I’m heading to the Flanders region in Belgium in April to watch the Tour of Flanders cycling event and ride the sportive the day before (for any cycling fans!). I have a couple of days before my tour starts in Bruges - any tips for things to see or places to eat would be great. Bonus credits for any suggested cycling loops (40-50km’ish) from Bruges.
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for Bruges:
- climb the Belfort tower for sweeping views of the city (you can buy tickets online for specific time slots)
- take a boat tour to discover the city from the water
- just walk around and get lost in the side streets (basically no tourists outside of the main bits!)
I recommend a day trip to Ghent –> you can easily cycle there from Bruges, I would assume. It’s under 50 km away, and the landscape is completely flat 
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Riding your own Tour of Flanders the day before sounds fun.
Are you going to do the 80, 130, 160 or 240 kilometres?
15,000 cycling enthusiasts sounds like crowded roads. I’ll be sure to avoid the area.
Bruges has a wonderful medieval city with picturesque canals, cobbled streets, and beautiful architecture.
Wander around the Markt square with its Belfry tower, and visit the Basilica of the Holy Blood.
For museums, consider the Groeningemuseum (Dijver 12) for Flemish art or the Choco-Story museum (Wijnzakstraat 2) if you love chocolate.
A canal boat tour is a relaxing way to see the city from the water.
And when you’re hungry, you’ll find plenty of mussels with fries, Flemish stew, and waffles.
As well as chocolate, Belgium is famous for its beer.
While the main sportive events start in Oudenaarde or Antwerp, you can enjoy scenic rides around Bruges that capture the Flemish countryside charm.
Cycling Loops from Bruges
Bruges to Damme Loop (45km)
Ride from Bruges to the quaint town of Damme along flat, peaceful roads and canals. Damme is a lovely spot for a coffee or lunch break before heading back.
Bruges to Lissewege and the North Sea (50km)
Cycle north to the coastal village of Lissewege, then continue to the seaside town of Zeebrugge for fresh sea air and views, before returning inland.
Bruges Countryside Loop:
Explore the rural roads south and east of Bruges, passing through small villages and farmland, with gentle terrain perfect for a relaxed ride.
These loops avoid the toughest cobbled climbs but still offer a great Flemish cycling experience.
Where will you watch the race from?
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I’m signed up for the 160km ‘Ride you own’ Sportive. It will for sure be lots of cyclists. The great thing they did is have an ‘open’ start time over a few hours… so it’s not one giant clump and is a bit more spread out.
Thanks for the tips - the ‘pre-ride’ loops skipping the big climbs is a good idea: I’m happy to save those efforts for the big day. For sure I’ll be looking forward to a few Belgian beers as we watch the race: our tour organizer has a bus which will drive us around to various spots on the course, including a couple of the famous climbs, so it’s an experience I’m excited about!
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@Garry Bruges is honestly one of my favorite places in Europe 
I don’t know the cycling routes in detail, as I experienced the city more through photography and wandering, but some moments really stay with you.
One thing I’ll never forget is walking along the canals and seeing a dog looking out of a window by the river. It became so famous that people were literally saying “the dog in the window” and going there just to take photos. It sounds simple, but it perfectly captures the charm of Bruges – quiet canals, reflections, and little unexpected details.
If you enjoy cycling, I can imagine riding along the canals and out into the countryside around Bruges must be beautiful, especially in April. Even just slowing down and observing life there is part of the magic.
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