5 Best Day Trips to Bruges from Paris

The city of Bruges is considered one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe. The state of preservation of its historic buildings is so perfect that the city seems to have stopped in time. Not for nothing has it been declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.

Another unmistakable characteristic of this city is its canals, which have earned it the name of "the Venice of the North", creating a bucolic atmosphere, with beautiful landscapes that seem to be taken out of a book. I know there are a lot of things to see and do in Paris, but if you have a day in your itinerary that you can book, I recommend you to visit Bruges, you will not regret it.

Discover the magic of one of Belgium's most enchanting cities with this day trip to Bruges from Paris. Known as the "Venice of the North", Bruges will captivate you with its canals, historic squares and perfectly preserved medieval architecture.

During the visit, you will tour its main monuments with a professional guide and, if you travel between April and October, you can enjoy a boat ride on its canals. In addition, you will have free time to taste the local gastronomy and visit its famous chocolate shops.

Details of interest:

• Price - from $194.
• Duration: about 14 hours
• Recommended if... you want a guided experience with comfortable transportation and free time in Bruges.

Explore at your own pace with this audio-guided tour of Bruges from Paris. After a comfortable bus ride, you will discover the most emblematic sites of the city accompanied by an audio guide if you choose this option.

Admire the architecture of the Market Square, visit the Church of Our Lady with Michelangelo's sculpture and stroll through the medieval streets. Afterwards, enjoy free time to savor the local gastronomy or stroll along the canals.

Details of interest:

• Price - from $155
• Duration: approximately 14 hours
• Recommended if... you prefer a flexible tour without a personal guide.

Live an exclusive experience with this private excursion to Bruges from Paris by train. Accompanied by a private guide, you'll tour the highlights of the city at your own pace and with a personalized itinerary.

From the Main Square and the Church of Notre Dame to the Lake of Love, this tour is ideal if you're looking for a more intimate and flexible way to get to know the city. Plus, you can add activities such as a visit to a chocolate factory or a boat ride along the canals.

Details of interest:

• Price - from $240
• Duration: full day
• Recommended if... you want a personalized and unhurried visit.

Enjoy a complete cultural and gastronomic experience with this excursion to Bruges with boat trip, lunch, brewery and chocolate museum Throughout the day, you will discover the city on foot, by boat and through its brewing and chocolate tradition.

The tour includes a visit to a local brewery with tasting, a traditional lunch and access to the Choco Story Museum. All complemented by free time to continue exploring at your own pace.

Details of interest:

• Price - from $524
• Duration: full day
• Recommended if... you are looking for a varied experience with beer, chocolate and culture

This combined tour to Bruges and Brussels is perfect if you want to see two iconic Belgian cities in one day. First you will walk through the medieval streets of Bruges and then you will continue to the capital of the country, Brussels.

In Brussels, the imposing Grand Place, the Manneken Pis statue and the possibility to taste specialties such as waffles and craft beers await you. A complete plan for those who want to make the most of their visit.

Details of interest:

• Price - from $155.
• Duration: approximately 14 hours
• Recommended if... you would like to visit two Belgian cities in one tour.

It is best to do it in advance when you are organizing your itinerary at home, to ensure the availability of the date you have chosen. You can do this on tour and tourist experience sales platforms. With this method you also have the advantage of being able to pay with credit or debit card, but for me the best thing about hiring on this type of platforms is to know what I am buying.

Many times it happens that if you hire on site you do not really know what you are going to find, someone may recommend a certain excursion, but perhaps they have an interest behind it, such as charging a commission, for example, and not that you have the best experience. On the platforms, however, you have the testimonials of people who have hired that same excursion and give their opinion after doing it, you should always read them.

It depends quite a bit on the type of tour, but generally you will tour the historic center of Bruges, seeing the most emblematic buildings of the city, such as the Provincial Palace and the Basilica of the Holy Blood, for example (entrance fees are not included in the price of the tours, they are usually paid separately).

Bruges is a fairly small city that you can get around well on foot. You can also go to the outskirts of the city and take a cruise along the canals of the Venice of the North. In most of the excursions the tickets to the cruise are not included either, in this one I recommend you do.

As a general rule, you will have free time to do some activities on your own, such as shopping and eating. Despite being a small city, due to the large influx of tourists throughout the year, there is an important variety ofrestaurants in the city of Bruges.

As for shopping, in Bruges there is also a very good offer of shopping areas, such as markets, art galleries, antique stores and pedestrian streets full of local stores.

There are many places of interest in Bruges, museums, public buildings, squares and parks. Of all that you have to do you will have to choose depending on the time you have available, but you can not miss the opportunity to visit:

1. The historic center of Bruges

The historic center of Bruges was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its entirety, a rare occurrence.

Within its boundaries are many of the main buildings and monuments of the city. You should start your personal tour there so that as you walk through the streets you can enter the buildings that interest you the most.

2. The main square of the city (Burg)

Throughout several centuries of history, the Main Square of Bruges has been the heart of the city and continues to be so, there are concentrated several of the most important buildings such as the Franconate or the Basilica of the Holy Blood.

3. Bruges City Hall

The Bruges City Hall deserves your time during your visit. You will be dazzled by the more than 600-year-old Gothic hall and the works of art throughout the building, from magnificent sculptures to frescoes of typical Flemish art that are a marvel.

4. Old Franconate of Bruges

This building with centuries of history was the center from where the entire campaign of the Burgh of Bruges was controlled. Over the years, the Franconate of Bruges, was changing its functions, was court and currently besides being the building that perhaps has more visits in the city, is home to the archives of the city.

5. The bell tower of the city

Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Belfry of the City of Bruges, besides being worth a visit for what it represents and for its architectural beauty, houses important medieval documents that can be seen and the incredible score that makes the bells ring.

6. The Basilica of the Holy Blood

With a structural and decorative beauty that is breathtaking, the Basilica of the Holy Blood is a must-see in the city of Bruges. Inside is kept a relic containing the blood of Christ, carried by the Crusaders, hence its name.

7. The Beguinage Begijnhof (Beguinage)

The Beguinage of Bruges has a rather peculiar history. It was founded in 1245 as a shelter for emancipated women, laywomen, but who also led a cloistered life. Today it is a monastery of the Benedictine Order.

8. The Rosary Wharf (Rozenhoedkaai)

This must be one of the most popular places in the city of Bruges as everyone who visits it usually take pictures there, as it is one of the most emblematic places in the city.

The Rosary Dock is undoubtedly one of the most romantic places in the city and is the ideal setting to portray your visit to Bruges and remember this trip forever. The pictures you can take there are magnificent.

9. Museum of the Church of Notre Dame (Notre Dame)

Without a doubt the Notre Dame Church Museum should be visited on any tour to Bruges. The church tower is the second tallest in the world and you will be able to see one of Michelangelo's most famous works, known as the Madonna of Bruges. You can also see the spectacular mausoleums of Mary of Burgundy and Charles the Bold, along with a priceless collection of religious frescoes.

10. St. Boniface Bridge (Bonifaciusbrug)

St. Boniface Bridge is one of the places in Bruges that are enveloped by a different, almost magical atmosphere. The environment of the bridge, of peculiar beauty and tranquility, despite being very visited, invites you to sit and enjoy moments of introspection and relaxation.

• Book a guided tour if you are visiting Bruges for the first time.
• Try to be there a few minutes before the bus departs.
• Try to choose bus seats for you and your group before the day of the tour so that you can go together.
• Bruges is a city best explored on foot, so wear comfortable shoes.
• At night it tends to get chilly in Bruges, so bring a coat.

If you are visiting Paris and you have the possibility to include Bruges in your itinerary, do not hesitate to do it. To travel to Paris and everything goes perfectly you have to plan your trip well and if during the planning you see that you have a free day to leave the city, take a trip to Bruges is an excellent alternative for the rich heritage that the city has.

The city of Paris is quite close to Bruges so it is advisable to take advantage of this proximity to make this visit, if it is not in your immediate plans to visit Belgium. Bruges is a small city and you do not need many days to see its main points of interest, with a day trip you can see the most important places in the city.

My first visit to Bruges was on my own and while I really enjoyed the trip, I didn't get as much out of it as I could have. Despite a detailed planning of the places I wanted to visit, not knowing the city generated setbacks due to the change of weather and the priority of places of interest. On a guided tour you will be able to make much better use of the time you spend in the city.

Having a person who speaks your language and knows the city like the back of their hand makes things much easier. In a guided tour you will know which are the places you can't miss, you will have an itinerary based on distances and travel times, considering possible setbacks depending on the time of the year. The latter is very important because the influx of people in summer in the city is overwhelming and often causes delays at the entrance to the various attractions and also makes it quite difficult to transit within the city.

If you are going to visit Paris, I recommend you to do some of the best excursions from Paris to other places of interest, which are really worth doing. Leaving Paris, you have excursions to the main tourist spots that you can't miss being so close. You will see that there are tours for all tastes, including the youngest members of the family. Below, I will tell you which are the 3 most recommended excursions from Paris:

1. Disneyland Paris

If you are traveling with children, visiting Disneyland Paris is a must or your little ones will not forgive you. In case you are not traveling with children, Disneyland Paris is also a recommended destination because there are many activities for adults. You have several ways to get to Disneyland from Paris but the most recommended, based on my personal experience is on an organized tour. On a tour you can forget about traffic problems and driving around looking for parking.

2. Excursions to Mont Saint Michel

You are going to love taking a trip to Mont Saint Michel, it is another must see destination if you are in Paris and can spend a few days touring other areas of interest in France. The views, the environment, the history, the architecture and above all the mystique of Mont Saint Michel make it one of the places that year after year gains more visitors.

3. Visiting the Loire Castles from Paris

Visiting the Loire Castles from Paris is another excellent option. When you arrive and start touring the castles of this region you will feel like you are in a fairy tale. The landscapes that you will be able to contemplate and photograph make this tour one of the best to consider if you are in Paris and want to extend your visit.