Bruges is the capital of West Flanders, a picturesque city in north-west Belgium. It is located relatively close to Brussels, making it the perfect reason to extend your stay in the Belgian capital. The city is small, and one day is enough to explore it.
The best way to travel from Brussels to Bruges is by train, and the journey takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. In the city, you can get around on foot (our preferred option) or, if you like, rent a bicycle to save time getting from one place to another.
Keep reading this post to discover the places to visit in Bruges in one day.
Read also: Brussels Itinerary: How to Spend 2 Perfect Days
Minnewater Park
Arriving in Bruges by train, you’ll find Minnewater Park near the station. Our suggestion is to walk through the park to the historic city centre. The park is used by locals for sports, family outings, or simply to relax and enjoy a peaceful green space.
Churches of Bruges
After the walk through the park, head through the streets of Bruges towards the next stops on your itinerary: the Church of Our Lady and St Salvator’s Cathedral.
Onze Lieve Vrouwewerk
We place special emphasis on the Church of Our Lady, Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk, which boasts an interior full of artworks. This church houses Michelangelo’s sculpture Madonna and Child, the only work by the artist that left Italy during his lifetime.
This church also features some impressive tombs, such as those of Charles the Bold and his daughter, Mary of Burgundy.
St Salvator’s Cathedral
St Salvator’s Cathedral is the next destination on our one-day itinerary for visiting Bruges. The cathedral features a combination of Gothic and Neo-Romanesque styles in its decoration and architecture. It is the oldest church in Bruges and one of the oldest in Belgium.
Grote Markt
The historic centre of Bruges is filled with picturesque streets, where every detail is charming and worthy of a photograph. However, the city’s highlight is the Grote Markt, the main square. The square is very beautiful, surrounded by outdoor cafés and colourful Flemish buildings. As we visited the city during the Christmas season, the square was illuminated with festive lights, adding even more beauty to the scene. On the other hand, the Christmas structures occupied the centre of the square, somewhat limiting the overall view of the square.
Among the buildings that make up the Grote Markt, the most prominent is the Belfry, a medieval tower standing 83 metres tall. It is listed as one of the 56 belfries in Belgium and France recognised as World Heritage sites. Currently, access to the tower is closed for safety reasons.
Burg Square
Just beside the Grote Markt, you’ll find the Burg Square, another notable square in the city. The square is surrounded by historic buildings, such as the Stadhuis (Town Hall) and the Basilica of the Holy Blood. This church houses one of Europe’s most precious relics: a glass vial said to contain a few drops of blood taken from the body of Jesus Christ by Joseph of Arimathea.
Stroll along the canals
Have you heard that Bruges is known as the Venice of Belgium? This is because the city is filled with canals, which add to its charm. On sunny days, the canals look even more beautiful, but the invitation to take a boat tour is always tempting. Several companies offer this service, operating from various small docks, but prices are uniform. We took a tour and loved it, so we highly recommend not missing this experience! During the tour, the guide explains the history of some of Bruges’ buildings and shares amusing stories about the city. The tour lasts approximately 45 minutes, and time seems to fly by!
Windmills
To end the day in Bruges, we went to the Kruispoort area, where one of the old city gates is located. In this area, you will find two very old windmills: St Janhuismolen and Koeleweimolen, with the former dating back to 1770. Note that this area is a bit away from the other sites, so you will need to walk a little to reach it.
Stroll through the streets
As we mentioned earlier in this post, Bruges is full of details worth appreciating. While strolling through the streets of the city, take a moment to enjoy all the intricate details.
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