Home to the best preserved medieval buildings in Europe, the Belgian city of Bruges is a popular destination for visitors interested in historical sights. In addition, this canal-based city also offers a vast variety of art museums, excellent restaurants, cozy pubs, a few nice beaches and good possibilities for shopping and bicycling. The whole city center of Bruges was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.
Medieval city of Bruges, also called Brugge in Dutch, is located in the Flanders region in Northwest of Belgium, close to the North Sea. Founded during the 9th century, the riverside city of Bruges became an important cosmopolitan port city that was famed in Europe for its wealth in the middle ages. After its greatest days in the 13th and 14th centuries, Bruges slowly declined into oblivion because of silting of its river, until it was found by British and French tourists in the 19th century. The two well-preserved medieval centers of Bruges became one of the world’s first tourism destinations, and the city, also called Venice of the North, continues attracting visitors for around Europe. Today, Bruges is the most visited city in Belgium. It includes also the new port of Zeebrugge, built in 1907 that has become one of the largest ports in Europe.
Culture & entertainment. Bruges has a great variety of cultural attractions as well, including great art collections in its many museums, as well as a multitude of festivals from medieval music festivals to religious, film and ice sculpture festivals. Bruges also hosts many interesting concerts and theaters, including an English-speaking theater in Zwart Huis. Shopping in Bruges is good for souvenirs and culinary delights such as chocolate. The modern port of Zeebrugge offers seafront cafés and a sandy beach. The 19th century beach resort of Oostende is also close by. You can take a day cruise on a riverboat, visit some of the nearby golf courses or the war battle sites of Ieper or Atlantic Wall, or rent a bicycle and go biking in the scenic countryside around Bruges.
Medieval city of Bruges, also called Brugge in Dutch, is located in the Flanders region in Northwest of Belgium, close to the North Sea. Founded during the 9th century, the riverside city of Bruges became an important cosmopolitan port city that was famed in Europe for its wealth in the middle ages. After its greatest days in the 13th and 14th centuries, Bruges slowly declined into oblivion because of silting of its river, until it was found by British and French tourists in the 19th century. The two well-preserved medieval centers of Bruges became one of the world’s first tourism destinations, and the city, also called Venice of the North, continues attracting visitors for around Europe. Today, Bruges is the most visited city in Belgium. It includes also the new port of Zeebrugge, built in 1907 that has become one of the largest ports in Europe.
Sights and activities in Bruges: historical architecture, museums, shopping & festivals
The main attraction of Bruges is the historic 430-hectare city center that is a World Heritage Site, containing excellent showpieces of medieval architecture, as well as picturesque side streets and canals, and several beautiful old churches. The medieval Bruges is encircled by a moat and city walls, and can be entered via four old gates. Two squares, Markt and Burg, are the centers of the old city. You can climb to the top of the 83-meters high tower of Grote Markt for views of the city, visit some of the many museums in Bruges, or take a sightseeing tour boat around the canals.Culture & entertainment. Bruges has a great variety of cultural attractions as well, including great art collections in its many museums, as well as a multitude of festivals from medieval music festivals to religious, film and ice sculpture festivals. Bruges also hosts many interesting concerts and theaters, including an English-speaking theater in Zwart Huis. Shopping in Bruges is good for souvenirs and culinary delights such as chocolate. The modern port of Zeebrugge offers seafront cafés and a sandy beach. The 19th century beach resort of Oostende is also close by. You can take a day cruise on a riverboat, visit some of the nearby golf courses or the war battle sites of Ieper or Atlantic Wall, or rent a bicycle and go biking in the scenic countryside around Bruges.
Bruges travel information and practical tips
Bruges has a temperate climate with four seasons.
Photo: BK59, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
The weather there tends to be colder and more rainy than in many other parts of Western Europe. Climatically, summer from June to September is the best time to visit Bruges, but it often gets crowded. Winter months are cold and damp, but springtime from March to May is also a good time to visit Bruges.
How to get there. Travelling to Bruges is possible in many ways; airports in Brussels and Oostende receive flights to Belgium, and are just a short train or bus ride away from Bruges. There are also frequent trains and buses to Brugge from many parts of Western Europe. Ferries to Zeebrugge are available from the UK. Public transport in Bruges is offered by buses, and taxis can also be found. Horse-drawn carts are available for enjoyable rides in the city center, but the historical center of the city can also be easily explored by walking. Bicycle and car rental in Bruges are also available, although car is more suitable for transportation outside the historic city.
Visitor services. There is a nice variety of guesthouses and hotels in Bruges, offering accommodation suitable for all tastes and price ranges. The Bruges Card provides discounts to many of the historical attractions of the city. It can be picked up at most accommodations around Brugge. The local restaurants in Bruges offer excellent Belgian cuisine, with also French and Dutch specialities and international choices. There are many pubs and nightlife spots in Bruges to enjoy as well. The main language in Bruges is the Dutch-type Flemish, but nearly everyone can also speak English and French. Bruges is a quite safe city to visit, but beware of pickpockets in crowded places.
hint See also these nearby destinations: Ghent, Antwerp, Brussels, Rotterdam, The Hague, Leiden
