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Thanks to the capabilities of distributed fibre optic sensors (DFOS), a significant increase in their applications within civil and geotechnical engineering has been observed during the last few years. In contrast to conventional spot gauges, the main advantage of this technology is direct damage detection, as the information is gained over the entire measurement path. This diagnostic solution is especially suitable for safety-critical infrastructure, including bridges. However, to utilise the benefits of the DFOS approach, appropriate interrogators, sensors, and installation methods must be adopted. The article briefly discusses possible solutions available on the market, indicating their specific advantages and limitations. Then, several practical case studies related to bridge monitoring in Poland are presented. The review shows various possible applications, from long measurement sections over entire spans to small-size structural components. Some are truly new and pioneer solutions, solving different technical problems in bridge engineering. Presented applications supported by in situ data proved the possible high-quality performance of DFOS-based systems for measurements of concrete, steel and composite bridges in actual operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]