imperial soldiers.

• Ostend: Take in some sea air on Ostend Beach, the pearl of the Belgian coastline – and ride the world's longest tram line.

Activities for families in Bruges

From kid-friendly museums to outdoor adventures on the water or in a carriage, families will find plenty of ways to keep the kids entertained.

• Canal tours: Bruges’ canals are perhaps its most famous feature and a guided canal tour is a terrific way to see the city from a different perspective. Tours run frequently, especially in summer, departing from a number of jetties south of the Burg.

• Horse-drawn carriages: A long-standing favourite activity is a horse-drawn carriage ride around town. Carriages usually hold a maximum of five - perfect for most families - and line up on the Markt.

• Interactive museums: It’s all about the food! Indulge all your sweet-toothed fantasies at Choco-Story, which does exactly as it says on the tin, with chocolate-making demonstrations and samples; while the unusual Frietmuseum is dedicated to Belgian fries, everyone’s favourite snack.

Free things to do in Bruges

Bruges offers a range of free activities, from outdoor events to beautiful historic spots, making it easy to enjoy the city without stretching the budget.

• Free events: Throughout the year, Bruges hosts free events, none more spectacular than the Heilig Bloedprocessie (Procession of the Holy Blood) on Ascension Day, when one of medieval Christendom’s holiest relics, the phial of the Holy Blood, is carried through the centre of Bruges.

• Free museums: Many of Bruges’ museums offer free entry on the first Sunday of each month. This includes museums like the Groeningemuseum, which displays Flemish and Belgian artwork. Be sure to check museum schedules to take advantage of these free days.

Nature and outdoor activities in Bruges

The flatness of the surrounding landscape is perfectly suited to those who enjoy walking and cycling of a more gentle nature. There’s wonderful birdlife in the local wetlands too.

• Cycling: Flat as a pancake, Bruges and its environs are a great place to cycle, especially as there are cycle lanes on many of the roads and cycle racks dotted across the centre. Beginning about 2.5km northeast of the Markt, the country lanes on either side of the Brugge-Sluis canal cut across a pretty parcel of land that extends as far as the E34/N49 motorway, about 12km further to the northeast.

• Birdwatching: For those who wish to escape the city, and especially for ornithologists, both the Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen nature reserve near Ghent and the Zwin Nature Park, closer to Bruges, are go-to destinations for bird-watchers, with numerous trails and hides through the salt marshes.

Local dishes in Bruges

One of the great joys of holidays to Bruges is savouring its culinary delights, which include hearty Flemish stews, fresh seafood and famously indulgent chocolates - and of course, legendary beer.

Some typical dishes

• Moules-frites: Effectively the national dish, no trip to Bruges is complete without tucking into a steaming pot of locally caught mussels and freshly cooked fries.

• Waterzooi: A delicious, filling soup-cum-stew, made with either chicken (van kip) or fish (van riviervis).

Meat dishes

• Stoverij: Stewed beef and offal (especially liver and kidneys), slowly tenderised in dark beer and served with a slice of bread covered in mustard.

• Konijn met pruimen: This unusual sweet-and-savoury dish pairs tender rabbit meat with prunes in a flavourful sauce.

Seafood

• Paling in ’t groen: Tastier than it sounds, this is eel braised in a green (usually spinach) sauce with herbs.

Street food

• Frites: Quite simply, chips. Served everywhere in Belgium from friture/ frituur stands or parked vans, with salt and mayonnaise or more exotic dressings.

Sweets and desserts

Stands all across the city sell waffles (gaufres/wafels), a mixture of butter, flour, eggs and sugar grilled on deep-ridged waffle irons and served steaming hot with jam, honey, whipped cream, ice cream, chocolate or fruit. Belgium is, of course, famous for its chocolates: the big Belgian chocolatiers – Neuhaus, Godiva and Leonidas – have stores in all the main towns and cities, but all of Belgium’s cities now boast at least a couple of small, independent chocolate makers.

Local drinks

• Belgian beer: Beer is king here and Brouwerij De Halve Mann, a small brewery in the centre of Bruges, produces zippy, refreshing ales with a dry, crisp aftertaste. Their Blond is a light and tangy pale ale, whereas the Bruin – Brugse Zot Dubbel – is a classic brown ale with a full body.

• Genever: Similar to gin, it’s made from grain spirit and flavoured by juniper berries. It’s available in most ordinary and specialist bars, with several hundred varieties available.