Experience the best of Bruges with Withlocals

Feel the romantic vibes

Bruges is a very romantic city due to its peace and quiet, fantastic historic buildings, cobbled streets and beautiful canals on which you can take boat tours. It’s with good reason that people call it ‘The Venice of the North’. Perhaps it’s even a better version of Venice, ‘cause it’s not overrun with tourists yet!

Like Venice, there are also dozens of old, beautiful bridges in Bruges. The Meerstraat Bridge, for instance, probably the most photographed bridge in Belgium. The Minnewater Bridge is also a gorgeous piece of historic architecture. Follow your local host to discover Bruges’ most picturesque spots!

Explore Bruges by bike

A perfect way to discover Bruges is by bike! After having seen the sights within the town’s ramparts, it’s definitely worth to cycle in the surroundings of Bruges as well. A famous cycling route runs from Bruges to Damme, which is only 5 km away.

Just follow the Damse Vaart, a scenic river, and you’ll get there! If you’re feeling really sporty, you might want to follow the coastal route to Oostende (23 km) or Knokke (20 km), two major beach resorts. Cycling in the surroundings of Bruges should definitely be on the top of your things to do list! You don’t even need an excellent physique as the region is as flat as a pancake!

Jog around the city

You do need a good physique to do this item on our top things to do list. You have to jog 7 km to go around the city. Quite the distance for an inexperienced jogger!

But who says you have to jog it in one go? The great thing about a jog in Bruges: there’s so much to look at! You’ll want to stop every once in awhile, not just to catch a breath, but also to look at the gorgeous medieval scenery. This is a really fun way to explore Bruges. Let a sporty host guide you along the ‘Vesten’ (ramparts): he’ll make sure you won’t miss a thing!

Discover the best historic sites

We’ll let you in on a little secret. Bruges has quite some tourist traps! Many of its restaurants are seriously overpriced, and some of its historical sites as well. This is why we really recommend relying on a local guide when visiting Bruges: you will get to know the authentic side of Bruges without getting ripped off!

One of the historic sites that is a true top thing to do is the Grote Markt which features the Belfry. This medieval bell tower might be quite expensive but is truly worth it. It’s the one from the movie In Bruges, by the way! Other important sights are the Wollestraat, the Basilica of the Holy Blood and the Beguinage. Let your local host tell you about the rich history behind them!

Visit the concert hall in Bruges

Did you know Bruges also has modern buildings? Yes, really! Not that many, though. And just one of them is really worth a visit: the concert hall. Bruges constructed this red-bricked enormity in 2002, when the city was elected as the Cultural Capital of Europe. If you go up to the highest floor, you’ll enjoy a gorgeous panorama over Bruges.

This sight alone should convince you to visit the concert hall, but there’s more. The building also holds a sound factory where you can experiment with sounds of old clocks. Curious? Go check it out with your local host! This is among the top things to do in Bruges.

Have a stroll along the Gouden-Handrei

The Gouden-Handrei should definitely be on your things to do in Bruges list if you want to avoid big crowds of tourists – and who doesn’t, right? The Gouden-Handrei is one of the most beautiful hidden gems of Bruges. This small street along a narrow canal is a true feast for the eye. It’s just a short walk, but certainly worth it!

If you take a tour with a local host, you will discover similar cute little places that haven’t been overrun by mass tourism yet. Wander around the lesser-known Bruges with one of our fantastic guides.

Go on a pub crawl

By now, you might be wondering what’s taking us so long to mention beer. But here it goes: BEER! People from Bruges really love this bitter liquid. One of their favorite pastimes is to enjoy some beers in a local bar. Therefore, Bruges is filled with cozy beer cellars where you can choose from dozens of different beers.

In the day time, go to the Beer Museum, and at night, go on a pub crawl! Don’t forget to taste the local beers from Bruges like the ‘Straffe Hendrik’ and the ‘Brugse zot’. Some of the best beer cellars and clubs are based on the Kuipersstraat, by the way. Ask your local guide for more information.

Local tipWalk in at brewery Bourgogne des Flandres for a totally unique range of beers

Immerse yourself in Bruges’ art scene

If you’re into art, this should definitely be on your things to do in Bruges list. The city has a thriving art scene. And this scene goes way back in time. You’ve probably heard of the ‘Flemish Masters’, like Jan van Eyck, Hans Memling and Rogier van der Weyden. The famous Groeninge Museum features many of their paintings.

Perhaps you’re more into contemporary art. In that case, the Bruges Art Route might be your thing, an art- and walking route which features contemporary works of art. Or perhaps you might enjoy an upcycling workshop! Upcycling is a contemporary art form that is gaining a lot of popularity in Belgium.