A well laid out and inviting museum that allows you to get up close to some of the best artowrks by…read morethe Flemish masters. Van Eyck and Bosch are represented, as well as a smattering of post-modern artists from the 20th century. I enjoyed how each room represented a particular artistic movement chronologically. A nice way to spend 90 minutes or so.

Flemish art overload. Allow 1-3/4 hours. Each room had multi-lingual explanatory cards (a great…read moreidea). + padded benches €30 for 2

I used my Brugge Museum Pass (purchased online and most cost effective when visiting 3 or more…read moremuseums/activities in 72 hours) and had the QR code scanned for admittance. If you have any backpacks or bags then you must store them in the free lockers due to the tight confines on the staircase. The climb was up 366 steps that first started with stone but later turned into narrower wooden steps making a tight staircase with two way traffic. If timed correctly then you may see and hear the carillon in action for a few minutes. That was the highlight of my visit but there are scheduled carillon "concerts" to enjoy when in Brugge. The views were nice as could be on that cloudy morning. Wire screens on all opening impacted some photos but one can capture most of the city. On the way down I took my time and finally stopped to view the exhibits on the bells, drum (programming for ringing the bells), carillon, the tower history, etc. Before exiting the staff will rescan your ticket. There was a small gift shop after the turnstiles.

I told myself that I am going to the top of Belfort even if it kills me…read more This is the center of Bruges. U just have to do this if u r here. From the outside looks like a medieval castle but it is a bell tower built in the 13th century, actually Bruges is a medieval city. It has 366 steps but felt like 1,000. Going up my heart felt like it was going to explode, on the way down does not affect ur cardio but hard on the knees. There is a thick rope on the right side to hold on too. Right of way goes to people going down. There are three levels u can take a break. One rest has the mechanical carillon which controls the music box, I was fortunate to be there when it was activated. This was physically brutal but I felt like I accomplished something big. I am physically strong however I realize I need to work on my cardio. Additionally, there was a Christmas Market in front of Belfort as well as others within walking distance. So much delicious food at the Christmas Markets. Belgian waffles are delicious, but they don't put syrup on them, they uses strawberries and bananas, powdered sugar or nutella. Hot wine is a thing, probably because it is about 40 degrees. The streets and businesses have lights and Christmas decorations, so festive. There was a celebrity chef Kurt Mortier there making delicious bratwurst, the line was long, he was very friendly, sausages are a big deal here. My favorite food discovery was chicken in mushroom cream sauce, where has this dish been all my life? This is the Christmas magic I felt as a child. There is a Santa Claus.

This was one of the most interesting former hospital that I've visited to date. St John's Hospital…read morewas 500+ years old and restored to showcase its history as a hospital previously run by nuns but also housed one of the largest collection works by Hans Memling. This artist was hired to create art that could soothe the patients and paint St. Ursula's Shrine when her remains were originally interred here. Inside the relatively darkened hospital were displays on hospital instruments, historical patient mortality and top causes, its history, the nuns and more. A separate area housed all of Hans Memling paintings. It was the largest collection in one place and I found it to be Impressive. Inside the old chapel was his small but very detailed St Ursula's shrine. Very handy charging stations were located in lobby and inside the museum. Upstairs allowed visitors to see the cavernous attic which in the past helped circulate the air within the hospital. In addition, the Closer to Memling Experience took up one end with a bunch of couches and floor seating to watch the big screen showing of close ups and some animation of Memling's paintings. Very well done. Admission was included with the Musea Bruge Pass but also worth visiting on its own.

Saint John's Hospital is one of the oldest hospitals in Europe, dating back to the mid 12th…read morecentury. It is being renovated & we couldn't go inside. However, I understand there was one medieval ward, a church and the chapel. Next door, the hospital pharmacy and the Diksmuide attic, boasting one of Europe's oldest and most monumental roof support structures.

Illness (biliary colic). The staff generously offered pomme frites to my brother. He reported they…read morewere chewy and did not taste right. Such a durable texture and off-flavor suggests re-frying old fries (tough) in old oil (off taste). 4 hours later he suffered 7.5 out of 10 biliary colic. We were all worried for his health. He pulled through. Moral of the Frietmuseum: Don't eat their fries.

Fun and kind of funky museum about the history of fries and potatoes. It has a lot of memorabilia…read morefrom different countries that we can all relate to and fun. The history of the potato is very important in the development of the world. It fueled many countries and provided low cost and nutrition to many who could work in the Industrial Revolution and it continues to be a vital staple today.

Adornesdomein is a historic estate-turned-museum in historic downtown Bruges. Apparently a wealthy…read morefamily used to live here for many generations (and the current generation supposedly still lives on part of the estate). The museum is relatively small, but nice. You can learn a bit about the history, then walk through the private Jerusalem Chapel, enjoy the garden, purchase some snacks to enjoy in the parlor, and finally view the art museum. The art portion was a bit strange - it didn't really seem to have anything to do with the rest of the estate, and the paintings were very sexually explicit, which I didn't appreciate. But the rest of the short visit was enjoyable. Prices are not too terrible - around €8 for adults or €4 for visitors under 26. Overall an ok visit - not a Bruges must-do, but it's an option if you're in the area and want to explore inside.