Museums and galleries in Bruges

Museums and galleries in Bruges

1. See

   Basilica of the Holy Blood (Heilige Bloed Basiliek)

   A beautiful church on the Burg square. It houses a relic: a vial of blood that is said to be that of Jesus - and was built in the Gothic style. Try to get there early so you can view the chapel when it is quiet and not filled with tourists. And don't forget to visit the chapel underneath, in heavy Romanesque style - a contrast to the lovely light Gothic above.

   Daily 09:30—12:30 & 14:00—17:30·Free. Museum/Treasure Room: EUR 2.50

2. See

   Brewery De Halve Maan

   This brewery is the only remaining that's still brewing beer inside the city walls. It's also a beer museum and offers a tour of the beer making process. A history of the brewery is provided, as well as an overview of the city from its tower. The tour lasts for 45 min and is a good way to get a feel for Belgian beer making. The tours start at the exact turn of the hour, be at least 15 minutes early as there is a maximum number of people that can join. The entrance price includes one drink of Brugse Zot or Straffe Hendrik and is served after the tour at the outside terrace or indoor bar. There is a longer version of the tour available at weekends.

   Apr-Oct: Mon-Sat 11:00-16:00, Sun 11:00-17:00·EUR 16 including 1 beer booked on-line

3. See

   Choco-Story Museum

   This museum is a must-see for chocolate enthusiasts as it describes chocolate's transition from cocoa into chocolate. Its low-cost tasty exhibits make it well worth the time (and Belcolade's gently overt marketing). Be sure to stay for the chocolate making exhibition to get some excellent samplers. Recommend buying tickets online ahead of time. On a Sunday in October 2022 they didn't have room for walk ins, you needed to buy tickets a few hours ahead of time.

   Closed · opens 10 am tomorrow·EUR 14

4. See

   Diamond Museum

   Diamantmuseum

   Diamond museum has a large range of exhibits ranging from mining all the way to polishing and all the history in between. Everyday at 12:15 there is a live polishing demonstration.

   Closed · opens 10:30 am tomorrow·Adult EUR 12, student EUR 10.50

5. See

   Gentpoort

   Ghent Gate

   One of the four remaining city gates of the second city ramparts of 1297. In the gate building is housed a museum.

6. See

   Groeninge Museum

   Known as 'The city museum of Fine Arts', it houses a collection of artworks that span several centuries (14th-20th), focusing mainly on works by painters who lived and worked in Bruges.

   Daily 09:30-17:00·EUR 15 / EUR 7 (audioguide and ticket to Arents House and Forum+ included in the entrance)

7. Eat

   In 't Nieuw Museum

   Belgian grill restaurant, well off the tourist track. Excellent steaks, reasonable prices.

8. See

   Jerusalem church

   In a quiet area of the city, a highly unusual church with octagonal tower built by the Adornes brothers, merchants of Italian extraction. It includes a fine black Tournai marble tomb, late Gothic stained glass, and a tiny and rather spooky chapel containing an effigy of the dead Christ. 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.

   Mon-Sat 10:00 - 17:00·Adult €8

9. See

   Lucifernum

   Retsin's lucifernum

   An amazing (private) art gallery with a Gothic cemetery in a subtropical garden located in the old Freemasons temple (1756-1882). 1,000 m² of art and mystery in Bruges' old city centre.

   Sun 18:00-21:00·EUR 6

10. See

    The Hospital of St John

    Sint-Janshospitaal contains a museum of six paintings by Hans Memling, within the early medieval hospital buildings.

    Tue-Sun 09:30-17:00·EUR 15

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Bruges (CC BY-SA 4.0).