Trifter

Because we usually spend so much time, money and effort getting to our holiday destinations, we want the end result to be like a dream coming true. Realistically though, in most cases the reality is doomed to fall short of those mounting expectations. Not so with Bruges, however, where perfection awaits in every picture-perfect medieval tableau and immaculate street. And when you’re done gaping at your fairy-tale surroundings, there’s always the beer and chocolate.

Bruges has a very compact and mostly pedestrianized city center, it is easy and affordable to get to, and it offers extensive cultural, gastronomic, and sightseeing options. Communication is also stress-free since the locals are all very friendly and fluent in English. In many ways, this Unesco World Heritage town combines the best things about larger and more famous cities such as Paris, Rome and Amsterdam, with an incredibly romantic atmosphere, stunning architecture, and rich history, all neatly packaged in about one square mile.

• Eating: There is great variety in Bruges gastronomy, from top-end French cuisine to the best all-you-can-eat ribs in a relaxed pub environment. I have also researched extensively into the best chocolate shops (it was a tough job, but somebody had to do it), which are an essential part of any Bruges visit.
• Drinking: There are plenty of nice cafes serving a good range of beers in the main tourist areas, but there are also authentic old pubs that seem purposefully hidden away, where you rarely find any tourists and which serve about 300 types of the best beer you will ever taste, and these are the ones that are really worth going to.
• Where to stay: Bruges offers accommodation for every kind of budget, from a Youth Hostel to luxury boutique hotels. I have personal experience of a few but have also spent many hours researching the best deals.
•  How to get there: The easiest way to get to Bruges is to take the extremely reliable and punctual trains. Eurostar Services from London to Brussels cost as little as £42 return, and this includes a connection to any Belgium station. The total journey takes about 3-4 hours. You can also fly to Brussels and get a train to Bruges, which only takes about 50 minutes.
• Tours: You can experience Bruges comfortably on foot, but the boat and carriage tours give you a whole new perspective. Reasonably priced and highly recommended.
• Churches: There are many beautiful churches in Bruges, most notably Our Lady’s Church which houses a Michelangelo sculpture (one of only three outside Italy and the only one of those not in a major museum) and The Chapel of the Holy Blood, in which every Friday the public is allowed to see a relic supposedly containing the blood of Christ.
• Museums and places of interest: Apart from housing impressive collections of fine art in the Groeninge, Gruuthuse and Memling, Bruges also offers museums dedicated to Lacemaking, Brewing, Archery and Diamonds, as well as the wonderful Belfry Tower which offers a birds-eye view of Bruges.