Bruges on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Bruges on a budget is doable if you choose free sights and limit paid ones: allow about €95 per person per day, with about €45 for a bed, €30 for food, €15 for one ticket and €3 for transport. Day-tripping from Ghent or Brussels is the biggest saving.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €45 | €85 | €165 |
| Food & drink | €30 | €50 | €95 |
| Sights & tickets | €15 | €35 | €55 |
| Local transport | €3 | €10 | €25 |
| Per person, per day | €93 | €180 | €340 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Bruges day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walk the Begijnhof, the 13th-century courtyard of white houses, and the swans of the Minnewater.
- Enter the Basilica of the Holy Blood on the Burg (the relic is shown daily).
- Photograph the Rozenhoedkaai and walk the canals from the Groenerei to the Spiegelrei.
- Walk the ramparts along the Kruisvest past four windmills.
- Cycle or walk the 7 km poplar-lined canal path to Damme.
- Hear the Belfry carillon from the Markt during its regular concerts.
Cheap eats
- Cone of fries with mayonnaise from the fry stands at the foot of the Belfry: about €4-5.
- Stoofvlees (beef stewed in beer) with fries in a local café off the Markt: about €18-24.
- Belgian waffle from a takeaway stall: about €3-6.
- Sandwich or pistolet from a bakery: about €4-7.
- Belgian beer in a café such as 't Brugs Beertje: about €4-7.
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in hostels and simple B&Bs near the station and on Langestraat, 15-20 minutes' walk to the Markt, at about €80-130 for a double; hostel dorm beds are cheaper. Many also stay in Ghent and visit Bruges by train.
Getting around cheaply
Walk: everything is within 20 minutes. From the station, the walk to the Markt takes about 20 minutes, or 5 minutes by De Lijn bus (about €3). From Brussels Airport, a direct train takes about 1h30; from Brussels city, about 1 hour (roughly €15-16). Belgian rail weekend and youth discounts can lower the fare.
A sample budget day
- Morning: climb the Belfry at opening (about €15-16) and visit the Basilica of the Holy Blood (free).
- Lunch: fries from the Belfry stands (about €5).
- Afternoon: Begijnhof and Minnewater (free), then the Rozenhoedkaai.
- Evening: stoofvlees in a café off the Markt (about €20) and a canal walk after 19:00.
- Total: about €95 with a hostel or shared budget room
More ways to save
- Pick one paid view: the Belfry or a canal boat, not both, if money is tight.
- Bring a reusable bottle: tap water is safe and free.
- Look for lunch menus (dagmenu) in cafés, which are cheaper than dinner.
- Buy beer in a supermarket to taste at your B&B, and keep cafés for one or two special bottles.
- Visit on a weekday, when rooms are cheaper and the centre calmer.
- Combine Bruges with Ghent on the same trip, where food and rooms are often cheaper.
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Common questions
Can I visit Bruges in a day?
Yes. Many visitors come for the day from Brussels (about 1 hour) or Ghent (about 25 minutes), which also saves on rooms.
What can I do in Bruges for free?
The Begijnhof, the Minnewater, the Basilica of the Holy Blood, the canals, the windmills on the ramparts and the canal path to Damme.
Where should budget travellers stay?
Near the station or on Langestraat, about €80-130 for a double, or in a hostel.