Family Days in Bruges: Museums, Parks and Boats

October 30, 2026

What suits children here

Bruges is a small, walkable town of museums, canals and sweet shops, with no zoo or amusement park. Families do best with one museum stop, one boat or carriage ride and a break in a park each day. Under 13s enter most Musea Brugge locations for free.

Best museums for children

Volkskundemuseum (Balstraat 43). Musea Brugge calls this one of its most family-friendly museums. There are seven game stations and 1950s and 1960s rooms in the Children of the Past section. When the weather is fine, folk games are laid out outdoors, and there is a museum inn. A sweet maker bakes on Thursday afternoons. Tickets: adults EUR 8, under 18 EUR 4, under 13 free. Closed Mondays, plus Tuesdays in winter.

Museum Sint-Janshospitaal. Two features suit younger visitors: a Children’s Hospital corner for ages 2.5 and up, and Closer to Memling in the attic for ages 7 and up. Under 13s are free. See the museum page .

Choco-Story and the Frietmuseum. Both are open daily. Choco-Story gives praline demonstrations and tastings, and a child ticket (ages 3 to 11) is about EUR 10. A child ticket for the Frietmuseum is about EUR 7. Confirm prices when you book.

Boats and rides

The canal boat takes 30 minutes. Children from 4 to 11 pay EUR 9, and under 4s ride free. The boats are open and have no child seats, so small children sit on the benches. The boats are not tailored to children, but families enjoy them, including the duck under a low bridge and the occasional splash. There is no pre-booking; buy at one of the five stages.

In the warm months, from early April to early November, the Lamme Goedzak paddle steamer carries passengers to Damme. A horse carriage costs EUR 70 for the whole carriage and seats up to five, so five family members share one fare.

Parks

Koningin Astridpark has a pond, a fountain, a kiosk and a children’s playground. Minnewater, the lake park by the Begijnhof, is free and home to swans. Boats cannot be hired there.

The Belfry

There are 366 steps and no lift. Children under 7 pay nothing, but the stairs are narrow and a poor match for toddlers. Try it with children who can climb alone, and book a time slot.

Staying safe

The quays along the Rozenhoedkaai, Dijver, Groenerei and Spiegelrei have bare stone edges with no railings. Hold hands near water and avoid walking backwards for photos. Wet cobblestones are slick, and cyclists use the same lanes as pedestrians.

Rain and heat

Plan indoor stops in the museums if it rains. The canal boats are open, though umbrellas are handed out in sudden showers. On days above 30 degrees, no carriage rides take place.

Look at organised options on GetYourGuide .