So, how to spend 4 epic hours in Bruges? This post will tell you how to enjoy just a few hours in this beautiful town.
The fantastic city of Bruges is geographically in the Northwest of Belgium. This medieval city maintained its medieval architecture over decades. In 2000, the “Historic Centre of Bruges” was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site.
How to get to Bruges
Ostende Airport is just 25 km from Bruges, but the only operating Airline is TUI Airlines Belgium with a few direct destinations. The easiest way to travel to Bruges is to fly to Brussels and take the train to Bruges. The trip only takes about one hour, and there are several trains per day.
How to get around Bruges
In Bruges, the prominent landmarks are within walking distance of each other. It is very cycle-friendly as well.
It took us about 5 hours and two stops to get to Bruges from Heidelberg, Germany.
Bruges was our final stop before returning to Bristol. We were fortunate with the weather, this time.
Our intention was to see as much as possible before it got dark (that happens when we decide to travel in Winter), so we headed to the city before checking in at the hotel in Ostende.
We have visited Bruges several times, and it never let us down. Every time we see it, we love it. We enjoy the architecture, the picturesque houses near the canals and the delicious smell of waffles.
Unfortunately, we only stayed in Bruges for few hours but we loved it. So, this is how we manage to spend 4 epic hours in Bruges.
How to spend 4 epic hours in Bruges
1- Visit the Belfry of Bruges
The Belfry of Bruges is a beautiful medieval bell tower in the market square. For this reason, it is impossible to miss it. This tall building, 83 metres high to be exact, was built in 1240. The Bells used to be a part of the daily life of the people living in town. They used to announce important events and emergencies like fire.
From the top, you can enjoy the fantastic views over the city of Bruges and its surroundings. It only takes you 366 steps to the top.
If you would like to buy the tickets in advance, clique here.
2- Have a wander in the Market Square
This beautiful square, used for local and international events, is surrounded by restaurants and cafes.
Every Wednesday and Friday, it holds a local food and flower market, and it is the main square where the city hosts one of the most beautiful Christmas Markets.
3- Explore the canals through Bruges and the romantic bridges
Between XVII and the XIX century, the beautiful waterways connected Bruges with the North Sea. Using the Bruges port was a way of transporting goods. The canals give you a completely different view from the city, bringing some of the Venetian magic feel.
4- Visit the Burg Square
The Burg Square is the second main square in the Bruges. You can visit the Basilica of the Holy Blood, the Bruges City Hall and the Old Civil Registry in the Square.
A beautiful arch leads to a narrow street between the City Hall and the Old Civil Registry. This street, named after an inn that used to be located here in the 15th Century called Den Blinden Ezel (The blind donkey and now The Blind Donkey Street), at this time is an essential connection between The Burg Square and the Fish Market.
5- Check the Basilica of the Holy Blood
Following the Burg Square, visit The Basilica of the Holy Blood.
The Basilica of the Holy Blood is a Roman Catholic Basilica initially built as a church by Thierry of Alsace, the Count of Flanders.
The construction started in 1134 and finished in 1157.
In 1147 Thierry of Alsace went on a Second Crusade and brought a Relic of the Holy Blood from the Holy Land.
The Relic of the Holy Blood is a cloth with the physical Blood of Christ (named The Most Precious Blood) that Jesus Christ shed on the Cross.
6- Try a waffle covered in Belgian Chocolate
So, the Waffle comes from ancient origins, and its recipe has travelled around Europe. Earlier in ancient Greece, it was a circular flat cake called Obelios (wafers) toasted between two metal plates.
The waffle recipe has several variations, but the base is the same: milk, flour and sometimes eggs.
The Belgian waffle variation idea emerged between the 18th and 19th centuries, and they introduced the brioche bun with sugar on top.
This rich, sweet pastry covered in Belgian Chocolate and cream is amazingly delicious, and you can find different varieties around Belgium.
7- Visit the Windmills of Bruges
We thought walking around the famous windmills in Bruges would be fun.They were a 15-minute walk from the main square, and you can find them in the Park Kruisvest.
From left to right in the pictures, check the New Parrot windmill, the Bonne-Chiere and the Sint-Janshuismolen windmill.
At last, we finished our day with this beautiful walk around the windmills. Although it was short, we spent 4 epic hours in Bruges.
Places to stay in Bruges
There are hundreds of unique places to stay in Bruges, but we opted to stay in Ostende.
Ostende is a small Town right on the Belgian coast.
It is just one hour from Calais, which made our trip shorter in the morning.
If we were staying in Bruges for a couple more days, I would have stayed in the city center; however, we decided to find accommodation on the outskirts for one night stay. Parking was cheaper.
We stayed at the Ibis Budget Ostende Airport. Rooms are just enough for what we need: clean rooms and a comfy bed. We paid about 150 euros, including 10 euros per dog, and the car park was cheaper, 15 euros compared to 25 euros in the city centre of Bruges.
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