Belgium, Europe

The 5 most fun things to do in Bruges

Geplaatst door JustGo.Travel

feb 20, 2019 2003 0 0

The cozy center of Bruges is very compact and with plenty of fun things to do it is the perfect destination for a day or a weekend trip. Do you want to go to Bruges for a day or a weekend? Here, find the 5 best things to do during your visit to this historic city in West Flanders.

Climb the Belfort
Taste a Bruges Zot at Brewery de Halve Maan
Visit the chocolate museum
Take a boat trip on the Bruges canals
Get Belgian fries at a frietkot (Belgian snack bar)

1. Climb the Belfort

Are you looking for a point where have a nice view across Bruges? Then you are at the right place at Belfort.

The Belfort is located on the market of Bruges. Every day many visitors climb the no less than 366 steps to the top of the 83 meters high tower which is listed on the Unesco World Heritage List.

On your way up you will pass the treasury room where in the Middle Ages, among other things, the city seal and the city cash were kept. Together with the clock and the Bruges carillon with no fewer than 47 bells.

Once at the top, your effort is rewarded and you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city and its surroundings.

Did you know that the Belfry was originally built as a watchtower to search for fires?

You can go up till one hour before closing time and per visit a maximum number of people is allowed. Because of this you may have to wait a bit before you can go inside.

Opening hours

Open daily from 09.30-18.00h (09.30am-06.00pm). Closed on 1 January and 25 December 2019.
Adjusted opening hours: 30 May 09.30-13.00h (09.30am-01.00pm), 24 and 31 December 09.30-16.00h (09.30am-04.00pm).

Entrance fee

Entrance tickets are not for sale online and are only available at the entrance of the Belfry.

Type of visitor	Entrance fee
Adult	€ 12
65+	€ 10
Youth up to 25 years	€ 10
Children until 5 years old, Museum Friends or with a Museum pass	Free of charge

2. Taste a Brugse Zot at Brewery de Halve Maan

Brugse Zot Blond, Brugse Zot Double, Brugse Bok and Sportzot. These are the four beers which are being brewed at Brewery de Halve Maan, the only active family brewery in Bruges.

The beer is still brewed in this historic place, but is not the place where the beer bottles are being filled. Since 2016, from the center of Bruges to the bottling plant, there runs a real beer pipeline of more than 3 kilometers long and at a depth of 37 meters.

Daily, in about 45 minutes, thousands of liters of Brugse Zot and Straffe Hendrik flow through the city’s streets via two different pipes. On the way to the factory where the beer bottles are being filled.

Every day, various guided tours are organized in the brewery. The guides tell you extensively about the history of the brewery, how the Bruges beers are produced nowadays. You also bring a visit to the roof of de Halve Maan, where you have a beautiful view over Bruges.

At the end of the tour it is time for the tasting and do not forget to sit down on the terrace in the courtyard of the brewery with a glass of cold Brugse Zot Blond. If you also want to eat something? Then you can go to the brasserie of the brewery.

Please note: During the tour at the old building there are some steep stairs to take and the tour is therefore not suitable if you have difficulties with walking.

Guided tours de Halve Maan

The brewery offers two different guided tours:

Standard tour including tasting a Brugse Zot Blond:
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Monday until Friday and Sunday: every hour between 11.00h/am and 16.00h/am.
- Saturday: every hour between 11.00h (11.00am) and 17.00h (05.00pm).
- Dutch, French and English. German is possible on request.
- Suitable for adults and children.
XL tour for the real beer lover including tasting of three different beers:
- Duration: 90 minutes.
- Monday – Friday: 1 tour per day at 14.15h (02.15pm).
- Saturday – Sunday: 2 tours per day at 14.15h (02.15pm) and 16.15h (04.15pm).
- Dutch and English.
- Only accessible to adults.

Prices guided tours

Guided tour	Type of visitor	Price	Price online
Standard tour	Adult (incl Bruges Zot)	€ 12	€ 11
	Child 6-12 years (incl a soda)	€ 6	€ 5,50
	Child 0-6 years (excl a drink)	Free of charge	Free of charge
XL tour	Adult	€ 21

Reservations can easily be made online from 2 months till 24 hours before the start of the tour. Do you want to reserve within 24 hours? Then it is best to give them a call: +32 (0) 50 44 42 22.

Book your guided tour at de Halve Maan

3. Visit the Chocolate museum

Who does not love it? Chocolate. As a chocolate lover, you can certainly get your heart out in Bruges. Not only do you find various shops full of chocolate in different shapes and sizes, but you can also visit Choco-Story, the chocolate museum of Bruges.

Despite the fact that the museum consists of several floors, it is not very big. Upon arrival, you will immediately receive a mini chocolate bar and you can visit the museum yourself while enjoying this bar. The museum takes you into the history of cocoa and chocolate. From how cocoa is extracted to the process of making chocolate. And during your visit you have plenty of opportunities to taste some extra chocolate.

There are various dispensers with white, milk and dark chocolate pastilles and I can tell you: you will regularly return for more. You can also take a look at a demonstration at the end of your visit. Here a chocolatier shows how various delicacies of chocolate are made and if you are lucky, you may taste some things.

Opening hours

Open daily from 10.00-17.00h (10.00am-05.00pm). Last tickets at 16.15h (04.15pm).
In July and August from 10.00-18.00h (10.00am-06.00pm). Last tickets at 17.15h (05.15pm).
The museum is closed on 25 December and 1 January.

Entrance fees

You can easily buy your ticket when you arrive at the museum or you can pre-order online via the website.

	Type of visitor	Price
	Adult	€ 9,50
	65+ and students	€ 7,50
	Children 6-11 years	€ 5,50
	Children younger than 6 years	Free of charge

Here, book your entrance ticket for the chocolate museum

4. Take a boat trip on the Bruges canals

Of course you can explore Bruges on foot, but you can also choose to take a boat trip.

Just like in Amsterdam, you can find several canals in the historical center of Bruges: the Bruges canals, which are named after the river named Rei that used to flow through the city.

During the 30-minute cruise you will sail past the most beautiful places of Bruges and the skipper will tell you fun and interesting facts about the Venice of the North. A nickname that Bruges owes to these channels.

Sailing times

1 March until 15 November, from 10.00-18.00h (10.00am-06.00pm).
The last departure is at 17.30h (05.30pm).

In the weekend, during holiday periods and on public holidays during the winter season (November-February), the boats are sailing subject to weather conditions.

The boats do not have a roof. Should it rain on the way, there are umbrellas on board that you can use. However, it is advisable also to bring one with you. That way you will be sure that you will stay dry, should it start to rain unexpectedly.

Boarding places

Michielssens, Huidenvettersplein 13, tel. +32 50 33 00.41
Coudenys, Rozenhoedkaai, tel. +32 50 33 13 75
De Meulemeester, Wollestraat 32, tel. +32 50 33 41 20
Gruuthuse, Nieuwstraat 11, tel. +32 50 33 32 93
Stael, Katelijnestraat 4, tel. +32 50 33 27 71

Prices cruise

The costs for a boat trip can be paid at the place where the boat leaves. Keep in mind that payment is usually only possible in cash.

Type of visitor	Price
Adult	€ 10
Children 4-11 years	€ 6
Children 0-3 years	Free of charge
Residents of Bruges	€ 9

5. Get Belgian fries at a frietkot (Belgian snack bar)

Wherever you go in Belgium, in every city or village you’ll find them: the frietkot, a kind of mobile snack bar. A visit to Bruges is therefore not complete without having a taste of the delicious Flemish fries.

For example, you will find a frietkot in front of the Belfry. Here they do not only sell fries, but also another typical Belgian dish: a stew, or stew meat. Yummie!

And do you want to know more about the history of the potato, the (Flemish) fries and the different sauces? Then visit the Fries museum of Bruges.

Did you know that the fries museum in Bruges is the only and unique museum of fries in the world?

It is located in one of the most beautiful buildings in Bruges: the Saaihalle. And of course you can also taste the well-known fries (€ 0.40 discount on presentation of your admission ticket).

Opening hours Belgian Fries Museum

Monday – Sunday: 10.00-17.00h (10.00am-05.00pm). Last tickets at 16.15h (04.15pm).
Closed on 25 December and 1 January.

Entrance fees

Entrance tickets are only for sale at the museum itself.

Type of visitor	Price
Adult	€ 7
Students, 65+	€ 6
Children 6-11 years	€ 5
Children 0-5 years	Free of charge

Do you want to visit the Fries museum and the Chocolate Museum or would you like to visit 3 museums in total? Then there are special combination tickets for sale.

Type of visitor	Combiticket Choco-Story/Fries museum	Combiticket 3 museums*
Adult	€ 14,50	€ 16,50
Students, 65+	€ 11,50	€ 13,50
Children 6-11 years	€ 8,50	€ 10,50
Children 0-5 years	Free of charge	Free of charge