In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Start at the Belfry on the Markt with a pre-booked time slot, take a canal boat from a jetty by the Burg, be at the Basilica of the Holy Blood by 14:00 for the relic, spend the afternoon on Dijver and Mariastraat (Church of Our Lady and Sint-Janshospitaal), and finish with De Halve Maan and the Begijnhof before it closes. The entries for the Belfry, a boat, the Church of Our Lady museum and De Halve Maan come to €56 or €57. Brugge station is on the same side of town as the Begijnhof, so the route ends where you leave. Or book a tour: the boat, chocolate and walking tourad (from €39, 4.8 stars from 5,125 reviews) covers the centre in 2.5 hours with a guide, so you skip the route-finding and the boat queue.
⚠️ Check the weekday. On Mondays the Groeningemuseum, Sint-Janshospitaal and BRUSK are closed. On Wednesdays the Gruuthusemuseum is closed. In winter the Belfry opens at 10:00 on weekdays.
The route
| Time | Stop | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 or 10:00 | Belfry | 366 steps; book the time slot; opens 10:00 on winter weekdays and 09:00 at weekends and in summer |
| 11:00 | Canal boat | €15, 30 minutes, tickets on the quay; jetties include Huidenvettersplein 13 and Rozenhoedkaai |
| 12:00 | Lunch | See where to eat; several kitchens close Sunday and Monday |
| 14:00 | Basilica of the Holy Blood | Free; relic shown 14:00 to 16:00 |
| 15:00 | Church of Our Lady or Sint-Janshospitaal | Both are on Mariastraat; both close at 17:00 |
| 16:30 | De Halve Maan | €16 tour with one beer, about 45 minutes; book a slot |
| 17:30 | Begijnhof and Minnewater | Free; closes 18:30 in winter and 20:30 in summer |
| Evening | Beer bars or dinner | Book small restaurants |
From November to February only one boat jetty is guaranteed to be open each day, so ask at the quay before you walk across town for a boat (Visit Bruges).
What the day costs
| Entry | Adult price |
|---|---|
| Belfry | €15 on winter weekdays, €16 at weekends and in summer |
| Canal boat | €15 |
| Church of Our Lady museum | €10 |
| De Halve Maan tour with one beer | €16 |
| Sint-Janshospitaal, instead of or as well as Our Lady | €15 |
| Basilica of the Holy Blood museum, optional | €5 |
The first four come to €56 on a winter weekday and €57 otherwise. The Musea Brugge Card is €49 and covers the museum entries, including the Belfry, once each, but not the boat or the brewery, so it pays off only if you add several museums.
Tours that fit this itinerary
A guide costs more than the route above but takes the planning out of it. These cover the same centre.
Boat, chocolate and walking tour
From €39 · 4.8 stars from 5,125 reviews · 2.5 hours · small group
Bruges: Boat, Chocolate and Guided Walking Tourad is led by a local certified guide in a small group, on foot and by boat, with a chocolate tasting; its listing names the canals near the Beguinage, the Basilica of the Holy Blood and the Gruuthusemuseum.
Small-group tour with a boat option and a praline
From €28 · 4.8 stars from 529 reviews · 2 hours
Small-Group Tour of Bruges with a Local Guide, Boat Option & Pralinead is a guided walk of the history and stories of the city. The €28 “from” price is the cheapest option in the product.
Guided tour with a chocolate stop, boat and beer options
From €25 · 4.4 stars from 4,941 reviews · 1.5 to 3 hours
Bruges: Guided Tour, Chocolate Stop, Boat & Beer Optionsad is a guided walk through the old streets, with a canal boat ride or a Belgian beer tasting as add-ons. The €25 “from” price is the cheapest option in the product.
Morning: the Belfry and the boat
Reach the Markt for the opening time. The Belfry’s 366 steps have no lift, and it is open 10:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday from 3 November to 31 March, 09:00 to 20:00 on Saturdays, and 09:00 to 18:00 on Sundays; last entry is an hour before closing. The carillon plays on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 to 12:00, so be on the Markt then to hear it. A boat ride takes 30 minutes, and the five operators’ jetties are on the Rozenhoedkaai, Huidenvettersplein, Wollestraat, Nieuwstraat and Katelijnestraat.
Canal boats at a jetty on the Dijver, with a queue on the quay. Photo: Marc Ryckaert, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Afternoon: the Burg, Mariastraat and the brewery
The Burg is a short walk from the boat jetties. The Basilica of the Holy Blood is free to enter, with the relic shown from 14:00 to 16:00, and the town hall next door is the Stadhuis, open every day 09:30 to 17:00 for €8. Mariastraat has the Church of Our Lady (museum €10, church free) and Sint-Janshospitaal (€15, closed Mondays), both shut at 17:00, so pick one if you want the brewery tour at 16:30.
The Gothic Stadhuis on the Burg. Photo: Fred Romero, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
Evening: beer and dinner
If you stay for the evening, ‘t Brugs Beertje is open from 16:00 (closed Wednesdays) and De Garre until 23:00 from Wednesday to Sunday (De Garre, beer bars guide). For dinner, book Den Amand by phone or look at the set menus in where to eat: Cafedraal’s lunch is €36 and Bistro Refter’s €35, but both are shut on Sunday and Monday. In winter the light goes early: sunset is at 16:41 on 21 December and 16:53 on 20 November, so do the outdoor stops first.
If you only do three things
- The Belfry.
- A canal boat.
- The Begijnhof at the end of the day.
What to cut or swap
- Add art. The Groeningemuseum takes the afternoon slot, but it closes on 11 January 2027 for four years.
- Add chocolate. Chocolate shops include Choco-Story.
- Skip the museums. The route is mostly free; see free things to do.
- Longer stay. 2 or 3 days in Bruges adds the Musea Brugge Card and a day trip.
- Rain. Swap the boat and the Begijnhof for a second museum: the Gruuthusemuseum is open daily except Wednesdays, and the Stadhuis every day.
Stepped-gable houses on the Rozenhoedkaai. Photo: Marc Ryckaert, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.
Arriving and leaving
From Brussels-South it takes 56 to 59 minutes by train to Brugge station, with the first train leaving at 07:03, and the Markt is a 20-minute walk; see getting to Bruges. On the timetable to 12 December 2026 the last direct train to Brussels-South leaves Brugge at 23:19, and the one before it at 21:59. The Begijnhof and Minnewater are on the station side of the old town, and a bus runs about every 5 minutes for €3. Lockers at the station and at Historium on the Markt hold bags; see getting around Bruges.
Common questions
Is one day enough for Bruges?
It is enough for the Belfry, a canal boat, two or three sights and the Begijnhof. The Markt is a 20-minute walk from Brugge station, and trains from Brussels-South take 56 to 59 minutes, so a day trip works.
What should I book for a day in Bruges?
The Belfry time slot online, and the De Halve Maan tour if you want it. Canal boats are bought on the quay.
Which day is best for a one-day visit?
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday or a weekend. On Monday the Groeningemuseum and Sint-Janshospitaal are closed, and on Wednesday the Gruuthusemuseum is closed.
What time must I be at the Basilica of the Holy Blood?
Between 14:00 and 16:00 to see the relic. It is also shown on Fridays from 10:15 to 11:00.
How much does a day in Bruges cost in entries?
The Belfry (€15 on winter weekdays, €16 at weekends and in summer), a canal boat (€15), the Church of Our Lady museum (€10) and the De Halve Maan tour (€16) come to €56 or €57 for an adult. The Begijnhof, the Basilica and the squares are free.
How do I get back to the station, and what is the last train?
The Begijnhof and Minnewater are on the station side of the old town, and a bus runs about every 5 minutes for €3. On the timetable to 12 December 2026 the last direct train to Brussels-South leaves Brugge at 23:19, and the one before it at 21:59.
