Bruges’ medieval streets, gabled houses and winding canals combine to create a storybook beauty that makes taking an evening stroll feel like stepping into a painting. You could spend several enjoyable days here without setting foot inside a museum, content to wander cobbled lanes or drift along the canals on a private cruise instead. But there’s more to Bruges than postcard-perfect scenery. It is also home to a remarkable collection of artistic and historical riches. Multiple masterpieces are within easy walking distance of one another, and the imposing castles and churches reveal centuries of stories. Beyond the city walls, the countryside offers quiet villages, medieval ruins and aristocratic estates.

Church of Our Lady

Among Bruges’ greatest artistic treasures is Michelangelo’s “Madonna and Child,” housed within the Church of Our Lady. The sculpture gained international attention thanks to its appearance in the film The Monuments Men, which recounts the efforts to recover artworks looted during the Second World War.

We assumed the church would be mobbed, and having seen the sculpture before, we didn’t plan on returning. But when we happened to pass by on our last day in town, we noticed that the entrance seemed curiously empty. While visiting the church itself is free, surprisingly few people pay the fee to access the adjoining museum space where the sculpture resides.

Once inside, we found ourselves entirely alone with Michelangelo’s masterpiece. Bathed in soft light, the pale stone seemed almost luminous. For several uninterrupted minutes, we got to bask in the presence of this small yet breathtaking sculpture without any jostling crowds or chatty tour guides to disturb the magic of the moment. A rare and unforgettable luxury in Belgium’s most visited city.

Groeninge Museum

Early Flemish art has a captivating style all its own, and the Groeninge Museum provides an essential introduction. The small museum houses some of Bruges’ most important works, from the technically brilliant paintings by the Flemish Primitives to 20th-century modernist pieces. A favorite of mine is Bosch’s “Last Judgment” triptych. We delighted in examining the grotesque creatures and enigmatic details of the painting’s mysterious world. In a neighboring building, a new hall called BRUSK opened in May 2026, showcasing temporary exhibitions.

St. John’s Hospital

One of Bruges’ most unexpected art destinations lies within its historic hospital museum. A centuries-old complex with soaring architecture resembling that of a church, the Sint-Janshospitaal explores the concept of care through art and history. The collection ranges from medieval medical instruments to contemporary artworks, among them a disturbingly lifelike sculpture of a woman cradling a pig. The juxtaposition of objects from across centuries is both jarring and thought-provoking. In an attached gallery is the museum’s great highlight, the “St. John Altarpiece,” a monumental triptych by Hans Memling. Upstairs, we discovered an interactive exhibit that unpacks the painting’s rich symbolism.

Castle Tour With Rouler Retro

One of the most memorable ways to explore the countryside around Bruges is on a vintage car tour. The Travel Office arranged an experience with Rouler Retro, in which a driver picked us up in a vintage Jaguar and motored us out of the city, following quiet back roads through farmlands and villages. We felt like movie stars, zipping through the small towns and farmlands as we discussed Belgian history and current events with our knowledgeable guide. (My companion even preferred the car ride to the stops along the way.)

The highlight of the tour was Kasteel van Loppem, an impeccably preserved neo-Gothic masterpiece. We had the place to ourselves as our guide took us through the 19th-century interiors and curated art collections. The castle’s role in the nation’s history is fascinating: It was the site of pivotal meetings in the aftermath of World War I and hosted Belgium’s King Albert I and Queen Elisabeth.

Back in Bruges, we made a short visit to the Gruuthuse Museum, which offers insight into the wealth and influence of one of the city’s most prominent families. Like the rest of the museums we visited in town, it was inexplicably empty. We spent a few reverential minutes soaking in the ambience of the private wood-paneled oratory that connected the palace to the Church of Our Lady, where the noble family could enjoy a direct view of the pulpit and choir during services without even leaving their home.