Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Bruges?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Bruges?
Many travelers spend one to three days in Bruges during their visit. After all, the historic city has plenty to explore such as the historic old town, the quaint atmosphere, and the gorgeous scenery.
For many people, Bruges is a highlight of their trip to Belgium. The medieval city has beautiful architecture, amazing food, and world famous breweries. The main square, Bruges' Markt, is at the heart of the city. Popular activities include canal boat rides and horse drawn carriage tours. The city is also one of the most touristy in the country, so you'll find plenty of tour groups and other visitors around town.
Do you have one or two days to visit Bruges? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Bruges?
Bruges is a small city that is extremely popular with tourists due to the many sights and attractions. So with one day, you'll probably feel rushed to see the main attractions. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the historic city has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have one to three days to fully enjoy the city. If you have one day or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're in town.
How to spend a day in Bruges
The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. The old town is the main attraction, with its quaint cobblestone streets and beautiful brick architecture.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Storytelling Tour Bruges | First Day Must | History & Tips ($3)
- Historical Walking Tour: Legends of Bruges ($3)
- Walking Tour Bruges: Exciting Stories, Mysteries, People ($3)
Bruges is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. This charming city is lined with stunning architecture and quaint storefronts. Many people consider this to be one of the most beautiful cities in Belgium.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Historical Walking Tour: Legends of Bruges ($3)
- Guided boat trip and walk ($48)
- Walking Tour Bruges: Exciting Stories, Mysteries, People ($3)
Bruges is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. The train station is a short walk from the old town but the city is very walkable and best explored on foot.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Bruges?
A weekend is the perfect amount of time in Bruges, as many visitors prefer to spend around one to three days here. You'll be able to explore the major attractions and take part in this historical town's most popular things to do such as the historic old town, the quaint atmosphere, the gorgeous scenery, and the famous sights and museums. We have some suggestions for what to do and where to start your adventure below.
Bruges, Belgium
How to spend 2 days in Bruges
With a weekend (two to three days) in Bruges, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
Bruges offers a charming atmosphere that's hard to find anywhere else. Spend part of the day exploring the scenery. The cobblestone streets, brick buildings, and bridges which cross over the canals all make for a truly unique experience.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Historical Walking Tour: Legends of Bruges ($3)
- Walking Tour Bruges: Exciting Stories, Mysteries, People ($3)
- Bruges Walking Tour ($16)
The restaurant and food scene here is top notch, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine. From its world class breweries to its famous chocolate shops, there is plenty to eat and drink around town. In the old town prices can be a bit high, but the dishes and atmosphere are great. Popular local dishes include Belgian waffles, fries, mussels, and beef stew.
A few tour suggestions include:
- 2-Hour Medieval Walk and Chocolate Tasting in Bruges ($3)
- Food tasting & Historical walk ($88)
- The 10 Tastings of Bruges With Locals: Private Food Tour ($142)
The public transit in Bruges is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. There is a bus system that connects the train station to the old town. Otherwise, the city is best explored on foot.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Bruges, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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