Things to do in Bruges

Things to do in Bruges

Top 10 Things to do in Bruges

  1. 1
    Portrait from local undefined - Showing you the real Bruges, and beyond
    Portrait from local undefined - Natural Born Storyteller : Chocolate & Waffle & Beer Expert in Bruges
    Choose your favorite local

    Highlights & Hidden Gems of Bruges

    208 reviews
    3 hours | city highlight tours | Bruges

    Want to see the best of Bruges? We got you covered. But as you can expect from a Withlocals experience, the real excitement is its hidden gems. Join your favorite local and get a feeling of the city's real vibe on a tour that has it all, so you can say: I experienced the real Bruges!

    €40.55per person
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  2. 2
    Portrait from local undefined - Showing you the real Bruges, and beyond
    Portrait from local undefined - Natural Born Storyteller : Chocolate & Waffle & Beer Expert in Bruges
    Choose your favorite local

    For the Love of Belgian Beer! - Private Tour

    277 reviews
    2 hours | food tours | Bruges

    Amai! What better way to experience Bruges’ culture and history than through its fascinating and varied craft beer? Visit the best breweries in town together with a local. Taste 3 different beers paired with 1 delicious Belgian snack and make your visit to Bruges a unique one!

    €55.65per person
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  3. 3
    Portrait from local undefined - Showing you the real Bruges, and beyond
    Portrait from local undefined - Natural Born Storyteller : Chocolate & Waffle & Beer Expert in Bruges
    Choose your favorite local

    Withlocals Your Way! - Bruges City Tour

    407 reviews
    3 hours | city highlight tours | Bruges

    Did you know that the Bruges tour of your dreams exists? Yes, and it’s 100% personalized and created by your local host around your interests. Customize and see only the places that spark your interest. From classic landmarks to neighborhood walks - your wishes are our command!

    €43.54per person
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  4. 4
    Portrait from local undefined - Showing you the real Bruges, and beyond
    Portrait from local undefined - Natural Born Storyteller : Chocolate & Waffle & Beer Expert in Bruges
    Choose your favorite local

    The 10 Tastings of Bruges

    282 reviews
    3 hours | food tours | Bruges

    Ready to taste the best food in Bruges? Satisfy your cravings for local food and culture with highlights along the way, together with a foodie host. Enjoy 10 delicious and typical tastings that range from sweet to savory as well as drinks on a tasty food tour in Bruges.

    €83.48per person
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  5. 5

    Private Bike Tour in Medieval Bruges with a Cultural Science Teacher

    114 reviews
    2.5 hours | city highlight tours | Bruges

    The city of Bruges is known for its fairytale-like ambiance and medieval atmosphere. Join me on a unique bike tour where you can hear fascinating stories about the historical part of the city while admiring its beautiful quaint views. This private tour will make you fall in love with Bruges!

    €32per person
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  6. 6

    History & Magic in Medieval Bruges Private Tour

    73 reviews
    2.5 hours | city highlight tours | Bruges

    Uncover the captivating history of Bruges, the "Venice of the North," as you explore its iconic landmarks and discover hidden tales. Delight in personalized recommendations for the best beer and chocolate establishments, complementing your journey through this enchanting city.

    €38per person
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  7. 7
    Portrait from local undefined - Showing you the real Bruges, and beyond
    Portrait from local undefined - Historical researcher
    Choose your favorite local

    City Kickstart Tour: Bruges

    155 reviews
    1.5 hours | city highlight tours | Bruges

    Welcome to Bruges! Want to know the best places to eat? Cool events in town? Which places to go to and which to avoid? Or simply get some help to navigate the city? Book this private tour with a local and get the perfect introduction to Bruges to start your city trip on the right foot.

    €18.55per person
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  8. 8

    The Essence of Bruges Tour with a Local

    132 reviews
    2 hours | city highlight tours | Bruges

    What better way to explore and discover Bruges than with a local by your side. Join me on a private tour where I can show you the main highlights of the city. From Bruges City Hall to the Basilica of the Holy Blood, and more. And for a local treat, a tasty chocolate tasting!

    €36.76per person
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  9. 9

    Scenic Bike Tour Through Bruges Countryside

    49 reviews
    3.5 hours | city highlight tours | Bruges

    Hop on your bike and enjoy one of the most beautiful scenic routes through Bruges' countryside to the quaint town of Damme. Follow me through a medieval road, and see traditional windmills and bike along the canal. Explore Damme and discover more of the authentic local life on this picturesque tour!

    €89per person
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  10. 10
    Portrait from local undefined - Showing you the real Bruges, and beyond
    Portrait from local undefined - the born storyteller
    Choose your favorite local

    Full Coverage Bruges City Tour

    173 reviews
    5 hours | city highlight tours | Bruges

    Ready for a jam-packed tour, full of history, culture, stories, and sights? Checkmark from your travel bucket list all your must-sees of Bruges, because if there’s a Withlocals tour that shows you all the city's ins and outs, it’s this complete and personalized tour of Bruges.

    €76.29per person
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Experiences for every interest

  • Bruges for

    Home Dinners • Local Delicacies • Food Markets...

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  • Bruges for

    Treasure Hunts • Arts & Crafts • Cooking...

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  • Bruges for

    Cultural Heritage • Castles • Myths & Legends...

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  • Bruges for

    Highlights & Must-sees • Tastings • Local...

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  • Bruges for

    Boat Rides • Wildlife & Nature • Day Trips...

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All Things to do in Bruges

Explore Bruges with a local of your choice

Learn about their personal stories, and find out how you can explore Bruges together

  • Hello I am
    Hilde
    The ambassador of Bruges
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  • Hello I am
    Merel
    The storyteller
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  • Hello I am
    Philippe
    your personal cultural adviser
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  • Hello I am
    Tom
    the born storyteller
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  • Hello I am
    Ann
    The classy guide
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  • Hello I am
    Nathan
    The True Bruges Man
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  • Hello I am
    Artur
    Natural Born Storyteller : Chocolate & Waffle & Beer Expert in Bruges
    See more
  • Hello I am
    Arn
    Born and raised Ghentian
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  • Hello I am
    Xavier
    The Countryside Lover
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  • Hello I am
    Hugo
    The Global Nomad is Back in Town
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What other travelers love about our local experts

Cynthia
About local
5 January 2025
Great tour!!

The tour was so much fun. Lavigna was informative and made the history of Belgium interesting. She was enjoyable and we had a good time.

Highlights & Hidden Gems of Bruges
Brad
About local
4 January 2025
A wonderful experience

Thank you Artur for such a wonder time. Your knowledge, experience, and professionalism were amazing. We enjoyed every tasting and look forward to our next visit to Bruges!

The 10 Tastings of Bruges
Evan
About local
Great Tour

We had a great tour of Bruges with Nathan. He was pleasant and informative. Highly recommend!

The Essence of Bruges Tour with a Local
Jeri
About local
Nathan's magic of Bruges

Very knowledgeable about major history of Bruges and lots of trivia. Patient with all of our questions. Can tell he loves his city.

The Essence of Bruges Tour with a Local

Things to do in Bruges

Bruges attracts thousands of tourists each year. No wonder: the entire town has conquered a spot on the UNESCO List of World Heritage. The city simply breathes history! Have a look at our list of top things to do in Bruges.

  • Dine at a local’s home

    Food is a big deal in Bruges! Belgians in general really love to cook and eat. The best and most authentic way to enjoy Belgian food is by dining at a local’s home. People from Bruges just love having people over and preparing a delicious meal for them!

    Over a Belgian beer or a good glass of wine, you and your local host can chatter away about the history of Bruges or any other topic that might come up. After the main dish, your host might serve you one of the famous sweets from Bruges, like the ‘Brugse acht’, a glazed cookie, ‘Brugs beschuit’, toasted, sweetened bread or ‘Brugse sigaretjes’, hollow or cigar-shaped cookies.

  • Take a siesta in one of the many parks

    By far one of the top things to do in Bruges during your holiday is to take some time to relax. The best places to enjoy Bruges are its many parks! Chill out at the patch of green looking out over the Minnewater, for example, a lake in the center of Bruges.

    Or stretch your legs in the Koningin Astridpark; this park covers almost 2 ha and is also situated in the center of the town. If you prefer to take a siesta in a lesser well-known park, we suggest you go the Hof de Jonghe, along the Langerei. Sometimes there are sheep which will keep you company! For other hidden gems of greenery, ask your local host.

  • Feel the romantic vibes

    Bruges is a very romantic city due to its peace and quiet, fantastic historic buildings, cobbled streets and beautiful canals on which you can take boat tours. It’s with good reason that people call it ‘The Venice of the North’. Perhaps it’s even a better version of Venice, ‘cause it’s not overrun with tourists yet!

    Like Venice, there are also dozens of old, beautiful bridges in Bruges. The Meerstraat Bridge, for instance, probably the most photographed bridge in Belgium. The Minnewater Bridge is also a gorgeous piece of historic architecture. Follow your local host to discover Bruges’ most picturesque spots!

  • Explore Bruges by bike

    A perfect way to discover Bruges is by bike! After having seen the sights within the town’s ramparts, it’s definitely worth to cycle in the surroundings of Bruges as well. A famous cycling route runs from Bruges to Damme, which is only 5 km away.

    Just follow the Damse Vaart, a scenic river, and you’ll get there! If you’re feeling really sporty, you might want to follow the coastal route to Oostende (23 km) or Knokke (20 km), two major beach resorts. Cycling in the surroundings of Bruges should definitely be on the top of your things to do list! You don’t even need an excellent physique as the region is as flat as a pancake!

  • Jog around the city

    You do need a good physique to do this item on our top things to do list. You have to jog 7 km to go around the city. Quite the distance for an inexperienced jogger!

    But who says you have to jog it in one go? The great thing about a jog in Bruges: there’s so much to look at! You’ll want to stop every once in awhile, not just to catch a breath, but also to look at the gorgeous medieval scenery. This is a really fun way to explore Bruges. Let a sporty host guide you along the ‘Vesten’ (ramparts): he’ll make sure you won’t miss a thing!

  • Discover the best historic sites

    We’ll let you in on a little secret. Bruges has quite some tourist traps! Many of its restaurants are seriously overpriced, and some of its historical sites as well. This is why we really recommend relying on a local guide when visiting Bruges: you will get to know the authentic side of Bruges without getting ripped off!

    One of the historic sites that is a true top thing to do is the Grote Markt which features the Belfry. This medieval bell tower might be quite expensive but is truly worth it. It’s the one from the movie In Bruges, by the way! Other important sights are the Wollestraat, the Basilica of the Holy Blood and the Beguinage. Let your local host tell you about the rich history behind them!

  • Visit the concert hall in Bruges

    Did you know Bruges also has modern buildings? Yes, really! Not that many, though. And just one of them is really worth a visit: the concert hall. Bruges constructed this red-bricked enormity in 2002, when the city was elected as the Cultural Capital of Europe. If you go up to the highest floor, you’ll enjoy a gorgeous panorama over Bruges.

    This sight alone should convince you to visit the concert hall, but there’s more. The building also holds a sound factory where you can experiment with sounds of old clocks. Curious? Go check it out with your local host! This is among the top things to do in Bruges.

  • Have a stroll along the Gouden-Handrei

    The Gouden-Handrei should definitely be on your things to do in Bruges list if you want to avoid big crowds of tourists – and who doesn’t, right? The Gouden-Handrei is one of the most beautiful hidden gems of Bruges. This small street along a narrow canal is a true feast for the eye. It’s just a short walk, but certainly worth it!

    If you take a tour with a local host, you will discover similar cute little places that haven’t been overrun by mass tourism yet. Wander around the lesser-known Bruges with one of our fantastic guides.

  • Go on a pub crawl

    By now, you might be wondering what’s taking us so long to mention beer. But here it goes: BEER! People from Bruges really love this bitter liquid. One of their favorite pastimes is to enjoy some beers in a local bar. Therefore, Bruges is filled with cozy beer cellars where you can choose from dozens of different beers.

    In the day time, go to the Beer Museum, and at night, go on a pub crawl! Don’t forget to taste the local beers from Bruges like the ‘Straffe Hendrik’ and the ‘Brugse zot’. Some of the best beer cellars and clubs are based on the Kuipersstraat, by the way. Ask your local guide for more information.

  • Immerse yourself in Bruges’ art scene

    If you’re into art, this should definitely be on your things to do in Bruges list. The city has a thriving art scene. And this scene goes way back in time. You’ve probably heard of the ‘Flemish Masters’, like Jan van Eyck, Hans Memling and Rogier van der Weyden. The famous Groeninge Museum features many of their paintings.

    Perhaps you’re more into contemporary art. In that case, the Bruges Art Route might be your thing, an art- and walking route which features contemporary works of art. Or perhaps you might enjoy an upcycling workshop! Upcycling is a contemporary art form that is gaining a lot of popularity in Belgium.

Dreamy things to do in Bruges

Feel like a local in Bruges! From indulging in creamy chocolates to exploring historical city walks, your local host will help you discover the most magical things to do in Bruges. With so many picturesque streets and interesting activities to discover, you’ll be wishing you had more time in Bruges. Architects will be fascinated by Sint-Annakerk Church, and will love hearing stories of the historical hospital, how Bruges began and what life was like in the 14th Centaury. Foodies will be running for craft beers, fresh-caught seafood, Danish pastries and homemade chocolates. Your local host will show you all the best things to do in Bruges. Simply let them know where your hobbies and interests lie, and they will know where to go to find the top things to see in Bruges! Exploring such a dreamy city with a genuine local who knows where to go to find all the best picture spots is the perfect way to get to know Bruges. Whether you take a bike ride through the countryside, head for the craft beer or take a night tour to listen to ghost stories, your local host will help you choose the activities that are just right for you. With your friendly local host by your side, you’ll discover the local favorite places to go to find the top things to do in Bruges on your private tour! If you’re planning your activities for Bruges, a WithLocals private tour that is 100% customizable is the perfect way to get to know the real Bruges at your own pace. Tell your host which things you would most like to see, and they will help you decide the right things to do in Bruges. Whatever your preferences, they will arrange it all locally for you!

Related Bruges pages

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