Ten highlights you should not miss in Bruges

The Market Square and the Belfry

The Markt is where almost every visit starts. Horse drawn carriages wait along the edge of the square, the gabled facades catch the afternoon light and the terraces fill up from late morning onwards.

The Belfry rises above it all. You can climb the tower for a view across the rooftops, but the staircase is narrow and steep, so it is not for everyone. Check the current opening hours and tickets on the official website before you walk over.

Burg Square and the Basilica of the Holy Blood

A short walk from the Markt you reach the Burg, a smaller and quieter square where several centuries of architecture stand side by side, including the old town hall.

In the corner sits the Basilica of the Holy Blood. It is easy to walk straight past if you do not know it is there. The lower chapel is bare and cool, the upper chapel is a lot more decorated. Both are worth the few minutes it takes to look inside.

The beguinage and Minnewater

South of the centre you find the beguinage, a walled courtyard with white houses around a lawn. In spring the grass fills with daffodils. It is a place where people speak softly without being asked to, and we like sending guests there in the early morning.

Just beside it lies Minnewater, the lake with the swans. Walk the loop around the water and you will understand why so many photographs of Bruges are taken here.

A boat trip on the canals

Seeing Bruges from the water gives you a completely different city. Bridges you walked over an hour ago now arch above your head and you notice back gardens and cellar doors you would never spot from the street.

The boats leave from several landing stages in the centre and the trip is short. Queues can be long on sunny afternoons, so go early or late if you can.

Groeningemuseum and Saint John's Hospital

The Groeningemuseum holds the work that made Bruges famous as a painting city, with the Flemish Primitives at its heart and later Belgian art alongside it. Even a quick visit leaves an impression.

Saint John's Hospital is one of the oldest surviving hospital buildings in Europe. The old wards, the pharmacy and the medical instruments tell you a great deal about how people were cared for here for centuries.

Beer and chocolate

Bruges has a serious brewing tradition and a city centre brewery visit is an easy afternoon. You get the story, the smell of the mash and a glass at the end.

Chocolate is everywhere, and the difference between the shops is real. Ask for something made in the workshop behind the counter rather than a pre packed box, and buy a small selection instead of a big one.