Fifteen places in a compact old town
Most of the sights below lie within a 20 minute walk of the Markt (Market Square). The list is an editorial selection, not a ranking by quality. It starts with the squares, towers and canals, continues with the museums and quiet corners, and ends with food, drink and the Burg.
The biggest planning problem is closing days. Since 1 April 2026 the Groeningemuseum is closed on Mondays and the Gruuthusemuseum on Wednesdays, and the windmills are closed on Mondays. The table further down puts them side by side. This is an independent guide, and all prices are the ones published for 2026.
Squares, towers and canals
The first five places are close together and make a good first morning.
1. Markt (Market Square)
The central square with the Belfry and the Provinciaal Hof (Provincial Court). Walking across the square costs nothing. A Belfry visit is a separate ticket, so the square itself does not give you access to the tower.
2. The Belfry
The tower on the Markt is 83 m high and has 366 steep steps. It is not accessible for wheelchairs. Adults pay €16 from 1 April to 2 November and €15 from 3 November to 31 March, and €16 on weekends. It is closed for maintenance from 19 to 22 October 2026, so check the status before you go. Booking a time slot online is recommended.
Belfry guide →3. Canal boat tour
The 30 minute round trip costs €15 for adults and €9 for children aged 4 to 11 in 2026. There are five jetties, and single tickets are bought on the spot.
Canal boat tour →4. Basilica of the Holy Blood
The basilica at Burg 13 is free to enter. The museum and treasury cost €5, and children under 12 pay nothing. The relic is shown for veneration daily from 2 to 4 pm. Whether the relic is the blood of Christ is a matter of faith.
Basilica guide →5. Groeningemuseum
Flemish Primitives and Belgian art, with works by Jan van Eyck, Hans Memling and Gerard David. Adults pay €15. It is closed on Mondays. The museum has announced a closure of about four years from 11 January, with core works moving to BRUSK, so check the current status.
Museums guide →Our picks: things to do
On the water, by bike and in the chocolate workshop.
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.
Guided retro bike tour of the old town
A retro bike with a basket, a helmet, a local guide and a beer, lemonade or water.
Check availability →
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 →
Canal boat ride, chocolate tasting and guided walk
A licensed local guide, a chocolate tasting and a boat ride with a captain are all included. The listing shows no exclusions.
Check availability →Bruges tours and tickets
Guided walks, boat rides, tastings and day trips from Brussels, with live prices and availability.
Museums and quiet corners
Places 6 to 11 are calmer and mostly have fixed opening days.
6. Gruuthusemuseum
The history of the city in a former palace at Dijver 17C, with tapestries, glass, lace, manuscripts and a historic private chapel that looks into the church of Our Lady. Adults pay €15, and the museum is closed on Wednesdays. A combined ticket with the Our Lady museum costs €19.
7. Sint-Janshospitaal
A former hospital at Mariastraat 38 with the Hans Memling collection, the Ursula shrine, a historic pharmacy and contemporary art. Adults pay €15, and it is closed on Mondays.
8. Church of Our Lady
The church is free. The museum area, where Michelangelo's marble Madonna and Child stands next to the tombs of Mary of Burgundy and Charles the Bold, costs €10 for adults. It is open Monday to Saturday from 9:30 am to 5 pm and on Sunday from 1:30 pm.
9. Beguinage
The Ten Wijngaerde complex was founded in 1245 and is free to enter. The October 2026 calendar gives 7:30 am to 6:30 pm, subject to change. People live here, so keep your voice down.
Beguinage guide →10. Minnewater and park
The Minnewater (Lake of Love) and its park lie in the south of the old town, close to the Beguinage and the station. The Minnewaterbrug (bridge) is a free viewpoint.
11. Kruisvest windmills
Four windmills stand on the Kruisvest: Sint-Janshuis, Bonne Chiere, De Nieuwe Papegaai and Koelewei. Only the Sint-Janshuismolen (built 1770, on its original site) is described as a working grain mill. Entry is €5 for adults. It is open from 1 April to 2 November from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 5 pm, closed on Mondays. The stairs are steep.
Food, drink and the Burg
12. Choco-Story
The chocolate museum at Wijnzakstraat 2 is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, and the last tickets sell at 5 pm. Adults pay €16, seniors from 65 and students pay €14, and children aged 3 to 11 pay €10.
Chocolate guide →13. De Halve Maan
The brewery at Walplein 26 offers a standard tour of about 45 minutes for €16, including one beer, in Dutch, French and English. Groups are limited to 25 people.
Beer guide →14. Bourgogne des Flandres
A brewery and bar at Wollestraat 26. The Discovery ticket with a beer costs €16 and Dry Discovery without a tasting €13. A guided visit with a tasting takes about 75 minutes. The bar is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm. Reserve in high season.
15. Burg
The square with the city hall and the Basilica of the Holy Blood. It is not the same place as the Markt, and the two squares are separate stops.
Closing days at a glance
Opening days of the places above that are not open every day, 2026 rules.
| Place | Closed | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Groeningemuseum | Monday | 10 am to 6 pm (1 April to 2 November), 9:30 am to 5 pm (3 November to 31 March) |
| Gruuthusemuseum | Wednesday | 9:30 am to 5 pm |
| Sint-Janshospitaal | Monday | 9:30 am to 5 pm |
| Sint-Janshuismolen | Monday | 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 5 pm, with a winter break |
| Bourgogne des Flandres bar | Monday | 11 am to 6 pm |
| Belfry | 25 December, 1 January | 9 am to 8 pm in summer, shorter in winter |
On 24 and 31 December the Belfry closes at 4 pm. The museums page has the full ticket list and the Musea Brugge Card.
Plan the rest of your trip
Pages that help you turn the list into a schedule.
Things to do in Bruges: frequently asked questions
What are the main things to do in Bruges?
The Markt and the Belfry, a canal boat tour, the Burg with the Basilica of the Holy Blood, the Groeningemuseum and the quiet courtyard of the Beguinage. Chocolate and beer round off a day.
How many days do I need in Bruges?
One day covers the squares, a boat tour and a sight or two. Two days let you add museums and a brewery, and the museum card covers 72 hours from the first visit.
What is free in Bruges?
Entry to the Basilica of the Holy Blood, to the church of Our Lady and to the Beguinage costs nothing, and so do walks across the Markt, the Burg and along the Minnewater. The Basilica museum and the Our Lady museum are paid areas.
Is the Musea Brugge Card worth it?
In 2026 it costs €49 for adults, €37 for ages 18 to 25 and €25 for ages 13 to 17. It allows one entry per museum location in 72 hours and includes BRUSK. Three museums at €15 each add up to €45, so the card starts to pay off with a fourth paid stop.
Which sights close on which days?
The Groeningemuseum and Sint-Janshospitaal close on Mondays, the Gruuthusemuseum on Wednesdays and the Sint-Janshuismolen on Mondays. See the table on this page.