5-Day Bruges Itinerary
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Five days is the 4-day plan (city, Ghent, Ypres) plus a fifth day on the Belgian coast, the easiest add-on since Ostend is roughly 15 minutes from Bruges by direct train. With less time, drop back to the 4-day itinerary ; with more, the 6-day plan adds a bike day to Damme.
Day 1: The Markt and the Belfry
Morning
The Belfry (EUR 15 to 16 for adults), then the Burg for the Basilica of the Holy Blood and the Stadhuis.
Afternoon
The Church of Our Lady (museum EUR 10 for adults) and a canal boat tour (EUR 15 for adults).
Evening
Dinner near the Markt, then an evening canal walk.
Day 2: Canals and the Begijnhof
Morning
The Begijnhof and Minnewater, then the Groeningemuseum (EUR 15, closing on 11 January 2027 for a refurbishment of about four years).
Afternoon
De Halve Maan brewery tour (EUR 16 including a beer).
Evening
An early dinner ahead of tomorrow’s day trip.
Day 3: Day trip to Ghent
Morning
Train to Ghent (around €9-14, roughly 25-30 minutes) for St Bavo’s Cathedral and the Ghent Altarpiece.
Afternoon
Gravensteen castle and the Graslei.
Evening
Back in Bruges for dinner.
Day 4: Ypres and Flanders Fields
Morning
Train or bus to Ypres, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours, for the In Flanders Fields Museum (EUR 12 for adults).
Afternoon
Tyne Cot cemetery and the Menin Gate.
Evening
Head back to Bruges, or stay for the 20:00 Last Post if your connection allows it.
Day 5: The Belgian coast and the Kusttram
Morning
Train to Ostend, around 15 minutes, then a Kusttram ride (a De Lijn day ticket is EUR 9 for ages 12 and over, valid 24 hours) to explore the coastline, roughly 67km end to end with 67 stops.
Afternoon
Hop off wherever looks interesting along the coast; the tram runs frequently enough that missing one costs only minutes.
Evening
Train back to Bruges for a final dinner. One concrete tip: check the Kusttram and rail timetables together before you leave in the morning, since the last useful connection back to Bruges is earlier than the trams themselves stop running.
Read more: our 6-day Bruges itinerary adds a bike day to Damme on top of this same plan, and the full Bruges guide covers the coast in more depth.