Curator’s statement
Bruges is a magical place, full of history, architecture and great food. The people were what made this trip spectacular and set it apart from many other locations. Everywhere we went, the locals were excited to tell us about their favorite restaurants, favorite historical sites, or just tell us about their culture.
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Things to do in Bruges
Gravensteen Castle in Ghent
Canal boat ride: A beautiful ride through the canal with commentary regarding history and architecture.
Scooter tour: GPS guided tour through small towns around Bruges, ending at the coast.
Belfort Bell Tower: A challenging ascent up a spiral staircase, but worth every step. What a view!
The Basilica of the Holy Blood: The procession of the Holy Blood is recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural World Heritage.
Gravensteen Castle in Ghent (Castle of the Counts): Take the train to see this castle. It is one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval fortresses, offering a glimpse into medieval life, justice, and architecture.
Places to eat & drink in Bruges
Coq Au Vin at De Gastro
De Gastro: So good, we ate there twice. Order the Coq au Vin (Trust Me). Our server was one of the owners and introduced us to the family after our meal. Great Experience.
Delice Brugge: I ordered the Belgium National Dish of Moules-Frites (mussels and fries). The waiter showed me the correct way to eat them, using a mussel shell as a fork!
That’s Toast: A great little outdoor cafe. Breakfast is incredible! “The Classic” savory toast was very good.
Trattoria Murano: The best Italian food I have ever had in Belgium! They taught me how to make their salad dressing, which I still use today. Try the carbonara for sure.
Need to know
Wear comfortable shoes! The cobblestone streets can be tricky.
Try the Belgian waffles. We had one every day!
Ask the servers for recommendations. They were spot-on every time for us. We also asked them for their favorite places to dine and drink. We found wonderful places that way.
Travel Advisor
Tara Eichorn
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