A weekend getaway to the magical town of Bruges, a popular destination inspired by the “In Bruges’ filmset and known as one of the most well preserved medieval cities in Europe with its gothic architecture, pretty canals and cobbled lanes.
Our scenic journey to the beautiful city of Bruges began with a 2-hour Eurostar trip from London to Brussels and then an easy 50-minute train transfer from Brussels to Bruges, all included in the Eurostar ticket price. Our hotel, the B&B de Corenbloem, was situated in the middle of town just off the main square so a short and convenient 20 minutes walk from the station. When we arrived there we found ourselves standing in front of a grand building with large towering double doors, which opened up to a gorgeous traditional house with high ceilings and stately furnishings. It reminded us of the kinds of houses you see in Downton Abbey, traditional and authentic. It was the perfect setting for our trip.
After settling into our luxurious Empire Suite room, we wondered into the town which centres around the main square. Coincidentally we had relatives visiting the same weekend so we met them for a beer and jumped on one of the many tourist boat tours. It’s a great way to view the city from it’s most striking feature, the heart line of the city, the canal. The boat tour is an idyllic 30 minutes, allowing you to learn a little history and view the major landmarks that make Bruges so special. From the boat we stopped in one of the many canal side restaurants for dinner and more beer. Of course while in Bruges you have to try the local Belgian beer that they are famous for. There are many little restaurants and bespoke bars you can sit at and take in the canal views, you are spoilt for choice. After enjoying the tranquility of the setting we were completely exhausted and ready for our bed. After turning around some of the creepier old-style portraits in our room we drifted off to asleep.
The next day we had a busy schedule, hoping to see as much as possible. Bruges is a little like Amsterdam in that is completely flat and everyone cycles, so this is exactly what we did and it was of course the best way to explore. £11 for the day, we rented two and were let loose. We decided to head towards the Flemish coast, which was about a 40-minute cycle. This route took us through some beautiful countryside and along the main river towards the harbour of Zeebrugge, where the views are a lot more industrial with huge container ships and wind turbines. This area did feel very modern compared to the main centre of Bruges which has kept its magical and medieval feel.
We cycled through a small town in the area of Blankenberge a little distance outside of Bruges; a weird haunting place that was completely empty, not a single person to be seen. Slightly eerie as by this time it was midday on a Saturday. We left quickly before anyone could come and steal us away and headed back to the comforting hustling bustling centre of Bruges. After lunch at another canal side restaurant and some local beers, we explored the gate houses that surround the city allowing passage over the canal, as well as some windmills that would have been used to churn grain.
We visited the ever-so-beautiful Lake of Love, a very romantic and popular spot with couples as local legend promises eternal love if you walk over the Minnewater bridge that crosses the lover’s lake. The sun was just beginning to set allowing for a picturesque stroll around the lake. We settled in for the evening at a few different restaurants and bars experiencing the city at night. The historic and towering buildings glowed in the night light with a gentle peaceful hustle and bustle of people mingling around the many outside bars.
On our final day in Bruges we had a few things planned; chocolate shops, a brewery tour and the famous Belfry tower. We started the day with the famous clock tower, 366 steps up to the top with beautiful panoramic views of the city and the countryside, which we had cycled the previous day. Despite it being a cloudy day, the views over the red roofed buildings was well worth the climb. The history of the tower is extremely interesting and is documented as you make you ascent. As we made our way down the narrow passage way, we passed many camped-out tired explorers.
From here it was time to try and track down the perfect chocolate gift. Every shop has free chocolate so you can literally eat all day for free whilst browsing. With so much on offer, we landed on a pick and mix style chocolate box in a cute little tin shaped like a traditional Belgium house. The brewery tour was our final stop. It was a great little tour that was very educational and took around an hour. Again the history and modernisation of the brewery with their new massive pipeline of beer under the city was very interesting, with more rooftop views of the city. At the end of the tour, as with most tours of this kind, you are given a complimentary beer from the brewery to try. We enjoyed our final Belgium beer, in the sunshine which came out just in time.
A short easy trip from London, Bruges is up there as a top long weekend destination. The tranquil canals and historic buildings provide a beautiful setting to relax in while eating some great Belgium cuisine and drinking a multitude of the different local beers.
