Eating out in Bruges is the most expensive part of the trip. Meal prices ranges from 15 to 20 euros, more if you eat in the city center. There are, however, some local establishments that have good dishes for the budget traveler willing to walk five minutes from the square. One such place is the Bruges Chicken House.
5 Fantastic Foods To Try In Bruges
- Waffles. Belgian waffles are the first thing that come to mind because, let's face it, they are delicious!
- Frites. Frites, hot chips, fries – whatever you'd like to call them – are a delicious and wildly unhealthy Belgian treat that you definitely have to try.
- Beer.
- Chocolate.
- Hearty savoury dishes.
Bruges is very compact and very pretty so walking around is the best thing. Very easy to walk about. Have a boat cruise, snack on chocolates, and have a beer at the many restaurants to people watch.
Bruges is a safe city with a low crime rate. It's generally safe (and delightful) to stroll around after dark, but as with all major cities, use your common sense. Pickpocketing can always be a problem in crowded public squares.
Is one day in Bruges enough? 1 day in Bruges is completely enough to explore its historic centre. If you follow this itinerary you can cover the main attractions only in a day. Nevertheless, it's worth staying at least one night to see the city at night time.
Fans of Ghent say that Bruges is like a medieval Disneyland, while those who love Bruges say that Ghent is much larger and populated; hence the charm of the medieval city centre is less outstanding. In my opinion, both provide a completely different, but unique travel experience, and it's only a question of taste.
There are some beautiful canal side walks, the main centre of the town can get quite busy and it's nice to escape the hustle and bustle sometimes. Bruges is very compact and very pretty so walking around is the best thing.
Bruges is okay for a short visit but Brussels feels like a real place, and there is a lot more to see than the Grand Place. It's also easy to take a day trip somewhere like Antwerp. Antwerp has a big city feel to it, Ghent is a big town. Both are better than Bruges or Brussels to stay in.
Thanks to its large number of canals and bridges (of which there are more than 80) Bruges is often referred to as Venice of the North. Tourists can explore the city by sailing along its canals. Bruges is famous for its liberal worldview. Voting in elections and referendums, however, is obligatory to every citizen.
Even if you are visiting for just one or two days, you will be able to use some tips. But if you have the time, I recommend spending at least 3 or 4 days in Belgium. My recommended three day Belgium itinerary includes the capital city Brussels and the most beautiful towns of Flanders – Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges.
Flemish (a Dutch dialect) is the local language in Bruges. Most people in Bruges have a very good command of English and you will not have a problem getting by. Do not try out your French. English is widely spoken, often better than by the natives of UK.
3 Day Bruges City Break Guide
- Basilica of the Holy Blood.
- Church of Jerusalem.
- Church of Our Lady & Michelangelo's Madonna with Child.
- Belgian Waffle Lunch.
- Half Moon Brewery.
- Diamantmuseum.
As all others have posted, Bruges is comfortable and safe at any hour of the day or night.
How to spend 24 hours in Bruges: A One Day Itinerary
- 9 am – Start off at the Rozenhoedkaai.
- 10 am – Do a canal boat tour of Bruges' canals.
- 11 am – Visit the Church of Our Lady.
- 12 pm – Relax at the Begijnhof and the Minnewater.
- 1 pm – Have lunch and a good beer at a Bruges brewery.
- 3 pm – Sample some Belgian chocolate.
- 4 pm – Marvel at the beauty of the Grote Markt.
What to Buy in Bruges
- Chocolate.
- Christmas ornaments.
- Cheese.
- Lace.
- Sweets.
- Flemish tapestries.
- Comic books.
- Antiques.
The water is safe to drink in Bruges, Belgium.
The best time to visit Bruges are the months of late spring and summer, namely the months between May and September.
I always say you need at least half a day, preferably an entire day, to get an idea of Bruges, two full days to visit the popular and most important places and three or four days is perfect.
How much money will you need for your trip to Bruges? You should plan to spend around €99 ($107) per day on your vacation in Bruges, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, €41 ($45) on meals for one day and €13 ($14) on local transportation.
A 5% tip is usually appropriate, or round it up a few euros. But if you don't tip it is accepted as well.
2 days in Bruges: a perfect weekend itinerary
- Visit the Belfry of Bruges.
- Wander Through the Market Square and Buildings.
- Travel to the Historium Bruges.
- Explore the Groeninge Museum.
- Selected Tours in Bruges.
- Visit the Church of Our Lady.
- Explore the Hansa Quarter.
- Take a Canal Boat Tour.
Bruges food and drink prices USD
| Food type | | Price |
|---|
| Budget breakfast | Breakfast often comes included at hotels and hostels. If not you can find a neighborhood cafe. | 4.40 - 7.69 |
| Budget lunch | There are not many fast-food or casual dining options in the tourist district. | 5.49 - 8.79 |
City centre, the best area to stay in Bruges
However, what really dominates the square is the Belfry, which is unmissable as it is an 83 metre high tower and can be accessed by climbing the stairs and at the top you receive the best views of Bruges.Drinks Prices in Bruges. A bottle of wine from the supermarket is around 7.50 euros.An inexpensive meal will cost 20 euros and a mid range meal for 2 will cost around 70 euros. Domestic beer is 4 euros for 0.5 l which is slightly less than a pint.
Tap water in Belgium is completely safe to drink. In some cases, it is even healthier than mineral water from bottles you buy in the shop, as this can contain too many minerals. Drinking tap water also poses a smaller burden on the environment, Test-Aankoop stresses.
The best way to get around Bruges is on foot. Cars are not recommended, since Bruges' streets are narrow and webbed with canals. You can also hire taxis at several taxi stands. The closest major airport is Brussels Airport (BRU), so most visitors take the train into Bruges.
We often use Uber in the U.S. and Europe but not sure about Bruges. Other options are a taxi and a bus.
Traveling by taxis in Brugge is expensive. There is a higher rate after 10 p.m. and a lower rate during the daytime. A taxi ride during the day for a distance of less than 1 km will cost about €6 to €10. At night, this same ride will cost €8 to €15.
This sight seeing tour of Bruges leaves from outside the tourist information in the main square. You pay the driver and it leaves every 30minutes.. The tour is in a very comfortable bus with big glass windows and roof. It is not a hop on hop off tour.
The ticket is valid for 1-hour. You can purchase this at Bruges Train Station to take the bus to the city centre. You can purchase them at presale point, automatic ticket machine, Lijnwinjkel shops and eShops. The most expensive way is to buy it from the driver on the bus or tram.
No there is no taxi app for Bruges. Best place to get a taxi is at the station an at he Markt (main square with the Belfry.) and there is a free shuttle bus from the station and the Bargeplein ( shuttle bus stop) to different stops in the centre of the city.
Taxi Fare Calculator in Brugge
| Distance miles | Estimated Price * |
|---|
| 3 | 14.47 € |
| 4 | 18.49 € |
| 5 | 22.52 € |
| 6 | 26.54 € |
Uber is available at Brussels Airport, so you can enjoy a convenient and comfortable trip to wherever you need to go.
