Hotels

If a high-rise luxury hotel is your cup of tea, I'd suggest you stay in Brussels and commute to Bruges. But if you like the idea of small, atmospheric accommodations, perhaps on the banks of a picturesque canal, with modern (if not necessarily luxurious) facilities, opt for one of the places reviewed below. Try to arrive with a reservation. Considering the four million visitors it welcomes each year, Bruges is Belgium's premier tourist destination. Even though many visitors are day-trippers, it's essential to make your hotel reservations at least 2 weeks in advance if you plan to stay overnight. Having said that, if you do come into town without a place to stay, head immediately to the tourist office, which has a last-minute reservation service. Accommodations are more likely to be full on weekends.

Note that where hotels have no private parking, there's another option beyond the "limited street parking" that might be listed in the service information. Bruges's small center city holds six large public parking garages, all clearly marked on access roads. There will always be at least one within a short walk of your hotel.