Bruges in 5 Days on a Budget (Daily Costs)
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5 days adds the Belgian coast to the core and 2 day trips
Days 1-4 here are the exact plan in the 4-day itinerary : the Markt and the Burg, Michelangelo and the museums, Ghent, and a solemn day at Ypres and Flanders Fields. Day 5 adds Ostend and the Kusttram, the world’s longest tram line, for sea air and a change of scenery. If 5 days is more than you need, the 4-day itinerary skips the coast.
Book these before you go
- Your onward train from Brussels to Bruges, book at belgiantrain.be
- A Ghent day-trip train for day 3, and the Ypres connection for day 4 (often via Kortrijk)
- A room booked ahead for the summer peak or the Bruges Beer Festival weekend (12-13 September 2026)
Day 1: the Markt, the Burg, and the canals
The Markt is free, the Belfry ticketed for the climb (verify current price and hours). The Burg holds the Stadhuis and the Basilica of the Holy Blood, free to enter. Walk to the Rozenhoedkaai, free.
| Day 1 cost (euros, per person) | Low | Higher |
|---|---|---|
| Bed | 35 | 90 |
| Breakfast | 6 | 15 |
| Frituur lunch | 8 | 15 |
| Belfry climb (verify) | 0 (skip) | 15 |
| Dinner | 20 | 38 |
| Day 1 total | 69 | 173 |
Day 2: Michelangelo, the museums, and the Begijnhof
The Church of Our Lady holds Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child; its brick tower, 115.6m, is the third-tallest brickwork church tower in the world. The Groeningemuseum covers the Flemish Primitives. Minnewater and the Begijnhof are free. Finish at Choco-Story, around €14 (verify).
| Day 2 cost (euros, per person) | Low | Higher |
|---|---|---|
| Bed | 35 | 90 |
| Breakfast | 6 | 15 |
| Groeningemuseum (verify) | 0 (skip) | 12 |
| Lunch | 10 | 20 |
| Choco-Story | 14 | 14 |
| Dinner | 20 | 38 |
| Day 2 total | 85 | 189 |
Day 3: Ghent day trip
Ghent is 25-30 minutes by train (verify). St Bavo’s Cathedral, the Ghent Altarpiece, Gravensteen castle, and the Graslei. Back in Bruges by evening.
| Day 3 cost (euros, per person) | Low | Higher |
|---|---|---|
| Bed | 35 | 90 |
| Breakfast | 6 | 15 |
| Ghent round-trip train (verify) | 12 | 16 |
| Lunch in Ghent | 10 | 20 |
| Dinner back in Bruges | 20 | 38 |
| Day 3 total | 83 | 179 |
Day 4: Ypres and Flanders Fields
Ypres sits roughly 1-1.5 hours away, often via Kortrijk (verify current routing). The In Flanders Fields Museum, the Menin Gate and its nightly Last Post at 20:00 (since 1928), and Tyne Cot Cemetery further out. Treat this as the day’s only activity.
| Day 4 cost (euros, per person) | Low | Higher |
|---|---|---|
| Bed | 35 | 90 |
| Breakfast | 6 | 15 |
| Ypres round-trip train (verify) | 25 | 35 |
| In Flanders Fields Museum entry (verify) | 0 (skip) | 12 |
| Lunch in Ypres | 10 | 20 |
| Quiet dinner back in Bruges | 20 | 38 |
| Day 4 total | 96 | 210 |
Day 5: the Belgian coast and the Kusttram
Ostend is commonly cited as about 15 minutes from Bruges by direct train (verify). From there, the Kusttram, the world’s longest metre-gauge tram line at roughly 67km with 67 stops, runs the length of the coast from De Panne to Knokke-Heist, operated by De Lijn. Ride a stretch of it for sea views, sandy beaches, and a much flatter horizon than the medieval core offers.
| Day 5 cost (euros, per person) | Low | Higher |
|---|---|---|
| Bed | 35 | 90 |
| Breakfast | 6 | 15 |
| Ostend round-trip train (verify) | 10 | 14 |
| Kusttram single fare (De Lijn, verify) | 3 | 5 |
| Lunch at the coast | 12 | 22 |
| Dinner back in Bruges | 20 | 38 |
| Day 5 total | 86 | 184 |
Getting around on 5 days: what needs booking ahead
Days 1 and 2 are walkable. Days 3, 4, and 5 all run on normal NMBS/SNCB regional trains, plus a De Lijn fare for the Kusttram on day 5. Full details are in the main Bruges guide .
Book the Ypres connection and your coastal train a little ahead in peak season, and keep day 4 separate from the lighter days around it, it’s the one stop on this route that asks for a slower, quieter pace.