17 essentials: what and to do in Bruges in 2 or 3 days

If looking for one “tale city” to visit in Europe, Witches en Belgium She is undoubtedly one of your candidates.

The charm of this city Flanders region It is such that in parallel it has become one of those places where the large influx of tourists can "muddy" your visit.

But as happens, for example, in Venice, that should not be an impediment for visit brugesHowever, trying not to make your visit coincide with a long weekend or high holiday season.

Witches It is one of the Belgian cities declared Heritage you know why?

The medieval towers and beguinages that you can find in several of them are a common thread that unites them in that prestigious list of the Enteror, examples that you also find in Witches.

Curiosities history of Bruges

The origins They date back to the 9th century, in the time of the Vikings, and it was in the 12th century when the urban center acquired the title of city.

During the Middle Ages It had a great boom as a city where merchants from all over Europe came to buy the famous Flemish cloth.

And specifically in the 14th century it became the great warehouse of the cities. Hanseatic League, commercial and defensive union of European cities during the Middle Ages.

At the same time that the wealth of the city was decreasing as a consequence of the greater boom of the port of Antwerp, Gothic architectural works and Flemish painting took center stage.

At present, the It is the great industry of Bruges, a city that is known as the Venice of the north through its charming canals.

Excursions to Bruges from Brussels

Witches It is a city where you can easily get to by train from Brussels and easy to visit on your own.

But in your trip to belgium you may prefer to sign up for one excursion with guide in Spanish, so here you have information on the Tour to Bruges from Brussels.

And if you are very limited on time on said trip, here you have the information about the tightest Tour to Bruges and Ghent from Brussels.

If, however, you arrive on your own to the beautiful Flemish city, you may be interested in signing up for a Guided tour of Bruges with guide in Spanish,

During this visit in two and a half hours you will have a first approach to the Bruges highlights from the tourist point of view.

Regarding your accommodation, here you can search hotel in Bruges en booking.com.

What to see in Bruges

Now, if you prefer to visit the city on your own, this information about the main places of interest that you should not miss...

Marketplace 

Together with the annex Burg Square, marketplace It is the urban heart of the city of Bruges, and one of the most atmospheric places in the city.

The main building is the majestic bell tower, and in the center of the square there are two sculptures of popular heroes from a conflagration that occurred in 1302.

The neo-Gothic building of the Provincial Palace.

Burg square 

La Burg Square It has been the reflection of political power throughout the history of the city.

In it you currently find the building of the Bruges Town Hall, one of the visits that you should not miss on your trip to Bruges, and the Basilica of the Holy Blood.

Bruges Town Hall

It is a Gothic style building with a beautiful façade built in 1376.

Of course, it will catch your attention to see that the sculptures that are distributed in its niches are very current, from just 1989, since the originals were destroyed at the time of the French Revolution.

At Bruges Town Hall you must visit its impressive Gothic Room and Courtroom, where you will see a huge fireplace.

Basilica of the Holy Blood 

In a corner next to the town hall, and in a two-story building that in no way leads you to imagine that there is a church there, you find the Basilica of the Holy Blood.

In this small church the relic of the Holy Blood, and during your visit you will be surprised by the great architectural wealth of the chapel on the upper floor, built in Gothic style in the 15th century.

The paintings that cover the ceilings and walls stand out, which were restored in the last 20th century.

Bell tower 

At 83 meters high, the Bell Tower (Belfort) It is one of the most prominent buildings in the Belgian city.

It is an example of the defensive towers that the cities of Flanders had with the purpose of warning of possible attacks.

With 47 bells, to see the Panoramic views you will have to climb 366 steps.

beguinage 

The beguinages (beguinage) are one of the most curious and interesting places in the cities of Flanders.

Lay women who followed a pious and celibate life gathered in these houses.

El beguinage It is another of the reasons why the city is Heritage, dates back to 1245.

On the visit of the House of Beguine You can see what life was like in the beguinage during the 17th century.

Charity Houses 

Another curious corner of a city are those known as Charity Houses.

Built in the 14th century, it was the place where the city's artisans provided shelter to the elderly, the sick, widows and, in general, people who did not have a house to live in.

They are grouped in pleasant residential areas that you find in the city, with gardens and houses with white facades, where there is no shortage of small chapels.

A curious visit.

Canals of Bruges

If there is something that characterizes the city of Bruges, it is its canals, which make it possible, as I mentioned before, to be known as the Venice of the north.

Therefore your visit will be incomplete if you do not make a canal cruise on one of the large barges full of tourists that travel through them.

You have five piers, and the cruise schedules They are from March to mid-November, from 10 in the morning until 17,30:XNUMX p.m. of the last boarding.

Dock of the Rosary 

If a typical photo, that is the one of the Dock of the Rosary (Rozenhoedkaai).

Very close to the Burg Square, in the place where one of the most popular piers for tourists is located, it is a corner that shows great charm due to the scenes of the buildings on the banks of the canal.

You will surely take a souvenir photo at the Dock of the Rosary.

Saint Boniface Bridge

I will tell you that it is my favorite corner in Bruges.

It's hard to imagine that the corner of the Saint Boniface Bridge It is located in the center of a city, but the scenes you can see really justify a visit to Bruges in themselves.

This corner is hidden in the Arentshof park, behind the church of our lady and next to Groeninge museum.

The leafy trees and the stone bridge that crosses one of the busiest canals, together with the medieval stone houses, create a essential scene to see in Bruges.

San Salvador Cathedral 

La bruges cathedral is oldest religious building in the city.

It dates back to the 12th century, and inside you will be struck by the medieval tombs, its large organ and the collection of paintings by the Flemish primitives of the 14th century.

Sculpture of Michelangelo in Our Lady church 

Did you know that in Bruges you can see a sculpture by Michelangelo, the famous artist of Renacimiento Italian?

Indeed, in the church of our lady there is a small sculpture of the Virgin and ChildKnown as the Madonna of Bruges, which was sculpted in 1504.

It was bought by a family from Bruges and now you visit it in this church that has the highest tower in the city, which is built with bricks and is 115 meters high.

Groeninge Museum 

One of the attractions of a trip to Belgium is the possibility of seeing works by flamingo primitives.

Specifically, in the Groeninge museum you can see a very complete Flemish painting collection spanning from the 15th-16th centuries, the time of the so-called flamingo primitives, to the most current works of the 20th century.

To highlight the painting of Jan van Eyck known as The Virgin of Canon Van der Paele.

Hospital of San Juan 

Another place where you can see works of flamingo primitives is the old Hospital of San Juan, specifically, of Hans memling.

But on the curious visit to this 13th century building, above all, you will see an exhibition that shows you what a hospital was like in the Middle Ages where the sick, poor and pilgrims were cared for.

During the visit you will walk through the large room of the hospital, but you will also be able to enter the chapel, where one of the works of Memling, and in the old pharmacy or chapel

Lace Museum 

One of the witch traditions is the bobbin lace, a reflection of which are the numerous establishments where you can buy lace, although already manufactured industrially.

Now, if you are interested in delving deeper into this tradition, you have the opportunity to visit the Lace Museum.

There you will learn that lace is a tradition that dates back to the 16th century, and that Bruges and Venice are considered the lace cribs.

In addition to seeing numerous objects linked to this tradition, you will have the opportunity to see live demonstrations of how bobbin lace is made.

Beer Museum 

There are many museums that have emerged with the most varied themes to take advantage of the pull of tourism.

So you have small museums dedicated to the history of the city (History), the lamps, the torture, the diamond, the French fries and exhibitions dedicated to Dalí, Picasso y Miró.

Now, I want to point out the beer museum whose main attraction is that at the end of the walk through the exhibition, you can taste some beers on a terrace that overlooks the marketplace.

A good place to see this central part of the city.

chocolate shops 

Finally, if you are passionate about craft chocolates, this is going to interest you...

On your walk through its streets you will find more than 50 boutique chocolate shops with very attractive showcases where you will see a wide variety of bonbons and chocolates, which you surely won't be able to resist.

Chocolate is one of the gastronomic traditions of Belgium, and of course in Bruges you have the best samples, and here you have information to buy Belgian chocolates or bonbons.