Jump in the car and take the whole family to Bruges

If you’re looking for a historic city break that all the family will enjoy (including your dog) only a short drive from the LeShuttle terminal at Calais, Bruges might just be perfect. 

The best things to do in Bruges with kids

Children will love the chocolate shops in Bruges! 

Just because it’s full of history doesn’t mean the children are going to be bored in Bruges! In fact most kids find the cobbled streets and old-fashioned feel quite enchanting, and they will certainly love all the chocolate and waffle shops. Here’s a few ideas of what to do with the family when you’re in Bruges: 

Visit the Choco-Story chocolate museum 

Discover all about the history of chocolate making, see chocolatiers at work, and get your hands deliciously messy by taking part in the chocolate making workshops. Of course, you get to taste some chocolates at the end! 

Friet museum

Yes there really is a museum all about chips in Bruges – one of the staple street foods of the city, delicious with mayonnaise. Kids will love all the frites-based fun, including the interactive games.

Historium 

The Historium brings the history of Bruges alive for children! You are transported to the medieval golden age of the city, through authentic sets and a virtual reality immersive experience. The Historium attraction is located on the Markt. 

Drive to Bruges with LeShuttle

How long does it take to drive from Calais to Bruges?

It’s only a drive of around 1 hour 30 minutes from Calais to Bruges. It’s quite a simple route, just following the main A16 autoroute towards Dunkirk. There are no tolls to pay either! You’ll cross the border into Belgium within about 45 minutes. The rules for driving in Belgium are very similar as France. Bruges does not have a low emission zone, but there are some restrictions in certain areas of the old town, so it’s good to check before you travel. 

Where should you park in Bruges if you’re driving?

Many hotels will have their own designated parking spaces, although they will usually charge a fee per day to use these (€15-30). A good value option is to park at the central railway station (around €7 per day) and use the free buses to the city centre from there. 

More great things to do in Bruges

The Belfort towers over the Markt, the main square in Bruges

The Belfort & the Markt

The heart of Bruges is the Markt, the main square where a weekly market is held, and which hosts Winter Gloed, the Christmas market, every year. The Markt is lined with bars and restaurants with outdoor covered seating. Overlooking it all is the Belfort, the 83-metre-high bell tower originally built in the 13th Century. There are 366 winding steps to the highest viewing platform, and as you ascend you’ll see and hear the historic bells that ring out across the city every 15 minutes. You’ll need to book your time slot to climb the Belfort, as there is only limited space on the narrow stairs. The belfry is included in the Musea Brugge card, a pass which gives entry to 13 different museums and cultural attractions for a discounted price. 

Take a canal tour

As Bruges is called the ‘Venice of the North’, one of the best ways to see the city is by boat. Canal tours usually take around 45 minutes. You’ll dip your head under ancient bridges, see major sites like the Church of Our Lady, the Begijnhof, Sint-Janshospitaal and Jan van Eyckplein, and hear stories from the past from your captain. We took our tour from the jetty by the Wollestraat, but there are several different companies, with boats leaving from different points, but they all take the same main loop through the heart of the city. There is no need to book in advance, but you will have to queue before your boat leaves. 

Groeninge Museum

The Groeninge Museum includes key works by Flemish artists

In just ten rooms of the Groeningemuseum, visitors get a complete history of six centuries of the visual arts in Belgium and the Low Countries. Among its treasures are masterpieces by Jan van Eyck, Hans Memling, Gerard David and Hieronymous Bosch. The rooms on the Flemish Primitives, the school of artists who worked in Bruges in the 15th and 16th century, may be of special interest, with existing landmarks of the city featured in several of their paintings. You’ll also see examples of Renaissance, Baroque, Expressionist and modern art. Entry for adults is €15 but the Groeningemuseum is included in the Musea Brugge card. It takes around 45 minutes to an hour to see the whole museum. 

Museum Sint-Janshospitaal

The 12th-century Saint John’s Hospital is one of the oldest surviving hospital buildings in Europe. It was the main city hospital until only 50 years ago. The museum it now houses not only tells the story of how it tended to the people of Bruges during times gone by, and what conditions would have been like in the hospital, but also the more general history of care, medicine and caring. The bonus for art lovers is the chance to see several of Hans Memling’s greatest works, such as the St John Altarpiece, in their original location – the hospital commissioned them over 500 years ago and they have remained there ever since. Entry is included in the Musea Brugge card.

Wander the Begijnhof 

Find sanctuary in the Begijnhof

The centre of Bruges can get busy, so for some sanctuary seek out this quiet haven not far from the Museum quarter. Crossing the bridge over the canal, you step into another world – the Begijnhof is an enclave of simple white houses clustered around a cobbled square, a lawn and a church. These are the homes of the ‘beguines’, a religious community established in 1245. Historically it was a place where single women could live in piety and mainly in silence, and many nuns still live here today. The houses are still only allowed to be occupied by women. It is a tranquil place to walk, especially in spring when the lawn dances with daffodils.  

Take a brewery tour

There really is a beer pipeline under De Halve Maan brewery!

For beer lovers, Bruges is something of a wonderland. There are shops selling hundreds if not thousands of different ranges of Belgian beers, and specialist bars like the ‘Beerwall’ where bottles are stacked from floor to ceiling, and served with their own distinctive glass. De Halve Maan is the city’s most famous brewery, and still operates from the heart of Bruges. Tours of the brewery last around 45 minutes, and include a panoramic view of the city from the brewery roof. You’ll hear many fascinating stories, and see the underground beer pipeline, linking the brewery to the bottling plant just outside the city. Your tour also includes a voucher for one free beer in the tap room, where food is also served.  

Dog-friendly places to stay and eat in Bruges

Not only is Bruges a wonderful place to visit with your family, it's also perfect to enjoy with your furry friend. There are some great places for you to stay with your dog - we recommend the NH Brugge Hotel, which is right in the city centre, near Koning Albert I-park. The rooms give you and your family plenty of space to relax and the staff here will make you feel really welcome.  With fewer cars on the road than many other Belgian cities, you can feel at ease when out walking with your pet!

The centre of the city has lots of green space, giving you plenty of choice when it comes to walking your dog. Follow the winding trails in Koningin Astrid Park and stop off at the pond to feed the ducks. The park's also got a great play area for the kids to burn off some of their excess energy!

Your dog will love Bruges!

After all that walking you'll be looking for a good restaurant to get some R&R. Brasserie Raymond Restaurant offers just that and much more. This dog-friendly eatery serves great quality, traditional food at a reasonable price - so it won't break the bank!

Travel to Bruges with LeShuttle

You and your family will adore Bruges. Get there easily in your car after your 35-minute crossing on LeShuttle. 

About the author: Rachel Ifans

I am a journalist and editor, covering a wide range of lifestyle and travel subjects but always returning to my first love, France. Born unfortunately to non-French parents, I have spent my life trying to make up for it by spending as much time as I can in France or writing about it, studying the language, tirelessly dragging my children round all six sides of l'Hexagone, and endlessly chuntering to my husband about moving there.