In Bruges
- Thread starter engee
- Start date
I've been a few times. It's not a massive town and when I've been at the weekend it was very busy. There are plenty of nice places to eat and drink. Short boat trips. Chocolate shops are all pretty much copy and pastes of each other. I've never been up the tower myself.
De Halve Maan and Bourgogne des Flanders breweries are decent and the Duval bar over looking the square is nice (Enter via the museum and go up the stairs. Lots of people will recommend the 2Be bar, go and have a look and see how busy it is and if its rammed go somewhere else, worth sticking your head in just to see the beer wall. I think its better to hunt out the less well know not so touristy bars ('t Brugs Beertje was recommened to me but was closed when I went, it opens late afternoon)
You can easily get to Gent as well which is nice too, or If you fancy going to the coast Blankenberge
De Halve Maan and Bourgogne des Flanders breweries are decent and the Duval bar over looking the square is nice (Enter via the museum and go up the stairs. Lots of people will recommend the 2Be bar, go and have a look and see how busy it is and if its rammed go somewhere else, worth sticking your head in just to see the beer wall. I think its better to hunt out the less well know not so touristy bars ('t Brugs Beertje was recommened to me but was closed when I went, it opens late afternoon)
You can easily get to Gent as well which is nice too, or If you fancy going to the coast Blankenberge
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If you want a quieter walk and to leave some of the crowds behind, there are 4 (IIRC) windmills on the canal. I think the loop is about 3 miles, so an hour or so of pleasant walking.
De Garre is also famous as a small bar, especially for their house tripple. Hidden away down an unmarked alley between two chocolate shops but worth a visit if you can get a seat.
Would echo the De Halve Maan tour being good as I do like a Brugse Zot Dubbel. I thought the beers in the brewery shop were a decent price, so bought home two 75cl bottles of their Christmas quadrupel. As well of lots of chocolate shops, there are lots of beer shops. You will probably find better pricing in supermarkets (at the expense of a more limited choice). Even the small city-centre Carrefour Express will usually have Omer, Brugse Zot, Westmalle, La Chouffe etc. I picked up a La Chouffe 4 pack with a glass at the Carrefour at Brussels Midi station (before we got Eurostar home) and it was half the price I'd seen it for in gift shops.
If you want a hot chocolate there is no shortage of choice but we went to the Old Chocolate House Tea Room which was good.
De Garre is also famous as a small bar, especially for their house tripple. Hidden away down an unmarked alley between two chocolate shops but worth a visit if you can get a seat.
Would echo the De Halve Maan tour being good as I do like a Brugse Zot Dubbel. I thought the beers in the brewery shop were a decent price, so bought home two 75cl bottles of their Christmas quadrupel. As well of lots of chocolate shops, there are lots of beer shops. You will probably find better pricing in supermarkets (at the expense of a more limited choice). Even the small city-centre Carrefour Express will usually have Omer, Brugse Zot, Westmalle, La Chouffe etc. I picked up a La Chouffe 4 pack with a glass at the Carrefour at Brussels Midi station (before we got Eurostar home) and it was half the price I'd seen it for in gift shops.
If you want a hot chocolate there is no shortage of choice but we went to the Old Chocolate House Tea Room which was good.
Soldato
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2002
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- 2,825
- Location
- Chelmsford
I've been to Bruges 6 times now and never get bored of the place. I just like to go and relax there so won't / can't recommend a list of things to do as such.
The tourist hotspots are best avoided when it comes to food and drink and to be honest, I don't even find walking through Grote Markt (Market Square) overly pleasant with the crowds these days. You don't need to walk far though to escape the crowds and find some quality places to spend some time.
Speaking of Market Square, if you've got the energy a trek up the Belfry is good.
Some bits that may (or may not) be of some use:
Underground parking garage - 't Zand
If you need to park, I usually park here. It's not the absolute cheapest option but you can always get a space.
De Zomere B&B
A stunning B&B and it's probably where I'll stay next time my wife and I visit Bruges.
Dukes Academie Bruges
Dukes' Academie - by Dukes' Hotel Collection
Another decent hotel if a B&B isn't for you. There are a lot of hotels in Bruges but many are quite pricey and the cheaper ones tend to look a bit meh. This is neither.
Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce
The hotel used in the film In Bruges although the bedroom scenes were on a set.
We've stayed here once on a Monday night if I remember rightly and they upgraded us for free as the hotel was quiet. The room was quite something.
DEES Specialty Coffee | BAR & ROASTERY | BRUGGE |
Cracking little coffee shop to relax for a bit.
Lion Belge - Brugge
I went here for lunch one day. The street was empty despite being just half a mile from the centre and I had the best Flemish Stew to date. There seemed to be a lot of locals in there which says a lot.
Bij Koen & Marijke
An outstanding restaurant for dinner. I could eat there again and again.
Ribs 'n Beer
I've not been for a while now but every time I've visited, I've had a great meal.
Bistrobar Boreas
I've not actually eaten here yet but it's on my list of places to eat at next. Just like hotels in Bruges, there are plenty of restaurants but there are also a lot of naff ones amongst them.
De Garre
A quality bar with a nice 11% house beer served with cheese to graze on.
Le Trappiste
A cellar bar that's worth a look if you want to sample different beers.
't Brugs Beertje
An amazing bar full of locals as well as tourists but get there for opening as it was full within 10 minutes and people were being turned away.
Groot Vlaenderen
We went for a few cocktails here and loved the drinks, the atmosphere and the service. Well worth a visit.
If you want a tour of Bruges, I've used a Canadian guy called Andy before. He lives in Bruges and is married to a lady from there.
He does photo tours so gets you to take photos as you walk round, teaching you how to get the best from your phone or camera.
He's brilliant.
www.phototourbrugge.com
Overall, Bruges is a stunning place but as others have said it does get extremely busy especially at weekends. Antwerp and Ghent are also worth a visit even if you've already seen Bruges.
The tourist hotspots are best avoided when it comes to food and drink and to be honest, I don't even find walking through Grote Markt (Market Square) overly pleasant with the crowds these days. You don't need to walk far though to escape the crowds and find some quality places to spend some time.
Speaking of Market Square, if you've got the energy a trek up the Belfry is good.
Some bits that may (or may not) be of some use:
Underground parking garage - 't Zand
If you need to park, I usually park here. It's not the absolute cheapest option but you can always get a space.
De Zomere B&B
A stunning B&B and it's probably where I'll stay next time my wife and I visit Bruges.
Dukes Academie Bruges
Dukes' Academie - by Dukes' Hotel Collection
Another decent hotel if a B&B isn't for you. There are a lot of hotels in Bruges but many are quite pricey and the cheaper ones tend to look a bit meh. This is neither.
Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce
The hotel used in the film In Bruges although the bedroom scenes were on a set.
We've stayed here once on a Monday night if I remember rightly and they upgraded us for free as the hotel was quiet. The room was quite something.
DEES Specialty Coffee | BAR & ROASTERY | BRUGGE |
Cracking little coffee shop to relax for a bit.
Lion Belge - Brugge
I went here for lunch one day. The street was empty despite being just half a mile from the centre and I had the best Flemish Stew to date. There seemed to be a lot of locals in there which says a lot.
Bij Koen & Marijke
An outstanding restaurant for dinner. I could eat there again and again.
Ribs 'n Beer
I've not been for a while now but every time I've visited, I've had a great meal.
Bistrobar Boreas
I've not actually eaten here yet but it's on my list of places to eat at next. Just like hotels in Bruges, there are plenty of restaurants but there are also a lot of naff ones amongst them.
De Garre
A quality bar with a nice 11% house beer served with cheese to graze on.
Le Trappiste
A cellar bar that's worth a look if you want to sample different beers.
't Brugs Beertje
An amazing bar full of locals as well as tourists but get there for opening as it was full within 10 minutes and people were being turned away.
Groot Vlaenderen
We went for a few cocktails here and loved the drinks, the atmosphere and the service. Well worth a visit.
If you want a tour of Bruges, I've used a Canadian guy called Andy before. He lives in Bruges and is married to a lady from there.
He does photo tours so gets you to take photos as you walk round, teaching you how to get the best from your phone or camera.
He's brilliant.
THE 5* Bruges Photography Tours & Photoshoots | Photo Tour Brugge
Capture Brugge (Bruges) with local pro photographer Andy Mc. Expert-led 5* photo tours and private proposal or vacation photoshoots. All skill levels & cameras welcome. Your best Bruges photos start here!
www.phototourbrugge.com
Overall, Bruges is a stunning place but as others have said it does get extremely busy especially at weekends. Antwerp and Ghent are also worth a visit even if you've already seen Bruges.
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What a great post, thanks!I've been to Bruges 6 times now and never get bored of the place. I just like to go and relax there so won't / can't recommend a list of things to do as such.
The tourist hotspots are best avoided when it comes to food and drink and to be honest, I don't even find walking through Grote Markt (Market Square) overly pleasant with the crowds these days. You don't need to walk far though to escape the crowds and find some quality places to spend some time.
Speaking of Market Square, if you've got the energy a trek up the Belfry is good.
Some bits that may (or may not) be of some use:
Underground parking garage - 't Zand
If you need to park, I usually park here. It's not the absolute cheapest option but you can always get a space.
De Zomere B&B
A stunning B&B and it's probably were I'll stay next time my wife and I visit Bruges.
Dukes Academie Bruges
Dukes' Academie - by Dukes' Hotel Collection
Another decent hotel if a B&B isn't for you. There are a lot of hotels in Bruges but many are quite pricey and the cheaper ones tend to look a bit meh. This is neither.
Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce
The hotel used in the film In Bruges although the bedroom scenes were on a set.
We've stayed here once on a Monday night if I remember rightly and they upgraded us for free as the hotel was quiet. The room was quite something.
DEES Specialty Coffee | BAR & ROASTERY | BRUGGE |
Cracking little coffee shop to relax for a bit.
Lion Belge - Brugge
I went here for lunch one day. The street was empty despite being just half a mile from the centre and I had the best Flemish Stew to date. There seemed to be a lot of locals in there which says a lot.
Bij Koen & Marijke
An outstanding restaurant for dinner. I could eat there again and again.
Ribs 'n Beer
I've not been for a while now but every time I've visited, I've had a great meal.
Bistrobar Boreas
I've not actually eaten here yet but it's on my list of places to eat at next. Just like hotels in Bruges, there are plenty of restaurants but there are also a lot of naff ones amongst them.
De Garre
A quality bar with a nice 11% house beer served with cheese to graze on.
Le Trappiste
An cellar bar that's worth a look if you want to sample different beers.
't Brugs Beertje
An amazing bar full of locals as well as tourists but get there for opening as it was full within 10 minutes and people were being turned away.
Groot Vlaenderen
We went for a few cocktails here and loved the drinks, the atmosphere and the service. Well worth a visit.
If you want a tour of Bruges, I've used a Canadian guy called Andy before. He lives in Bruges and is married to a lady from there.
He does photo tours so gets you to take photos as you walk round, teaching you how to get the best from your phone or camera.
He's brilliant.
THE 5* Bruges Photography Tours & Photoshoots | Photo Tour Brugge
Capture Brugge (Bruges) with local pro photographer Andy Mc. Expert-led 5* photo tours and private proposal or vacation photoshoots. All skill levels & cameras welcome. Your best Bruges photos start here!
Overall, Bruges is a stunning place but as others have said it does get extremely busy especially at weekends. Antwerp and Ghent are also worth a visit even if you've already seen Bruges.
We ate at Bistrobar Boreas in December and it was good. I think we both had ribs and fries, which was just the job having been in De Garre that afternoon and come straight from the De Halve Maan tour <hic>
This post needs saving for when anyone asks about Bruges!
That’s the only reason I came up with the idea of going
My tip is don’t use the film as a full guide. The church to touch the blood is round the corner from the tower. We were disappointed this wasn’t from the film and had a couple mile walk to visit the actual church from the film.
De Halve maan brewery tour was very cool.
Soldato
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2002
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- 2,743
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- Nr Colchester, Essex
Had a day there last month on a Friday. It's a very pretty place but the crowds were ridiculous combined with horse and carts pushing everyone out the way. Ruined it for me really. It was the start easter weekend so that may have been why but I dread tobthink what it will be like in the summer!
It's larger than I expected, we were planning to get the train 20mins to ghent but run our of time. I hear that is less chaotic.
It's larger than I expected, we were planning to get the train 20mins to ghent but run our of time. I hear that is less chaotic.
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Still pretty busy in Ghent but not on the scale of Bruges , I prefer Ghent to be honest .
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Caporegime
- Joined
- 20 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 79,185
- Location
- Wish i was in a Ramen Shop Counter
Ghent in January for me was pretty chill compared to Bruge, but I did go on like a Sunday I think.
Was lovely, not totally dead but also didn't have to queue for anything.
I went there quite a few years back in the autumn and enjoyed it. Was advised to avoid the summer as mosquitoes can be a nuisance. Did a brewery tour, canal boat trip and climbed the clock tower. Also did some other trips out of Bruges as there is loads of WW1 history in the area. I found this really interesting, but my better half didn't and said she thought the trenches, cemeteries and museums were depressing.