chloedickensonLast Updated on 20th May 2025
This 1 day Bruges itinerary contains affiliate links.
Bruges is one of the prettiest cities in Belgium and probably in the whole of Europe! When we spent one day in Bruges and Ghent as part of our 2-month Europe interrailing trip, I couldn’t wait to sit down and write this guide about visiting Bruges in one day on a day trip from Antwerp, Ghent or Brussels!
This postcard-perfect, chocolate box city is one of my favourite places in Europe. It’s undeniably picturesque, with so many pretty things to see, wonderful feats of architecture to admire and an abundance of exquisite chocolate shops to indulge in.
If you’re looking for the perfect Bruges day trip itinerary, I’ve got just the post for you! In my ultimate guide below, I’ve put together a list of the best things to see and do in Brugge in one day, how to get there, where to stay, the best places to eat and more!
Is Bruges worth visiting?
Bruges is 100% worth visiting! Its pretty canals, stunning architecture, fascinating historic buildings and delicious cuisine make it one of the best cities in Europe to visit in a day!
Read more: Is The Interrail Pass Worth It? An Honest Interrail Review
Is 1 day in Bruges enough?
One day in Bruges is enough time to see and do most of the top tourist sights and attractions. It’s also a great place for a weekend break in Europe if you want to spend a bit longer soaking up all the sights.
Alternatively, if you don’t have very long to spend on an interrailing trip, for example, you can easily visit Bruges and the nearby city of Ghent in just one day!
Best things to do in Bruges in one day – map
As you can see from the map above, you can easily cover most of the best things to do in Bruges in just one day. Apart from Minnewater Lake and the Gunpowder Tower, everything is super close together and there’s only 40 minutes of walking in total to see everything on this Bruges itinerary.
1 day Bruges itinerary summary
- See the picturesque Lake of Love (Minnewater)
- Enjoy hot chocolate at The Old Chocolate House
- Have lunch at The Potato Bar
- Climb to the top of the Belfry of Bruges
- Wander through Market Square (Grote Markt)
- Visit the Choco-Story Chocolate Museum
- Explore Burg Square and Bruges City Hall
- Collect chocolate souvenirs at Chocolaterie de Burg
- See the fascinating Basilica of the Holy Blood
- Tuck into dinner at Surf and Turf
Bruges day trip itinerary
Below, you’ll find my ultimate list of the best places to visit in Bruges in one day. From the stunning Minnewater Lake to the towering Belfry of Bruges to the fascinating Basilica of the Holy Blood, this 1 day in Bruges itinerary has everything you need to plan the perfect trip!
It might seem like there are a lot of things to do in Bruges in this itinerary, but everything is in a relatively condensed part of the city so it can easily be seen in one day.
It’s an awesome city to visit on a day trip from nearby Brussels, Ghent or Antwerp, so if you only have one day in Bruges, check out my perfect itinerary!
Gunpowder Tower (Poertoren)
The Poertoren (Powder Tower) was originally built in 1401 and was first used as a means of storing explosives, then as an ice storage facility from 1785.
Today, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a protected monument that sits proudly next to the bridge over Minnewater Lake.
Lake of Love (Minnewater) – 1 day Bruges itinerary
Minnewaterpark, also known as the Lake of Love, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful sights in Bruges. There are plenty of green spaces where you can enjoy a leisurely stroll or a romantic picnic and the views of the city’s towers poking out in the background make for a wonderful photo opportunity.
Despite being just a few minutes walk from the city centre, Minnewater feels a million miles away from the hectic hubbub of the streets. If you arrive at Bruges train station, you’ll likely walk through Minnewaterpark on your way into the city, so it’s worth spending a short while strolling amongst its beauty.
Go on a canal boat tour
There are no shortages of canals and waterways in Bruges and there are plenty of boat tours to take advantage of during your day trip.
I’d recommend taking a river cruise with the aptly named Bruges Boat Tour which operates from Katelijnestraat 4, just next to Mariabrug (Mary’s Bridge).
Boat tours cost €12 for adults and €7 for children aged 4 to 11 and last for 30 minutes. Tours usually operate daily between 10 AM and 5 PM from mid-February to mid-November but opening times can vary depending on seasonality and availability.
Mary’s Bridge (Mariabrug)
Once you’ve concluded your romantic canal cruise, you’ll walk over Mary’s Bridge which boasts beautiful views of the canal and surrounding buildings. This area can get particularly crowded as it’s such a photogenic part of the city, but it’s worth battling the crowds to snap a picture!
Church of Our Lady – 1 day Bruges itinerary
The next stop on your Bruges day trip itinerary is the magnificent Church of Our Lady. The original church on the site of Our Lady dates all the way back to 1210, but of course, it’s been modified and reconstructed many times over the years. Its 115.5 metre-high tower makes it the second-tallest brick church in the world!
It’s arguably just as impressive on the inside as it is on the outside and it’s free to visit the main chapel area. There is also an additional museum and mausoleum section which is home to Michelangelo’s world-famous Madonna and Child sculpture. You can purchase tickets to visit this section for €8 at the Museumpavilion.
Sint-Salvatorskathedraal
A 2-minute walk will take you to another church; Sint-Salvatorskathedraal. It is the official Roman Catholic Church of the city and it’s also the oldest parish church in Bruges.
The garden area outside of the church is a wonderful place to relax in the summer months as the backdrop of the towering Sint-Salvatorskathedraal makes for a very peaceful and beautiful place to be.
The Old Chocolate House – 1 day Bruges itinerary
The Old Chocolate House is the self-proclaimed “place to be to drink hot chocolate” and judging from the queues to get inside, we knew it would be worth it!
They specialise in all kinds of luxury confectionary goodies, including fancy chocolates, truffles, gingerbread, cookies, cakes and more. It’s the perfect place to grab a hot chocolate and take some sweet treats home with you.
Lunch at The Potato Bar (or Casa Patata)
If you’re not too full after a decadent hot chocolate, head to one of the city’s most prestigious eateries to tuck into a portion of hearty Belgian frites. I’d recommend visiting The Potato Bar or Casa Patata, but be aware that there are often long queues for both of these establishments as they’re so wildly popular!
You can get a portion of traditional fries at The Potato Bar for as little as €3.50 (you’ll have to pay an additional €2-€3 for sauces) or you can opt for a substantial portion of loaded fries with toppings such as bacon, egg, fried chicken, beef stew and more!
St James’ Church (Sint-Jakobskerk)
Once your appetite is suitably sated, it’s time to walk it off with a gentle stroll to St James’ Church (Sint-Jakobskerk).
This church is a little further out of the main city centre, but it’s still less than a 10-minute walk from everything so it’s worth the extra walk. It’s free to go inside the church and it’s worth doing so because it’s a fairly sizeable establishment with plenty of beautiful things to see inside.
Market Square (Grote Markt)
Grote Markt is one of the most famous areas of Bruges Old Town as it’s positively teeming with charming restaurants, elegant bars and adorable cafes. The architecture in Grote Markt is also worth admiring and you’ll also enjoy an excellent view of the Belfry of Bruges from the square.
Of course, due to its immense beauty, Grote Markt is also one of the busiest areas of the Old Town, especially on weekends and during the winter months when it plays host to the annual Bruges Christmas Market.
Belfry of Bruges
A Belfry is simply the part of a bell tower that houses the bells and throughout our travels in Belgium, we came across many Belfries in various cities.
The Belfry of Bruges is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks and not only does it look marvellous from the ground, but you can also climb to the top of the medieval bell tower to enjoy stunning views of the Old Town and beyond.
There are 366 steps in total to get to the top of the tower, so it’s certainly not an activity for the faint-hearted but it’s totally worth the arduous climb once you see the breathtaking views from the 83-metre-tall vantage point.
Tickets cost €15 for adults and €13 for children aged 6-17. It’s a good idea to purchase tickets in advance if possible as it gets very busy, particularly in the peak summer and winter months.
Burg Square – 1 day Bruges itinerary
Once you’ve admired the city from the Belfry, walk 150 metres to the next famous square on this itinerary; Burg Square.
Similarly to Grote Markt, Burg Square is an area of the Old Town that is home to various cafes and restaurants as well as the City Hall and the world-famous Basilica of the Holy Blood.
Bruges City Hall
The facade of Bruges City Hall is one of the most beautiful feats of architecture in the city and it looks particularly spectacular in the sunshine. The city of Bruges has been governed within the City Hall for over 600 years, so not only is it a stunning building to look at, but it also holds significant importance in the ruling of the city.
Chocolaterie de Burg – 1 day Bruges itinerary
If you’re not already fed up with chocolate, head to the Chocolaterie de Burg shop which resides in Burg Square, just next to the Basilica of the Holy Blood.
We purchased four boxes of chocolate truffles for €20 from here and while they were incredibly rich and luxurious, they were positively delicious and made for excellent gifts for when we arrived back in the UK after our 2-month interrail trip!
The shop is super small with very little room to manoeuvre inside, but if you can just about manage to squeeze inside, I’d highly recommend doing so as there are so many wonderful treats to be discovered.
Basilica of the Holy Blood (Basiliek van het Heilig Bloed)
The Basilica of the Holy Blood is a Roman Catholic church located in Burg Square and it’s one of the most fascinating religious buildings I’ve ever visited.
It’s named as such as it houses a vial containing a cloth stained with the supposed blood of Christ. You can’t touch the vial or even take pictures of it and there are often long queues to see it as it’s such an intriguing artefact.
The vial is thought to have come about after Joseph of Arimathea preserved the Precious Blood after he had washed the dead body of Christ. Whether you believe it to be true or not, I still think it’s worth visiting the Basilica as it’s such a captivating place.
Blinde-Ezelstraat (Blind Donkey Street)
Blinde-Ezelstraat, translated to ‘Blind Donkey Street’, reminded me somewhat of the narrow alleyways and connecting bridges in Venice. Even though there isn’t really anything to see or do on the street, it connects Burg Square with Rosary Quay, so it’s a lovely place to take pictures as you make your way over the canal.
Rosary Quay (Rozenhoedkaai)
Rosary Quay is often cited as one of the most picturesque and photogenic spots in the city and after spending a little while there during our day trip to Bruges, I can totally see why it’s so popular.
The Quay is named as such as it used to be the place where rosaries were sold. Today, it’s one of the best meeting spots in the city if you’re looking to drink and dine by the canals.
Dinner at Surf & Turf – 1 day Bruges itinerary
To include your one day in Bruges itinerary, head for dinner at a local restaurant called Surf & Turf. Specialising in traditional Belgian fare such as beef stew and chicken vol-au-vents, Surf & Turf is an excellent restaurant to visit to conclude your time in Bruges.
The beef carbonades stew was a personal favourite of ours!
How to get to Bruges
Located in northwest Belgium, Bruges is incredibly easy to get to on a day trip from nearby cities such as Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent and even Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
We took the train from Antwerp which took approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, and you can also get to Bruges from Ghent in less than 30 minutes and from Brussels in just over an hour.
How to get around Bruges
Bruges is a very walkable city so you probably won’t even need to use public transport. We walked everywhere in the city on our day trip, including to and from the train station.
There are buses that you can use to get around the city if you’d prefer to use public transport; each journey costs €2.50.
Where to stay in Bruges
While we didn’t spend the night in Bruges as we visited the city on a day trip from Antwerp, I’ve done plenty of research on the best places to stay in the city and also enlisted help from my dad who’s visited Bruges several times.
Check out some of the best places to stay in Bruges:
- Budget: Hotel Notre Dame
- Mid-range: La Clé Brugge
- Luxury: Dukes’ Palace Brugge
The best day trips from Bruges
Bruges is an awesome city to base yourself in during your time in Belgium as it’s super easy to get to and from via train and car.
If you’re thinking of spending a few days in the city, check out some of the best places to visit on a day trip from Brugge!
- Brussels (1 hour 20 minutes via train, 1 hour 10 minutes via car)
- Ghent (50 minutes via train, 30 minutes via car)
- Antwerp (2 hours via train, 1 hour 20 minutes via car)
- Lille (1 hour 50 minutes via train, 50 minutes via car)
- Dunkirk (3 hours via train, one hour via car)
Read more: The Ultimate 2-Month Europe Interrail Itinerary & Route
Related posts:
- One Day In Ghent Itinerary – Is Ghent Worth Visiting?
- The Ultimate 2 Month Europe Interrail Itinerary & Route
- 10 Best Things To Do In Bern In One Day – Perfect Bern Day Trip
- The Ultimate One Day In Lake Como Itinerary – Golden Triangle
- One Day In Freiburg Itinerary – Is Freiburg Worth Visiting?
Pin for later – 1 day Bruges itinerary
Would you like to spend one day in Bruges? Is there anything else you would add to this Bruges itinerary? Let me know in the comments or in my Interrail Facebook Group!
