It was our first visit to this medieval city, and I am so glad we decided to stay in Bruges for 2 nights. I wish we'd stayed longer. After 2 weeks in London and Paris, Bruges was a welcomed breath of fresh air. It was down one of the narrow cobblestone streets near a canal bridge (pictured here) that I genuinely took a deep breath and relaxed calmly on holidays. It was maybe a combination of the historic medieval architecture with the mesmerizing sounds of horses and carts trotting down the cobblestone streets. Perhaps it was the smell of the many chocolate shops we passed by. Whatever it was, I felt a sense of calm in Bruges, something I didn't feel in London and Paris.
In just 2 days, we centred our activities around the centre of Bruges in Markt Square, within walking distance from our Hotel Aragon. Some of our highlights were;
Canal Tour: We had a pleasant river tour in Paris and had planned canal tours in Amerstdam and Venice, so a canal tour in Bruges was not high on our list of priorities. We stumbled across this canal tour (on the left in the above image) and were pleasantly surprised at how affordable the tour was. It was one of the most informative tours we had. The boats are small and low. You can touch the water; the canals are narrow and not cluttered like Venice. Our boat operator gave us an excellent and relaxing trip within the city limits. The narration was a mix of humour and history. I was impressed with the number of languages he spoke for the mix of tourists aboard. Well worth it.
Chocolate Shops: I live with a family of Chocolate lovers. There is just something special about Belgian chocolate. It's renowned worldwide for its impeccable quality. Let me tell you, all the hype is true. There are plenty of choices not just in chocolate products but also in the large choice of so many different chocolatiers, many with a family history going back decades. You haven't lived until you've had true Belgian chocolate. Our pockets were lighter after a few stores. Our favourite was Dumon Chocolatier
Belgium Beer / Brewery Tour: Now we are talking. The minute we planned this trip to Europe was the minute I started to research Belgium Beer and Brewery tours. I discovered De Halve Maan Brewery and am so glad I did. The tour of the historic site and brewery was simply impressive. Situated on one of the city canals, the tour lets you climb to the brewery's roof with spectacular views across the old city. The beers are, of course, delicious. The traditional big Belgian beers with an ACL/vol of 9% + are the world's best. Beer lover or not, I would say a tour of the De Halve Maan Brewery is a highlight of visiting Bruges.
Food glorious food: Visiting Bruges, we had several goals—chocolate, Beer, Frites and, of course, Belgian waffles. Yes, we ticked all those boxes reasonably quickly. However, trying a traditional Flemish Stew and a bucket of local mussels impressed me the most. I'd go so far as to say that these two dishes probably ranked in my top 10 dishes throughout Europe. I like mussels, but I would rarely choose them on a menu as they never seem to be enough to be filling. Well, not on this occasion. On the recommendation of a local I ordered a bucket of mussels for lunch, the mussels were a decent size, so very succulent and very filling. There were more than enough in the bucket to satisfy my hunger without the need for any side dishes. What made this dish so good was the broth they were cooked in. The broth was divine, and I nearly drank the last of it directly from the bucket, nearly.
Regardless of whether you have the same taste in food and beer as we do, Bruges is a stunning destination full of history, medieval architecture and the finer things in life, like decadent Chocolate. Bruges is easily accessible by train. If you're travelling between Paris and Amsterdam, there's a quick change in Brussels. The city is easy to navigate, with most attractions within walking distance from the centre of Markt Square. I understand that Bruges is also great around Christmas, with Christmas markets around a massive tree in the town centre. A 2-night stay is enough to get a general overview and experience Bruges, but I could easily spend more time there.
About the Author
Unless otherwise noted, the author of this blog has no affiliation with any property or business linked in this blog. Unless otherwise noted, no free accommodation or payment from any businesses mentioned in this blog exists. The information in this blog is strictly the views of the author and not professional advice. The author of this BookDirect blog is a travel and tourism professional with over 30 years of experience in international hotel management, global travel, short-term rental management and a tourism awards judge specialising in accommodation and attractions.
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