A Weekend in Bruges

July 24, 2016 by California Globetrotter 68 Comments

Let’s be honest, Bruges is definitely one of the most romantic cities in Europe which easily gets overlooked by its popular neighbor, Paris as well as Venice. Bruges is often called the “Venice of the North” with its crisscrossing canals which encloses its historic center. Whether you take a stroll during the day or during the night, romance will certainly be found in this quaint town as you stroll hand in hand.

It is also more than just a quick day trip. It is so much more beneficial to your health to slow travel, really enjoy the sights and take in the atmosphere. While Bruges definitely caters to the hordes of tourists who come in, you can find peace and serenity in the bustling little town. It’s definitely worth to take the extra time to explore the hidden gems tourists miss when they’re busy checking off their bucket list.

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So, what should you do when in Bruges?

• Head to the Grote Markt and enjoy one of the most beautiful market squares in Europe and listen to the endless chiming of the clock tower! 

• Climb the Belfort Tower for a view over the square

• Enjoy a beer at the Duvelorium Grand Beer Café in the Historium Brugge

  

  

• Take a horse drawn carriage ride

• Admire the old, step-gables houses from the 13th century

• Head over to the Burg to oogle at the Stadhuis (City Hall)

• Check out the Heilig Bloed Basiliek (Bascilia of the Holy Blood) which is has Europe’s most sacred relic: a phial supposedly with a few drops of the blood of Jesus.

• While hanging out in the Burg, grab a waffle from the waffle van. Yes, it’s WORTH waiting in line for fresh waffles!!

  

  

• Check out the Welcome Church of Our Lady which took 200 years to build and has a sculpture of Madonna and Child by Michelangelo.

  

  

  

• Find the Beer Wall and check out all 400+ Belgian Beers on display before having a drink at the end of the wall.

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• Go shopping for Belgian Beer at the Bier Palais and then sit down to enjoy a beer in one of the most peaceful beer gardens!

  

  

  

• Take a boat ride around the canals

• Stop for Afternoon Tea at one of the many tea houses! Preferably the Gingerbread Tea house as they have Black Tea with hints of Belgian chocolate! mmm

• Check out the Vismarkt which is an open air fish market, which still sells fish every morning.

• Eat at a fritterie, preferably eating a cheeseburger or even fish’n’chips!

• Sit along the banks of the canal along the Rozenhoedkaai

• Go shopping for some Belgian chocolate

• Take a tour of the Brouwerii de Halve Maan (Half Moon Brewery) – one of the oldest breweries in Bruges since 1856.

  

  

• Check out the Friet Museum to learn the history and secrets of Belgium’s national culinary triumph – Belgian fries!

• Then check out the Choco-Story museum to learn how cocoa is made into chocolate, of course with a tasting!

• Take a walk through the make-shift antique market along the canal

• Meander your way through they allies before finding the Minnewater, a peaceful park with a lake loaded with swans that have been here since 1488.

• Take a tour between 2 and 5pm at the Kantecentrum to learn how lace is made

• Continue walking until you find the last 4 windmills in Bruges.

• Drink more beer 

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• Eat your fill of fresh mussels

• Find the locations that Colin Ferrel was in the movie In Bruges
  

• Stroll around the town at sunset to increase your chances of romance and admire Bruges by night

  

  

  

  

• Enjoy a Meringue at Aux Merveilleux 

• Get up early and enjoy the town before the tourists come in

If you’re interested in visiting Europe and are looking for more information, I highly recommend using the DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Belgium! Without these guides, I would be lost! This is my travel Bible!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, I might make a little extra spending money, at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own and these products/services have been found useful during our travels and come highly recommended to you from yours truly!

Be sure to check out more posts related to Belgium

Brussels

Antwerp

Leuven

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