Bruges is a delightful town and our only regret is that we did not have time to explore it longer. It is best known for its cobbled streets, medieval buildings and canals.

We stayed in a beautiful, relatively new, hotel called B&B Ambrogio which was situated right on the canal. It is almost like being in a movie – the scenery from our window was gorgeous, the cobbled street in front brought charm to the area, and it was within walking distance to the medieval part of town. It is only a small establishment, run by a husband and wife team, with 2 guest rooms.

We highly recommend visiting Bruges, with some of the highlights being:

  1. Canal trip – the best way to see the beautiful buildings is along the canal. Boats depart regularly from different parts of the city, and no pre-booking is required. There are some fabulous photographic opportunities along the canal and it is a very pleasant way of spending a few hours.
  2. The Belfry Tower – if you are an adventurous and fit person you might like to climb the 366 steps to the top. It goes without saying that the view will be magnificent.
  3. Burg Square – right in front of the Town Hall this lovely square is surrounded by shops and cafes.
  4. De Garre – a quirky little pub located down a small alley has a huge range of beer, and some great food. Located just off the Markt at 1 de Garre. Locate it on your Google maps.
  5. Jan van Eyck Square – originally the old harbour for ships you will find there is a statue of the famous painter Jan van Eyck adorning the square.
  6. Stadsbestuur Brugge – or Bruges Town Hall is one of the oldest city halls in all of the Netherlands. It is located just around the corner from the Markt in the Burg Square. It is a building combining both Government offices and museums.
  7. Bruge Markt – the square is the centre of all things in Bruges and is ringed by beautiful guilded houses which have been converted into restaurants. A weekly market is held every Wednesday, and has been doing so since 985! Of course the best time to visit would be Christmas when the market square is transformed into a wonderland of lights and stalls.

Travel Tips

  • Try and stay close to the old town so that you can walk to all the attractions. Even better if you can find accommodation overlooking the canal.

Travel Alerts

  • Bruges is such a lovely city, and we felt completely at ease even though there were plenty of tourists around. We have no travel alerts for this area.

Travel Adventures

  • 2be Beer Hall – beer connoisseurs will be amazed at this quirky beer hall. Endless selection of Belgian beers and also a pretty nice verandah to enjoy whilst you soak up the atmosphere.
  • The Bruges Tourism site has some great information on what to see and do in Bruges.