24 hours in Bruges

Bruges is a veritable time capsule of medieval wonders! Known as the Venice of the North, it won’t take 24 hours to be captivated by the breath-taking charm of this perfectly preserved fairytale town.

9:30am // time to stretch your legs

Grab a map and wear comfortable shoes because it’s best to explore this compact and enchanting town on foot. Just meander through the streets at your own pace, or for the less adventurous head to the main square (Grote Markt) for 10:30am and look for a Legend’s tour guide with a red umbrella.

Either way, you can soak up the history and the sights of this UNESCO-listed Old Town. The whole place is picture perfect for those Instagrammable moments.

12:40pm // A chocoholic’s dream

The Old Chocolate House is a must for anyone with a sweet tooth. Enjoy a light lunch in the cosy tearoom above the shop and sample the best hot chocolate and waffles in town.

Be sure to order the signature hot chocolate: the perfect blend of fresh milk and quality chocolate buttons (of your choice) that are served inside an edible chocolate cup. You'll be in chocolate heaven!

2pm // Brewery visit

Join this affordable tour in the heart of Bruges to discover everything you need to know about beer. The Halve Maan Brewery (or Half Moon Brewery) is a real treat and the last of its kind in town. Work up an appetite as you explore the establishment and be aware that this is the Benelux, so there are a few tricky steps to climb before you can enjoy the panoramic view of the canals!

Don’t worry, there’s a reward at the end with generous beer samples including: Brugse Zot Blond and Dubbel, and Straffe Hendrick Tripel and Quad.

4pm // plain sailing

Relax your feet and wallet for 30 minutes and take a boat trip to gently wind your way through the myriad of canals. View the allure of the charming architecture from the water and gain a whole new perspective of the town – it's quite breathtaking. You can also peer into people’s windows to catch a glimpse of daily life in Flanders and just watch the world go by.

There are five mooring stations dotted alongside the canal and the last boat leaves at around 5:30pm.

7pm // night on the town

For a night on the town head to Bierbrasserie Cambrinus, near the Grote Markt, to sample traditional food and be spoilt for choice by the 400 Belgian beers on the menu. You can stay there all night or partake in a pub crawl…

Within a stone’s throw you can also find atmospheric cellar bars with over 800 years of history and vaulted ceilings. Le Trappiste is well known, but for a more secret watering hole, 't Poatersgat is the place to go.