In a nutshell
- We’ll show you the 8 best museums in Bruges that are genuinely worth your time — including art museums, history museums, and interactive experiences.
- Our 4 personal favorites: St. John’s Hospital Museum, Historium Bruges, the Church of Our Lady Museum, and the Groeninge Museum.
- Visiting multiple museums? Save money with the Musea Brugge Card — 12 museums in 72 hours for just 33 euros.
- Still looking for a place to stay? Check out our Bruges hotel recommendations!
St. John's Hospital Museum
What do you need to know? St. John’s Hospital is one of the oldest surviving hospital buildings in Europe and a genuine highlight in Bruges. The exhibition covers Flemish art and the history of care. You can also visit the hospital pharmacy and the herb garden. Tickets can be purchased on-site or online.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! St. John’s Hospital Museum is the most impressive of all the Bruges museums. Everything interesting comes together here: city history, historical records, stunning architecture, and art straight from the region. And it’s all wonderfully authentic!
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Historium Bruges
What do you need to know? The Historium Bruges is not your typical city history museum — it’s a combination of exhibition, virtual reality, and short films that takes you on a journey back to Bruges in 1435.
Is it worth it? Totally! The Historium Bruges is original, creative, and great for the whole family. You’ll learn so much about the city’s history without having to use your imagination — you can see everything with your own eyes, even if it’s through a headset. It’s one of the most exciting things to do in Bruges, and way more than “just” a museum.
Church of Our Lady Museum
What do you need to know? The Church of Our Lady in Bruges actually houses an entire museum — and a seriously significant one at that. The exhibition includes paintings, statues, and tombs, with Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child as the standout piece. Entry to the church is free. Tickets for the museum section can be purchased on-site or online.
Is it worth it? Without a doubt! Visiting the Church of Our Lady alone is absolutely worth your time. The fact that genuine masterpieces are waiting for you here makes it even better. The museum is not only impressive and interesting, but also noticeably quieter than other places to visit in Bruges.
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Groeninge Museum
What do you need to know? The Groeninge Museum is Bruges’ premier art museum. Alongside significant Belgian artworks and six centuries of fine art, it also hosts regularly changing special exhibitions. Tickets can be purchased on-site or online.
Is it worth it? Really, it is. The collection at the Groeninge Museum is seriously impressive — when else do you get this close to a work by Jan van Eyck (besides in Ghent, hehe)? As with any art museum, plan a bit of extra time so you can take in the works at your own pace. Totally worth it.
Torture Museum Bruges
What do you need to know? Bruges is a medieval city, and the Middle Ages had quite a few dark sides. You can explore some of them at the Torture Museum through life-size wax figures and authentic torture instruments, all with explanations provided. Tickets are purchased on-site at the box office.
Is it worth it? If you enjoy a little bit of creepiness like we do, don’t skip the Torture Museum. It might sound macabre, but it’s genuinely fascinating. Plus, it’s pretty small — almost an under-the-radar find in Bruges — and the visit doesn’t take up much time at all.
Choco Story Bruges
What do you need to know? Choco Story is a chocolate museum spread across four floors, walking you through the history of chocolate from the Mayans to the present day. You can also watch praline production and sample some yourself. Delicious!
Is it worth it? If you want to do more than just buy pralines in Bruges and are curious about what goes on behind the scenes, Choco Story is the best way to find out. It’s also one of the most fun museums in Bruges for kids.
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Beer Museum Bruges
What do you need to know? Just like chocolate, beer is a huge part of what makes Bruges special. At the Beer Museum Bruges, you can interactively explore the history of beer — feeling, smelling, and tasting your way through it all.
Is it worth it? For true beer fans, this is an absolute must-see. And since beer is practically a national institution in Flanders, it’s especially rewarding to learn about its history and production right here on location.
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Folklore Museum Bruges
What do you need to know? The Folklore Museum shows you what daily life in Bruges looked like in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Among the highlights are an old classroom, an old pharmacy, a confectionery, and a general store. Tickets can be purchased on-site or online.
Is it worth it? The Folklore Museum Bruges is a really charming little museum with wonderful, authentic exhibits from times gone by. That said, it is a fairly standard type of museum that you’ll find in many cities. Still, it’s a great pick for a rainy day or a visit with kids.
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Save Money with the Bruges Museums Card
If you’d like to visit several Bruges museums without spending a fortune on admission, we recommend the Musea Brugge Card.
Once purchased, the card gives you 72 hours to visit 12 museums in Bruges, each one time. That’s a serious amount of savings!
Among the 12 included museums are St. John’s Hospital, the Groeninge Museum, the Church of Our Lady Museum, and the Folklore Museum — all of which we’ve covered above.
Without the Museums Card, admission to all four museums would cost around 50 euros. With the Museums Card, just 33 euros!
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