Bruges is very expensive city. That’s a fact. But it is also a fairytale. And who wouldn’t like to live in a fairytale for a couple of days? However, sometimes it can become a real price nightmare. Don’t worry, I’ve got some tips for you how to save and get the most out of it. Let’s do Bruges on a budget together!
Going to Bruges
By train
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Can be expensive, although prices may range. If you are going on a weekend there is a wonderful 50% discount as a SNCB present.
Also if you plan to travel in Belgium think of buying GoPass. It reduces the price dramatically.
Book tickets here: http://www.belgianrail.be/en/Default.aspx
By bus
If you’re arriving to Charleroi airport the cheapest way to get to Bruges would be taking a Flibco bus. If you book early enough (in a month, better two) you will have 10 EUR return ticket.
Book you ticket here: http://flibco.com/
Staying in Bruges
Hostels
If you decided to stay for a day or two hostels will be your cheapest option, prices ranging from 20 EUR.
Book here: https://www.booking.com/
Hotels
If you have money for staying in a hotel in Bruges you wouldn’t probably read this post.
Price for one night ranging from 45 EUR for 1 person which is quite expensive. Still you can find some good deals on booking.com
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Couchsurfing
You can stay in Bruges for free using couchsurfing.com
The system is quite simple: you go to the site, find the host that is willing to accommodate you and socialize. But you should remember that couchsurfing is first of all a platform to discover new cultures, exchange experience, not mere “staying at somebody’s place for free”
Bruges sightseeing
The best option for you here would be the Free Tour. It works as follows: every day guides volunteers make tours around the city. There is a meeting place and the tour last for about 2 hours. In the end you can tip the guide (although it is voluntary). Sounds good? I bet it does.
There are few options for you out there:
- http://cyhitours.com/en/
- http://www.legendsofbruges.com/
- http://www.freetoursnetwork.com/#!bruges-1/cud0
- Night tour – http://www.brugesbynighttours.com/
Good thing about Bruges is that the charming city centre can be seen on foot. You can stroll along the canals, admire medieval and renaissance architecture, go to the Holy Blood Chapel. All these delights will be for free.
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Eating
Oh, here we are. Eating can be quite costly in Bruges. The city is known for its variety of cuisine. But when there is a word “cuisine” involved you straight away understand that the prices there will be cosmic. Example of a menu in the city centre:
Also it is full of tourist traps, so watch out. This includes places with friets (French Fries), waffles and other Flemish and Belgian eats. If you want to try some really good and exquisite stuff it will be expensive. If you want to have a cheap decent eat, here are the least expensive places.
- to have friets with sauce for 1.50 EUR go to My Kebab
- to have medium portion of good Italian pasta (including takeaway) for 3.50 EUR go to Maria
- to have some kebab for 4.50 EUR go to this place also there are kebabs here: Noordzandstraat 94
Supermarkets
Great choice to save money. You very well know what you can buy in supermarket, don’t you? The following supermarkets can be found in the city center of Bruges:
– Smatch – so far the biggest one and the cheapest one (Langestraat 55)
– Louis Delhaize (Oude Burg 22)
– Carrefour Express 1 (Vlamingstraat 2)
– Carrefour Express 2 (B, Zuidzandstraat 5)
– Colruyt – a little bit far from the center but totally worth going as it is a discount (Nijverheidsstraat 124)
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If you want to save a lot, you can try going “outside the ring” as we say here (meaning crossing the borders of the old town surrounded by canals) try:
– Lidl
– Aldi
Average ready-to-eat food prices in the supermarkets in the city center are the following:
– Salad bowls – from 3 EUR
– Sandwiches – from 2.50 EUR
– Pasta cups – from 3 EUR
The good thing is that you can buy all those waffles, sweets and Belgian chocolate at nice looking prices.
Basically it is it, my know-hows to you. If you have further questions do not hesitate to ask.
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Pavlo is an experienced travel writer published by CNN, BBC, The Guardian, The Independent, The Irish Times, Time Out, DK Eyewitness and Lonely Planet. He’s been writing about Poland for 9+ years.
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