There are 3 types of free walking tours in Bruges, a historic centre tour, a food tour, as well as a night tour focused on legends and ghost stories.
In this post, we explain all of your options, including tour schedules, what you will see on each tour, and a self-guided option.
OVERVIEW AND SCHEDULE
Free walking tour companies run their guided experiences on a pay-what-you-like basis.
At the end of the tour, they’ll ask you to pay what you think the experience was worth or what you could afford.
The tour listed below is operated through us. The calendar below lists additional options.
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According to online reviews, the range per adult appears to be €10 - €15.
The guided walks in Bruges generally cover the city centre.
The walled city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and small enough that there is usually also time for some level of a short history lesson.
You'll be able to find daily city overview walks as well as culinary tours.
Since the free tours are affordable and popular, they can get quite crowded during the busy season.
So, for travelers who want to take tours with fewer people, we recommend paid small-group tours.
Is Bruges a walkable city?
With its medieval buildings, the beautiful city of Bruges is indeed a walkable city, where attractions such as the gothic Town Hall, Basilica of the Holy Blood, and Church of Our Lady are best enjoyed on foot.
What are the best months to visit Bruges?
The months inbetween June and September are considered some of the best months to visit Bruges when the weather is pleasant and the beautiful Rozenhoedkaai (Rosary Quay) and Minewater Lake are surrounded by natural splendor.
How many days do you need in Bruges?
To fully explore Bruges, from the main square and the hidden gems to the famed 'Venice of the North' and the umbrella-adorned streets, an itinerary of at least three days is recommended.
FREE TOURS OF BRUGES HISTORIC CENTRE
Multiple companies offer free walking tours of the Bruges city centre and they are all well-reviewed.
All are local companies with large companies like Sandemans New Europe absent from Bruges.
While on your tour, you’ll have an opportunity to see some of the most notable sites and learn about the history of this city and what makes it so special.
You can expect to see the following landmarks on these Bruges centre tours:
- Market Square
- Gruuhuse Palace
- St. John’s Hospital
- Lake of Love
- Bridge of Love
- Burgh Square
- Fish Market
- And more!
If you want to see and learn more about these locations, take a look at our self-guided tour or consider taking one of the following free walking tours.
Free Tours by Foot Audio Tour
Here is how it works:
- Purchase an audio tour from our Booking Page.
- You'll receive a confirmation email with a .pdf, Google Map link, and audio tour.
- Enjoy the tour(s).
Even if you don't download any tours, you will still have access to valuable information on sightseeing, eating, and playing in Prague.
Listen to a sample of our Bruges Historic Center Tour.
Available Tours:
- Historic Central Bruges
Walking advenTours Bruges
This 90-min tour follows the route laid out above. Tours are only offered in English.
We like this company because it's owned and operated by a couple and includes free samples of chocolate from a local Bruges chocolatier.
- Tuesdays through Saturdays at 10:30 am and 12:30 pm
Latin Tours Brugge
This 2-hour tour will show you the most famous landmarks, accompanied by a short history of the area’s community and culture.
Your guide will also give you some tips on the best restaurants, nightlife spots, and street food options.
- English tours begin daily at 10:30 am.
- Spanish tours begin daily at 13:00 (1:00 pm).
This company also offers extended paid public tours, as well as private tours that will allow you to avoid large crowds of fellow tourists.
Legends of Bruges
Discover the medieval centre of this city on a daily 2 ½ hour walk focused on local history, urban legends, and culture.
You’ll leave your guide with fun stories and tips on where to eat and hang out.
The walk starts daily at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, and 14:00 (2:00 pm).
There are also 9:45 am tours which run every day from April – December, and on weekends only from January – March.
This company also offers paid private tours which cover the same subjects. Get more information here.
Ambassadors of Bruges
This tour company offers daily History and Heritage tours on a pay-what-you-like basis.
The tours begin daily at 10:30 am, 11:00 am, and 13:30 (1:30 pm) and each outing lasts approximately 2 hours.
SELF-GUIDED WALKING TOUR OF BRUGE
Self-guided walking tours are perfect for when you prefer to explore the city at your own pace or if you cannot find the right option for your schedule.
We created a self-guided tour of the historic center of Bruges.
You can expect to visit at least 13 historic sites along the way. The map located above can be downloaded to your phone.
This tour will cover approximately 1.6 kilometers (around 1 mile) of the city centre in Bruges.
You can complete this tour in 60-90 minutes, but you may want to take more time to explore the area and see as much as possible.
FREE NIGHT TOURS/DARK SIDE OF BRUGES
Whether you’re interested in learning about the more disturbing side of history in this city or you just want to see Bruges after dark, there is at least one free walking tour you can take at night.
While on a night tour, you’ll hear both legends and true stories detailing the sometimes creepy, and potentially even haunted history behind this city.
During this tour you can expect to see the following locations:
- Old Bursary
- Market Square
- Jerusalem Church
- Golden Hand Canal
- Jan van Eyck Square
- Oldest Bar in Belgium
- Ghost House of Bruges
- And more!
If these sites sound interesting and you want to find out why they are included, consider taking the following tour.
Legends of Bruges
In addition to their tour of the city centre, this company also has a Bruges by Night tour which includes a variety of myths, ghost stories, and even disturbing but accurate historical tales about the city.
This tour is pay-what-you-wish, but considering the fact that you can actually get a free beer at the end of it, you might want to consider giving them a pretty good tip!
Their free night tour is held daily at 18:00 (6 pm) and 20:00 (8 pm), and it lasts for approximately 1 ½ hours.
Although most pay-what-you-want tours of the city centre include tips about where to find the best food (and sometimes even free samples), there is also at least one free food tour you can take in Bruges.
This tour will include a variety of tasty samples to help you discover some of the best treats in the city.
Your tour guide will also provide details to help you understand the history behind each dish and why it is so popular.
Here are just a few of the things you can expect to eat on this tour:
- Waffles
- Candy
- Chocolate
- Pralines
- Fries
- Beer
- And more!
If you’re interested in trying out some of the best eats this city has to offer, consider taking one of the following Bruges food tours.
Legends of Bruges
With all the other tours they offer, it probably won’t surprise anyone to discover that this company also provides a free food tour.
As with most of their other services, this is a pay-what-you-wish tour.
There’s a lot of Belgian food included on this outing, and you can expect to visit sites like Market Square, a Waffle House, the Chocolate Museum, the Fries Museum, and more.
This Bruges food tour is available Tuesday - Sunday at 11:30 am. From January - March, the tour is only available on Saturdays & Sundays at 11:30 am.
BRUGES CANAL TOURS
Discover the enchanting medieval city of Bruges from unique vantage points with immersive guided canal tours, weaving through historic paths and serene waterways.
Please note both tours require booking and are not complimentary. They offer the flexibility of free cancellations and are available in multiple languages.
Buendia Tours
Immerse yourself in the beautifully preserved medieval city of Bruges with Buendia Tours.
This 2.5-hour tour includes a guided walk, a canal boat trip, and a visit to the Beer Museum of Bruges.
Your guide will take you to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bruges' historic center, finishing the tour with a memorable boat trip along the canals.
- Timing: 2.5-hour guided walking tour.
- Starting Point: Central train station.
- Pricing: €31 per person.
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
City Tours Belgium
City Tours Belgium offers an exciting tour to discover the medieval town of Bruges both by foot and boat.
The 2 to 2.5-hour tour starts from the Market, where you'll meet your guide.
Explore the narrow streets, admire the golden statues on the courthouse, and discover the old fish market surrounded by 126 columns.
Finish your tour with a beautiful boat trip along the canals.
- Timing: 2 to 2.5-hour guided walking and boat tour.
- Starting Point: The Market.
- Pricing: €44 per person.
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
We offer free tours in dozens of cities. Here are a few nearby Bruges: