Last updated on June 15th, 2023
Bruges is a place to fall in love with. They call it the Venice of the North with very good reason.
This picture-perfect historic Belgian town is embraced by a network of canals, a necklace of water around its ancient buildings.
Boat rides are easily the best way to introduce yourself to the architectural delights of Bruges.
Those who want to live like a local might choose to travel like a local by hiring a bicycle.
Those in search of more indulgent delights will find a home in one of the many chocolatiers, a Bruges speciality.
Museums boast fine collections of Flemish art while its picturesque churches hide the splendour of a Michelangelo Madonna and Child.
Above all, the ancient Market Square, Markt, is the bustling, beating heartbeat of Bruges.
Are you wondering which of the city’s top 4 and 5 star hotels you should stay during your break in the city?
There are lots of luxury hotels in Bruges centre to choose from.
The best hotels in Bruges Belgium are the Hotel Dukes’ Palace and Hotel Van Cleef. Read on below.
The best area to stay as a tourist in Bruges is the city centre. Hotels are located within easy walking distance of the Grand Market square and the main tourist sights of the city. Many properties provide car parking.
Our Recommended Hotels in Bruges
- Best 5 Star Hotel in Bruges
Hotel Dukes’ Palace Brugge - Best Boutique Hotel
Boutique Hotel De Castillion – Small elegant family hotel - Best Hotel in Bruges with Canal View
Hotel De Orangerie – Small Luxury Hotels of the World - Best Bed & Breakfast in Bruges
B&B Exclusive Guesthouse Bonifacius - Best Family Accommodation in Bruges
Dukes’ Academie Brugge
What are the Best (5 Star Luxury) Hotels in Bruges City Centre?
1. Hotel Dukes’ Palace Brugge ★★★★★
The Belfry, 4 min. from Hotel Dukes’ Palace
City Centre – On-site Parking & Restaurant – Spa – Near Grand Market
When nothing less than the best will do. Set in a mansion that was once home to aristocracy, the five star Dukes’ Palace lives up to its history in each of its 110 rooms and suites, with a restrained elegance that’s the key to its appeal. The fully equipped spa is very much of the present. Breakfast is in a room that speaks of the elegance of times gone by. This 5 star hotel’s main restaurant offers contemporary cuisine. Tired of sightseeing? Relax in the large, private garden. It’s one of the best luxury hotels in Bruges Belgium!
2. Hotel Van Cleef ★★★★
Groenerei Canal near Hotel Van Cleef
City Centre – Canal Side – Private Parking – Boutique Style
Highly contemporary, discreetly personal service in a historic setting. Already an award-winner, this deluxe boutique 4 star hotel is in a 700 year old Italianate mansion, set directly onto the canal. Staying at Hotel Van Cleef is like staying as a privileged guest in a private home. Decor mixes classic with highly contemporary. Many rooms have terraces looking out on the canal. Contemporary art lines the walls of the breakfast room, with afternoon tea offered here or on the terrace.
3. Dukes’ Palace Residence
Bruges City Centre
City Centre – Boutique-style Décor – Near Central Market Square
For intimacy and setting, Hotel Prinsenhof can’t be beaten. This small privately-owned luxurious hotel in the historic centre has just 24 rooms and is run by a dedicated husband and wife team. The 1930s building is furnished in an eclectic, homely style, while the huge chimneypiece in the lobby recalls 15th century roots. A lavish breakfast spread is served in an elegant dining room, while the hotel also has its own bar. There’s even a guests-only app with insider information on the best of Bruges.
4. De Tuilerieën – Small Luxury Hotels of the World ★★★★
1 minute from De Tuilerieën Hotel
Historic City Centre – Canal Side – Indoor Pool – Private Parking
Honoured as one of the best Small Luxury Hotels of the World, De Tuilerieën features 45 sumptuously furnished – think four poster beds – rooms. Your accommodation is in a distinguished 15th century townhouse and looks directly out onto Den Dijver, one of the oldest and most peaceful of Bruges’s canals. Walk to the main square after enjoying the renowned breakfast buffet with Prosecco. When the day’s done, a swimming pool and sauna await. Unusually for Bruges, there’s a private car park.
5. Grand Hotel Casselbergh Brugge ★★★★
Callejón del Asno Ciego, 50m from Grand Hotel Casselbergh
Historic Old Town – Spa – Private Parking – Near Grand Market Square
History meets millenial design in the historic centre. Grand Hotel Casselbergh takes three canal-side historic townhouses with an ultra-modern annex seamlessly attached and adds everything from an extravagant spa in the ancient basement to an elegant salon-style lounge. The decor is traditionally luxurious in the wood-beamed heritage buildings and mid-century modern in up-to-the-minute annex accommodation. There’s parking, too.
6. Boutique Hotel Sablon ★★★★
Walplein, 9 min. from Hotel Sablon
Bruges Historic Centre – Boutique Style Hotel with Classic/Chic Interior
Striking, on-trend design marks out Hotel Sablon as something very special. Walk into this perfectly located boutique hotel and the 15th century exterior gives way to superbly selected 21st century art and style. Dark wood floors and mid-century furnishings to guest accommodation exude the owners’ impeccable personal taste. A full Belgian breakfast is offered and there’s a bar in the lounge to help you unwind after your days’ sightseeing.
7. Hotel Navarra Brugge ★★★★
Bruges Main Market Square, 3 minutes from Hotel Navarra Brugge
City Centre – Near Central Market Square – Indoor Pool – Private Parking
A superb heated pool is just one of the wellness attractions at superior Hotel Navarra Brugge, a short walk from the main historic attractions of Bruges such as the Belfort. There’s a spectacular spiral staircase inside and a delightful garden to bask in outdoors. Add a jazz bar and accommodation in a listed historic monument and the Hotel Navarra Brugge marks itself out as something very special. Your room decor is cosy and smart, breakfast is sumptuous and there’s private parking.
8. Dukes’ Arches Brugge Adults only ★★★★
Groenerei, 60 metres from Hotel The Peellaert
Historic City Center – Adults Only – Parking On-Site – Spa
If you seek child-free serenity, this is the place for you. Just 150m from Markt, The Peellaert embraces classical and empire style in the listed 19th century home of Baron de Peellaert. The luxury of the high ceilinged living rooms reflects the style of the bedroom accommodation. There’s classic cuisine with a twist in a highly contemporary restaurant, while the breakfast room is sharp and clean in style. An embracing underground spa has a sauna, steam bath and gym.
What are the 4 Best Boutique Hotels in Bruges?
1. Relais & Châteaux Hotel Heritage ★★★★★
Main Market Square, 50 m from Relais & Châteaux Hotel Heritage
City Centre – Near Main Market Square – Spa – Private Parking – On-Site Restaurant
With delight around every corner, 5 star Relais & Châteaux Hotel Heritage is set in a building that was the work of a distinguished Bruges architect. A husband and wife team have transformed it into a luxury five star hotel which melds old style elegance with highly contemporary colourful decor to guest accommodation. There’s also the pace-setting cuisine of the hotel’s Restaurant Le Mystique to enjoy in opulent surroundings, also strikingly updated. Step down to the basement, now a wellness centre, to breathe in authentic 13th and 14th century history.
2. Boutique Hotel De Castillion – Small elegant family hotel ★★★★
Bruges Grand Place, 7 min. from Hotel De Castillion
Elegant City Centre Hotel – Private Parking – Short Walk from Market Square
Boasting a distinguished history as the residence of a Bruges bishop in the 18th century, the top rated Hotel De Castillion is now an intimate, family run boutique hotel furnished with all the elegance befitting of its illustrious history. Expect chandeliers in your lavishly furnished accommodation and gilded panels in the large living rooms. An extravagant art deco salon hosts afternoon tea, daily. Walk to all the main attractions after a full breakfast. Parking is offered.
3. The Pand Hotel – Small Luxury Hotels of the World ★★★★
Rozenhoedkaai, 1 minute from The Pand Hotel
Historic Old Town Hotel – On-Site Parking – Limousine Service
An award-winning deluxe destination in a canal-side 18th century carriage house. With an opulence in both its decor and the featured objets, the Pand Hotel is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of The World. Privately owned and exuding the superbly eclectic style of its owner, The Pand is also perfectly located, a short stroll from Market Square. Ralph Lauren fabrics feature in some of the 26 individually designed guest rooms. An AGA cooker is the real star of a full Belgian breakfast.
4. Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce, A Luxe Worldwide Hotel ★★★★
View of Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce and The Belfry
Historic Center of Bruges – Private Parking – Waterfront Hotel
A true Bruges legend, with just 16 deluxe rooms, Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce wows guests from the outset with its stained glass windows and a timbered facade over the meeting point of two serene canals. Highly personal service is the key here. Guest accommodation is sumptuous and rooms are individually designed, featuring ancient wood beams, floral detailing or the simplicity of sparkling white walls. Walk to the main attractions after a buffet breakfast indoors or on the private terrace. There’s covered car parking.
What are the Best Bed and Breakfast in Bruges?
1. B&B Exclusive Guesthouse Bonifacius ★★★★
B&B Bonifacius
Famous Historic Property – Located along Canal – Private Parking
A hidden home from home in two 16th century houses, overlooking a canal and linked by an outdoor terrace. The owners’ remarkable achievement is to combine the ambience of a deluxe hotel with the intimacy of a private house. Guest accomodation reflects the historic surroundings with four poster beds and an elegant, yet pared back style. Breakfast is served in a gothic dining room overlooking the canal. A roaring fire behind the leaded windows of the lounge welcomes guests home on cooler evenings.
2. B&B Huis ´T Schaep ★★★★
Bonifacius Bridge, 6 min. from B&B Huis ‘T Schaep
City Centre – Quiet Street – Historical Property
A choice of just four deluxe suites, each themed after a Belgian artist or craftsman, are the centrepiece of this highly individual hotel, a short stroll from the cathedral. Huis ´T Schaep is set in two listed historic townhouses, which combined to become the 19th century home of renowned Belgian glazier Samuel Coucke. Some of his tiles, stained glass and designs feature in the hotel’s neo-gothic interior. Two of the suites feature four poster beds, while the Rembrandt Suite is a luxurious apartment.
What are the Best Hotels in Brugge with Canal View Rooms?
1. Hotel De Orangerie – Small Luxury Hotels of the World ★★★★
Hotel De Orangerie
City Centre – Rooms with Canal View – Private Parking
This former 15th century convent looks out onto the serene De Dijver canal in the historic heart of Bruges. Included as a member of Small Luxury Hotels Of The World, Hotel De Orangerie sets out to pamper its guests not least with a canalside terrace where breakfast can be taken. There’s also a richly decorated breakfast room with leaded windows. Accomodation features floral accents with canal, city or courtyard views. Lavish afternoon tea is a must.
2. Martin’s Relais ★★★★
Spiegelrei near Martin’s Relais Hotel
Historic Centre of Bruges Hotel – Rooms with Canal View – Private Parking nearby
Set in five historic homes directly overlooking a canal, Martin’s Relais embraces its heritage with parquet floors, majestic oak stairways and crystal chandeliers. This is elegance from the golden age of Bruges, with 44 guest rooms furnished in subtle luxurious taste. A peaceful, private garden welcomes guests home after a day’s sightseeing. The hotel’s cosy, opulent lounge bar is another private hideaway, overlooking the canal and featuring an open fireplace.
What are the Best Family Hotels in Bruges?
1. Hotel Aragon ★★★★
Historic Bruges
City Centre Hotel – Near Central Market Square – Private Parking
Stylish family accommodation at this ideally located small hotel features contemporary decor and can sleep from three to six people. There are kitchenette facilities available in some of the 42 rooms so that you can make the most of shopping for the local produce readily available in Bruges as part of your city break adventure. Breakfast is served in a delightfully furnished dining room while locally brewed beers are a feature of the lounges and bar.
2. Martin’s Brugge ★★★
Canal Houses
Budget Friendly – Near Main Market Square – Private Parking – Family Rooms
Smart and efficient, very much in the contemporary Flemish aesthetic, Martin’s Brugge welcomes families with up to two children in three star comfort in the heart of the historic centre. Flamboyant colourways are the key to the appeal of the public areas and the hotel prides itself on its high tech amenities to suit the demands of the most demanding of teenagers. Martin’s Brugge is within easy walking distance of most attractions.
3. Dukes’ Academie Brugge ★★★★
Minnewaterpark near Hotel Academie
City Centre – On-Site Car Parking – Family Rooms
Tucked away on a cobbled street, you can walk to the historic attractions of the Bruges city centre from the warm and welcoming Hotel Academie. Decor is smart and low key. Families can choose between Hotel Academie’s well-appointed triple or quadruple rooms and there’s a full buffet breakfast. Enjoy the secret private courtyard for afternoon tea or evening drinks. The hotel bar welcomes travellers’ stories after a day enjoying the delights of Bruges. Underground parking is available.
What’s the Best Hotel in Bruges with Free Parking?
1. Velotel Brugge ★★★★
Bruges Belgium
On-Site Restaurant – Free Car Parking
A hotel of contemporary design on the edge of the historic district, Velotel Bruges has free car parkingdirectly adjacent to the hotel. Covered parking is also available. Cycling – a Bruges obsession – is a major feature of this hotel with secure bicycle storage offered and full guidance on local cycling routes. Room decor is sharp and of-the-moment. O Vélo, the hotel’s restaurant, offers breakfast, brunch and dinner. There are extensive relaxing gardens. After a day out, why not relax in the hotel’s own sauna? It’s one of the best hotels in Bruges city centre with parking.
What’s the Best Cheap or Affordable Hotel in Bruges?
1. Hotel Rose Red ★★
Spiegelrei, 4 min. from Hotel Cordoeanier
City Center – Affordable Hotel – Near Grand Market Square
There’s no compromise on location, style or welcome needed at the two star Hotel Cordoeanier, which offers the intimacy of just 22 rooms, in a quiet side road close to the Market Square. The hotel prides itself on a homely atmosphere with contemporary decor in single, double, triple or quadruple rooms. Comprehensive buffet breakfasts are offered under the chandeliers of the hotel restaurant. Bicycle storage is also available for the active and adventurous.
Bruges City Centre
Shutterstock/© NAPA
The heart of historic Bruges is Markt, the historic cobbled Market Square, surrounded by brightly coloured ancient buildings featuring the distinctive Bruges crow-step gables. Go in the early morning to capture the ancient atmosphere before the crowds or to take a coffee at one of the many cafes and people watch. Many hotels in Bruges centre are just a short walk away from the Grand Market square and the Belfry. Plenty of bed and breakfast facilities are located in the center as well. Many cheap hotels in Bruges with parking are located at the edge of the old historical centre.
Take in the mighty belfry, or climb the 366 steps to the top for panoramic views over this astonishing place. Of the three main Bruges museums the Groeninge Museum, a short walk away, has a world-beating and critically acclaimed collection of Flemish art, for which Bruges is justly celebrated. The remarkable Hospitaalmuseum is in an old hospital and is essential not only for medical history – you’ll be fascinated, despite yourself – but for its exquisite 15th century collection of paintings.
Fans of Michelangelo won’t want to miss his gorgeous Madonna and Child at the Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk, one of the most renowned of the many beautiful Bruges churches. Make sure to allow time for a simple, aimless stroll along the serene canals or to take a boat ride and appreciate the full glory of this ancient place from the canals that form its heartbeat. Hire a bicycle to see the old centre as the locals do. For a historic indulgence, a horse drawn cart is the perfect experience. Visit the Kantcentrum – the Lace Centre – to buy or just admire one of the region’s specialities.
Best Hotels in Bruges City Centre
What are the Top Hotels near Bruges Train Station?
Bruges Train Station is a landmark 1930s building that welcomes travellers in typically efficient Belgian style. Its design is angular and almost austere, in deliberate contrast to the elaborate ancient architecture that awaits to delight the visitor to Bruges. While situated outside of the historic central district of Bruges, this station, which is linked to all national and international routes with high speed trains available, is within walking distance of most hotels inside Bruges’s ring of canals. Some travellers arriving at the station elect to use taxis – available outside – since the walk, of about a mile or so, is over cobbles and can take up to half an hour. Arriving at the station, visitors often first remak at the large number of bicycles parked there, a key hint that two wheeled travel is by far the preferred mode of getting around the Venice of the North. Several tour companies begin their day trips from here. A short walk away from Bruges station is the delightful Minnewater Lake which reflects both the greenery and historic buildings around it to make a perfect retreat from a day’s sightseeing. Overlooking the lake is the Poertoren Tower, which in earlier times was used for storage.
Best Hotels near Bruges Train Station
FAQs About the Best Bruges Hotels
What is the most expensive hotel in Bruges ?
The most expensive hotel or bed & breakfast in Bruges is Exclusive Suites The Secret Garden, closely followed by B&B Exclusive Guesthouse Bonifacius. Both properties are top rated !
What’s is the best hotel in Bruges ?
There a few highly recommended hotels in Bruges city centre. If you’re looking for a top property, you can’t go wrong with the 5 star Hotel Dukes’ Palace Brugge. This luxury hotel is well located within easy walking distance of the Grote Markt. Another highly recommended property is Hotel Van Cleef, also located in the historical centre.
What’s the best boutique hotel in Bruges ?
Located in the Heilige Geeststraat in the historic heart of the city, Hotel De Castillion – Small elegant hotel is the best boutique hotel in Bruges Belgium. Stay in a classic room, deluxe room or junior suite. Triple and quadruple rooms are available for families. Another unique property is Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce, A Luxe Worldwide Hotel. This property is set at the waterfront in Bruges city centre.
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