Markt, Bruges: Our most recommended tours and activities

Bruges: Guided Walking Tour and Canal Boat Trip

1. Bruges: Guided Walking Tour and Canal Boat Trip

Your guide will meet you at the meeting point, just a few minutes from the central train station and begin this 2-hour tour. Experience the many charms of the Venice of the North and see why the historic center of Bruges was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the city tour you'll see the Lake of Love, the Begijnhof (founded in 1245), Walplein Square, the Stoofstraat, Old St. John’s Hospital, the Church of Our Lady, Gruuthuse Palace, the Dijver Canal, Rozenhoedkaai, Tanners Square (Huidenvettersplein), the Burg Square with its Gothic Town Hall, the Basilica of the Holy Blood and the Market Square (Grote Markt) with the Belfort. At the end of the visit, your guide will answer all your questions and recommend places for lunch outside the tourist area. The guide will also give you advice about Belgium’s famous beer and about additional places to visit, including museums. End your visit with a boat ride through its canals.

Bruges: Boat Cruise and Guided Walking Tour

2. Bruges: Boat Cruise and Guided Walking Tour

Meet your guide on the Market square in the heart of the city. Explore the historic core with a local, qualified guide. Learn about local history, legends and sightseeings. Discover the narrowest street, the beautiful 12th-century basilica, and the golden statues on the impressive courthouse. Next, explore the old fish market surrounded by 126 columns. Then, embark on the second part of the tour. Board your boat at the quay for a cruise along the canals. Sail beside ivy-covered facades and under bridges as you learn about the beautiful sites from your captain. Admire quaint homes and iconic landmarks from the water. Walk the Rosary Quay and enter a chocolate shop. Taste artisanal chocolate. It's not only fresh, but also carefully crafted. This results in a variety of tasty fillings and shapes. Tune your senses! Continue discovering the highlights as the Gruuthuse palace, the romantic Bonifacius Bridge and the Church of Our Lady. Get surprised by a hidden garden of an almshouse. Just experience Bruges in all its fascinating aspects!

From Brussels: Bruges and Ghent in a Day Guided Tour

3. From Brussels: Bruges and Ghent in a Day Guided Tour

Meet your guide in the center of Brussels and relax on the 100-kilometer journey to Bruges. Upon arrival, discover the charms of “the Venice of the North” and see why the entire historic center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Marvel at highlights such as the Lake of Love (Minnewater Lake) and the 13th-century Begijnhof complex, founded in 1245 to house lay religious women. Go to Walplein Square, where the shady trees and cafes provide a perfect place to relax. Visit Stoofstraat on the site of the city's former Red Light District, and see medieval monuments such as the 11th-century Old St. John’s Hospital. Look at the world's second tallest brickwork tower at the Church of Our Lady, and see other historic monuments such as Gruuthuse Palace, the Dijver Canal and the tiny piazza of Tanners Square (Huidenvettersplein). Go to one of the city's most photographed spots at Rozenhoedkaai, and admire the Belfry on Castle Square. Admire the facades of the Gothic-style Town Hall and the 12th-century Basilica of the Holy Blood. Visit Market Square (Grote Markt) to see the Bell Tower (Belfort) and Sint-Salvator’s Cathedral. Then enjoy 1-hour's free time for lunch (at your own expense) and the chance to sample some of the city's delicious chocolates.  Next, drive to Ghent, where the inhabitants have been popularly known as "noose-bearers“ since the days of Charles V. Take a guided tour of the city's historic buildings, such as the Castle of Gerald the Devil and Saint Bavo Cathedral, where you can look at the painting “The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb” by the Van Eyck brothers. Admire the Belfort (Bell Tower) and peculiar Gothic and Renaissance-style Town Hall. See one of the city's oldest monuments at St. Nicholas’ Church opposite the unusual facade of the Masons’ Guild House. Journey along the embankments of the medieval port of Graslei, and discover other highlights such as the majestic Castle of the Counts of Flanders, the charming Patershol neighborhood, the Great Butchers’ Hall, the Old Fish Market, and Friday Market Square.

Bruges: Full-Day Guided Tour from Brussels in English

4. Bruges: Full-Day Guided Tour from Brussels in English

Depart the Belgian capital in the morning and transfer to the charming town of Bruges. Upon arrival, see why the entire historic center of Bruges is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Go to the Lake of Love to see a calm oasis in the heart of the city. Marvel at the 13th-century Begijnhof,  covered in a carpet of daffodils in the spring. Continue to the quiet, paved square of Walplein, and stroll down the narrow Stoofstraat. See sights such as the 800-year-old St. John’s Hospital, and the imposing façade of the Church of Our Lady. Learn the history of the opulent palace of Gruuthuse, and walk alongside the banks of the Dijver Canal. Other highlights include the charming canal-side houses of the Rozenhoedkaai, the tiny square of the Huidenvettersplein, and the site of the 1st count’s castle on Castle Square.  Then, enjoy 2 free hours for lunch and explore the city as you please. Taste some of the exclusive chocolates of Bruges and pop into some of the legendary lace shops. Transfer back to Brussels, with an approximate 6:00 PM arrival time.

Bruges: City Highlights Bike Tour

5. Bruges: City Highlights Bike Tour

Discover Bruges' medieval past on a guided bike tour of the city. Cycle to its most iconic landmarks and locations, seeing highlights such as the Burg and Market Square, the Beguinage, and windmills. Follow your local guide along paved cycle paths, down charming alleyways, and across large squares. Head off on your cycling adventure and cycle over this ancient harbor city's historic cobblestones as you admire its grandness and history from the saddle. Make your way to some of its most famous sights, including the Burg and Market Square, the Church of Our Lady, the Beguinage, and the windmills. Feel like a true local as you follow your guide to their favorite spots, away from the crowds and hustle and bustle of the city. Cycle through charming streets and alleys, learning about the history and daily life of this gem of a city. Stop to snap photos whenever you want in this idyllic city.

Bruges: ticket to expo Body Worlds at site Oud Sint-Jan

6. Bruges: ticket to expo Body Worlds at site Oud Sint-Jan

Marvel at over 200 plastinated specimens that illustrate the body in health and distress, while highlighting its potential, strength and vitality. This collection of human specimens is preserved through plastination, a ground-breaking specimen preservation process invented by scientist and anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens. Expo Body Worlds highlights include: • A varied collection of specimens, including whole-body plastinates, individual organs, organ configurations, translucent slices, blood vessel configurations and stages of development. • Educational displays will capture the imagination of students of all ages. • Whole-body plastinates positioned in life-like poses, such as playing sports and lovemaking, to show visitors how our anatomy works in everyday situations. • Multi-media displays help to explain common health topics and ailments. • An interactive “Anatomical Mirror” allows visitors to capture their internal reflection in an oversized projection so that they can explore their own body movements and how they are configured in relation to their internal organs. • The specimens are available thanks to the Institute for Plastination body donation programme. More than 20,000 donors have bequeathed their bodies to Dr. von Hagens’ Institute for Plastination in Heidelberg, Germany after their death. Body Worlds Vital is part of the collection of Body Worlds exhibitions, the most popular touring exhibitions in the world. Worldwide, the pioneering anatomical exhibitions have fascinated more than 53 million visitors in 150 cities. They are recognized for offering an amazing opportunity to understand anatomy and health, and gaining a new appreciation for what it means to be human. Accessibility Site Oud Sint-Jan (Old St-John's site) is situated on foot via Mariastraat 38 in the heart of Bruges, or by car via Zonnekemeers, Bruges (parking). The entrance to expo Body Worlds is at the front of site Oud Sint-Jan. Only 8 minutes on foot from the market square (Markt) or from the train and bus station.

Bruges Full-Day Guided Tour from Brussels

7. Bruges Full-Day Guided Tour from Brussels

Discover the “Venice of the North” on a full-day guided tour of Bruges from Brussels. Depart the Belgian capital and transfer to the charming town of Bruges, located 100 kilometers northwest (and just 15 kilometers from the North Sea). Upon arrival, see why the entire historic center of Bruges is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Go to the Lake of Love (Minnewaterpark) to see a tranquil oasis in the heart of the city. Marvel at the 13th-century Begijnhof, which is covered in a carpet of daffodils in the spring. Continue to the quiet, paved square of Walplein, and stroll down the narrow Stoofstraat. See sights such as the 800-year-old St. John’s Hospital, and the imposing façade of the Church of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk). Learn the history of the opulent palace of Gruuthuse, and walk alongside the banks of the Dijver Canal. Other highlights include the charming canal-side houses of the Rozenhoedkaai, the tiny square of the Huidenvettersplein (Tanners Square), and the site of the 1st count’s castle on Castle Square. Striking buildings on the square and nearby include the Basilica of the Holy Blood, City Hall, the neighboring Market Square (Grote Markt), a handsome Belfry (Belfort) tower. Then, enjoy free time for lunch and to explore the city as you please. Taste some of the exclusive chocolates of Bruges and pop into some of the legendary lace shops. Transfer back to Brussels, with an approximate 18:00 arrival time.

Bruges: Private Historical Highlights Walking Tour

8. Bruges: Private Historical Highlights Walking Tour

Travel back in time to the golden days of medieval Bruges on this private walking tour through the historical heart of the city. Your guide will share stories of love, glory, and fortune, as well as tales of intrigue, war, and conflict. After meeting your guide on the main square of Bruges, walk through the medieval heart of the city that includes all the must-visit spots. The highlights include the Market Square, the Church of Our Lady, St. John's Hospital, the Gruuthuse Palace, the Minnewater (Lake of Love), the Beguinage, Half Moon Brewery, Fish Market, Burg Square, and many more. Make a stop at the Rosary Quay (Rozenhoedkaai), the most photographed spot in town, where you can take your own snapshots of this memorable spot. As you explore highlights and hidden gems, you’ll get the perfect mix of history, funny stories, legends, and facts — everything you need to make your experience of Bruges authentic and exciting. By the end of the tour, you'll know more than a local and you'll have a better idea of where to go and what to do during your time in Bruges. As an added perk, you'll receive a booklet with discounts and gifts at local restaurants, museums, and shops.

Bruges: 1.5-Hour Dark Side of Bruges Private Evening Tour

9. Bruges: 1.5-Hour Dark Side of Bruges Private Evening Tour

Explore the lesser-known side of Bruges with your professional private guide to hear the story about the rise and fall of our city. During the 1.5-hour walking tour you'll learn about the city's history, find out interesting facts about medieval Bruges and discover dark stories and old legends. We'll finish the tour at a bar with a complementary beer.  Enjoy a perfect mix of history and dark stories, myths, old legends, interesting facts, and hidden gems — everything to make your time in Bruges memorable and exciting. As it is a private tour, it can be customized based on your preferences and indications. The tour ends at the Bauhaus bar, a famous local pub where you will receive a Belgian beer. Stops included on the tour: + the Market Square, + Jan Van Eyck Square, + the Ghost house, + the Golden Hand Canal, + Sint-Anna Quarter, + the Jerusalem Church, + St. John's Mill, and many more!

From Brussels: Day Trip to Bruges by Train

10. From Brussels: Day Trip to Bruges by Train

Travel to the medieval city of Bruges by train and take a 2.5-hour walking tour with an English-speaking guide on arrival. Marvel at the Minnewater that provides water to the canals and see the historical women-only convent of the Beguinage. Visit the city's only working brewery at De Halve Maan and get the chance to look inside the Hans Memling museum at the 12th-century Hospital of St. John. See one of the tallest brickwork towers in the world at the Church of Our Lady, where Michelangelo’s statue of the Madonna with Child can be found in the transept. Get a feel for everyday life at the historic Vis Markt (Fish Market) and look at the beautiful guildhalls on Tanners’ Square. Visit the Groeningemuseum and find one of Belgium's most famous Gothic buildings on the Markt (Market Square). Get 3 hours of free time to explore on your own. Take an optional canal cruise to appreciate the city from a different perspective before the train journey back to Brussels.

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What people are saying about Markt, Bruges

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 526 reviews

Mark was great!! He transported us (literally) back in time on an enthusiastic journey to find his true love, Dori. Mark perfectly intertwined the history of the city of both Brugge and Gent with impressive knowledge and light hearted humour. We would definitely recommend this tour. There was a great balance between guided and free time. Considering we fit in two beautiful city’s in one day we definitely left feeling like we got the best of both. The transportation was easy (one bus the whole time), we could leave our belongings on the bus and the meeting spots were very clear. We even left with some recommendations for great restaurants and places to visit. Thank you Mark for your time and expertise!

This is an excellent tour if you have only a day and want to see two beautiful cities. Our guide Marc was wonderful very knowledgeable and made the tour fun! Wish we had a bit more time to explore Bruges on our own as it is simply a breathtaking city to visit. Maybe the guided tour can get about 15-30 minutes before it did so we get a bit more time to ourselves to explore. I travelled with a teenager and a 8 year old and the walking part was not hard at all and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommend this tour if you want to visit and see two cities in one day and let someone else figure out all the logistics!

Excelente experiencia educativa, visual y divertida en un tour completo y con suficiente tiempo para sacar el mayor provecho. Resalto la vasta educación y conocimientos de los guías y la comodidad del bus.

Anna was a terrific guide. My whole family loved the tour, especially my 6 year old. She loved the Unicorn Candy!

Fantastic! Must do! Our guide Mark B was so knowledgeable and fun, he made the experience amazing!