My husband and I will be taking the 11 day Heart of Belgium and Holland tour in September. The tour gives us a free day to spend in Bruges. I am looking for your thoughts on what would be the best way to enjoy this time. (Other than catching up on laundry!) Since we are not entirely sure of what we will be seeing in Bruges for the day and a half we are with the group, input from previous tour members in the know would be very helpful. Any recommendations on things not to be missed while in Bruges would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your thoughts in advance.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
17399 posts
On my long ago tour many opted to do the bike ride to Damme. That wasn't of interest to me so I walked in the area where there are windmills and enjoyed looking at them from the outside, then I went to some of the museum and churches we didn't cover on the tour. I am sure we had a walking tour on that first morning and I went back to some of the places for a better look. There was also a market going on along a side canal that I walked thru (not in the big market square).
I also just walked up and down some of the canals. I was trying to find the spot where my brother took a photo in 1975, hahahaha and yes! I found it! Crazy.
Some also took a canal boat ride but again, not of particular interest to me (and yes in 1975 we did one, hahaha).
The museums are awesome to me and I also went into the Church of the Holy Blood and went thru their small museum which at that time was a small fee.
This is a wonderful tour!
Posted by
Belgium
509 posts
None of the three Rick Steve tours in September have a day off in Bruges on September 12 or 13... so you'll miss the Bruges Beer Festival... what a shame!
Posted by
Massachusetts
1782 posts
This is what the itinerary online says about that free day, which should give you some ideas of what to do or see:
Today is yours to explore Bruges. Armed with your Bruges Museum Pass, you'll have free entry to a dozen popular sights in the city — including the masterpiece-packed Groeninge Museum. You may decide to go on a culinary scavenger hunt, tasting your way through a myriad of Belgian specialties, or you can hop on a bike and take a wonderful hour-long ride along a tree-lined canal to the nearby small town of Damme. The choices today are endless.
This must be the museum pass that is mentioned: https://www.museabrugge.be/en/tickets/museabruggecard
And this is the list of museums included in the pass: https://www.museabrugge.be/en/visit/locations
You’ll be spoilt for choice!
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
104 posts
I've not experienced being on a tour - but Bruges will be an amazing place to have a day off! I'd skip laundry (or do it really early in the morning) and enjoy Bruges! I suggest doing the Rick Steve's walking tour through Bruges and take it all in! Enjoy a canal boat trip as well; no need for reservations, in Sept the boats are easy to just walk up to a buy a ticket. Pop into Dumon Chocolate Shop and enjoy some of the best chocolate and try a Belgium waffle at the Lawrence Waffle Shop! The city is so lovely to explore, even the outskirts and especially at night when tourists leave.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
18363 posts
Late to the thread here but I'll absolutely recommend any of the following in addition to what's covered on your tour's walk:
Groeningemuseum (closed Mondays) We enjoyed the collection very much.
https://www.museabrugge.be/en/visit/locations/groeningemuseum
Museum Sint-Janshospitaal
Has an interesting history plus a valuable collection of Memlings. Also closed Mondays.
https://www.museabrugge.be/en/visit/locations/sint-janshospitaal
Adornesdomein/Jerusalem Chapel: another interesting piece of the Brugge story
https://www.visitbruges.be/en/things-to-do/culture-and-heritage/adornesdomein-adornes-estate#opening-hours
Closed Sundays.
Basilica of the Holy Blood: a relic in this church is the star of a yearly procession that's been observed on Ascension Day since 1304.
https://www.visitbruges.be/en/things-to-do/culture-and-heritage/basiliek-van-het-heilig-bloed-basilica-holy-blood
https://www.visitbruges.be/en/things-to-do/about-bruges/world-heritage-city/procession-holy-blood
A walk along parts of the ramparts;
https://www.visitbruges.be/en/things-to-do/culture-and-heritage/de-vesten-city-ramparts
Early riser? Jan van Eyckplein and the streets on either side of the canal there are lovely in quiet early morning. Bring the camera! It's possible your tour's walk will include it but if not..... https://www.visitbruges.be/en/things-to-do/culture-and-heritage/jan-van-eyckplein-jan-van-eyck-square
Just a few of the many interesting things to explore in Brugge. You won't be bored!