Bruges Travel Guide: Canals, Squares and Fairytale Streets
Three nights in Bruges with our child: Markt, Belfort, a canal tour, Begijnhof and Minnewater, plus prices, Ghent by train and Belgian food.
Bruges was the first stop on our Belgium trip: we took the train straight from Brussels Airport and stayed for three nights. With its medieval brick houses, canals and swans, the city really does feel as though it has stepped out of a storybook.
The historic centre is compact and easy to explore on foot; we took our stroller everywhere, even using it to carry our backpacks. On one of our days in Bruges, we took the train to Ghent for a day trip; the two cities are half an hour apart.
Before you go: key notes
How many days do you need in Bruges?
The compact centre can be explored in one or two days; we stayed for three nights and spent one day in Ghent.
How do you get from Brussels Airport to Bruges?
Take a direct train from the station beneath the airport; we also took the train straight from the airport to Bruges.
Is Bruges suitable for children?
With canal boat tours, swans, windmills and chocolate shops, Bruges is a fairytale city for children.
Plan at a family pace: The days below are suggested itineraries. Shorten them to suit the time you spend inside museums and monuments; approximate visit lengths exclude queues and travel. Trains in Belgium are frequent, and children under 12 can travel free with an adult. Admission prices are approximate adult rates as of 2026; museum cards (Musea Brugge Card, CityCard Gent, Antwerp City Card) can offer good value if you visit several museums.
Suggested itinerary
| Plan | Route | How to simplify it |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1: Squares | Markt → Belfort → Burg → Basilica of the Holy Blood → Rozenhoedkaai → canal tour | Buy your Belfort ticket the day before if you plan to climb; 366 steps can be challenging with children. |
| Day 2: Quiet Bruges | Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk → Begijnhof → Minnewater → windmills | Minnewater park is the best break for children to run around and watch the swans. |
| Day 3: Ghent | Day trip to Ghent by train | Find the itinerary in our Ghent guide. |
Tickets and tours: Timed tickets for popular attractions such as canal tours and Belfort can sell out in advance. Browse Bruges tickets and tours on Tiqets to compare skip-the-line admission and guided tours.
Where to stay in Bruges with kids
We stayed 3 nights at the NH Brugge and were very happy with it; the hotel sits between the railway station and the old town. With kids, where your hotel is decides how often you’ll say “shall we head back?”; being able to return for a midday break is a big relief.
| Area | Good for | Watch out | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Markt and Burg | Reaching everything on foot | High prices; cobblestones jolt the stroller | See on Booking |
| ’t Zand and the station | Arriving and leaving by train; 10–15 minutes’ walk to the centre | The square area is a bit more urban and busy | See on Booking |
| Sint-Anna and Langestraat | Quiet canal banks near the windmills | Far from the station | See on Booking |
What we look at when choosing: A lift (does the stroller fit without folding?), being close to the train or metro, a family room for three or an apartment with a kitchen, and air conditioning in summer.
Accommodation: Compare hotels and apartments in Bruges on Booking.com; choosing free cancellation keeps your plans flexible.
Contents
- Before you go: key notes
- Where to stay in Bruges with kids
- Markt and Burg
- Canals
- Begijnhof and Minnewater
- Local flavours
- Sources and visitor information
Markt and Burg
Markt (Main Square)
![Wolfgang Staudt [1]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bruges_Market_Square_and_Belfry.jpg){kind=link}
The heart of Bruges, with colourful guild houses, horse-drawn carriages and the belfry rising above the square. The atmosphere changes completely when the lights come on in the evening; an ice rink and Christmas market appear in winter.
Why go? Colourful stepped-gable guild houses and a belfry towering over the city make this the heart of Bruges and a postcard-perfect scene. Even the sound of horse-drawn carriages on the cobbles adds to the medieval atmosphere.
Visit summary
- Area: Markt and Burg
- Highlight: Guild houses and the heart of the city
- Suggested visit length: About 30–45 minutes
- Type of visit: Outdoors
- Admission: Free (outdoors)
- Nearby stops: Belfort (Belfry)
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Belfort (Belfry)
From the top of this 83-metre medieval tower, Bruges’s red roofs and canals spread out like a map. Seeing the mechanism of the 47-bell carillon up close is another highlight.
Why go? The reward for 366 steps is a view of Bruges’s red roofs and canals laid out like a model. Passing the mechanism of the bells that ring on the hour adds to the excitement.
Visit summary
- Area: Markt and Burg
- Highlight: The city’s widest panorama
- Suggested visit length: About 45–60 minutes
- Type of visit: Tower climb (366 steps)
- Admission: Paid admission · adults approximately 15–16 €; buy timed tickets in advance
- Nearby stops: Markt (Main Square), Burg Square and Town Hall
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Burg Square and Town Hall
_van_Brugge.jpg){kind=link}
One of Europe’s oldest town halls has a Gothic façade decorated with statues, while the wooden ceiling of its Gothic Hall is dazzling. The square is right beside Markt but much quieter.
Why go? The wooden ceiling and murals in the Gothic Hall of one of Europe’s oldest Gothic town halls are captivating. The square is quieter and more elegant than Markt.
Visit summary
- Area: Markt and Burg
- Highlight: Gothic town hall
- Suggested visit length: About 30–45 minutes
- Type of visit: Outdoors / indoors
- Admission: Square free; Town Hall and Gothic Hall paid admission
- Nearby stops: Belfort (Belfry), Basilica of the Holy Blood
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Basilica of the Holy Blood
A two-storey chapel on the corner of Burg Square, with a Romanesque lower level and an ornate Gothic upper level. A relic believed to have been brought back from the Crusades is displayed briefly each day and has been central to the city’s religious traditions for centuries.
Why go? Moving from the dark Romanesque lower chapel to the glittering Gothic upper chapel feels like entering another world. The centuries-old Holy Blood tradition lies at the heart of the city’s religious history.
Visit summary
- Area: Markt and Burg
- Highlight: Historic two-storey chapel
- Suggested visit length: About 20–30 minutes
- Type of visit: Indoors
- Admission: Basilica free; treasury approximately 2,50 €
- Nearby stops: Burg Square and Town Hall
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Canals
Rozenhoedkaai
_and_Belfry_of_Bruges,_Bruges,_Belgium_(Ank_Kumar,_Infosys_Limited)_05.jpg){kind=link}
At this bend in the canal, the Belfort and old houses reflect in the water to create Bruges’s most photographed view. Canal tours also depart from here.
Why go? The Belfort and old houses reflected in a bend of the canal create Bruges’s most famous view. Evening lights give it an entirely different beauty.
Visit summary
- Area: Canals
- Highlight: Bruges’s postcard view
- Suggested visit length: About 15–20 minutes
- Type of visit: Outdoors
- Admission: Free (outdoors)
- Nearby stops: Canal boat tour
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Canal boat tour
Seeing the city from the water, passing beneath low bridges, is the best way to appreciate Bruges; swans and hidden gardens come into view from this perspective. The roughly half-hour tour is often children’s favourite part of the trip.
Why go? Bruges reveals its true character from the water: hidden gardens, low bridges and swans. The most exciting half-hour of the trip for children and the most relaxing for adults.
Visit summary
- Area: Canals
- Highlight: Seeing the city from the water
- Suggested visit length: About 30 minutes
- Type of visit: Boat tour
- Admission: Paid admission · approximately 15 € (reduced rates for children); fewer departures in winter
- Nearby stops: Rozenhoedkaai, Groeningemuseum
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Groeningemuseum
One of the best places in the world to see the astonishingly detailed paintings of Flemish masters such as Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling. Its small, manageable size makes it suitable for a short art stop with children.
Why go? The extraordinary detail in Van Eyck’s paintings shows how sophisticated painting was five hundred years ago. Its compact size makes this a museum of masterpieces that you can explore with children without losing their interest.
Visit summary
- Area: Canals
- Highlight: Works by Flemish masters
- Suggested visit length: About 1 hours
- Type of visit: Indoors
- Admission: Paid admission · adults approximately 15 €
- Nearby stops: Canal boat tour
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Begijnhof and Minnewater
Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk (Church of Our Lady)
The city’s tallest building, with a 115-metre brick tower, houses Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child (the Madonna of Bruges), described here as his only sculpture to leave Italy. The ornate tombs of the Duke and Duchess of Burgundy are also here.
Why go? Michelangelo’s only sculpture to leave Italy during his lifetime is here; the marble looks as soft as real fabric. The ornate tomb of Mary, the last Duchess of Burgundy, is another of the church’s treasures.
Visit summary
- Area: Begijnhof and Minnewater
- Highlight: Michelangelo’s Madonna of Bruges
- Suggested visit length: About 30–45 minutes
- Type of visit: Indoors
- Admission: Church free; museum section housing the Madonna approximately 8–10 €
- Nearby stops: Begijnhof
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Begijnhof
A quiet courtyard surrounded by whitewashed houses, carpeted with daffodils in spring; a community of religious women lived here for centuries. After the busy centre, it feels as though time has stopped.
Why go? In the courtyard surrounded by white houses and tall trees, you almost hesitate to speak; its centuries-old quiet endures. In spring, the ground turns yellow with daffodils, an unforgettable sight.
Visit summary
- Area: Begijnhof and Minnewater
- Highlight: Peaceful courtyard with white houses
- Suggested visit length: About 20–30 minutes
- Type of visit: Outdoors (please keep quiet)
- Admission: Free
- Nearby stops: Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk (Church of Our Lady), Minnewater (Lake of Love)
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Minnewater (Lake of Love)
The park around this lake, where swans glide across the water, is the city’s most romantic and peaceful corner. Resting on the grass and watching the swans is one of the loveliest breaks in Bruges with children.
Why go? The lake with its gliding swans and surrounding park is Bruges’s most romantic and peaceful corner. Perfect for watching swans with children and resting on the grass.
Visit summary
- Area: Begijnhof and Minnewater
- Highlight: Swans and lakeside
- Suggested visit length: About 30–45 minutes
- Type of visit: Park / lakeside
- Admission: Free (outdoors)
- Nearby stops: Begijnhof, Kruisvest windmills
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Kruisvest windmills
Windmills along the city’s eastern ramparts, green meadows and a canal create a scene reminiscent of the Netherlands. One still works and can be visited inside.
Why go? Windmills along the ramparts and green meadows create a postcard scene. Seeing how flour is ground inside a working mill is interesting for children.
Visit summary
- Area: Begijnhof and Minnewater
- Highlight: Historic working windmill
- Suggested visit length: About 45 minutes
- Type of visit: Outdoors / windmill interior
- Admission: Grounds free; small charge for Sint-Janshuismolen windmill
- Nearby stops: Minnewater (Lake of Love)
- Open map: Search for this place on Google Maps
Local flavours
These are some of the flavours associated with Bruges. Once we add places we have personally tried, this section will become a list of venues like those in our other city guides.
| Food | What it is known for | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Belgian waffles | Light Brussels-style or sweet Liège-style waffles | Around Markt |
| Belgian chocolate | Pralines and handmade chocolates | Chocolate shops across the city |
| Frites | Twice-fried potatoes served with sauces | Chip stalls on Markt |
| Moules-frites | Mussels and chips, Belgium’s national dish | Restaurants around the square |
Sources and visitor information
Museum and monument opening hours change with the seasons, and some close on Mondays. Admission prices are approximate; check the official websites before visiting. Individual location links are Google Maps searches using the place name.
Where we stayed
We stayed for 3 nights at NH Brugge in Bruges and were very happy with it. The hotel is between the railway station and the historic centre.
Browse hotel and apartment options for Bruges on Booking.com. When staying with children, we recommend looking for somewhere within walking distance of the centre, with a lift and family rooms.