Day trip from Brussels to Bruges: Best Belgian Waffles and Belgian Beer
- Henna Shah
- Dec 17, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 26
If you’ve come across whimsical images of colorful gingerbread-style houses, winding canals, and cobblestone streets on Instagram captioned “Visit this fairytale village in Europe,” chances are, you’ve been looking at photos of Bruges. A beautifully preserved medieval town in Belgium, Bruges (or Brugge in Flemish) looks straight out of a storybook and truly lives up to its reputation.
One of the biggest highlights of the year in Bruges is Winter Glow, the town’s much-anticipated Christmas Market and winter festival that runs from late November (around Thanksgiving) all the way to the first week of January. During this time, the entire town transforms into a winter wonderland with sparkling lights, ice skating rinks, festive music, and cozy food stalls. But Bruges isn’t just a winter destination. It’s equally stunning in summer with blooming flowers, scenic canal rides, and delicious Belgian treats.
From things to do in Bruges to the best spots for Belgian waffles, beer, and even skincare shopping, this guide covers everything you need to plan the perfect getaway to this dreamy European town. Bruges is also incredibly accessible—just a short train ride from Brussels—making it one of the easiest fairytale towns to add to your Belgium itinerary.
Table of contents
Why is Bruges so famous?
Beyond its postcard-perfect aesthetic and charming Flemish architecture, Bruges is famous for being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town has retained much of its medieval character and layout, which dates back to the 15th century. During the Middle Ages, Bruges was a strategic commercial hub due to its network of canals linked to the River Reie, which flowed into the North Sea. This made Bruges one of the wealthiest cities in Europe at the time.
Today, Bruges is one of the most visited destinations in Belgium, consistently topping European travel bucket lists for its photogenic beauty, rich history, and romantic atmosphere.
How do you get from Brussels to Bruges?
If you're not planning to drive while in Europe, taking the train is your most convenient and efficient option for reaching Bruges from Brussels. You can board a train from either Brussels-Nord (North Station) or Brussels-Midi (South Station), depending on where you're staying. The journey typically takes about one hour, making Bruges an excellent day-trip option.
Although there are a few bus services from Brussels North to Bruges, the train remains the preferred choice. Not only is it faster, but once you arrive in Bruges, you’ll find that the town is best explored on foot. The city center is compact, walkable, and largely car-free—ideal for slow travel and photography enthusiasts.
Day trip to Bruges v/s Staying a night in Bruges
As an Indian traveller who typically carries at least one big bag on a trip to Europe, I would not recommend staying a night in Bruges as this would mean you will have to drag your heavy suitcase from the station to your hotel. Also, it isn't the easiest for one to drag a suitcase over the cobblestoned streets. However, if you are keen on experiencing Bruges both during the day and at night when the twinkling lights come to life in the market square, then you can stay for a night or two. Staying over would also give you more time to explore the canals, the Belgian beer scene in Bruges by brewery hopping, taking walking tours, and food tasting tours in the idyllic medieval town with some of the best front doors I have ever seen.
Things to do in Bruges
Nothing beats a stroll around Bruges without an agenda and discovering gothic architecture, stopping by to let horse-drawn carriages pass by at the market square, and listening to the tolling of the bells that make you realise the town still binds you in an otherwise sleepy town where time stands still. However, here are a few things to do in Bruges:
1. If you are not planning to visit Amsterdam on that same trip to Europe, you must take a boat ride through the canals of Bruges.
2. You can either meander around the town appreciating its architecture by yourself or take a walking tour to know more about the history and culture of Bruges.
3. You can climb atop the Belfry for a EUR 5 fee and get some great aerial views of the city center. It is a steep climb, but the breathtaking views make up for it.
Vegetarian Belgian Frites in Bruges
If you thought the humble Belgian Frites were just oil and potatoes and vegetarian-friendly, then you are mistaken. Traditionally, Belgian fries are fried in animal fat. Hence, if you are a vegetarian you need to ask for fries that have been fried in vegetable oil. We came across a great place called FritBar that served vegetarian fries and enjoyed their loaded fries along with a glass of Belgian beer while sitting at their classic window-facing tables, people-watching as we chomped off all the debris of potatoes from our disposable plates. If you are a non-vegetarian you could try local fries that they sell on green carts around the Belfry with the Andalouse sauce.
Best Belgian Waffles in Bruges
You cannot go to Bruges and not have some of the best Belgian waffles. Most waffles will contain eggs, so you may want to ask for vegan waffles if you do not consume eggs as a vegetarian. There are two types of Belgian Waffles - the Brussels waffles and the Liege waffles. The Brussels waffle is rectangular and feels slightly lighter and softer to taste. The Liege waffle doesn't have a definitive shape and is harder and heavier in its texture. We went to House of Waffles in Bruges and had their Brussels waffles with cherry compote and some vanilla ice cream. It felt great after walking about 10,000 steps on ancient stone and probably we had a few thousand steps more to go. Another place that came highly recommended in Bruges for the best Belgian waffles is Chez Albert, however, we could not try it.
Belgian beer and the best pizza in Bruges
Bruges has a vibrant Belgian beer scene, however, the two beers that stood out to me were Chouffe which is a cherry-flavoured beer with a sweet aftertaste, and Trappist beer which is a beer brewed by Trappist monks using their traditional brewing methods. Only about a dozen Trappist breweries are left in the world, and six out of them are in Belgium. If you’d like to experience a Trappist brewery (although not an authentic one) in Bruges, then you must visit Le Trappiste Brewery, a bar in an 800-year-old medieval cellar. If you are staying over in Bruges, then do pay this place a visit in the evening hours. Belgian Trappist beer has a relatively higher alcohol content than regular beer, anywhere between 6% to 14%.
For dinner, head to Otomat Pizzeria, a short walk from the market square. With an impressive selection of vegetarian pizzas and a cozy terrace, it's perfect for a laid-back meal. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, visit The Old Chocolate House before 6 PM for one of the best hot chocolates in Bruges. Think rich, molten Belgian chocolate in a DIY style—it’s heaven in a cup.
Not French pharmacy but Belgian skincare shopping in Bruges
While the only things you may pick up from Bruges are the gingerbread house fridge magnets as souvenirs and some Belgian chocolates, we did come across a great Belgian skincare shop called Bubbles at Home. While everyone talks highly about French pharmacy, I found this Belgian skincare brand to be no less with macaron-shaped bath bombs, shampoo soap bars, and Dead Sea mud masks. What caught my attention was that their skincare was suitable for people suffering from skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis that almost no other mainstream skincare brands talk about. As an eczema warrior myself, I felt seen and heard and the skincare was also not all white, it was fancy and also had a light fragrance.
Last word: If you are visiting Bruges, should you also visit Ghent?
You’ll find a lot of online itineraries and group tours recommend a day trip to Bruges and Ghent from Belgium. Both cities offer a rich medieval atmosphere, but Bruges is more photogenic, with a splash of color and postcard-perfect streets. Ghent, on the other hand, has a slightly grittier, more lived-in charm and a vibrant student population.
We chose to pair Bruges with a morning visit to the Battlefield of Waterloo, just outside Brussels, for a dive into French history and the Napoleonic Wars. Although Bruges and Ghent are close together and typically paired, mixing in Waterloo gave us a more diverse historical perspective—from grand medieval guilds to the last stand of Napoleon. Waterloo is a bit of a detour from Brussels, but you could take a bus to the Battlefield of Waterloo in the first half of the day and then take a bus back to Brussels and take a train to Bruges in the second half of the day for some laid-back strolling and indulging.
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