Bruges Travel Guide: Waffles, Chocolate, Beer & Canal Tours

Bruges, Belgium is known as the Venice of the north, and it is quick to see why as you make your way into town. Bruges is a picturesque medieval city with an intricate canal system and stunning architecture that feels like stepping into a living postcard. Here is our Bruges travel guide for one of the most beautiful cities we’ve ever visited.

There are plenty of things to do in Bruges, and we made the most of our time. Our Bruges travel tips hit all the highlights, from the relaxing canal boat tour, to strolling through the town square, and enjoying all our favorite Belgian foods. We fell in love with this jewel of a city.

If you played word association with a group and asked for the first things you think of when you think Belgium, the answer would likely be (in no particular order) waffles, chocolate and beer. We call that the Belgian Trifecta.

Belgian Waffles and Belgian Chocolate

Within a few minutes of being in town, we were in search of fresh Belgian Waffles covered in chocolate. There are many places that can provide you with this delicious treat, but we recommend Chez Albert. 

Chez Albert has several locations in Belgium. Although it’s a chain, it came highly recommended to us. We hit the location on Breidelstraat 16, which was just off the Markt Square and close to everything we wanted to see. Service for us was quick, but we saw the line grow as the day went along. 

We chose the basic Belgian waffle topped with chocolate, though you can try them plain – but why would you?! The chocolate is fantastic, with your choice of milk or dark chocolate. In addition to chocolate toppings, you can add whipped cream, Nutella, fresh strawberries, or bananas, warm cherries, or ice cream. Cost for a waffle with a topping will fall somewhere between €5 and €10.

If your taste for Belgian chocolate doesn’t include waffles, there are numerous options throughout town. We sampled chocolate from several shops throughout town as we strolled around. Some of the window displays are beautiful and delicious at the same time. Hand crafted chocolate can be found on most street corners, including Sukerbuyc Chocolatier.

Our tour guide mentioned a couple of the more historic chocolatiers in town for consideration. Two of the more historic spots hold Royal Warrants for chocolate – Mary Chocolatier and Neuhaus. 

Rounding out the Belgian Trifecta is a place for a cold Belgian beer. Much like the numerous chocolate shops around town, there are plenty of places to quench your thirst for a good beer. Perhaps the most unique place to check out is the De Halve Maan Brewery (also known as the Half Moon Brewery) in Bruges. 

Half Moon had a very nice, but very busy beer garden where you can sit and enjoy a meal. But what makes this brewery unique is their pipeline. They brew their beer at the downtown location, but then pipe it underground over two miles to its bottling plant.

Canal Tour in Bruges

You could skip a waffle, chocolate and beer during your visit if you must, but don’t skip a Bruges canal tour. This is the top of the list of Bruges attractions in our opinion. The tour is about 25 minutes and is the perfect way to see the historic buildings and architecture. 

Several companies operate tours, but they are all the same tour and the same price. Reservations are only available for large groups, though we got our ticket included in the private tour we set up. A Bruges canal tour cost will run you about €15. There are discounts available for children ages four to 11, and children under four are free. 

Our tour started at Rosary Quay. This is convenient because it is also the best known Bruges photography spot. The picturesque view as you wait for your canal boat to arrive provides a stunning view of the canal and the surrounding medieval buildings. 

Bruges Markt Square 

Another picturesque spot in Bruges is the center of town, Markt Square. You’ll find a variety of shops, restaurants and other points of interest in the city center of Bruges. 

One option you can try is the 366 step climb up the Belfry of Bruges. We did not take on this hike up the 83 meter-tall medieval bell tower. The reward for those that make it to the top is a stunning panoramic view of the city. 

If climbing to the top of the belfry isn’t for you, we’d recommend finding a place to sit and just enjoy the scenery. The Provinciala Palace is on the square as is the statue of Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck. This statue is located in the center of the square and commemorates the two leaders of the Flemish resistance against the French in the 14th centur. 

Churches of Bruges

As you might expect in any European city, there are many historic churches you can visit. Bruges is no different with a couple of unique options for you to visit. 

The Church of Our Lady has the world’s second-highest brick tower. This church also has an option for art lovers to see something you rarely see outside of Italy. The church has a Michelangelo sculpture on display. The marble “Madonna and Child” is just one of many works of fine art you can take in.

We really enjoy a stop at the Basilica of the Holy Blood. Centuries ago, every church wanted a holy relic to set them apart and to help bring a crowd. In the case of the Basilica of the Holy Blood relic, they have had a piece of cloth stained with the blood purportedly of Jesus Christ. 

Official records from the church and the piece of cloth only date back to about 1204. So it is hard to say with any kind of certainty that this is the actual blood of Christ, but it is a very spiritual place that was a nice quiet break in the day for us. There is no charge for visiting, though you do have the opportunity to leave a donation should you choose.

We made the choice to have a private tour to help us navigate all the Bruges sightseeing. It certainly was not necessary to have that tour to guide us around, but we found it useful as we tried to maximize our time in the city. With so much of what we wanted to see being right near the city center, we could have easily navigated it all on our own. Should we return to Bruges, that is the approach we would likely take. 

Bruges is a wonderful place to stop along your travels. Like many travelers to the area, our Bruges day trip was a part of a cruise itinerary. A Bruges one-day itinerary is a fun filled day, with many exciting things to see all within a compact area. Our cruise ship offered transportation from the port into town, though we found the same service for less money on our own. All tour buses drop you off at the same area, a small park area just outside of Bruges city center. From there, you’ll navigate the streets to make it into town. It’s about a 15 minute walk, so if you’re coming in by cruise ship be prepared.