explore it yourself:
The journey and accommodations:
We arrived by train from Luxembourg on the afternoon of June 11th and stayed until the morning of June 13th. We arrived and departed out of Brugge Train Station, taking the local bus to and from (only about a mile from the city center).
Below is what AI recommended for accommodations:
1. St. Christopher’s Inn – The Bauhaus
2. Ibis Budget Brugge Centrum Station
3. Hotel Notre Dame
4. Airbnb Studios or Private Rooms
We ended up selecting an St. Christopher’s Inn, because of the price and location. Note that this is a hostel. We shared a 4-bed dorm style room for ~$50/pp each night.
Note: * our additions to ai itinerary and exclusions are crossed out, also see our summary at the bottom.
Day 1: Windmills & Local Corners
afternoon windmills
- Walk or rent a bike to the following:
- Jerusalem Chapel – Gothic private church from the 1400s
- Sint-Janshuismolen & Koeleweimolen (windmills)
- Minnewaterpark (Lake of Love) – Romantic, swan-filled park; we were here when it was a little rainy and it felt like we were in a movie.
- Begijnhof (Beguinage) – Peaceful monastery complex with white cottages
Dinner and nightcap
Réliva– Farm-to-table with local ingredients- We ate at the Hostel receptionist favorite place in Bruges, WuaKmole* – delicious latin street food.
- Stopped at Postbar* to buy a card to mail – such a relaxing environment.
- Chocolate at Elisabeth’s* in De Markt
- Drink at Le Trappiste – an underground beer bar in a 13th-century cellar with 100+ Belgian beers. We ordered a small beer flight here which was really fun.
- Grauwwerkersstraat* – Scenic street along the water
Day 2: Classic Bruges - The Medieval Heart
Coffee and Markt Square
- Iced lattes from Espresso Bar I Love Coffee* – Most similar iced latte to the US, we really enjoyed this spot.
That’s Toast– Popular brunch cafe (get there early)- OR
Li O Lait– Trendy spot with good espresso and local vibes; this showed as permanently closed on the maps app. - OR House of Waffles* – Serving up an over 100 year old Belgian waffle family recipe.
- Markt (Main Square) – Colorful guild houses, central location
- Belfry of Bruges – Climb 366 steps for a panoramic view. We opted to view from the outside as entering the Belfry costed ~$20/pp.
Historium Bruges – Multimedia history museum (optional)
Tip: Arrive early (before 10:30 AM) to beat the tour groups at the Belfry.
Burg Square & Canals
- Burg Square – Home to:
- Basilica of the Holy Blood (free, ornate chapel)
- City Hall (Stadhuis) with Gothic architecture
- Walk toward the canals via Blinde-Ezelstraat, a charming narrow alley
Lunch & Hidden Gems:
De Gastro– Modern Belgian food with a cozy feel- OR
Soup– A budget-friendly local favorite - Tanner’s Square (Huidenvettersplein) – Quaint hidden square with cafes
- Rozenhoedkaai – Iconic photo spot by the canal
Gruuthusemuseum– Museum of Bruges life, art, and culture $18 each- Church of Our Lady Bruges – Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child
Hidden Gems:
- Stoofstraat – A tiny alley with medieval vibes for photos
- Luc Vanlaere Harp Concerts* – Free, intimate performances (check schedule- no reservation needed)
- Mariastraat* – Street lined with Belgian shops and restaurants
shopping & Exploring
- rs.Browse chocolate shops: Try Dumon, Elisabeth* or
The Chocolate Line - Explore
Bourgogne des Flandres Brewery– Hidden canal-side brewery with great beer and views. This looked really cool, but had odd hours.
dinner
- Jilles Beer & Burgers Brugge* – Homegrown Belgian burger spot, we ordered a pulled pork sandwhich and sweet potatoe fries which was amazing.
- OR
Den Dyver– Upscale local cuisine with beer pairings - OR
Breydel-De Coninc– Known for excellent mussels and seafood - OR
Guest House La Civiere d’or
final thoughts:
Overall Rating: 7/10! Such a unique place, felt like we were in a movie set. Unfortunately, it was cold and rainy most of our time here.
Would I go again? Yes, I think it would be really cool around Christmas!
Favorite moment:
Bailey’s favorite: The harp concert was such a cool experience. Luc was so kind, funny, and obviously talented!
Parker’s favorite: Le Trappistte, the bar was so unique and I asked the bartender for a flight of his favorite Belgian beers which were all great!
Any surprises? Many of the food places that we found on Google and Apple maps that indicated that they were open, were actually closed. However, this wasn’t a huge deal as there were a lot of other options in a close proximity.
Things we missed:
A canal tour, we saw several tours going on during our walks and they looked like a lot of fun.
Food spots we missed:
Réliva, That’s Toast, The Chocolate Line, Bourgogne des Flandres Brewery, Den Dyver, Breydel-De Coninc, and Guest House La Civiere d’or
Average Step Count: 15,600 steps
How did ai do?
Nailed it: We liked the hostel accommodations that AI suggested. This was our first hostel experience and although we had to share a 4-bed dorm, we felt comfortable with the stay.
Needs work: We found that many of the recommendations from AI in Bruges were closed during the times which it suggested to go. For example, AI recommended restaurants for lunch that would not be open until 6:00PM.