Local Love: Shopping in Bruges

Bruges is a compact city. That means pleasant shopping, because you can wander from one shopping street to another in no time. Between Market Square and the old city gates at the periphery of the centre, it's a veritable voyage of discovery. In the shopping streets themselves you will find both authentic Bruges makers and larger chains.

In the well-known shopping streets, you’ll definitely get your fill. These are the streets that form a loop between Market Square and 't Zand Square. Shopaholics will find the established chains and well-known brands here. You will also find a number of small supermarkets.

Venture off this central circuit, and there is a lot to discover in the side streets and hidden shopping spots. How about vintage bargains, surprising classics and friendly family-owned shops?

• For example, the Langestraat and Hoogstraat are a paradise for hipster guys and rockabilly girls, with trendy and creative start-ups, vintage deco and popular food and drink addresses. Including greenery and art on the facades.
• Are you looking for unique shopping addresses to give your interior a makeover? Or you're going to treat yourself to handmade jewellery? Then head straight to the Sint Jakobsstraat and the Ezelstraat.
• There's nothing like shopping to whet the appetite, and Bruges has got that base covered too. Top culinary addresses are ready to welcome you, all throughout the city centre. Definitely don't forget to have a nose around the Zilverpand shopping centre for a cozy brunch or quick bite.

Every nook therefore has its own unique identity, with the historic backdrop of Bruges as the common thread.

On weekdays or weekends, shops are almost always open in Bruges. Most stores open their doors from 10.00 a.m. and stay open until 6.00 or 6.30 p.m. Many stores are open on Sundays in any case, but every first Sunday of the month (excluding public holidays) is shopping Sunday in Bruges. More stores are open on this monthly shopping day than on other Sundays. From 1.00 p.m. until 6.00 p.m. What's more, the shopping streets between 't Zand Square and Market Square are then low-traffic, to make your shopping trip even more enjoyable.

Nothing beats the fun of shopping at a market. Fresh products, enthusiastic traders and warm human contact: that's what nourishes the soul. You can scour the market in Bruges just about every day.

• Monday, 8.00 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.: general market, Onder de Toren, Lissewege
• Wednesday, 8.00 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.: food and flowers, Markt, Bruges
• Friday, 8.00 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.: general market, Marktplein, Zeebrugge
• Saturday, 8.00 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.: general market, ‘t Zand, Bruges
• Sunday, 7.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.: general market, Veemarkt, Sint-Michiels
• Wednesday through Saturday, 8.00 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.: fish at the Vismarkt
• Every day, 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. (15/3 to 15/11) or 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. (16/11 to 14/3): artisanal products, Vismarkt
• Saturdays, Sundays, bridge days and public holidays (15/3 to 15/11) and Fridays, June to September, 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.: antiques, bric-a-brac, and crafts, Dijver, Bruges

Shopping is even more enjoyable in a low-traffic environment. That's why Bruges restricts and/or excludes traffic in certain shopping streets. This applies:

• Every day in the Steenstraat and Katelijnestraat, from 1.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.
• On Saturday and Sunday in the Zuidzandstraat, the Geldmuntstraat and the Noordzandstraat, between 1.00 p.m. and 6.00 p.m.

Buses from De Lijn are authorised in the entire low-traffic zone. So visitors can still reach the city centre via public transport.