The neighbourhoods of Bruges

The medieval heart of Bruges, built around two squares: the Markt, with the Belfry and its stepped gables, and the Burg, with the Gothic City Hall and the Basilica of the Holy Blood. The Rozenhoedkaai, the most photographed canal corner, and the fish market are a few minutes away. It is the busiest part of town, with the most restaurants and bars, and the Markt hosts the weekly Wednesday market.

Sights: Market Square (Markt), Belfry (Belfort), Burg square, Basilica of the Holy Blood, City Hall (Gothic Hall), Rozenhoedkaai, Canal boat tour, Historium, Choco-Story (chocolate museum), Bourgogne des Flandres brewery & distillery, Bruges Beer Experience, The Bottle Shop, Chocolatier Dumon (Eiermarkt), Frietmuseum (Fries Museum), Lumina Domestica (Lamp Museum), Vismarkt (Fish Market), Wollestraat & Hoogstraat, Horse-drawn carriage ride, Koningin Astridpark, Dalí Exhibition (Belfry Halls), Brugse Vrije (Liberty of Bruges), Huidenvettersplein (Tanners Square), Groenerei

🍽️ Restaurants: 20 · ☕ Breakfast: 7 · 🌙 Evening out: 9

The quiet area south of the Burg around the Dijver canal, home to the Groeningemuseum, the Gruuthuse, BRUSK and St John's Hospital with its Memling paintings. The Church of Our Lady with its 115 m spire stands here, and further south the Beguinage and the Minnewater (Lake of Love) offer swans, willows and calm. The De Halve Maan brewery and the chocolate shops are also within walking distance.

Sights: Groeningemuseum, Gruuthuse Museum, Church of Our Lady (Michelangelo’s Madonna), St John’s Hospital (Sint-Janshospitaal, Memling), Bonifacius Bridge & Arentshof, De Halve Maan brewery, Beguinage (Begijnhof), Minnewater (Lake of Love), The Chocolate Line, Chocolaterie Sukerbuyc, Diamond Museum, BRUSK, Gentpoort (Ghent Gate), Hof Arents, Almshouses (Godshuizen De Vos)

🍽️ Restaurants: 15 · ☕ Breakfast: 5 · 🌙 Evening out: 3

The shopping and station side of the old town. Steenstraat and Zuidzandstraat run from the Markt to 't Zand square, where the concert hall stands, and St Salvator's Cathedral, the oldest parish church of Bruges, is close by. The Smedenpoort gate and the Ezelpoort gate mark the edge of the old walls. Sint-Jakobs, around the church of that name, has a good number of cafés and restaurants away from the busiest streets.

Sights: St Salvator’s Cathedral, Steenstraat & Zuidzandstraat, Geldmuntstraat & Noordzandstraat, Smedenpoort (Blacksmiths’ Gate), Ezelpoort (Donkey’s Gate)

🍽️ Restaurants: 11 · ☕ Breakfast: 6 · 🌙 Evening out: 2

The old harbour district in the north-east, centred on Jan van Eyckplein with the Toll House and the Burghers' Lodge. The canal boats leave from here, and the quiet Spiegelrei canal leads on towards the Markt. It is calmer than the centre, with fewer restaurants but pleasant evening spots by the water.

Sights: Jan van Eyckplein & Spiegelrei

🍽️ Restaurants: 2 · ☕ Breakfast: 2 · 🌙 Evening out: 3

The green north-eastern edge of the old town, along the Kruisvest ramparts with their row of windmills. The Sint-Janshuis mill still grinds grain, and the Kruispoort gate stands at the head of the path. The Jerusalem Chapel, the lace centre and the folklore museum sit in the almshouses of the Sint-Anna neighbourhood, a quiet residential area of small streets with a few local cafés.

Sights: Jerusalem Chapel (Adornes Domain), Windmills on the Kruisvest (Sint-Janshuismolen), Lace Centre (Kantcentrum), Folklore Museum (Volkskundemuseum), Kruispoort (Cross Gate)

🍽️ Restaurants: 2 · ☕ Breakfast: 1 · 🌙 Evening out: 2