Bruges has been on mine and Dan's bucket list for about two years and after missing out on a weekend break there last year, we knew that we would make the effort in 2015 to go. And it was well worth waiting for.
Two weekends ago, we got in the mood by watching In Bruges and searching the internet for sights and sees not to be missed. Although the only thing we had booked were our meals out in the evenings, we managed to cram in pretty much everything we wanted to do and places I wasn't even sure we'd have time to see.
After a five and a half hour journey to Bruges from London on the Eurostar and local train services, we quickly marched ourselves from the train station to our accommodation for the next two nights, Hotel Dukes' Palace. The former residence of the Burgundian aristocracy, our hotel lived up to it's 5* rating and tucked away in a quiet corner of Bruges just a few minutes walk from the Markt, it was the ideal location to start exploring the city.
The first thing on our sightseeing list was to climb the Belfort (Belfry) in the Markt Square. Rising 83 metres from the ground, the Belfry of Bruges can be seen for miles and just as equally once you're at the top, you get such a fantastic view of the city and beyond. It isn't a climb for the feint-hearted as it takes a whopping 366 steps to reach the top, but it's a great attraction to take away the guilt of eating an authentic Belgian waffle afterwards!
With an easy-to-navigate city and being given a detailed map of all the main attractions and landmarks, Dan and I did all of our sightseeing on foot. However there is the option for transport with either a half an hour boat ride along the canals, a horse-drawn carriage ride from the Markt Square or the choice to hop on a City Tour bus. The furthest we travelled out was to the windmills, which were about a 25-30 minute walk from the Markt and despite being super windy, it was a lovely walk.
As a city break, Bruges is the perfect place for just a two-night stay or long weekend. It was enough time to see all of the major attractions, try all of the local delicacies and even have time for a lie-in!
If you are thinking of going, make sure you go for an evening walk around the main squares once it has gone dark. All of the churches and city buildings are lit up, giving the place a lovely atmosphere and the chance to see the city at it's best when there are no crowds. Oh, and also remember to take a good pair of shoes or walking boots with you. I tried a pair of heels and they just weren't made for cobbled streets!
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