Travel Guide: Brugge, Belgium

I am just back from a gorgeous weekend in Brugge, Belgium and it's safe to say I have fallen in love with this city! It's quaint but vibrant with plenty to do in a weekend. It's one of those places where you don't even really need a map - as because it's so small you get to know the streets and layout of the city so well. As a result, it makes the trip feel even more relaxed.

This was my first trip abroad since February (I went in July), and it was so well needed! Due to my daily job, I don't get a lot of annual leave so I did this weekend trip using just 1 day of annual leave. So if you're like me and living that '9 till 5' life, then this travel guide should be perfect for you! I have also included some other tips though if you plan to do a longer trip!

TRAVELLING THERE

I'll be honest with you guys, the way I travelled there, would not be advisable for only a weekend trip but it would definitely be something to consider if you were going for a bit longer! In summary, I travelled to Brugge on a 2 hour ferry from Dover to Dunkirk, then cycled 23 miles from Dunkirk to De Panne, Belgium and then took 2 trains to get to Brugge - it was crazy! and did not need to take this long! I had originally intended to cycle all the way to Brugge, but after the cycle being longer than expected, we googled the closest train station and got the train the rest of the way there!

From this experience, here are my 'travelling there' recommendations:

- Car: Use the Channel Tunnel or the ferry to Dunkirk and once you have crossed the English Channel, it's only an hour to Brugge.

- Eurostar: This is a super straight forward route of getting into the centre of Brugge from London. Be sure to either book well in advance or in non peak periods, otherwise prices can rise quickly.

- Plane: Fly to Brussels from your closest airport and then it is a direct 1 hour train to Brugge.

- Bike/Ferry: The cycle to Brugge is predominantly flat but it is about a 50 mile cycle from Dunkirk Ferry Port so factor a day extra into your trip and pack light!

TOP 5 THINGS TO DO AND EAT IN BRUGGE

1) Canal Boat Tour

The canal boat tour is a must! It shows the city from a complete new angle, as well as being informative about the city's history. I also found it helpful to point out the highlights of the city and then walk to them afterwards, therefore I would recommend doing this tour in the morning, for firstly this reason and secondly, to avoid having to wait in a long queue due to the popularity of the tours. The tour costs 8 euro per adult.

2) Hire or Bring a Bike

Brugge is super cycle friendly. Although easy to walk around the centre, there are things to see on the outskirts of the city also. I enjoyed cycling to see the windmills, but also cycling around the quiet backstreets of Brugge. I brought my bike across but you can hire bikes for as cheap as 6 euro.

3) Belgium Waffles and Ice Cream at Oyya

We tried 3 places for Belgium Waffles in the one weekend spent in Brugge, and Oyya was by far the best! It not only does waffles, it does different sauces, toppings frozen yogurt and ice cream as well! A plain waffle costs 3 euro and then sauces and toppings range from 0.5 - 2 euro and ice-cream is approx. 1.70 euro per scoop.

4) Beer Tasting at Duvelorium Grand Beer Cafe

Everyone knows that Belgium is famous for Beer and Chocolate - and here is a place to enjoy the 2! At Duvelorium Grand Beer Cafe you can enjoy a set of 3 beers of your choice in a tasting glass with a chocolate specifically chosen to compliment that beer for only 10 euro! There is also a fabulous balcony which gives you a perfect view point of the Market Square. Now usually I am not a fan of beer, but for all those out there who are like me - don't let this stop you! There are some amazing fruit beers to choose from, and I would highly recommend trying the cherry beer.

5) Belgian Hot Chocolate at Pralinette , L'atelier Du Chocolat

What is a trip to Belgium without trying chocolate. Pralinette , L'atelier Du Chocolat not only sells chocolate but has a small cafe doing the most wonderful hot chocolate. You can choose from white, milk or dark Belgian hot chocolate. Now this is no powdered chocolate - no no. They give you a glass of piping hot frothy milk with a big pure lump of Belgian chocolate to stir into the milk and it. is. divine. I tried the dark hot chocolate and it is hands down the best hot chocolate I have ever had. The cafe also has an outdoor terrace that looks onto Brugge's canals, which combines the perfect set up!

EXCURSIONS

For only a weekend, I would not recommend taking any excursions but instead enjoy and soak up the wonderful city that Brugge is. But for those planning a slightly longer trip there is an excellent train service to other cities. I have just discussed a couple below, but obviously this is not extensive!

Ghent, Belgium

Ghent is a short 25 minute drive or train ride away from Brugge. When in Brugge, a friend was able to drive myself and my partner to Ghent for a couple of hours to get a flavour for the city. The streets and buildings are very similar to Brugge but on a much larger scale. We were also there for the musical festival weekend, meaning it was very busy - however I am assured that it is usually a lot quieter and there are a lot less tourists there on normal weekends! From the couple of hours we were there, you could see there is plenty to do in regards to canal tours, hiring kayaks, walking round the city, visiting famous buildings and eating plenty of yummy food!

Ostend, Belgium

I myself didn't get a chance to visit Ostend, as I had to leave earlier but my partner was fortunate enough to visit. It is only a 15 minute train journey away and is perfect for an escape to the beach. Although it is a well-built up city, it's main attraction is its long beach and promenade. To find out more about tourist attractions in Ostend, click here.

Happy Travelling!

Ruth xxx