Bruges, Belgium

Have you ever traveled somewhere new with zero expectations and no concrete plans? Bruges was a place I literally knew nothing about other than acquaintances insisting it is beautiful, and that it’s in Belgium. Talk about a wealth of knowledge. I was looking for a quick train trip destination from Amsterdam and thought, why not? Turns out Bruges was an unexpectedly enjoyable surprise! The old town was more entertaining and enchanting than I could have imagined. I would definitely go back for a return visit.

“Bruges is a beautiful medieval city almost untouched by time. If you love chocolate and beer, you will be in heaven”. – James Frain

The town of Bruges has everything a traveler would want: swans, a lake, Belgian waffles (sold even on a stick), fantastic beer, beautiful old buildings, canals, cobblestone streets, flowers spilling out of every container imaginable, a belfry, and chocolate, chocolate, chocolate! It is a wonderful place, and I think that is why I hadn’t heard much about it; people want to keep the secret of Bruges to themselves.

Things To Do

The gem of Bruges is the Old Town, and the heart of it, in my opinion, is The Markt. It is a large and lively square, full of restaurants, cafes, horse-drawn carriages, and historic buildings; a perfect place for people-watching. The south side of the Markt is dominated by the Belfort. You can’t miss this medieval bell tower; it is 272 feet tall. It is one of the most famous belfries in Europe. You can climb the 366 steps to the top for a 360° breathtaking view over medieval Bruges. It has narrow, steep staircases and can be a challenge if you try to rush. Remember, once you go up, you have to go back down, so if you have bad knees, you might need to sit this one out. Otherwise, take your time; there are stops along the way; the view will be your reward. You don’t want to skip this! It’s important to get in line early to purchase an entry ticket. You can choose to climb up at a later time slot in the day, though. However, only so many people are allowed up at a certain time, and time slots can sell out in the summer months. The east side of the Markt is bordered by the Provinciaal Hof; a grand building in Gothic Revival style, with the remainder of the square surrounded by attractive gabled buildings holding restaurants and cafés.

At the southeast corner of the Markt, there is a quaint little street, Breidelstraat, connecting the Markt to another square called the Burg. Let me just say you cannot take more than 10 steps on this street without someone selling either waffles (sold on a stick on this street), fries, or souvenirs. The Burg has been referred to as an ‘intimate and fetching square – a glittering confection of historic architecture, sculpture, and gilding’. All true. The Burg is surrounded by some truly impressive buildings: the Stadhuis, St. Basil’s Chapel, and the Basilica of the Holy Blood, just to name a few.

Look, I’m not going to go through and name all the sights in Bruges. Let me just say there is enough to see here to fill up two full days. The city is very walkable with surprises around every corner. The shopping is top-notch and slightly more affordable than most touristy places. I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you Bruges is known for its lace, so beautiful it’ll tempt even the most reluctant shoppers. I felt very safe here and surprisingly, for as busy as it is, the town was very clean. I haven’t even mentioned the beer, the chocolate, or the canals.

The city of Bruges is one of the best cities in the world for beer. It is full of breweries and beer bars.The city even has it’s own beer; Brugse Zot. Bruges has a beer museum; Bruges Beer Experience or if you have a little more energy, you can book a Walking Beer Tour around Bruges. Search sites like Viator, GetYourGuide or TripAdvisor. We stopped at Bourgogne des Flandres, a fun tap room with canal views that offers tours and tastings. Order a flight of beer, they have interesting varieties. We also managed to find Cafe’ Vlissinghe: founded in 1515 it is the oldest tavern in Bruges. It has charming courtyard seating and a really good menu. We lingered here a few hours and I’m not ashamed to admit it.

I’m going to go ahead and say it, Belgium has the best chocolate in the world. I stand by that statement, and you will not change my mind. Take it from someone who has been on multiple chocolate tours in several countries; I know what I’m talking about. I’m not alone in these sentiments; Belgium is known as the “chocolate capital of the world.” Why is it so good, you ask? Most Belgian chocolate is made in small, local shops, using high-quality ingredients, and the chocolate is milled so finely it melts on your tongue without a grainy texture. There are plenty of chocolatiers in Bruges, and you can walk to several in the Old Town. I was on a mission and sought out Dumon Chocolatier near the Markt on purpose. The building is, well, super cute and happens to be their smallest location in Bruges but still has an excellent variety. The quality of their chocolate is superior, and for my money, the best in Bruges. The only place that can compete is The Chocolate Line. Note that some stores sell pre-packaged variety boxes as well as individual items for purchase. I recommend you pick out the ones you like and enjoy the magic as they melt in your mouth.

I read once that Bruges was called the “Venice of the North” for its numerous bridges and canals (some of which are man-made). Cute, but as far as I’m concerned, the Venice of the North is Amsterdam. Now that we’ve straightened that out, the canals and bridges are very charming, and no trip to Bruges would be complete without a boat cruise on the canal. Most of the online pictures you see of Bruges are of a weeping willow in front of a restaurant on the bend of the Dijver canal (one of the prettiest canals in Bruges). The popular shot is taken from Rozenhoedkaai street. There will be lots of boat tour ticket huts in this area, and this is where most canal cruises start; they all take the same route. The canals snake through the old town and run to Minnewater Lake, a.k.a. the Lake of Love, which is a small but beautiful lake in a quiet park with flower boxes, weeping willows, and an entire flock of swans. These swans have their very own legend and are protected by law. They are considered the symbol of the city. Take a canal cruise, you wont regret it.

How To Get There

The closest international airport to Bruges is Ostend (OST) Airport, which is 15.29 miles away. The train station, Station Brugge, is about a 10-minute walk from The Markt. Brugge is the Flemish spelling of Bruges so you may need to look for that spelling when at Belgian train stations. For example, I had a connection in Antwerp and when looking on the boards for any platform changes, just know to look for their spelling. The ferry port in Bruges is called the Port of Zeebrugge. It is also known as the Port of Bruges and is the second-largest port in Belgium. The road distance from the port to Bruges is about 12 miles. The fastest way to get from the Port to the city of Bruges is the train, which takes 6 minutes and costs €3 – €5. You already know I took the train to Bruges (I traveled from Amsterdam). From the train station , it was an easy flat walk to the Markt with plenty of shopping opportunities along the way.

Where to Stay

I booked a room at the Ibis Brugge Centrum hotel that was roughly halfway between the Train station and old town, on Katelijnestraat. As alway, I try to book with smaller businesses. I booked the room for this stay on Expedia.com. I had no problems however, I always try to book a room with a free cancellation option. The location was great, not a fancy room but I’d stay here again.

Bruges is what I call a ‘High-Value Destination’. There is something here for everyone, with plenty to see and do. It is a great place for a weekend getaway.