Bruges Travel Guide (with Local Secrets & Personal Magic)

The first time I came to Bruges, I didn’t wanna google it too much. People kept telling me it was like a fairytale, medieval vibes, magical… but I avoided the photos because I wanted the surprise. And omg, sí me sorprendió. My mom swears that as soon as we arrived I said: “I wanna live here.” And well, here I am.

Living in Bruges still feels like living inside a storybook, and I promised myself never to take it for granted. That’s why whenever tourists ask me what to do, I always say: get lost. Seriously. Brujas is safe, tiny, and full of hidden corners that don’t make it to Instagram.

🌸 Seasons in Bruges

• Summer: flowers everywhere, canals shining in the sun, ice cream + beer combo.

• Fall (my fave): red, orange, yellow leaves against gothic architecture = chef’s kiss. Even grey days are moody-beautiful.

• Winter: super romantic with Christmas lights and hot chocolate (extra whipped cream, obvio).

• Spring: tulips, green parks, and longer walks by the water.

🏰 Things you have to do

• Wander: please don’t just stay in Markt square. Walk into residential streets and parks—that’s the real Bruges.

• Museums: The oldest hospital in the world (yes, really) and the Gruuthuse House, where you can see how bougie families lived in medieval times. Plus, amazing views from the terrace.

• Boat tour: trust me, Bruges from the water hits different.

• Walking tour (the tip-based ones): cheap, fun, and you get cool stories in 2 hours.

🍫🍻 What to eat & drink (aka why you won’t fit into your jeans after Bruges)

• Chocolate: 80+ shops, but only about 10 are artisanal. I used to not care for pralines, but after working in a chocolate shop here… I became a fan. (Addictive level: high).

• Beer: My top rec is Bourgogne des Flandres. It’s a mix of a Brussels lambic + a local Bruges beer = sweet, sour, unique. You won’t find it anywhere else.

• Waffles: Liege (sweet, sugary chunks inside) vs. Brussels (light, airy). Locals eat them plain—sorry, no mountain of strawberries + Nutella.

• Fries (frietjes): Belgians eat them with mayo. Yes, mayo. Not ketchup. Get used to it 😏.

• Belgian dishes worth trying:

  • Carbonade flamande (beef stew with beer).

  • Shrimp croquettes (tiny North Sea shrimps, big flavor).

  • Endives with ham & cheese (not my fave, but very Belgian).

  • White asparagus, Flemish style (my personal love, but seasonal).

✨ Final spell

Bruges isn’t just romantic—it’s straight-up magical. For me it’s not only a tourist destination, it’s home. Every time I walk the streets, I feel like that girl on her first day here, thinking: wow, I actually live inside a fairytale.