BRUGES IS FAMOUS FOR ITS LACE MAKING
Pop into one of the lace shops dotted around the city to buy a lace souvenir, or better yet visit the Lace Centre to learn more about the history of lace in Bruges.As all others have posted, Bruges is comfortable and safe at any hour of the day or night. Our experience in Brussels was not the same. Brussels is the only major city in Europe where we experienced all police officers carrrying sidearms in the streets, and this was prior to the "age of terrorism".
Fans of Ghent say that Bruges is like a medieval Disneyland, while those who love Bruges say that Ghent is much larger and populated; hence the charm of the medieval city centre is less outstanding. In my opinion, both provide a completely different, but unique travel experience, and it's only a question of taste.
Bruges is okay for a short visit but Brussels feels like a real place, and there is a lot more to see than the Grand Place. It's also easy to take a day trip somewhere like Antwerp. Antwerp has a big city feel to it, Ghent is a big town. Both are better than Bruges or Brussels to stay in.
Cars are not recommended, since Bruges' streets are narrow and webbed with canals. You can also hire taxis at several taxi stands. The closest major airport is Brussels Airport (BRU), so most visitors take the train into Bruges.
You're Going to Love Bruges
One of the major attractions of Bruges is its well-preserved city center: it is one of the only European cities that has retained its street layout since the days before the introduction of the automobile. The historic city center is small and walkable, and is almost entirely pedestrianized.Tipping is not common in Belgium. Restaurant, taxi and hairdresser bills include the service charge. However, if you are very happy with the service you got, leaving a few Euros (or to round up your bill) as a tip is the way forward, but think of 10% as the maximum to leave (i.e. when you receive exceptional service).
Must visits in Bruges
Bruges isn't that big, but it has plenty to do when you're there. Experience the midieval city yourself – Wandering around in the small but midieval center of Bruges will open your eyes. It's probably the most well preserved midieval city of Europe. So definitely worth a visit.Bruges is very safe to visit. However, since it is a touristy city, Bruges can also be a hotspot for pickpocketing and petty crime. Violent crime is very rare though and not something you need to worry about.
City centre, the best area to stay in Bruges
However, what really dominates the square is the Belfry, which is unmissable as it is an 83 metre high tower and can be accessed by climbing the stairs and at the top you receive the best views of Bruges.And in Antwerp, one of the best places to stay is (believe it or not) the Hilton, beautiful building right in the center of the old part of town. Good idea to give Antwerp another go. Not only the historical centre but certainly the trendy Zuid and the art nouveau district (Zurenborg) are well worth a visit.
Compared to Antwerp, Ghent s a lot smaller and more compact and can be visited mostly on foot. Thus, Ghent may be a better choice to stay in for a very short break (e.g. 1 day). Antwerp is a port city, not as quaint as Ghent. Though it's more spread out, most of the key sights are also within walking distance.
Start your
night in
Bruges right by drinking the best beers in town in a one of a kind atmosphere.
Continue scrolling to see exactly what to do in Bruges at night for memories you will cherish forever!
- Breathtaking Views of the Canals Under the Stars.
- Surround Yourself with Medieval Beauty.
- Relax at a Cozy Café
Belgium's main airport has its own railway station. Bruges can easily be reached through the airports of Brussels, Charleroi (Brussels South) and Lille, so getting to Bruges by train is by far the easiest way. Direct trains from Brussels Airport every hour. From Charleroi Airport : expressbus to Bruges station.
Cost of Living in Belgium
| Restaurants | [ Edit ] |
|---|
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | 60.00 € |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | 8.00 € |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) | 4.00 € |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) | 3.50 € |
Eating out in Bruges is the most expensive part of the trip. Meal prices ranges from 15 to 20 euros, more if you eat in the city center. The restaurant offers authentic Belgian food for reasonable prices, a rarity in Bruges. The staff is friendly, and the drinks aren't too expensive.
How much money will you need for your trip to Bruges? You should plan to spend around €99 ($107) per day on your vacation in Bruges, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, €41 ($45) on meals for one day and €13 ($14) on local transportation.
Drinks Prices in Bruges. A bottle of wine from the supermarket is around 7.50 euros.An inexpensive meal will cost 20 euros and a mid range meal for 2 will cost around 70 euros. Domestic beer is 4 euros for 0.5 l which is slightly less than a pint.
Bruges isn't as expensive as one might think, considering it's so often jammed with visitors. Prices in general are typical of this part of Europe, and things become more affordable if you go at least a few blocks away from the main squares in the city center, especially with hotels and hostels.
The currency used in Bruges is the Euro.
Brussels is not a particularly expensive city, so if you organize your trip ahead of time you will manage to spend very little compared to other European capitals.
But for some people, this is how they like to travel and that suits them. Personally, I feel a more acceptable budget for visiting Amsterdam is about $100 USD per person a day, and possibly $150 USD per couple, and you could easily end up going home with some change.
How much money will you need for your trip to Brussels? You should plan to spend around €97 ($105) per day on your vacation in Brussels, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, €25 ($26) on meals for one day and €13 ($14) on local transportation.
Winter Weather in Bruges
Winter is comprised of December, January and February and is cold enough to create a few snowfalls over the three-month period. This time of the year is also fairly wet even though much of the rain is concentrated over just a few days in each month.2 days in Bruges: a perfect weekend itinerary
- Visit the Belfry of Bruges.
- Wander Through the Market Square and Buildings.
- Travel to the Historium Bruges.
- Explore the Groeninge Museum.
- Selected Tours in Bruges.
- Visit the Church of Our Lady.
- Explore the Hansa Quarter.
- Take a Canal Boat Tour.
To get to Bruges from the UK, book an Any Belgian Station ticket. You'll travel with Eurostar to Brussels-Midi/Zuid (it's one station, it just has a French and a Dutch name), then it's a simple change to an SNCB train to continue your journey through Belgium. Your ticket will only show travel times to/from Brussels.
What to Wear in Bruges in the Winter
- Warm Walking Boots: Do not skimp on your shoes for your trip to Bruges in the winter!
- Wool Socks: Make sure you don't just have run-of-the-mill acrylic socks.
- Wool Leggings: These super comfy 100% wool leggings function just like long underwear.
Top picks for hotels in Belgium
- Motel One Brussels. Hotel in Brussels Centre, Brussels.
- FunKey Hotel. Hotel in Schaarbeek / Schaerbeek, Brussels.
- NH Collection Antwerp Centre. Hotel in Antwerp District, Antwerp.
- Acropolis.
- Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof Ghent.
- Monsieur Maurice.
- Van der Valk Hotel Mons Congres.
- Ariane Hotel.
Book your journey from Paris to Bruges From $39
| Dep. | Duration |
|---|
| 1 PARIS NORD 08:01 BRUGGE 10:36 N°: 9313 BOOK THIS TRAIN | 08:01 | 02:35 |
| 1 PARIS NORD 08:01 BRUXELLES MIDI 09:23 N°: 9313 2 BRUXELLES MIDI 09:32 BRUGGE 11:23 N°: 3530 BOOK THIS TRAIN | 08:01 | 03:22 |
Along with a few other canal-based northern cities, such as Amsterdam and St Petersburg, it is sometimes referred to as the Venice of the North.
Bruges.
| Bruges Brugge (Dutch) |
|---|
| Country | Belgium |
| Community | Flemish Community |
| Region | Flemish Region |
| Province | West Flanders |
Overall, Belgium is a safe country to travel to. Crime rates are low and anything happening to you on the streets of Belgium is unlikely. The only issue to keep an eye on, apart from being vigilant for terrorist attacks, is petty theft and picpocketing.
There is just so much to see and do in Prague that you aren't going to be short of things to choose from as you plan your trip. Today's blog post puts the best the city has to offer into a manageable four-day itinerary. To really see Prague, it's best to visit for four to five days.
