The Best Hotels in Bruges for Every Traveller

Is it a B&B or a luxury hotel? The line between the two is ultra thin at this spectacular 16th-century house, wedged between a cobbled street and a canal. There are only three rooms (so that intimate five-star service is all yours), and they’re a far cry from standard B&B looks, with panelled walls which mute any hint of flounce from the four-posters and floral cushions. You breakfast at bay windows cantilevered over the canal, but the big draw is the rooftop terrace, overlooking the elegant spire of the Church of Our Lady, home to Michelangelo’s Madonna of Bruges.

Exposed beams, roaring fires, and striking colours: Canal Deluxe takes two ancient houses overlooking a dinky canal, and injects them with 21st-century style. You’ll find grand chairs upholstered with patterns so bold they almost look like animal print; scarlet, slate and lime-green walls; and claw-foot, roll top baths for old-school luxury. Of the five rooms, two have terraces over the canal; some even have fireplaces. To ramp up the romance, pick the Cottage Euphrasie – a grand suite spread over three floors, with an open fire and spiral staircase connecting the rooms.

This dragon’s lair takes its name from the gold figure atop the sinuous 16th-century facade. Inside it’s a stunning mishmash of 21st-century boutique chic and flamboyant rococo, with original mouldings, gilded stucco and bucolic murals in the lounge. The four large bedrooms (junior suites, really – they all have seating areas) are all different, from stripped back wood-panelled walls to striped wallpaper and floral bedspreads. Breakfast means boiled eggs in pretty holders, cutesy cow-shaped jugs and rolls baked in the Aga.

You don’t see many new things in Bruges, but this hotel, a short walk from the centre, near the leafy Begijnhof, dates from just 2019. If you’re allergic to twee, this one’s for you – rather than the traditional chocolate-box style, you’re in for thoroughly modern rooms, with contemporary art behind crisp-linen beds, silky dark carpets, and the odd black feature wall. Only the exposed beams here and there remind you where you are. Hit the Bar Boutique for tapas and drinks on the patio overlooking the Minnewater Park.

All the amenities you’d find in a big hotel are present and correct at the Flanders. Crisp, modern rooms are a soothing mix of greiges and taupes on the walls and funky modern furniture. There’s a great bar, Barazar, managing a fine line of cocktails as well as the obligatory Belgian beer. There’s even a small indoor swimming pool if you want to get some pre-sightseeing laps in. It’s a great choice for families, too, with triple rooms and one that sleeps up to five.

Guestlists don’t get much grander: the former king and queen of Belgium, Winston Churchill and other European royals are among those to have stayed in this captivating gothic mansion, which today doubles as the studio of owner-artist David de Graef. The two rooms share the medieval-style garden, overlooking one of Bruges’ prettiest canals, the Church of Our Lady and the Gruuthuse Palace. Done up in the early 20th century, it’s a fascinating architectural gumbo – the “gothic” room pairs a human-height fireplace with an arched, wood-clad ceiling, while the “medieval” room has mullioned windows and a giant carved wooden bed.

Past meets present at this Carthusian convent-turned-swanky boutique hotel on the central Dijver canal. There’s no monastic austerity here, though; with floral wallpaper, pastel colours and antique furniture, the rooms take you back to a time when travel was altogether more luxurious. Public areas are a stunning mix of sumptuous fireplaces, loud feature wallpaper and colourful sofas, surrounded by tapestries, engravings and silk-lined drapes. In spring or summer, breakfast is canalside, on the terrace.

Prepare to feel like royalty at the bona fide castle that is Hotel Dukes’ Palace. With one-of-a-kind rooms featuring king-size beds and marble baths, the whole place exudes grandeur and polish. This comes as no surprise considering it’s located on the Prinsenhof, former home to the Duke of Burgundy. Just 250m (820ft) away from Bruges’ central square square, Hotel Dukes’ Palace is a convenient home base for exploring this charming town.

One of the most revered hotels in Bruges – and quite rightly so – Hotel Van Cleef’ has a tranquil location just inside the Saint Anna district. Together with its internal patio, overlooking a stretch of canal, it’s a very special place to stay. The hands-on service and homey yet luxurious interior of this 18th-century building are hallmarks of Bruges’ aristocratic Van Cleef family, who run the hotel with pride and joy.

The Adornes have been merchant royalty since the 15th century, and their waterfront hotel, in the Saint Anna district, continues the winning streak: small, but with an incredibly personal feel. The family succeeds in making you feel instantly at home, while authentic details around the 17th-century building – say, wooden beams – blend effortlessly with modern comforts that ensure a relaxed visit. A huge plus in our book: the hotel offers free bikes, so you can wheel around Bruges’ cobbled streets and canals to your heart’s content.

With views out over the most-photographed corner of the city, the Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce is a family-run landmark – and not just because it pops up regularly in the Colin Farrell-led cult hit In Bruges. The timber facades of the four adjoined houses hide a select few lush rooms, and public spaces displaying an impressive collection of 20th-century paintings – the name Magritte may ring a bell. Their excellent morning breakfast is even better for the accompanying outlook over the picturesque waterfront.

The Hotel Navarra is a 17th-century mansion defined by simple elegance, retaining a high number of loyal customers who make it their go-to residence when in Bruges. This devotion has a great deal to do with the beloved team keeping this expansive hotel personable, and also with its famed jazz bar, a favoured spot for live music on Wednesday and Friday evenings.

The first thing you notice when walking through the doors of this 15th-century house – besides its marvellous tiled floors – are the autographed portraits lining the entry hall. Here you’ll find Colin Farrell, David Hockney and Belgium’s own royal family smiling back at you amongst countless other guests. Celebrities and blue-blooded families aside, it’s Hotel de Tuilerieën’s wooden four-poster beds, magnificent chandeliers and stunning view of the Dijver canal that keep visitors coming back.

If ever a hotel mirrored the ugly-duckling-to-beautiful-swan narrative, it is Grand Hotel Casselbergh, a sprawling and elegant place near Burg Square at the heart of Bruges, with historic quarters as well as a modern wing. Not all that long ago, the three mansions it now inhabits were falling apart. Its recent reincarnation, as a renovated 118-room luxury escape is indeed a remarkable transformation.