Bruges is one of the highlights of a trip to Belgium, largely because of its well-preserved and picturesque historic city center. The downtown area is easily explored on foot, making it a pleasure to spend time in, even if it feels a little bit like it is a museum exhibit and not a real town. During the summer months especially, Bruges (also spelled Brugge in Dutch) sees a heavy influx of travelers, many of whom are on budget backpacking trips. This means that the cheap hotels in Bruges sell out more quickly, so keep that in mind if you are planning a summer trip.
If you are planning a visit to Bruges in the off-season, you can take advantage not only of the smaller crowds, but also of lower prices on already cheap hotels in Bruges or even some of the more mid-range and expensive properties. Many of these hotels will have special off-season discounts, so definitely check one star-level up from what you would normally stay in before you book your hotel to see if you can get what is basically a free upgrade.
As mentioned, Bruges’ city center is historic and pretty, and just about everything you would expect from the word charming. But if you can tear yourself away from picture-postcard streets and buildings, there is other stuff to do and see here, too. Bruges has pretty churches to explore, including one with an octagonal tower and one which is said to hold a vial of Jesus’ blood, and lots of museums. The Choco-Story Museum is great for any chocolate lover, and the Diamanthuis Museum is the perfect place to drop big hints to your boyfriend that you’d like a diamond on your finger. Other attractions include the popular Grote Markt and boat tours on the canals.
Some of the cheap hotels in Bruges which you may want to look at for your trip are Hotel Asiris (former residence in central Bruges, 13 rooms, internet access available, all rooms have private bathrooms, no air conditioning, breakfast available), Martin’s Brugge (in historic center, 150 rooms, WiFi access available), Hotel de Goezeput (in an 18th century monastery building, 5 minutes from Market Square, recommended by guidebooks, on-site bar, WiFi and internet access available, breakfast included in price, kids 3 and under stay free), and NH Brugge (in a 17th century monastery building, in the city center, 149 rooms, on-site restaurant, heated indoor swimming pool, fitness center & steam bath, internet access available).