How to Spend 2 Days in Bruges—Europe’s Dreamiest City (With Waffles, Of Course)

I absolutely loved my time in Bruges. It’s often referred to as the most romantic city in Europe, and I totally agree, despite visiting on a solo trip 🤣I visited for the Christmas Markets, but fell in love with the city as a whole.

Bruges is small and could be visited as a day trip from Brussels or Ghent, but I recommend spending 2 days there if you have time. It gives you more time to explore at a leisurely place (Bruges is the perfect place for long, slow walks – every street & corner of Bruges is so picturesque)

Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!

Bruges Day 1 Itinerary

Morning: Take a Canal Tour

Exploring Bruges by canal, while touristy, really is a must when you’re visiting. Bruges canals rival places like Amsterdam and Venice and its a great way to see the city. Your guide will point out the highlights so you can walk to them for a longer visit later. It’s the perfect first activity to d on your trip, because you’ll get a full tour of the city and get the lay of the land!

The boat tour is only 30 minutes, but most companies offer a 2 hour walking tour after if you’d like to join that. (I opted to skip the walking tour)  Book tickets here. It usually is 36 Euro per person.

Late Morning: Brewery Bourgogne des Flandres

Arguably the most popular brewery in Bruges, Brewery Bourgogne des Flandres is a must-see. It’s right next to where the canal tour ends, so swing by after the tour and try an infamous Belgium beer. There’s a stunning patio right on the canal if it’s nice enough to sit outside!

Lunch: L’Estaminet or Duc De Bourgogne

Stop for lunch at one of two places I loved.

L’Estaminet – This cozy pub offers Italian comfort food & Belgian classics – favorites are the Fish Soup & croquettes, but also the lasagna and spaghetti. This place was laid back & I enjoyed warming up in there with a lasagna! https://www.lestaminet.be/

Duc De Bourogne – For strictly great views, this is probably the best spot in Bruges. I think when visiting a place like this you need to have realistic expectations – it’s going to be busy & crowded, everyone wants a good view, and the food is going to cost a bit more for the view, as long as you know what you’re signing up for, the views are worth it! They offer a fixed price and a la carte menu. https://ducdebourgogne.be/en/restaurant/

Early Afternoon: Explore Grote Mark (Market Square) and De Burg (Bruges City Hall)

Market Square and De Burg are the two main squares of Bruges Old Town. They’re both exceptionally picturesque and worth taking some time to explore.

From Market Square head down some of the most picturesque streets in Bruges, Steenstraat & Geldmuntstraat 

Afternoon: Grab a Drink with a View at Duvelorium Bar at the Historium

For the best views of Market Square head to the rooftop bar at the Historium – you can visit the bar without buying a ticket to the Historium, and its outdoor patios offers the best panoramic views over the entire square!

Bonus Stop: Head to Jan van Eyckplein for Some Great Photos

One of the most stunning photo spots in Bruges, Jan van Eyckplein, it’s only a five minute walk from the Historium!

Late Afternoon: Indulge with the Best Waffles in Bruges

When in Belgium… there are waffles everywhere, but some are better and fresher than others. My top recommendation is Waffle Bar Brugge (the street this is on Braambergstraat, was my favorite in Bruges!) or Otto Waffle Atelier Katelijnestraat. Take some time to head back to your hotel and rest after this if you want some time before heading back out for the evening!

Evening: Sunset at Rosary Quay

The views of the canals from Rosary Quay are some of the best in Bruges (especially at sunset) so I highly recommend heading back here around sunset.

Dinner: Cambrinus

I highly recommend dinner at one of Bruges best restaurants, Cambrinus (SO many locals recommended this spot to me) I loved this place, the food was so good. Definitely make a reservation in advance! https://bierbrasseriecambrinus.eu/menu/?lang=en

Night: Try Some of Bruges Best Bars

I was kind of surprised how fun the night life was in Bruges. There were a ton of great bars – from local pubs, to trendy cocktail bars & more. Two great ones to try that are not too far from Cambrinus are Bar de Amis or Groot Vlaenderen. Bar de Amis is a casual, cozy spot that’s great for a few beers and hanging with locals. Groot Valenderen is a bit more upscale and is serving some of the best and most inventive cocktails in Bruges!

Bruges Day 2 Itinerary

Morning: Boniface Brige

Try to hit this spot as early as possible if you want to avoid the crowds! This picturesque stone footbridge is one of the most popular spots in Bruges and it can get pretty crowded. I got there right around 9AM and there was no one there! You don’t need long here, although you could stay and admire the dreamy scenery for a while if you wanted!

Late Morning: Minnewater Park & Lovers Lake

Next up head to Minnewater Park, Lovers Lake and the affectionaltely named Lovers Bridge one of the most endearing areas of Bruges. Spend your morning wandering this area. Unfortunately I was there in the winter, so it’s not quite as picturesque as it is during the spring, summer or fall, but still pretty! In the winter they have an ice rink and outdoor bar here!

Lunch: Walpein Square & ‘t Nieuw Walnutje

Explore the picturesque Walpein, one of the main squares of Bruges and grab lunch on the patio at ‘t Nieuw Walnutje for the best views and people watching. https://www.tnieuwwalnutje.be

Bonus Spot: Visit Bruges Most Stunning Alleyway

Every turn you take in Bruges really does provide jawdropping views. This tiny alley right next to Walpein was one of my favorites that I stumbled upon. It’s just a short walk (2 min) from the square and worth a peek in my opinion! Check out “Photo Spot 2” on the map below!

Afternoon: Brewery Tour at Huisbrouwerij De Halve Maan

For an in depth brewery tour with lots of information on Belgian beer culture and brewing, head to Huisbrouwerij De Halve Maan. You’ll take a tour of their unique, authentic brewery (complete with a rooftop with panoramic views of Bruges) and complete the tour with a complementary beer on their lovely terrace.

this tour has lots of stairs and narrow staircases, so keep that in mind if you plan to visit!

If brewery tours aren’t your thing you could easily spend a few hours walking through the Old Town again, there’s tons of cute cafes, fry shops, waffle shops, gift shops and more. Or head to the Historium to learn more about Bruges!

Late Afternoon: Try Some of Bruges Best Chocolate

You can’t leave Bruges without trying some chocolate (and if you’re like me, bringing some home to your eager friends and family!) Dumon Chocolatier is by far the place that was recommended to me the most for chocolate and based on my fams reactions it lived up to the hype.

My 9 year old nephew ranks the chocolate from everywhere I travel and had Bruged at a 9/10, second only to Switzerland in his opinion so far!

Evening: Rooftop Drinks & Dinner

Head to ODA Rooftop Bar for cocktails with views. Time this with sunset if you can for the best experience!

For a traditional dinner two amazing spots I enjoyed (that were also right next to each other) are:

• Bistro Brugis – For all of the best traditional Belgian foods – croquettes, rabbit, stews, etc. Head to Bistro Brugis, I love finding a good and still authentic spot in city centers, and this checks those boxes and is right next to Grote Markt. Their website doesn’t seem to be working, but you can reserve a table through Google!
• Bistro Den Amand – (Traditional Classics with a Twist) Right next to Bistro Brugis was another great spot Bistro Den Amand – they offer Beglian classics like steak, venison & stews, but also have some Asian and Italian influenced dishes, so you’ll find naan, stiry fry and a variety of pastas.

Bruges Travel Map

Getting to Bruges

Bruges does have its own airport Ostend-Bruges International Airport (OST) it’s about 16 miles from Bruges, but it tends to be cheaper/more flexible to fly into Brussels and take the train to Bruges.

By train

• Brussels –> Bruges 1 hour
• Ghent –> Bruges 25 minutes
• Antwerp –> Bruges 90 minutes

Where to Stay in Bruges

I decided to splurge a bit when I was in Bruges! It tends to be a bit of an expensive place generally, and it was one of my last stops of a month long trip, and I wanted to end my trip in a nicer hotel. Bruges is pretty small, so you can basically stay anywhere in the historic city center and be walkable to most things you’d want to see.

Dukes Palace Bruges

This stunning 5 star hotel is impeccable and located right in the heart of Bruges. Dukes Palace was so well decorated, had an amazing on site restaurant and a lively bar/lounge for later in the evening that also served food!

Dukes Palace Residence

For a slightly cheaper alternamtive try the sister hotel Dukes Palace Residence. This 4 star hotel is in a building across the street from Dukes Palace and still offers stunning rooms, and has access to all the facilities at the Dukes Palace Residence. I stayed here, as it was slightly cheaper and I knew I wouldn’t be spending a ton of time in the hotel! The room was spacious, the bed was so comfortable & the bathroom with a full tub was so luxurious!

Need More Bruges Recommendations?

See all my Bruges Travel content below:

• Bruges Travel Guide
• Best Restaurants in Bruges
• Best Bars in Bruges
• Best Photo Spots in Bruges