Bruges is one of the most picturesque cities I know in Belgium. It is always a pleasure to spend a day there exploring this medieval Belgian canal-filled town and its incredibly well-preserved historic town center. This city has the well-earned nickname of ‘Little Venice of the North’. We did go there at the end of November when there was a Christmas market and an iceskating area on the market square.
If you want to know the top 10 Things to do and see in Bruges, follow this link
Our visit consisted of the following three things concluded with a delicious dinner. See our restaurant recommendation below.
1. Visit to the Market Square and Belfry
A dazzling and breathtaking view over the entire city of Bruges and its surroundings; that is what is provided after the 366-step climb to the top of the Belfry. This 83-meter high building dates back from the 13th century. It is also a proclaimed UNESCO World Heritage site. Originally built as part of the medieval town halls, the tower now houses the old treasury, the carillon and its 47 impressive bells. The Belfry is not the most exciting of attractions in Bruges, but it is the most important building in Bruges’ history, and therefore cannot be skipped.
Christmas market at market square
2. Canal Boat tour
Very touristy, perhaps, but one of the best ways to see Bruges is from the water. As it is the Venice of the North, it would be almost impossible to visit Bruges without hopping on a rickety boat and floating around the expansive network of canals. Overhanging willow trees, lush little gardens just above the waterline and old bridges crossing the water gives visitors the impression of being in a fairytale. Floating on the canals provides an entirely different view of the city’s historic center, bringing visitors up close to some of the town’s most incredible sites that would otherwise go unnoticed. If you’re looking for a romantic date, this is undeniably it. This is MUST when you want to experience Bruges.
Canal boat tour
3. Shopping
Bruges is hardly a Mecca for shoppers; the city might have a healthy mixture of independent and high street retailers, but the choice fails to rival that of nearby Brussels or Antwerp and prices are high, thanks to the hordes of tourists visiting the city. There are a range of designer boutiques, high street brands and local markets scattered throughout the city, not to mention numerous chocolatiers selling their delicious wares around the Old Town.
Shopping for a beer case
Bruges is also famous for its production of lace goods, which can be found in specialist shops and local markets. There are about 80 lace shops in the city.
The main shopping areas in Bruges are situated between ‘t Zand and Markt Square. Steenstraat. Geld Montstraat and Jakobstraat are the main retail arteries of the city, with other streets lined with shops leading off from these.
On Wednesday morning, there’s a great food market in the Markt Square, while ‘t Zand Square is a great place to pick up bargain clothes on Saturday. The Fish Market across the canal from Burg Square trades from Tuesday to Saturday and there’s a brilliant flea market on the Dijver Canal at the weekend.
The big chain stores are concentrated on Steenstraat, while Noordzandstraat features numerous boutique outlets.
Opening hours for shopping in Bruges are generally 0900-1800.
Citie, Shopping App voor Brugge
You can also download the Shopping app, Citie. This app gives you an overview of all shops in town. You can see where you shop for specific items or plan for a lunch or dinner. The app also guides you to the parking spots and you can save Citiecoins points for presents or activities. Download in de App/Play store or www.citie.be .
4. Our restaurant recommendation
For lunch: you can go to
- Republiek: republiekbrugge.be
- Amuni: amuni.be very good pizzas, different than usual.
- Lion Belge: lionbelge.eu
Here you have three restaurant recommendations for dinner:
- Le chef et moi. They always have a menu with the main dish fish, but if you tell them, perhaps they will change it. You can also order ‘a la carte’. Romantic :o)
URL : lechefetmoi.be
- Quatre Mains: more informal, “tapas” to share
URL : 4mains.com
- Cezar: more typical Belgium kitchen
URL : restaurant-cezar.be
We went to the restaurant Cezar and the food was delicious. Make a reservation in advance . Go with our greetings and recommendation of the website Dividend Cake.
5. Other nice pictures of the day, enjoy !
Amazing view on Belfry
Beautiful view on Bruges@night
Night view on canal
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