podtour
Bruges, Port of Europe
There was a time when much of Europe's business passed through Bruges. Follow the houses and quays of the merchants who made it wealthy.
From the Belfry to the Canals: audio walk in Bruges
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.
See the walkFree route
What this walk is about
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. You head down Blind Donkey Street to the fish and the hides, look out over the quay of the dead city in a novel, and finish by the palace that put up a penniless king, a stone's throw from a bridge that looks medieval.
- Start
- A Tower Made of Patches
- Finish
- The Medieval Bridge Built in 1911
- Who it is for
- A good starting point for your first visit. For a day trip from Brussels. You can also enjoy it as a family.
- Languages
- Spanish and British English
- Underfoot
- There are cobbles or uneven surfaces. The route notes mention stairs or steps on the walk or its approaches.
The route, stop by stop
An outline of the walk. The full stories are in the app.
Loading the map…
Open a marker to see its page. Use two fingers to move the map on mobile.
- 1
A Tower Made of Patches
- 2
A Music Box with Thirty Thousand Holes
- 3
A Canal Through the Square
- 4
The Missing Church
- 5
A Relic Hidden in People's Homes
- 6
Newly Arrived Counts in Stone
- 7
The Blind Donkey and the Castle Gate
- 8
Fish and Hides
- 9
Rosary Quay and the Dead City
- 10
A King with Nothing
- 11
The Medieval Bridge Built in 1911
Walking directions are based on mapped pedestrian routes. Check local access and signs; the route is not an accessibility guarantee. Times are approximate.
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.
More walks nearby
Bruges in Revolt
In the Burg and the Markt, Bruges fought over who held power. Follow the clashes between counts, guilds and townspeople across its two great squares.
Spanish Bruges
Spanish merchants had their own streets, quays and arguments in Bruges. Follow those who brought wool, books and new lives to the city.
Good to know
What is Podtour?
An app for self-guided audio walks. Choose a city and a route, then listen to the stories behind its streets. You decide when to start and when to stop.
When can I download the app?
Podtour is coming to iOS and Android. There is no confirmed launch date yet. Join the waitlist and we will let you know when it is ready.
Does Podtour include attraction tickets?
No. Street walks and monument audio tours do not include admission tickets, transport or a guide accompanying you.
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.
Your first city,
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on Podtour.
Join the waitlist and get one whole city free when Podtour launches. You choose where.
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One city per person. All its Podtour routes in Spanish and English. Available at launch. Offer details.