--- title: "Historium Bruges: worth it, time, tickets | Karel de Stoute" url: https://www.chocolatehotel.be/en/bruges/historium description: "What the Historium on the Markt is, how long a visit takes (about an hour), what each ticket costs, who will enjoy it and who might skip it. Six minutes on foot from our hotel." lang: en --- # The Historium in Bruges: is it worth it, how long, and which ticket The Historium is a story attraction on the Markt, not a museum of originals: you walk through seven rooms of film, sets and effects that bring 15th-century Bruges back to life, with an audio guide. Allow about 50 minutes, or an hour with the virtual reality flight; tickets start at €22. It is worth it if you want the story of the city in one go, on a first visit, on a rainy day or with children over seven. Staying in Bruges? Our nine rooms are a short walk from here. See the rooms (https://www.chocolatehotel.be/en/rooms) Image: The Historium on the Markt in Bruges: a grey neo-Gothic building with a slender corner tower and red flags on its arcaded front (https://www.chocolatehotel.be/assets/guide-historium-hero-CjL91tmP.webp) Photo: Dominique Uyttenhove, CC BY-SA 4.0, resized: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Historium_Brugge.jpg ## What is the Historium? The Historium stands at Markt 1, on the side of the square where the medieval Waterhalle once stood: the great covered dock where ships unloaded in the middle of the city. The building itself is younger than it looks. It was designed by the Ypres architect Jules Coomans and finished in 1921, and the Historium opened inside it in 2012. Its main part, the Historium Story, is a walk through seven themed rooms: the quays, Jan van Eyck's studio, the toll house, the back alleys, the guilds, the bathhouse and Ter Beurze. A love story, inspired by Van Eyck's painting of the Madonna with Canon Joris van der Paele, carries you from room to room. After it you reach an exhibition on medieval Bruges and Van Eyck, with a newer section on the Waterhalle, and a terrace on the second floor that looks out over the Markt. ## Is it worth it? It depends on what you come to Bruges for. The Historium is good at one thing: giving you the picture of the city in its Golden Age before you walk through it. If it is your first time in Bruges, if it rains, or if you travel with children who are old enough for dark rooms and sudden effects, it is an easy hour well spent. If you would rather stand in front of the real thing, spend the time and money on the Groeninge Museum, home of Van Eyck's Madonna with Canon Joris van der Paele itself (from March 2027 its main works are shown at BRUSK, next door on the Dijver, while the museum is renovated), or on St John's Hospital and its Memling paintings. The Historium has sets and screens, not original works of art. ## How long does a visit take? Historium Story with the exhibition: about 50 minutes. Story with virtual reality: about an hour, up to 1 hour 15. The tower: about 15 minutes, plus any wait. Virtual reality on its own: about 8 minutes. Up to 20 people start the Story every five minutes, so even on a busy day the wait at the start is usually short. ## Which ticket should I buy? Prices for adults, as listed by the Historium in October 2026: Story: €22. Students, young people and over 65s €18, children 5 to 12 €14, under 5 free. Story + virtual reality: €28, the most complete visit. Students, young people and over 65s €24, children 6 to 12 €20. Tower: €14, or €5 added to a Story + virtual reality ticket. Sold only at the desk. Virtual reality alone: €12, or €6 with a Story visit. Sold only at the desk. Historium + Groeninge Museum: €32, sold only at the desk. Check the Groeninge Museum's dates before you buy: it is closed on Mondays, and it closes for renovation from 11 January 2027. Online tickets are cheaper than at the desk, carry no date and stay valid for six months, so you can buy ahead and go when the weather turns. They cannot be refunded. The Historium is not included in the Musea Brugge museum card. ## Should I climb the Historium tower? The neo-Gothic corner tower is 35 metres high, with 145 steps over five levels, and gives a 360° view of the Markt, the Belfry and the city's towers. It is a good alternative if the Belfry's 366 steps feel like too many, or if you want the Belfry in your photo rather than under your feet. It is not for everyone: the door at the top is 45 centimetres wide and the lookout is narrow. There is a test gate at the entrance; if you pass through it easily, you will fit. Bags cannot go up with you. The minimum height is 1.40 metres, and the Historium advises against the climb for anyone with a fear of heights or of tight spaces. ## When is it open? Every day from 10:30 to 17:00, and on Saturdays until 20:00. The last entry for the Story is one hour before closing, and an hour and a half before closing for the Story with virtual reality. The Duvelorium, a Belgian beer bar on the first floor with a view of the Markt, is open from 11:00 and is free to enter. ## Getting there from Hotel Karel de Stoute From our door on Moerstraat it is about six minutes on foot to the Markt: the first stop of our walk through historic Bruges. From there the walk goes on to the Burg and the museums on the Dijver. ## Frequently asked questions Do I need to book the Historium in advance? No. You can buy a ticket at the desk, but online tickets are cheaper and valid for six months without a date. Groups of 15 or more should book. Is the Historium good for children? It is open to all ages, but the Historium itself recommends it from about seven years: some rooms are dark and there are light and sound effects. Virtual reality starts at six; the tower needs a height of 1.40 metres. Prams cannot go into the attractions. Is the Historium accessible by wheelchair? The Story is, on an adapted route with the lift and a member of staff, and the virtual reality is fully accessible. The tower is not. Electric wheelchairs and scooters cannot go into the Story; a standard wheelchair can be borrowed at the desk. In which languages is the audio guide? Eleven, including English, Dutch, French, German, Spanish and Italian. Is the Historium included in the Musea Brugge card? No. The card covers the city museums, such as the Belfry, the Groeninge Museum and St John's Hospital, but not the Historium. Where can I leave my bag? Coats and bags fit in free lockers in the basement. Large bags and suitcases are not allowed inside; luggage lockers can be rented in the courtyard. ← Back to the Bruges guide (https://www.chocolatehotel.be/en/bruges) We use cookies to analyse traffic and improve your experience. Choose whether to accept them — read our cookie policy (https://www.chocolatehotel.be/en/cookies). 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