Why Picturesque Brugge Deserves More than A Day Trip

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If, like me, you are a lover of cute cobbled streets, meandering canals, stunning architecture, friendly people and – hello – chocolate, then you won’t be able to resist Brugge. There really isn’t anything not to like about this actual chocolate box Belgium town. Most people choose to take a day trip from Brussels, or hitch a ride on the ferry for the day but they are missing out big time. It’s true that technically if you’re pushed for time you can see the main sights easily in one day – I almost walked the centre on my first evening! But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve to be taken in more slowly and savoured. Beautiful Brugge definitely deserves more than a day trip.

Maybe it’s because I’m a country girl at heart, big cities sometimes leave me drained, but staying for a few days in a smaller town actually suits me. There might not be a hundred different activities, this is no Rome, but it makes for a pleasant, relaxing and enjoyable trip.

Brugge is a very beautiful town, staying for a few more days allows you to experience it at different times of the day, early morning when the tourists are few and the summer air soft, or evening with the twinkling lights and buzz of mellow, happy people.

It also enables you to wander and see a bit more of the town. The main centre of Brugge is circled by a main road and the various ‘gates’ stationed along it. Within this centre there is another centre, the heart of touristic Brugge, with the market square and the Belfry. Staying for a few more days means you can expand your wanders to more areas within the centre, as well as outside if you want to.

What to do in Brugge

Brugge was one of the rare trips I didn’t plan down to the last minute. I left my plans very relaxed and in a small town like Brugge it’s definitely possible to do this because it’s so walkable.

Day One: Central Wanderings

The first day is a great time to wander and get to know the town. Knowing that you’ve got a few days makes it easier to relax and wander without too much urgency. Follow your feet and see what happens.

The first thing you can’t miss is the main market square and the belfry. This has to be one of most beautiful squares I’ve seen! It’s so charming, with horse and carriages waiting on one side. I saw it first getting off the bus from the station and it was a fantastic first impression. I often think that a great first impression of a place leaves its mark on you and colours the entire trip. For me, Brugge was love at first sight. It was one of my favourite main squares and I’ve seen a few!

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You can then explore all the cute cobbled streets and canals. The canals in the centre get very busy so it’s a good idea to have a wander in the morning before it gets too crowded. If like me you find yourself accidentally wandering out of the main centre just keep going! There’s plenty of time to see everything.

Museums in Brugge

There are some museums to check out if you wish although I didn’t do any on this trip, unusually for me. There is the chocolate museum “Choco-Story” and Frietmuseum, which is yes you’ve guessed it, a museum about chips, or fries, or friets, depending on your language. I was intrigued by both as I like a quirky museum but on this occasion I decided to stick to wandering and enjoying the sunshine.

I also passed a museum about 19th and 20th century life in Brugge, Volkskundemusuem which might be worth a look. In the Belfry there was a Salvador Dali exhibit which I didn’t go to but later wished I had! So check out if they have an exhibition on there when you visit.

Canal Tours

Another relaxing option is to take a boat trip along the canals. I have mixed feelings about these, as I do on many things. I enjoy seeing a city from the canals, it gives you another perspective and you can also take some nice photos. Some cities, like Amsterdam for example, have many boat tours to choose from so you can book specifically English tours. In Brugge you can only pick from the handful of tours dotted along the canals and they cater for everyone so it does just mean you get every sentence repeated in four languages. Impressive, but a little tiring sometimes. They are also very busy so you might want to try a quieter time of day if possible.

You can also spend the afternoon wandering in and out of chocolate shops, all so tempting! And there’s plenty of other shops to nosy at if you enjoy that sort of thing.

Finally, head back to the main square and get a waffle from Fred’s topped with indulgent cream, chocolate, caramel sauce, marshmellows, chocolate bars… anything you fancy. Sit back in the square and people watch as you wolf down your waffle (hopefully without dribbling sauce down your top).

Day Two: Day Trip

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It’s so easy to take day trips from Brugge, you could either visit the seaside (Knokke-Heist for example) or take the train to Ghent which is a beautiful and charming city. Possibly underrated and somewhat under the radar, like Brugge it has pretty canals, boat tours and waffles but the skyline is even more dramatic with the belltower, cathedral and Saint Nicholas Church as the three stand out buildings. I highly recommend climbing the bell tower here rather than in Brugge as the views are spectacular, plus there’s an elevator! Wander down past the castle (yes there’s also a castle to admire and have a look around if you have time) to the stretch of canal draped with weeping willows and sit and read awhile. Such a peaceful spot.

The trains are very easy to navigate and you can get to Ghent in about half an hour from Brugge, perfect for a day trip. The obvious question is should you stay in Ghent and do a day trip to Brugge instead? I think both options work fine, the difference is Brugge is smaller and more peaceful. I think it wins on charm and beauty too so personally I’d pick Brugge but if you’re more of a city person or want a few more activities Ghent is a great choice.

You can take a quick tram ride from the station to the centre if you want to save time, it would be a 30 minute walk so for a quick day trip the tram makes sense.

Day Three: Sint-Anna Quarter and Minnewater Park

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My particular favourite area was the Sint-Anna Quarter. On the last day take a morning walk up the canals from the centre (between the centre and the Ezelstraat Quarter) and follow it right up to the edge of the town centre where the windmills are. Yes windmills dot the outer ring of the centre on this side. There’s also a nice walk along the outer canal and trees to round off the morning stroll.

Head back into the Sint Anna Quarter and explore as much as you want. Langestraat is a busy street with lots of shops and restaurants to explore which would lead you back into the centre. Peaceful and quiet, with pretty houses and a low key vibe this area is perfect for a relaxing morning walk. The stretch along the canals is particularly beautiful on a sunny morning.

I actually headed back to my hotel to recharge (phone and myself) after a long stroll and had a freshen up for lunch. This is another reason why I love staying in smaller towns like Brugge. It’s so easy to pop back to your hotel throughout the day. A big city break makes that much more difficult.

Last lazy afternoon

One of my main food recommendations (more below) for Brugge is One Restaurant. Just outside Minnewater Park it has a beautiful and serene terrace and the food was delicious! Definitely try the Flemish stew here. One of those dishes that’s hard for a nice restaurant to make pretty but boy does it taste good!

It’s also handy for exploring Minnewater Park which is a lovely spot although I was sort of expecting more park to wander. There is also a nice spot not far from the park where the swans gather on the grass and the carriages roll past regularly. There’s a few benches so you can sit and relax, read, people watch.

One final stop on my Brugge list has to be a visit to the Old Chocolate House. Okay the idea of making your own hot chocolate out of a tray of cream and toppings and chocolate is a bit Instagram cutesy but who can resist it really? If the weather is good take a seat on the little street and people watch as you sip. They also have a shop inside full of chocolate treats.

So this was my chilled out Brugge itinerary. The weather was beautiful and I was in my element wandering, taking photos, snacking on waffles and reading my book along the canals. The perfect trip.

If you’re looking for a low key, relaxed trip with lots of beautiful scenery then Brugge is perfect. The people were all lovely, excellent friendly service at every single bar or restaurant I visited. I can’t guarantee sunshine but everything else I can assure you will be amazing.

More Quaint City Breaks…

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What I didn’t do in Brugge

Splash the cash – if you’re happy to throw away your money why not take a carriage ride. It must be a lovely way to see the city but I baulked at having to spend 60 euros on it. A boat tour for 12 euros and using your own feet will definitely suffice.

Where to Eat and Drink in Brugge

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Sale e pepe: Delicious Italian fare, situated down a small side street not far from the main square. A small and perfectly formed menu. I got here very early for lunch so it was quiet but I’m sure it might be wise to book for the evening.

One Restaurant: Gorgeous setting with a lovely terrace next to Minnewater Park. I had the Flemish stew and it was delicious! Definitely a sought after spot so be sure to book in advance!

Blend Wine Bar: I loved this little wine bar close to my hotel. If you’re tired of beer (or you’re just not a fan like me) then this is the perfect alternative. I had some tasty little nibbles with my wine. Perfect for when you’re stuffed yourself silly with waffles all day.

Fred’s Waffles: Talking of waffles, Fred’s do a really good one. I didn’t sample any others in Brugge but I did try some in Gent and Brussels and Fred’s came out on top. Close to the main square they’re perfect for eating and watching the world go by. Or struggling not to get covered in sauce as I was! Worth it though!

Where to Stay in Brugge

Hotel Du Theatre: This hotel was perfectly located a couple of streets up from the main square, away from the hubbub but super easy to find your way back to. I love having a hotel close to the main square because it’s so much harder to get lost! My room was bright and clean and perfect size for me. Modern bathroom with a fantastic rainfall shower.

I didn’t sample the breakfast because it wasn’t included in my room and I’m not the biggest breakfast eater so buying a quick croissant from a nearby bakery makes much more sense for me. The hotel felt quiet and relaxed, a nice easy pitstop to head back to.

Getting to Brugge

If like me you’re visiting from the UK you can either fly to Brussels or take the Eurostar.

I really enjoyed travelling all the way by train, it definitely makes a change from flying and the Eurostar is so easy. I actually only had a ticket booked to Brussels which meant I had to buy a ticket at Brussels for the train to Brugge but you can also buy an Any Station Belgium ticket which allows you to travel on with your Eurostar ticket. Trains run regularly to Brugge so it’s a very easy change. It takes about an hour to get from Brussels to Brugge and Ghent is in the middle.

Once at the station in Brugge you will find most buses go through the centre unless your hotel is fairly close to walk to. If in doubt just ask when you get on, they will all understand English and certainly ‘Centrum’. I love that buses are so easy to pay for now with contactless or Apple Pay. Just remember if you’re using a travel card to make that your default card on Apple Pay otherwise you will be using your debit card and get charged and yes I am speaking from personal experience. Doh!

Brussels

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If you have a late train back it’s also a great chance to nip into Brussels for the day. You can get your connecting train at any time 24hrs before and after your Eurostar train with the Any Station ticket so why not. Take a train mid morning and spend the rest of the day in Brussels before getting the Eurostar home. It’s surprisingly easy to hit lots of the main sights in a few hours. You can walk from the station – I couldn’t figure out the public transport so I decided to walk. It only takes twenty minutes to get to the centre and sometimes it’s easier than waiting around for trams or buses especially if you’re not sure which one you want.

There are luggage lockers at the Midi/Zuid station which are easy to use, even though I was mildly anxious about putting the wrong code in all day until I got my case back safe!

I got all my info from The Man in Seat 61.

In Brussels I made a circle around the centre, I was so last minute in my planning for this trip I actually created a map on the train to Brussels. Very unlike me!

See my route here.

This rough circle around Brussels takes in lunch at C’est Bon C’est Belge, Place du Grand Sablon, the Royal Palace of Brussels (a quick look at the exterior and a wander through the gardens), Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, Place Sainte-Catherine, the magnificent Grand Place, waffes at Waffle Factory and of course Manneken Pis and Jeanneke Pis.

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That sounds like rather a lot in a few hours but I actually found it quite easy to fit it all in and not feel rushed. It should take around an hour to walk according to Google Maps but obviously add on time for eating, taking photos, taking in the scenery etc.

This is obviously a snapshot of Brussels, barely scratching the surface but it gives you a little glimpse into the city.

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