For a seriously medieval experience that makes you feel like you’ve just stepped into a storybook, Bruges has to be on your to-do list. From cobblestone streets and picturesque canals to Instagram-worthy architecture and fresh waffles, there’s plenty to do in this charming little town.

If you want to make the most of your time in Brussels and enjoy a magical day trip outside the hustle and bustle of the city, I highly recommend going on a proper tour. I’ve gone ahead and highlighted the 5 top Bruges day tours from Brussels, making planning effortless and unforgettable. Let’s dive right in!

Be sure to see our reviews of Belgian Chocolate Making Workshops in Brussels.

Best Bruges Tours From Brussels

	Private Tour: Ghent and Bruges From Brussels Full Day	Bruges and Ghent - Belgium's Fairytale Cities - from Brussels	Bruges and Ghent Day Trip from Brussels
Departure:	Hotel pickup and drop-off included	Bd de Berlaimont 18, 1000 Bruxelles	Carrefour de l'Europe, Carr de l'Europe, 1000 Bruxelles
Start:	8:30 AM, 9:00 AM	9:00 AM	8:30 AM
Duration:	8 hours	10.5 hours	10 hours
Includes:	All Fees and Taxes, Bottled water, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Entrance - St Michael's Church, Private transportation by air-conditioned minivan	Professional guide (tour may include bilingual commentary), Air-conditioned vehicle, Radios and earphones, Organization of boat trip (at extra cost)	Professional English-speaking guide, City tips, Round-trip with A/C, Guided walking tour in Bruges, Guided walking tour in Ghent
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Bruges Day Trips From Brussels For 2025

1. Private Tour: Ghent and Bruges From Brussels Full Day
2. Bruges and Ghent – Belgium’s Fairytale Cities – from Brussels
3. Bruges and Ghent Day Trip from Brussels
4. Bruges Day Trip from Brussels
5. Bruges, Guided Retro Biketour: Highlights and Hidden Gems

Bruges Day Trips From Brussels Reviews

1. Private Tour: Ghent and Bruges From Brussels Full Day

There’s a lot to do in Belgium, and that can be overwhelming or even intimidating if it’s your first time there! If you really want to level up your day-tripping game, the Private Tour: Ghent and Bruges from Brussels Full Day is chill, cozy, and curated just to your needs.

You get to steer the vibe, whether you want to focus on medieval history, food, architecture, art, or any combination of the above. This 8-hour, full-day experience starts out on the right foot, with a convenient hotel pickup right at your lobby.

You don’t have to worry about finding meetup points or booking separate transportation; rather, you have a chauffeur-driven luxury minivan there at your disposal, with big windows and spacious seating. The guide is there for your squad, rather than a big bus crowd made up of people you’ve never met before.

Of course, this all-day excursion doesn’t just take you to Bruges, but to the beautiful Ghent, as well! This fast track to Flanders is unlike any other, and ideal if you’re short on time but don’t want to skimp on quality. You’re getting the university town of Ghent with a more modern buzz, along with the legendary Bruges with every canal and square begging for a spot on your socials.

Our guide did a fantastic job of packing our day full of fun anecdotes and history lessons in a palatable, entertaining way that will definitely stick in my mind.

Yeah, it’s a long day – there’s no arguing with that. However, it’s ultra convenient, super flexible, tailored to your pacing and interests, and is actually a really solid price for what you get. It’s like having a longtime local friend who happens to be an expert on the cities quite literally catering to you and taking you around to all the coolest spots.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

2. Bruges and Ghent – Belgium’s Fairytale Cities – from Brussels

Say you want to unlock two of Belgium’s most magical cities in one day – without the hassle of having to plan it out yourself. That’s exactly what you’ll get with the Bruges and Ghent – Belgium’s Fairytale Cities – from Brussels tour!

It’s one of the most comprehensive of its kind, and you’ll basically be binge-watching Belgium, but for the price and completeness, it just can’t be beat. Unlike the previous tour, this one is not completely private, though it is a small-group experience with just a few participants allowed to keep that more intimate vibe.

Start out by meeting up with your guide in the city center and hop into a spacious, air-conditioned ride, making your way to the UNESCO-listed Ghent while your guide regales your group with interesting historical and cultural stories!

The journey there is super relaxing, and it’s nice to have a good background knowledge of the cities before arriving. Wander through the captivating Castle of the Counts, soak in the jaw-dropping St. Bavo’s Cathedral, and relax at the old port. It feels like traveling back in time, all while having tons of fun and taking time for photo ops.

Then, it’s time to get back in the coach and head over to Bruges, where your medieval aesthetic dreams will be fully realized. Stroll the romantic Minnewater Lake of Love, navigate the bustling Market Square, and enjoy the Basilica of the Holy Blood.

They did give us the option for a few add-ons, like doing a boat trip, which I highly recommend taking advantage of. You can also add on food and drinks, depending on the booking selected (highly recommended as well, considering the length of the tour!).

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

3. Bruges and Ghent Day Trip from Brussels

Next up is the Bruges and Ghent Day Trip from Brussels, which is one of the most budget-friendly tours of its kind. Starting out at 8:30 am, you’ll take full advantage of the day and lack of crowds with a carefully curated itinerary designed to maximize your time in Belgium.

In under 10 hours, you’ll be living a charming fairytale between 2 legendary locations, featuring cobblestone streets, ethereal canals, and gorgeous cathedrals. No need to have to plan everything yourself or worry about organizing train travel or even driving yourself – you have an expert local guide/driver there to take care of all the intricacies for you.

Honestly, that alone would be worth the price for me, but you get so much more than just the convenience of organized transportation. With pickup in the city center of Brussels, you get to enjoy guided walking tours of both locations, featuring the top sights and plenty of hidden gems.

Our guide really possessed a connoisseur-level of knowledge when it came to both Ghent and Bruges, and was able to answer any and all of our questions with ease. They also provided headphones and radios so we didn’t have to follow him around – we could walk off a bit and explore at our leisure.

In Ghent, you can expect to see renowned sites like Saint Bavo’s Cathedral and Walplein Square. In Bruges, you’ll do a relaxing loop around the Lake of Love, taking stops for photos and storytelling, before wandering Market Square, and plenty of hidden gems only locals would know about.

Overall, this is a cultural deep dive with lots of laughs and zero stress for a low-effort, high-reward experience.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

4. Bruges Day Trip from Brussels

Last but certainly not least, is the Bruges Day Trip from Brussels. Brussels is certainly a great time, but if you need a little break from the business of the bustling city, this is your ticket to relaxation. Fall asleep in the comfy coach and wake up in medieval Bruges, where you’ll be surrounded by lovely canals, cobblestone lanes, amazing architecture, and plenty of historical accounts.

If you’re someone who doesn’t like getting locked into a strict itinerary, this is the tour for you. You can expect around 2 hours of a proper guided walking tour, with your guide at the helm. You’ll learn all kinds of info about the history of Bruges, what makes it so special, what kind of stories surround it, and how it’s changed over time.

Then, you’ll have around 4 hours of completely free time for you to explore at your pace. I love tours like this, because I get to choose to go back to the specific locations that interested me most and explore further. That way, I don’t have to waste any time with things I’ve already seen or those that I feel I could pass on.

I hit up a waffle shop, took plenty of gorgeous photos, and even had time later on to grab a late lunch. Our group all decided to add on a 30-minute boat ride down the canal, which I’d say is a must if you haven’t done it before.

If you’re like me and first made the mistake of spending money on a train ticket, please just do this tour instead! It’s basically the same cost as the train ticket alone, you get to travel in a small group, and you get an amazing guide there to lead the way!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

5. Bruges, Guided Retro Biketour: Highlights and Hidden Gems

We’re going full fairytale with this first tour, taking you through Bruges on a vintage bike, with the wind in your hair and your guide spilling some medieval tea. The Bruges, Guided Retro Biketour: Highlights and Hidden Gems takes you beyond the famous Belfry, to the tucked-away gems that only a proper local guide would know about.

If you have a few hours, you’ll love this laid-back, 2.5-hour journey that balances sightseeing with some relaxing time. Your tour starts out tucked away in the secret garden at Hof Bladelin, so you already know it’s going to be off to a great start, foreshadowing the rest of what’s to come.

You’ll meet at the bike shop, where your guide will help you get matched with the perfect bike for you, along with safety gear, a basket for your belongings, and anything else necessary if the weather isn’t perfectly warm.

Our guide was a local legend – everyone seemed to know him, and that instantly offered us a kind of insider access that not just any visitor gets to have!  Note: If you don’t particularly consider yourself “in shape” or are worried about how intense the bike ride portion will be, don’t be.

This is definitely a more relaxed ride that matches perfectly with the charming vibe of Bruges – you’ll get to soak in and appreciate every little detail with plenty of breaks. While you’ll see plenty of hidden gems, you’ll also see historic spots like the Market Square, Church of Our Lady, Lake of Love, plenty of windmills, and lots of other photo ops.

Getting to see the Stairway to Heaven was impressive – especially considering that I’d been to Bruges before this and hadn’t caught it! Finally, relax with your guide in the Secret Garden with a complimentary local drink, because there’s no better way to cap off some history lessons with a sip.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience