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A Weekend Break Bucket List for Bruges

Fall under the spell of the picture-perfect town of Bruges this winter.
Jan D'Hondt, Visit Bruges

Billed as the Venice of the north, Bruges with its atmospheric winding canals and historic cobbled streets is a medieval UNESCO World Heritage town and makes for the ideal weekend break.

Eschew the bustling summer crowds and feel like you’ve got the place to yourself in the crisp winter months. From January, right up until the bright yellow daffodils of spring, it’s particularly charming. For a small town, it certainly packs a lot in, so we’ve rounded up our essential sights to tick off, our favourite cultural hotspots and exceptional local dishes, to experience this magical winter wonderland at its best.

Essential sights

A trip to Bruges would not be complete without getting out on the labyrinth of waterways that this quaint town is made up of. Stroll the banks of the tree-lined canals, like the romantic Groenerei (Green Canal) and cross the famous Horse Bridge. Or hop on one of the canal boat tours that depart from the many landing stages.

Jan D'Hondt, Visit Bruges

Groenerei will also lead you to the heart of Bruges and The Burg, a pretty square of Gothic architecture. Cop an eyeful of the stunning Stadhuis, which weighs in as Bruges’ oldest town hall and The Basilica of the Holy Blood; Bruges’ most famed church. Standing majestically on the south side of the colourful Markt (Bruges’ main square), the Belfry is a striking 13th-century bell tower. Ascend its 336 steps for some of the best views across town.

Jan D'Hondt, Visit Bruges

Cultural hotspots

Bruges is rich in culture and the iconic Groeninge Museum is packed with artworks from some of Belgium’s most famous painters, from Jan van Eyck to Magritte. For a smaller museum, there’s the Flemish filled Memling Museum. Alternatively, Michelangelo’s masterpiece Madonna and Child is on display at Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk (Museum of the Church of our Lady).

Jan D'Hondt, Visit Bruges

Belgium is also known for its exquisite diamond trade and you can explore its history and check out some dazzling gems at the Bruges Diamond Museum. Another unusual museum that’s well-worth discovering is Volkskundemuseum, which is dedicated to Bruges’ rich folk culture. On the music front, the most celebrated of all the jazz haunts (it’s played host to everyone from Miles Davies to Nat King Cole over the years) is the cosy L’Archiduc.

Where to refuel

In the colder months eating and drinking in Bruges comes into its own and afternoons are glorious, dipping into cosy cafés and tasting the chocolate that the town is famed for. A firm favourite is De Proeverie, as their hot chocolates are legendary. Across town Choco-Story is a chocolate museum, which tells the history of cocoa and chocolate, with of course, plenty of tasters along the way, but for the best truffles family-run chocolatier Spegelaere is just the ticket.

Daniella Nowitz via Getty Images

Belgium is also famed for its beer, so a visit to the popular Half-Moon Brewery and its excellent brewery tour and museum, is a must. Over on Kemelstraat, ’t Brugs Beertje has over 300 Belgian beers on offer for your sipping pleasure and Le Trappiste is another bar that gets their beer selection spot on. For waffles, there’s the lovely Lizzie’s Wafels, which are all based on her grandmother’s old recipes and come in giant portions. Vismarkt is an 1821 built fish market, that’s still thriving today and is peppered with some great seafood restaurants. Try Den Gouden Karpel for mussels or De Stove, which has a monthly changing menu and just 20 seats.

Roger Gaess via Getty Images

Unmissable experiences

Bruges is a small town and completely walkable on foot, but it’s also very bike-friendly (with no hills to navigate) and Eric Popelier rents great city bikes to amble about on. For a truly memorable Bruges vista head for the city gates, which are right on the canal with four beautiful windmills dotted around them.

To explore further Bruges is actually home to two beaches and the sands of Zeebrugge or Knokke are great for running or kite flying. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience board a hot air balloon with Bruges Ballooning to see the city from a whole different vantage point. Active types might like the look of the Bicycle Bar (or Pedal Pub), where a group of up to 17 people can sip Belgian beer while pedalling around, taking in the city’s sights at the same time.

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