15 Bucket List Experiences You Can Only Have in Bruges, Belgium
Wondering how to spend a one day in Bruges? Well in this one day in bruges itinerary I’ll show you travel tips on where to find best things to do in Bruges like chocolate, Belgian beer, waffles, traditional Belgian frites and picturesque canals. Plan a Bruges day trip with easy using this 24 hours in Bruges guide.
I have a great reason for putting Bruges amongst my best day trips from London. This medieval city is a UNESCO World Heritage site, charming and full of Belgian hospitality.
One of the many wonderful things about Bruges is that it’s perfect for a day trip. The historic center is compact, and you can walk basically everywhere. This means you can see so much of Bruges in one day.
1. People-Watch in Grote Markt (Market Square) & Walking Tour
Top of any list of what to do in Bruges is Grote Markt (often shortened just to ‘Market Square or Markt’). This buzzing market square is the centre of the city. It hosts a variety of gorgeous buildings and atmospheric eateries. Admiring these historic buildings is best done from the comfort of one of the market square’s cafes. However, if you want to get up close, be sure to pop by the neo-Gothic Provinciaal Hof. There’s also the charming Huis Bouchoute.
This is also a meeting point for the walking tours in Bruges. My walking tour of the city with my local guide started here, unless otherwise stated on your booking details. So, keep this in mind if you are booking a Bruges walking tour.
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2. Enjoy a Canal Cruise in Bruges Belgium
Wondering what to see in Bruges in one day? A Bruges canal tour is a must and the Groenerei, meaning “green canal”, is perfect for this. I absolutely loved taking the Bruges canals cruise and my ‘Captain’, was very entertaining as he drove us along the canal, pointing out the historic houses, landmarks in Bruges and buildings that lined it.
The Groenerei flows through the heart of the town, so taking a Bruges canals cruise is a tranquil way of seeing Bruges. There are other rivers you can visit besides the Groenerei — the most important thing is just to take a canal boat tour in Bruges! Surprisingly Bruges has never flood, even through a canal runs through it.
Tickets for the canal tours can be brought just before getting on the boats and are around €10 for the 30 minutes tour.
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3. Take A Belgium Beer Tour At De Halve Maan Brewery
If you’re looking for a local experience that will fit into your tight schedule, a big favourite in the area is a beer tasting at De Halve Maan Brewery.
A tour of De Halve Maan Brewery offers some of the most authentic insights into local culture that you can get in just one day in Bruges Belgium. This is the city’s only brewery and demonstrates traditional brewing techniques.
The De Halve Maan Brewery is not only unique because it is the only brewery in Bruges, but the story behind why it is also inspiring. Brewing on the De Halve Maan site was first recorded in 1564. However, this was threatened by heavy truck traffic and their ecological footprint in the inner city of Bruges.
This was remedy by a unique 2-mile beer pipeline, connecting the brewery in the central Bruges to the bottling plant.
The building of the pipeline was aid by locals who crowd-funded it, and those who helped fund the pipeline now receive free beer. This ingenious beer pipeline under the city is keeping the production of beer where it has been for the last 160 years.
I end my day in Bruges actually having dinner and some Belgian beers at the Halve Man Brewery and would definitely recommend the brewery tour as you get to find out more about the history of the brewery, see the chambers and learn about the bottling of beer.
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4. Take in the City Views from Belfry
Bordering the market square is the Bruges City Hall, town hall the Halle, and its belfry (a bell tower). This is the most iconic landmark in Bruges city center and is a must-see on your Bruges day trip.
The building first opened in the mid 13th century and has been renovated many times since. It originally housed a market in the courtyard, and the balcony was used by politicians addressing the citizens.
The belfry itself is 83m-high, contains 47 bells to alert the city of danger, time, and has stood on the same site since medieval times.
The Belfry’s initial structure was made of wood, however after being struck by lightning twice and burning down twice. The material was changed for something more durable, resulting in the Belfry we see today.
You can enter the tower, which boasts stunning views over Bruges, through the courtyard. You can climb the Belfry’s 366 for the best views of the city. However, the waiting time can be up to 30 – 60 minutes. I would avoid going midday or early morning, which tends to be the busiest time.
5. Explore the History of Chocolate
Visiting the Choco-Story Museum is one of my top things to do in Bruges in a day. This one-of-a-kind museum really brings the 4000-year-old history of chocolate to life.
There’s an exhibition of around 1000 objects that shows how the technology around chocolate production has evolved. You can also enjoy a demonstration of the chocolate-making process and taste the results at one of the most interesting museums in Bruges Belgium.
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6. Pose at Rozenhoedkaai (Quay of the Rosary)
You know those pictures that first made you think of taking a day trip to Bruges? They are probably from Rozenhoedkaai.
This historic quay is very pretty and deserves to be on your list of what to see in Bruges, Belgium in one day. This quay is just a few minutes from the Market Square. It offers a great position to take photos of the canal, which is lined with charming, old houses.
I also pass the Rozenhoedkaai on my canal boat tour, and it’s a really unique way of seeing this iconic spot in Bruges from a different perspective.
7. Admire the Church of Our Lady
One of the stops on my walking tour in Bruges is the Church of Our Lady. Work on this awesome structure began back in 1230, with additions made to the Church of Our Ladyin later centuries. No one day in Bruges itinerary would be complete without a stop here so don’t miss out.
Apart from the soaring architectural features, the Church of Our Lady holds some art masterpieces. The highlight for most is Virgin and Child, a sculpture by Michelangelo. He carved it in 1503, and it is, in fact, the only sculpture that left Italy during his lifetime.
The actual sculpture is encased behind glass, and you have to stand some distance away from it. Michaelangelo created it for the cathedral in Sienna in Tuscany, and then two brothers who were merchants from Bruges purchased it and brought it to Bruges.
However, it has been stolen twice and returned twice to the church. Bruges’ Church of Our Lady boasts the second tallest brick tower in the world so add it to your Bruges one day itinerary.
8. Discover Begijnhof and the Minnewater Lake
There are many legends surrounding the Minnewater Lake, and it’s easy to see why. Willowy trees and historic buildings line the edges of the lake, making for a pretty picture. The centrepiece is the “Lake of Love” and” Lovers Bridge”, with the beautiful white swans sleeping on the banks of the river.
The legend of Minewater goes like this – a young and beautiful girl named Minna was in love with Stromberg, a warrior of a neighbouring tribe.
Her father forbids her to marry him, because man had the power to do crap like that then and now. Guess the world has changed much. Anyways Minna ran away, but while trying to cross the lake, she died from exhaustion, before her love could save her.
You know the kind of tales that Danielle Steel’s books are built on. The Minnewater Lake was the centre of Bruges’ lace trade. Just a three-minute walk from the lake is Begijnhof. The building was once a residence for celibate, pious women and allows you to take a good peek into life in the 17th century.
Today the Beguinage is inhabited by nuns of the Order of St. Benedict and several Bruges women who have decided to remain unmarried.
9. See the Blood of Jesus at the Basilica of the Holy Blood
No matter how much you travel, it’s a rare event to encounter the holy blood, a vial that’s said to contain blood from Jesus Christ. This truly is one of the top things to do in Bruges is see the Holy Blood.
The relic is not on permanent display if you visit Bruges. You can only view it twice a day, at either 11:30 or 14:00, so plan your day with this in mind if you’re keen to catch a glimpse.
It’s also worth sticking around to admire the mix of upper Gothic church and Romanesque architecture. The Basilica of the Holy Blood church is located in Burg Square, in burg square next door to Bruges City Hall.
10. Stop by the Iconic Burg Square & Bruges City Hall
In photo of Bruges, the postcard-perfect Burg Square is recognisable with its iconic City Hall one of the most impressive building in the square.
Visitors can walk around the square before going inside the gothic town hall, which was built around 1376. The highlights of the magnificent city hall are its Gothic rooms, with intricate mural paintings portraying the history of Bruges over the last 400.
11. Stroll through Hansa Quarter
If you love atmospheric historic quarters, then you should certainly pop by Hansa Quarter. The Hansa network of cities in northern Europe were important trade destinations. Bruges was a part of this network, with trade concentrated in the Hansa Quarter.
You can meander past all this history with attractions in Bruges such as the Spanish Unloading Quay and Easterners’ Square.
12. Visit Jan Van Eyck Square
This square was once the city’s harbour. It continues to be a highlight on any Bruges itinerary, thanks to its beautiful architecture.
At the heart of the square is a statue of Jan van Eyck, a famous local painter who lived in the early 15th century. There is a canal in the square, as well as many great restaurants for a short break from your walking tour.
13. Marvel at the Oldest Church in Bruges Belgium
Things to see in Bruges in one day is the St Salvator’s Cathedral is the oldest church in Bruges and also its main one. It dates from the 12th century and has an abundance of treasures to illustrate its long history. It’s hard to know where to look inside St Salvador’s.
You must admire the organ, as well as peer at medieval tombs. Don’t forget to take a close look at the details of the tapestries.
The highlight, though, is probably the church’s collection of Flemish art. The artworks date from the 14th to 18th centuries. There are many paintings by great Flemish artists such as Hugo van der Goes and Dieric Bouts and one of the top places to include on your one day in Bruges itinerary.