podtour
From the Belfry to the Canals
From the Belfry to the canals, look at postcard Bruges with its changes in mind. Not everything that looks medieval is.
Bruges audio tours and self-guided walks
Bruges has life behind the picture.
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Walk through Bruges, story by story
Its canals and squares can seem still, yet they tell of trade, power and communities on the move. Look beyond the medieval façade to discover how the city you walk through was built.
Start with “From the Belfry to the Canals”. You start beneath the Belfry, a tower patched up over the centuries, and listen to the music box that makes it ring. You discover a canal that once reached the square, a church that's missing, the relic the city hid in private houses and a row of stone counts far younger than they look.
Then there’s “The Beguinage and the Lake of Love”. You start in front of St Saviour's Cathedral, whose tower looks older than it is. Beneath the tower of the Church of Our Lady you meet a statue that two of Michelangelo's biographers described as bronze, and that one night in 1944 left the church wrapped in a mattress.
For another side of the city, try “Bruges, Port of Europe”. You start on Crane Square, where everything too heavy for the streets was unloaded. Beside an old inn, you'll find out why half the world says bolsa, bourse or borsa, and why it wasn't the world's first stock exchange.
Keep exploring with “Spanish Bruges”. You start outside the house of the Biscayans, merchants from the Basque coast who never accepted that Burgos spoke for the whole of Spain. You walk into Spaniards' Street, reserved for the nation, where Castile's wool was stored, and meet the Spanish humanist Juan Luis Vives, who moved here to escape the rotten fish of Leuven and never went back to Spain, and his mother-in-law, the heroine of one of his books.
Choose by neighbourhood or by the stories that interest you: each route shows its distance, stops and approximate duration before you set off. The audio is written for walking, with a clear distinction between documented events and local legend. Download it in the app, put on your headphones and pause whenever something catches your eye. English and Spanish are included.
Start for free
From the Belfry to the Canals
Postcard Bruges, told through the people who kept it and remade it: a patched-up belfry, a relic hidden in private homes, stone counts newer than they look, fish banished from the square and a King of England without a penny to his name.
Explore the free walkFind your Bruges walk
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Bruges, before you go
Canals and squares are comfortably close together, but the cobbles have their own requirements. Wear comfortable shoes and step aside to admire a façade when somebody needs to cycle past.
Before visiting Bruges
How many days do I need in Bruges?
Our Bruges guide has suggestions for one, two and three days. Start with one area rather than trying to fit every walk into a day; leave room for travel between neighbourhoods and any indoor visits.
Can I explore Bruges on foot?
Gradients. The centre is fairly flat, with small slopes over bridges. Towers are a different matter and may involve stairs. Underfoot. Cobbles and uneven surfaces are common. Take care in rain; small suitcase and pushchair wheels can struggle.
Which Bruges route is free?
“From the Belfry to the Canals” is the free route: 11 stops over 0.94 km, with an approximate duration of 42 minutes. You can see its map and stops on the route page.
When is a good time to visit Bruges?
For unhurried walking: spring and early autumn, always allowing for a shower. For daylight: summer; step away from the Markt when the centre fills up.
Can I listen without an internet connection?
Download the audio in the app before heading out, then listen offline. Loading the online base map and calculating a new route from your location require a connection.
What languages are included?
Every route includes Spanish and British English. The English version is adapted for English-speaking travellers, rather than translated word for word.
How do I get a whole city for free?
Join the waitlist, choose a city and confirm your email address. When the app launches, we will email you with access details. No card is required. You can also try one free route in every city.
Can I buy for myself or for a group?
Yes. Your own access is included and you can choose 0–5 guests: up to 6 people including you. Each guest saves up to €0.50 on a walk, €1 on a pack or €2 on a whole city compared with buying separately. The counter shows the total before you confirm one payment.
How do I share, and when must guests accept?
After paying, share your purchase’s invitation link. Each guest opens it in Podtour and accepts their place on their own iPhone or Android phone. They must redeem it within 30 days of purchase. Unclaimed places then expire and cannot be recovered or renewed. Access accepted in time is kept. Opening the link does not use a place; one account takes just one place, and no more people can join once all places are taken.
Can I add guests after buying?
No. Choose all your guests before confirming the first purchase. Afterwards you can share the places you paid for, but you cannot increase their number or restart the 30-day deadline.
