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Daytime

Bruges Daytime: Light, Lace, and Late Afternoon Beers

Start your afternoon with the quietest moment at the city’s most unusual church, grab a late lunch nearby, and end with a beer in a historic pub before the evening crowds arrive.

Best time: noneAbout 150 min

Timeline

  1. 14:00

    Jerusalem church

    Enter the Jerusalem church as the afternoon light settles in. The octagonal tower and the tiny, spooky chapel with the effigy of the dead Christ are best appreciated in the quiet hours before the late afternoon rush. The entrance fee also covers the Lace Museum in the former Adornes mansion, where you can see local women and girls learning this traditional craft.

  2. 14:40

    Brasserie Forestière

    Walk 10 minutes to Brasserie Forestière for a calm lunch. It is a nice and quiet restaurant with good food that is not too expensive. The menu of the day includes soup, a main dish, and a dessert or coffee/tea for EUR 14. They also have a good menu for vegetarians.

  3. 15:30

    Café Vlissinghe

    Head to Café Vlissinghe, one of the less touristy bars and possibly the oldest pub in Bruges dating from 1515. It is located just 4 minutes from the church area. Enjoy a nice selection of draught and bottled beers in a historic setting. Note that it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Local tip

The Jerusalem church is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00. Brasserie Forestière is open from 11:00 to 23:00 on Tuesdays through Fridays. Café Vlissinghe is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so plan accordingly.

Check before you go

  • Jerusalem church: Mo-Sa 10:00-17:00. Adult €8.
  • Brasserie Forestière: 11:00-23:00 Tu-Fr.
  • Café Vlissinghe: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Bruges (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

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