Bruges wins the award for my favorite city in all of Belgium and one of my top cities I’ve had the chance to visit. When I planned my week-long Belgium adventure, I wanted to see four different cities and knew that I could only spend about one night in each place; leaving me with an extra night for one of the four cities. Do I choose to spend two nights in the medieval town of Ghent? Do I choose to spend two nights in the edgy city of Antwerp? I ended up settling on two days in Bruges; and it was definitely the right choice.
How to Spend 2 Days in Bruges
Filled with winding cobblestone streets, canals snaking through town, and cute cafes dotting the streets; Bruges is the epitome of a storybook town that has not lost an ounce of charm. Aside from the beauty, there is also a ton of things to see and do in Bruges, making your time anything but boring.
Read more: A Complete Guide to Bruges, Belgium
Day 1 in Bruges
On your first day in Bruges, learn about the city through its historic sites. Start by viewing artworks spanning six centuries at the Groeninge Museum. Here you’ll find incredible paintings from Belgian and Flemish artists, most notably Jan Van Eyck. You can expect to spend about two hours here.
From the Groeninge Museum, next head to the Gruuthusemuseum; a museum dedicated to the history of Bruges. The museum does a great job of explaining the rise and fall of Bruges and the many stages its gone through in history to be what it is today. Church of Our Lady is also attached to the Gruuthusemuseum and you can buy a discounted ticket when you combine the two together.
Once you’ve finished with the museums, I suggest heading to the Belfry Tower to head to the top and see sweeping views of Bruges. The city is beautiful and its a unique way to experience it.
For dinner, I suggest eating at Rock Fort. An incredible restaurant in the heart of Bruges.
Day 2 in Bruges
Start your second day in Bruges with a canal tour. Taking a boat tour through Bruges is a great and different way to see the town. Plus you’ll learn fun facts as you go along! I hopped on a boat near “‘t Klein Venetie” which is also a great photo spot!
After touring Bruges on boat, rent a bike to head to Damme. Damme is a sleepy Belgian town located about four miles northeast of Bruges. While there isn’t much to do in Damme, the bike ride itself is beautiful and well worth it as you bike through the Belgian countryside passing sheep and windmills.
When you get back to Bruges, head to De Halve Maan Brewery for a beer tour to see how the local beer is made! You’ll even get to taste some local samples at the end (which is perhaps the best part of the tour).
For dinner head Tom’s Diner – a more off the beaten path restaurant.
Belgium Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting Belgium
TRAVELING THROUGH BELGIUM
- To book a flight to Belgium, I recommend using a big search engine to compare options (if you’re from the US sign up for Going to get cheap flight alerts)
- For car rentals in Belgium, I recommend Discover Cars
- For train tickets, I recommend Omio
- If you want an English speaking driver waiting to pick you up at the airport in Brussels, use Welcome Pickups
- I highly recommend travel insurance when traveling through Belgium – I use and recommend SafetyWing
- If you need a SIM card, aloSIM for an easy and affordable e-SIM – use code “KYLEE5” for a 5% discount
ACCOMODATION IN BELGIUM
- To easiest way to book hotels in Belgium is through Booking.com or Expedia
- The easiest way to book rentals in Belgium is through VRBO
TOURS IN BELGIUM
- For tours and activities in Belgium, I recommend using Viator
WHAT TO BRING TO BELGIUM
- Don’t forget a Belgium guide book to help plan your travels
- You’ll need a travel plug adapter (Belgium uses type C)
- My favorite luggage is Calpak
- My favorite travel backpack is Nordace
- I recommend bringing a reusable water bottle to cut down on plastic waste
- I recommend an eye mask for long flights and to help with jet lag
And with that, you’ve successfully seen Bruges in two days! One of the most beautiful towns in all of Europe!
For a more recommendations and a visual look at Bruges, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel and search “#ppinbelgium” or look for the “Belgium” highlight.
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Founded by Kylee, a NICU nurse with nine years of experience, including seven years as a travel nurse; Passports and Preemies was created in 2017 and is now the go-to travel and lifestyle channel for nurses who crave adventure beyond the bedside. Whether you’re a staff nurse looking for your next getaway or a travel nurse navigating life on the road, this space is designed to help you maximize your time off, explore the world, and prevent nurse burnout.
On Passports and Preemies, you’ll find everything from travel nursing insights – how to get started, land the best assignments, and thrive on the road – to expert travel tips, destination guides, and real-talk about balancing nursing with a life well-traveled. Passports and Preemies also includes Beyond the Bedside – group trips for nurses around the world; as well as the podcast, Passports and Preemies Talks.
