Overflowing with chocolate, churches, and charm, Bruges is the perfect day trip from Brussels. Designated as a UNESCO world heritage site, all of its key highlights are nestled around the central town square, making Bruges a very walkable and accessible city to explore at your leisure on a sunny afternoon. Prepare to be delighted by this medieval city is filled with canals, bridges and cobblestone streets, all enveloped in the sweet smell of chocolate.
All visits to Bruges start at the Markt Square located in the heart of town. Prominently features in the movie In Bruges, this mostly traffic free square is lined with medieval buildings housing shops, restaurants, and the famous bell tower. Tourists and locals can be found sitting outside admiring the colorful and historic building facades as they enjoy a coffee, lunch or a refreshing drink.
Towering above the Markt Square is the 83-meter high Belfry of Bruges. This dominant and famous clock tower houses 47 bells that still toll today, filling the city with their melody at the top of the hour. Visitors wishing to work off their cafe consumptions can climb the 366 well-worn steps up the narrow tower. Once at the top, visitors are rewarded with a sweeping view of Bruges and its surroundings. As one of the key highlights of Bruges, the line for tickets to climb the Belfry can be long and visitors are metered to limit the number of people traversing the stairs at one time. However, the reception area provides historical displays to educate and entertain the waiting crowds.
The fairytale magic allure of Bruges is amplified by the network of picture-perfect canals that surround the city. A guided boat trip along these world-famous canals is a highlight of any visit. Just beyond the Markt Square, you will find the ticket booth and embarking point for your guided boat tour. Each boat seats around 30 people, usually made up of fellow tourists and flocks of squirming school children out on a field trip.
The tours last approximately 30 minutes and leisurely putter past gorgeous ivy covered medieval buildings, quaint hotels with colorful flowers spilling out of their window boxes, dreamy stone bridges reflecting onto the canal and weeping tree branches tumbling down to kiss the water. Your guide will provide a narrative of the history and highlights of the famous waterway. During the tour make note of which charming bridge or cafe you want to visit once you are back on dry land.
For those wishing to sample the spicy local beer (Brugse Zot), the family-run Brewery De Halve Maan is along the tour route. Besides its unique position in the city center, the Brewery also has a 3-kilometer pipeline that connects it to the bottling plant just outside the city.
Walking through the streets of Bruges it seems as though every other shop is dedicated to the art of chocolate. It is fun to window-shop at all of the delightful and delectable displays and stopping to sample a few is certainly a requirement. For those seeking an in-depth education and immersion into all things chocolate, the Choco-Story museum is a must. Here visitors of all ages will learn the complex global history of this delicious bean, starting with the ancient Mayans, through the Spanish conquistadors to the modern day gourmand. Of course, any visit is not complete without sampling freshly made delights made on the spot.
There are a number of historic churches within Bruges, but the one that stands out not only for its dominance of the skyline but also for the art it contains is the Church of Our Lady. Taking two centuries to build (13th-15th), the church features a 122-meter brick steeple that dwarfs the Belfry tower. However, once inside the stonemasonry marvel, visitors will be awed by the artistic mastery of Michelangelo.
One of the many treasures of the church is the beautiful Carrara marble sculpture of Madonna and Child. Crafted by Michelangelo in Italy, it was exported to Belgium in 1504 and has been a Belgian treasure ever since. Taken by soldiers during the French Revolution and during World War II, it has always been returned back to Belgium where visitors continue to flock to see it.
Well-protected behind glass, you can still make out the exquisitely sorrowful look on the Madonna’s face as she gazes upon her son knowing the weight of his ultimate fate. Take time to admire the other works of art included in the treasury including those of the Flemish school of artists.
If you enjoy old world churches, visit the cozy Basilica Of The Holy Blood, which displays a Christian relic attributed to Joseph of Arimathea.
Getting There:
Bruges is a quick 1-hour train from the Brussels Central station, with trains leaving approximately every 20 minutes. Upon arrival at the Bruges station, buses are waiting to take you the 1.5 kilometers to Markt Square. Or if weather permits and you fancy a brisk stroll, the walk to the city center should only take 10-15 minutes.
Next time you find yourself in Belgium and need a quick and easy break from the bustle of Brussels, grab a train ticket, put on your comfortable walking shoes and transport yourself into the fairytale city of Bruges.
(Note: This page may contain affiliate links. If you click and purchase items through some of these links, we receive a small commission – no additional cost to you of course! Thanks for clicking!)
FOR PINNERS:
