Unique Private Tours in Bruges: Uncover Hidden Gems

Born and raised in Bruges, but well travelled, I’d like to take you on a storytelling tour through the city I love.

Time and again, Bruges, a World Heritage City, captivates the hearts and minds of its visitors. Expressions of amazement and emotion at the sight of the romantic canals, ancient squares and countless art treasures and architecture. These Private Guided Tours (maximum 8 people) will lead you past breath taking spots, revealing our true and unique attractive characteristics. Bruges is grand but at the same time a destination on a human scale that is perfect for exploring on foot. Our wealth of cultural-historical monuments and museums goes hand in hand with a wonderful atmosphere and authentic charm.

The World Heritage Tour

This tour includes the UNESCO World Heritage sites and must-see venues. This walk will take you through the Bruges tourist centre. A great walking tour for first timers in Bruges that includes the highlights of the city’s rich world heritage. You will discover towering churches, stunning city palaces, cobble stone streets and centuries old buildings. In the meantime, you will be taken back in history whilst learning about amusing anecdotes and legends.

This tour will start from the Market Square and follow through to the Burg Square, the Fish Market, Tanners Square, the Rosary Quay and Dijver, Groeninghe, Hof Arents and the Gruuthuuse museum, the Church of Our Lady, St John’s Hospital, the Beguinage and Lake of Love.

History in a Nutshell

This tour focuses a bit more on the rich history of Bruges, taking you back to the luxury and bling-bling of the 14th and 15th century, the Burgundian age and splendour. The Burgundian court loved staying in Bruges, and this worked as a magnet on the rich and famous of Europe. We will be strolling along the ultimate locations epitomising Burgundian heritage and follow in the footsteps of the noblemen and powerful merchants and discover the art of the Flemish Primitives.

This tour will start at the former Princes’Court and will include strolling along quiet streets towards the St Jacob’s Church, the Bladelin Court, Old Stock Exchange, the Augustine Bridge, St Giles’ Church and district, the Oosterlingen Square, Wednesday Market, Jan Van Eyck Square, Market Square, Watervliet Court, Dijver, Groeninghe and Gruuthuuse Palace.

Off the beaten track

Tour three is a more nostalgic tour taking you to the more silent streets and quarters where the Bruges people live, away from the maddening crowds of tourism. It’s a heaven of tranquillity away from the busy streets and squares. A leisurely stroll through quaint streets and alleys where the added spirituality of churches and abbeys will sink in. Or catch a breath of fresh air on the green ramparts of the city in the shadow of a windmill or relax in dreamy gardens and parks. The perfect remedy for stepping out of the rat race and discovering some hidden gems.

The walking tour will take you through the hanseatic quarter and tranquil St Anne’s district. Highlights are the St John’s Square, the stunning baroque St Walburga & St Anne’s churches, the Adornes Estate, the lace centre and local crafts history museum, the longbow and crossbow guilds of St Sebastian and St George, the city ramparts and mills, the museum or Our Lady of the Pottery and the Major Seminary and of course my favourite watering hole, Café Vlissinghe, the oldest pub in town dating back to the 16th century. Alternatively, we can do this tour as well by bicycle (bike rental not included).

Timing & content

Each private tour, executed by a registered and qualified guide, will last 3 hours (at least) and include some local tastings such as beer, chocolates and waffles. You and your party (max 8) will be the only people on this tour. I refuse to handle large group tours or regular shore excursions. Each tour will be unique as it will be tailored around you!

These tours can be extended by a light lunch or dinner (cost of food & beverages not included) to discover more about the rich Belgian gastronomy and Burgundian way of living.

Pricing

Each tour costs the same. Your are only paying for the time spent, but prices defer according to time spent. Payment is to be settled in cash prior to the tour or by bank transfer at the time of booking.

• A 3 hour tour will cost 249 € (around 295 USD)

• The 4 hour tour costs 329 € (around 389 USD)

• Full day tour (combination of two of the above tours), 579 € (around 685 USD) including a lunch stop.

At the end of the tour, I will share my personal Google Map with privately recommended restaurants, coffee shops, cafés and shops for you to further discover Bruges on your own.

Entrances to museums, bike rentals and tips are not included in the prices above.

Booking

To book any of these tours or get a more personalised offer please write to me on hugo.slimbrouck@gmail.com or send me a text or give me a call on +32475755273

Testimonials

You don’t have to take my word for it. This is what some of my clients had to say.

• Wij hebben genoten van de tour met Hugo! Veel interessante dingen heeft hij ons laten zien en verteld. We wilden graag de ‘niet touristische’ plekjes ontdekken en dat heeft Hugo gedaan. Het was gezellig, leuk en zeker aan te raden. Erg Leuk!
  Eveline, November 2025
• We took a wonderful private tour with Hugo and he was awesome! Spent the time learning about the beautiful city of Bruges and its history. Including the mandatory things you must know but better yet, the little gems you would not! Went off the beaten path which we loved. Thank you Hugo for a wonderful morning and we will treasure our memories of your beautiful city!
  Kathy and Linnae, December 2025
• Hugo had tons of knowledge about the area, the history, and the best local spots for food, drinks and more. He answered every question we had and gave us a great private tour with delicious Belgian waffles, fries, beer and chocolate tastings. Great Experience!
  Sarah, November 2025
• Hugo was great. Our group had a fantastic tour. Hugo is knowledgeable about Bruges history, art and culture. He is highly recommended. 11 out of 10. Knowledgeable and entertaining!
  John, Octobre 2025
• We learned so much about the history of Bruges through our tour with Hugo. He obviously loves his city and is passionate about sharing his knowledge with visitors. He also is a great resource for all things Bruges related – shops, cafes, transportation, etc. I highly recommend you take a tour with Hugo at the beginning of your visit as it will help as you determine the things you want to do the rest of your visit. Super knowledgeable guide!
  Lisa, October 2025
• Hugo was an excellent guide and story teller! His love and passion for the city where he grew up and raised his family was evident. He took us to many gems and shared its history! He also accommodated our love for food by bringing us to several great places to sample the food. I would highly recommend Hugo as a tour guide!
  Rick, September 2025
• Enjoyed so much our tour of Bruges with Hugo. He showed & told us so much of the history of Bruges. He took us on the boat ride through the city. It was beautiful! He took us to a chocolate candy store. We were able to do a tasting. Delicious! Of course I bought a box of different candies! We also spent some time at a brewery. Such a fantastic day with a GREAT tour guide!
  Terri, September 2025
• We enjoyed every minute of our walking tour with Hugo. He was so knowledgeable about the history of Bruges and took us to the unique places that the locals go to. We had great conversation and a beautiful walk.
  Catherine, September 2025

• ,A Bruges native, Hugo is not only knowledgeable about the history of the city but also full of anecdotes about contemporary life. A very enjoyable overview of a beautiful little city.
  Mary Frances, August 2025

• Hugo was a terrific guide – educated, articulate, lively and engaging. We asked to adjust his tour and he was attentive and flexible. He’s a great raconteur with lots of stories to share and a natural born teacher. Highly recommended!
  Deb, August 2025

• Hugo did a great job showing us around Bruges. He met us at the train station and guided us thoughtfully around the city. Since Hugo grew up in Bruges, he knows a lot about the history. He showed us all of the top spots, but also a lot of interesting things that were off the beaten path, which most tourists never know about.
  Adam, September 2025

• Having Hugo as my tour guide was like meeting an old friend & having him show me his beloved city. Hugo went out of his way to pick me up at the Cruise Port in Zeebrugge. … A wonderful experience, from having him pick me up directly at the ship port and give me a mini tour on our way into town. Well worth the money for having him drive me from the port. And then it was like he and I were instant friends – we had coffee together and I saw where his daughter was getting married the following weekend. He taught me how to eat fries (with mayonaise!) and drink Belgian beer. It was an amazing experience and tour. He personalised the tour for me and I saw and learned so much.
  Lucia, August 2025

• Bruges through the eyes of a native son. It was an absolute pleasure discovering all of the marvellous things Bruges has to offer with someone who thoroughly knows and loves the city. Hugo was an excellent guide, not only because of his extensive knowledge of the city, but because of the deep affection he has for his home town. We were treated to a tour that combined information on popular, well known destinations as well as what were called the ‘hidden gems’ of the city. The engaging manner in which Hugo presented historical and present day information intertwined with personal anecdotes was interesting and delightful. I would highly recommend Hugo as your guide so you truly get to know the wonders of Bruges.
  Gale, September 2025

• We had an amazing experience being guided around Bruges by Hugo. His knowledge, passion, and sense of humor made the tour unforgettable. Hugo showed us both the popular sights and hidden gems, ensuring we had a truly memorable experience. I highly recommend Hugo as a guide in Bruges. Thank you for an incredible tour. Unforgettable experience!
  Olaf Johan, August 2025

• A great introduction to Bruges. We really enjoyed our tour with Hugo. He was very knowledgeable about the city and gave us the recommendations we needed about where to eat and how to spend our time during our city break. He was very engaging and easy to spend time with, and it is great to have a personal service with your own guide.
  Alice, August 2025

• Hugo was a great guide and we had an amazing day discovering Bruges. He even spent extra time with us to help us find a great restaurant for dinner after our tour. He knew a lot of people and took us to a great pub and lace store. We enjoyed the tour and highly recommend Hugo.
  Kelly, August 2025

• Hugo was the perfect guide. Not only did we sample great tasty treats but the best part was Hugo’s extensive history lesson. We had an amazing time. We saw the historic areas away from the tourist traps. Next time I’m in Bruges I will book with Hugo again. He knows his Belgian beers and I want more info!
  Martina, August 2025

• Charming, cultured and knowledgeable. We had a fascinating time with Hugo. He clearly knows Bruges/Brugge and even in the kickstart tour we got a sense of just how special it is, if you have the time to do the longer tour with Hugo. He was generous with his knowledge and it felt like spending time with a well informed friend. Whatever your interest, Hugo will find interesting things to share. Highly recommended!
  Ruth, July 2025

• Fantastic experience! Hugo is extremely knowledgeable and entertaining with a fine sense of humour. We had the perfect mix of history, main attractions, off the beaten path and stories from a beautiful town.
  Dirk, July 2025

• Hugo is great! He is an excellent guide – knowledgeable, accommodating, and generally good company. It was very hot on the day of our tour and he adjusted the pace in response while always managing to keep things interesting and varied. I highly recommend him.
  Gail, July 2025

• We enjoyed Hugo telling us about the major sites, but then he took us off the beaten path and showed us places that are not as easily visible. He knew a lot of history and stories behind the landmarks. He answeree all of my questions about where to eat, the best beer places, the best chocolates … We enjoyed passing groups of 15 to 30 people when we had our own private tour guide. That was really fun.
  Alan, July 2025

• My wife and I booked a 3 hour walking tour of Bruges with Hugo. Arranging the tour was very straightforward and Hugo met us at our hotel as planned. Firstly may I say how friendly and knowledgeable Hugo is, as someone born and bred in Bruges Hugo was able to give us a comprehensive tour of his lovely city. At no time did we feel rushed, everything was at our pace allowing for many photo stops. We covered quite a lot of ground avoiding the hordes wherever possible that descend on the city from mid morning onwards. We would have no hesitation in recommending Hugo to anyone that wats a leisurely tour hosted by a charming guide.
  Stephen, July 2025

• Go with Hugo! Hugo was knowledgeable, interesting and charming. He shares his love of Brugge through stories of the city’s history with humour. He is easy to get along with and patient with questions and taking photos. He had a great recommendation for everything from parking to eating to shopping. There’s no question for us: when we go to Brugge, we go with Hugo.
  Melissa, June 2025
• We had a wonderful time with Hugo! He, and generations of his family, is from Bruges and has so much deep knowledge of the city and fun (and funny anectodes) to share. We loved that he focussed on small, local businesses. It was a great way for us to learn about Bruges during a short weekend visit. We would love to seek Hugo out next time we come as well. A true local gem!
  Janie, June 2025

• Belgian beer & more, Hugo made sure to understand my interests and expectations so that he could customize the tour appropriately. We visited 3 unique beer cafes, each with a great character/charm, each further removed from traditional tourist areas and each older. Got to have multiple beers an taste even more across the broad spectrum of tastes and styles. Learned a lot about Belgian beer and life in Bruges. James, May 2025

• Het was ontzettend leuk en Hugo had een leuke route voor ons buiten de massa om. Hij kon leuk vertellen en had veel goede tips. Ontzettend gezellige wandeltour!
  Monique, mei 2025

• Hugo has grown up loving the city of Bruges and it showed. He knows all the hidden gems along narrow streets and behind old wooden doors. From the pub we grabbed a beer at, to the house his great grandfather grew up in, and the chocolate shop he recommended. We felt like a local.
  Christy, May 2025

• Visite formidable! Merci à Hugo, guide d’exception. Visite très intéressante et enrichissante.
  Philippe, Avril 2025

• Het bezoek aan Brugge met Hugo was fantastisch! Hugo was de perfecte gids om Brugge beter te leren kennen. Zowel de toeristische trekpleisters als een aantal verborgen pareltjes. We hebben deze bezocht samen met veel kennis over de historiek van Brugge aangevuld met een lekker biertje. Super bezoek aan Brugge, bedankt Hugo!
  Filip, April 2025

• Wonderful guide, took us away from the tourist areas although ended there, lots of stories and local knowledge and above all a lovely chap…
  Paul, March 2025

• We hebben met Hugo een heel leuke wandeling gemaakt door minder bekende delen van Brugge. Hij vertelt leuk en onderhoudend en we zijn op plekken geweest die we anders niet bezocht zouden hebben. … Bakje (lekkere!) frites, drankje in een prachtig café uit 1515 en een wafel tot besluit … Brugge was geweldig, het weer was nog beter, de verhalen zeer luisterwaardig.
  Astrid, maart 2025