Visit Bruges (pronounced Broozh) in the summertime and you'll feel like you've walked right into a storybook.
This fairy tale city in northwest Belgium is completely charming. To put it succinctly, Bruges is clean, serene, and pristine. Our family instantly fell in love with this sweet and magical city with a population of 119,000 (though only about 20,000 of those live in the city centre).
In addition to being sparkling in terms of cleanliness, Bruges' architecture is delightful and there are flowers a-plenty. We especially marveled at the flower-draped doorways that seemed to be around every corner.
Another thing we noticed about Bruges is that people were generally well-dressed and there were a plethora of young couples, holding hands and taking strolls through the cobblestone streets. I couldn't help but think that Bruges would be a picture-perfect honeymoon destination! That being said, this understated vacation destination (which is sometimes referred to as "the Venice of the North") is equally appealing for families. Truth be told, I would love to fly back to Bruges and stay for at least a week to soak it all in.
Our port city was actually Zeebrugge, which is about a 20-minute drive from Bruges. Prior to our cruise, we reserved tickets through Cruise Express so we were all set to go on the morning of our arrival. The tour buses were easy to locate from the cruise port and the coaches drove us directly into the heart of the city of Bruges and had multiple pick-up times at the end of the day for our convenience.
Bruges is a highly walkable city and is easy to navigate on foot. We were never bored and were able to fill our entire day with sightseeing and history - and we loved every minute! It was like being right in the middle of a marvelous dream.
Without further ado, we have nine recommendations for things to do on your next trip to Bruges. In no particular order...
1. Wander around Minnewater Lake of Love and take photos in this serene spot, which looks almost too beautiful to be real. The building pictured on the water is the Kasteel Restaurant, which we did not have a chance to visit.
2. Nearby, you can take a stroll at Begijnhof (Beguinage), which is a lovely wooded neighborhood where nuns live and work. While you can't enter the residences, the area is free and open to the public.
3. Climb the 366 steps up the Belfort (Belfry) to get a gorgeous view of the city ($). Interestingly, Bruges employs a city carillonneur who plays the 47 bells on select days at midday.
4. There are two cathedrals/museums adjacent to the Belfort, which are worth seeing. The Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk (Church of Our Lady) is home to Michelangelo's Madonna & Child, which will be a particular draw for those who appreciate art history. Paid tickets are required for admittance.
5. Sint-Salvatorskathedraal (St Saviour’s Cathedral) is an even bigger and more impressive than the O.L.V.-Kerk Museum mentioned above (and it's FREE!). Visit both if you can.
6. Stadhuis (City Hall) is an ornate and unmistakable building that is rich with history. Still used by current city leaders, the hall features life-size portraits of the city's leaders along with 20th century murals depicting the history of Bruges.
7. Try a Belgium Waffle. I admit. I was very hesitant to spend money on a waffle as I've had many waffles in my life and we make them regularly. I am so glad I was talked into it because I was quite wrong in my assessment of what they would be like. Belgian waggles live up to their reputation - sweet, delicious, and light. Try one topped with whipped cream! Heavenly!
8. Belgium is also known for chocolate and beer. We tried the former, but not the latter - but I think the shop that we tried (not pictured) must have been of a less stellar nature as we all deemed the chocolates to be on the "very good, but not remarkable" scale. Since returning, someone told us to look for store signs that say "made in Bruges" or "handmade" since there are many non-authentic chocolate shops in the area.
9. Bruges is nicknamed "the Venice of the North" due to its many canals. You'll encounter one in almost every direction you turn. These waterways make excellent photo spots and can also be a fun way to navigate around the city.
Bruges, Belgium was one of my favorite cities on our European cruise and I would love to experience it in a much slower fashion. For our next trip, I'd like to stay in a vacation rental or boutique hotel, see a symphony performance in the Concertgebouw Brugge (Concert Hall), find treasures at secondhand shops, have tea at Carpe Diem, book a guided walking tour (I love history!), and take a day trip to Brussels (which is about 75 minutes away).
Our family went on a 12-night European Capitals Cruise in late May aboard the Caribbean Princess with Princess Cruise Line and Bruges, Belgium was our first stop.
Princess Cruise Line is offering another European Capitals Cruise in May 2025 and Zeebrugge/Bruges is on the itinerary. We recommend it - 100%!