Let's set expectations: Bruges is in coastal Flanders. It rains frequently — light drizzle more than downpours, but enough that you'll want a plan B.

The good news is that rainy Bruges is arguably more atmospheric than sunny Bruges. The cobblestones shine, the canals darken, and the medieval buildings look like they belong in a painting. Bring a decent jacket and lean into it.

For indoor activities, the Groeningemuseum is an obvious choice (Flemish Primitives, one hour, no crowds on rainy days). The Bruges Beer Experience on the Markt is more commercial but actually fun — you get a tablet-guided tour and tastings of different beer styles. It takes about 90 minutes.

De Halve Maan brewery does tours every hour and finishes with a beer on the rooftop terrace — yes, even in the rain, which makes it better. The tour costs €18 and you learn about the underground beer pipeline they built in 2016 to connect the brewery to the bottling plant. Three kilometres of pipe under the city, carrying beer. Only in Belgium.

For coffee and waiting out a downpour, The Books & Brunch on Garenmarkt is a bookshop-café hybrid. It's small, warm, and they don't rush you. Or try Café Vlissinghe on Blekersstraat — it's been open since 1515, making it one of the oldest cafés in Belgium. Dark wood, old paintings on the walls, and the kind of silence that only five centuries of history can produce.