Museums in Bruges: the four main ones
Four museums form the core of a museum day in Bruges: the Groeningemuseum, the Gruuthusemuseum, the Museum of St John's Hospital (Sint-Janshospitaal) and the museum in the Church of Our Lady (O.L.V.-kerk). They belong to the city's museum group Musea Brugge. This independent guide is not connected to it and only collects the practical facts.
Closing days changed on 1 April 2026. The Groeningemuseum is now closed on Mondays and the Gruuthusemuseum on Wednesdays. The Hospital is closed on Mondays. Plan your order of visits around these days.
Museum tickets and hours compared
Adult prices for 2026. Young people pay less, as shown below the table.
| Museum | Adult | Hours | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groeningemuseum | €15 | 10–18 (1 April to 2 November), 9:30–17 (3 November to 31 March) | Monday |
| Gruuthusemuseum (Dijver 17C) | €15 | 9:30–17 | Wednesday |
| Museum of St John's Hospital (Mariastraat 38) | €15 | 9:30–17 | Monday |
| Church of Our Lady museum | €10 | Mon to Sat 9:30–17, Sun 13:30–17 | – |
Ages
At Groeninge, Gruuthuse and the Hospital, ages 18 to 25 pay €13, ages 13 to 17 pay €7, and children under 13 enter free. At the Church of Our Lady the museum costs €9, €5 and free for the same groups.
Combined ticket
Gruuthuse and the Church of Our Lady museum can be combined for €19.
Our picks: museum tickets and workshops
A chocolate museum with a workshop, a church museum and a beer museum.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Chocolate-making workshop with museum entry
A one-hour workshop with ingredients, entry to the chocolate museum, an audio guide in 11 languages (with a children's version) and a tasting.
Check availability →
Beer museum entry with audio guide
Entry and an audio guide on an iPad mini.
Check availability →
Entry ticket for the Museum of the Church of Our Lady
Entry to the museum and access to the church. The listing shows no exclusions.
Check availability →Bruges tours with museum visits
Guided walks and day trips that include Bruges museums or churches, with current prices and availability.
Groeningemuseum: Flemish Primitives
The Groeningemuseum shows Belgian art, with a strong group of Flemish Primitives. Works by Jan van Eyck, Hans Memling and Gerard David are part of the collection. If you only have time for one art museum, this is the one to choose.
Renovation notice
The museum has announced a closure for about four years, starting on 11 January, with key works moving to BRUSK. Ticket sellers list the start as 11 January 2027. Check the museum's current notice before you plan a visit around it.
A portrait on loan
The portrait of Margareta van Eyck is in Bruges until 4 November 2026. It then goes to an exhibition in London from 21 November 2026 to 11 April 2027 and is due back for BRUSK from 19 April 2027. A work you want to see may be away, so ask at the desk.
Gruuthuse, the Hospital and the Church of Our Lady
Three museums within a short walk of each other.
Gruuthusemuseum
A palace that tells the history of the city. The collection includes tapestries, glass, lace and manuscripts. A historic private chapel opens toward the Church of Our Lady. Closed on Wednesdays since 1 April 2026.
Museum of St John's Hospital
A former hospital with the Hans Memling collection, the Ursula shrine, a historic pharmacy and contemporary art. The address is Mariastraat 38.
Church of Our Lady
You can enter the church for free. The paid museum area holds Michelangelo's marble Madonna and Child and the tombs of Mary of Burgundy and Charles the Bold. The tower is about 115 m high. The church can close for weddings and funerals, and on Ascension Day it is closed.
The museum card
The Musea Brugge Card costs €49 for adults, €37 for ages 18 to 25 and €25 for ages 13 to 17 (2026). It gives one entry to each open museum location within 72 hours of your first visit. You can activate it up to one year after purchase. Since 8 May 2026 it also includes BRUSK. The card is not a transport or boat pass.
Book a time slot online even with the card, especially for the belfry. The card does not reserve an entry time for you. The belfry guide explains the climb.
Sint-Janshuismolen: the working windmill
Four windmills stand along the Kruisvest, and Sint-Janshuismolen is the one that works as a grain mill. It was built in 1770 and stands at its original site. Tickets cost €5, €4 for ages 18 to 25, €2 for ages 13 to 17 and are free for children under 13.
From 1 April to 2 November it is open 9:30–12:30 and 13:30–17, closed on Monday. In winter, from 3 November to 31 March, it is on a break. From December it opens on the second Sunday of each month. The mechanism runs only when there is enough wind, and the stairs are steep.
Holiday hours for all museums
Special days to keep in mind.
Christmas and New Year
Museums close at 16:00 on 24 and 31 December and are closed on 25 December and 1 January.
Ascension Day
Museums close at 12:30 on Ascension Day. The Church of Our Lady is closed all day.
Easter and Pentecost Monday
The main museums open on these Mondays as an exception.
Last entry
The last entry is usually 30 minutes before closing, and one hour before at the belfry.
Next on your list
Combine museums with churches and squares.
Bruges museums: frequently asked questions
Which Bruges museum should I visit first?
For art, start with the Groeningemuseum, which has the Flemish Primitives. For city history, choose the Gruuthusemuseum. The Hospital pairs Memling with a historic pharmacy.
Which days are the museums closed?
Since 1 April 2026 the Groeningemuseum is closed on Mondays and the Gruuthusemuseum on Wednesdays. The Hospital is closed on Mondays.
Is the Groeningemuseum closing for renovation?
The museum has announced a closure for about four years from 11 January, with key works moving to BRUSK. Ticket sellers give 2027 as the year. Check the museum's notice before you go.
Is the Church of Our Lady free?
The church is free to enter. Michelangelo's Madonna and the tombs of Mary of Burgundy and Charles the Bold are in the museum area, which costs €10 for adults in 2026.
Is the museum card worth it?
The card costs €49 for adults. It gives one entry to each open museum location within 72 hours. Add up the tickets you plan to use and compare.
Do students or children get a discount?
Yes. At the main art museums, ages 18 to 25 pay €13, ages 13 to 17 pay €7 and children under 13 are free.