Bruges

When we talk about the city of canals, most of us immediately recall Venice, but for me the most charming city on the water is Belgian Bruges.

A small town on the territory of the ancient province of Flanders is familiar to many only by the film "Bottom of Bruges", where leisurely dialogues of the main characters about the meaning of life interspersed with views of the city. Once here, I became convinced how exactly the film reflects the mood of Bruges: a leisurely and measured city is conducive to walks and thoughts.

In the late Middle Ages, Bruges was a thriving city: all the surrounding cities sought to buy unique local lace, Praline chocolates invented by confectioners living in Bruges, as well as local wine and beer, prepared in a special way. The city was an important port, but by the 16th century the river became shallow, the water level in the canals dropped significantly, and serious political changes took place in Flanders, so Bruges lost its significance. He gained popularity again as a tourist city, where not only guests from neighboring cities began to come, but also foreigners.

More than 4 million tourists come here every year, and they all look for the same thing: that special spirit of old Europe, an atmosphere of peace and magnificent beauty. When I arrived in Bruges for the first time, I forgot about everything that I had seen before and enjoyed every moment while walking around this “eternal” city. I wanted to remember every house I saw, every street.

Original hotels in old houses, the best restaurants, fine chocolate and craft beer make your stay in Bruges even more pleasant, so you will certainly want to come back here again!

How to get there

Located in northwestern Belgium, on the coast of the North Sea of ​​Bruges, today most often tourists travel by visiting the neighboring cities: Brussels, Antwerp, Amsterdam. It is often included in bus tours in Belgium and Holland.

There is no private airport in the city, so you can get here directly from Moscow or St. Petersburg only by car. But here it is easy to get from other major cities of Belgium - the capital of Brussels or the economic centers of the country - Ghent and Antwerp. You can easily get here by train or bus, and from neighboring Holland, as a rule, the route runs through Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The train also comes from the French Lily, so choosing a convenient route to Bruges through the neighboring cities of Europe will not be difficult.

By plane

25 kilometers from Bruges there is a small airport in Ostend-Bruges, but you cannot get to the city by plane: mainly cargo flights arrive here, occasionally charter flights.

Departing by plane from Moscow, you can get to Brussels. The flight takes only 3.5 hours, direct flights are carried out by two airlines - Brussels Airlines and Aeroflot, an economy class ticket round-trip will cost 10-11 thousand rubles.

Unfortunately, there are no direct flights from Moscow to Antwerp, and a transfer flight will cost you 28-30 thousand rubles, so getting to Brussels is much simpler and more profitable.

Another option is by plane to Amsterdam, Aeroflot operates direct flights from Moscow together with KLM, a round-trip ticket will cost you 14-15 thousand rubles, connecting flights start at 12 thousand rubles. If you plan to visit Belgium after France, you can get to Paris by plane - the flight will cost 23 thousand rubles, connecting flights from 13 thousand. You can fly to Lille from Moscow with a change in Paris, the price of the issue is 35 thousand rubles, which is also unprofitable.

You can monitor good prices, all kinds of promotions and special offers here.

By train

The train is the most comfortable to reach from neighboring cities. From Brussels you can get to Bruges in an hour, the fare will cost about 14-15 euros, from Ghent you will only need half an hour, 7 euros, and the journey from Antwerp will take an hour and a half, tickets from 15 euros. You can check the train schedule and ticket prices on the website of the Belgian railway company.

You can also get a train with a change from Amsterdam, the journey will take 4-5 hours and will cost almost 50 euros. Details of international relocations can be seen on special, reduced ticket prices for children and schoolchildren, youth (up to 25 years old) and pensioners (over 60 years old).

Brugge Centraal station is located at Stationsplein 4 and is easy to reach from the heart of the old city. One of the central squares can be reached on foot in 17-20 minutes or taken by bus - from the station there are routes 2, 7, 9, 12, 15 and 25, the trip will take about 15 minutes; stop in the center - Brugge Stadsschouwburg, then along the pedestrian zone you can go anywhere in the city.

By bus

It is possible to get to Bruges by bus from the neighboring cities of Belgium, De Lijn is engaged in transportation around Flanders, you can study possible routes on their website, but I will immediately warn you that the intercity bus service in Bruges is not as well developed as the railway. In addition, moving by bus will take more time and cost you more than a train. This bus company does not offer the Brussels-Bruges route, so only tourist and sightseeing buses go here from the capital. The cost of excursions differs in different companies, but the approximate cost is 40-50 euros per person. This is the worst option for visiting Bruges: you will have little time in the city, you will be attached to the route of the excursion group and you will not be able to truly see and understand the city.

But the trip from Amsterdam to Bruges by bus will be much cheaper - only 20 euros. Such tours are carried out, for example, by Eurolines, the schedule and tariffs are on the site. Bus stop near the central train station of Bruges.

By car

Traveling around Belgium by car is quite comfortable, the road from Brussels to Bruges will take just an hour or so, you will get from Ghent in just 40 minutes - both routes will go along the E40 highway. From Antwerp to Bruges, the E34 highway leads, the trip will take an hour and a half. From Amsterdam by car you can reach Bruges in just three hours, and the route will run through the interesting tourist city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. You will get from French Lille along the E403 highway; travel time is an hour. And if you decide to go here from the French capital, the trip will take three hours - the A1 and E403 routes, Lille will meet you along the way, so you can explore it.

By car in Bruges, you can also leave from Russia, but the journey will not be easy: the travel time without customs clearance and traffic jams is 28 hours, more than a day! You will have to cross Belarus (you can call in Minsk), Poland (the capital - Warsaw will meet again on the way), Germany (you can stay in Berlin or Magdeburg, tourists have long been fond of both cities) and Belgium. There will be sections of toll roads on the route, so you have to spend money. If you like to travel by car, it’s much easier to fly to one of the cities that you plan to see, and already hire a car there. The cost of rental in different European countries is different, in Belgium on average a rental car will cost you 70-90 euros per day.

hint: Brugge - time now is 15:00 on October 13Difference in hours: Moscow & plus; 1 Kazan & plus; 1 Samara & plus; 2 Yekaterinburg & plus; 3 Novosibirsk & plus; 5Vladivostok & plus; 8

When is the season. When is the best time to go?

Bruges is a fairly northern city, so most of the year it gets dark early, evenings and nights are cool, and in summer there is not much heat, but rains are possible. When planning a trip here, be sure to consider the possible leprosy of the weather: dress and dress appropriately, and also take care of an umbrella or raincoat in advance.

Bruges in the summer

Summer is definitely the best time to visit Bruges, despite the fact that most tourists come here in these three months. The maximum temperature in July-August is about 20 ° C, in June it is usually cooler, only 16-18 ° C. The probability of rain in Bruges even in this season is much higher than in neighboring European cities.

A nice bonus is the constancy of prices: even despite the high season, the cost of accommodation and meals in Bruges does not change, so this factor should not be taken into account when booking a trip. True, it is worth finding accommodation in advance - in July and August, inexpensive hotel rooms quickly end! Please also note that in the summer season some restaurants charge extra for servicing on the terraces, but the beautiful views are worth it, and you can always save by choosing a table inside the restaurant.

We were very unlucky with the weather on our arrival in Bruges: we were at the end of July, on the first day it was only 13 ° C and until 5 pm it rained on the wall, so it was almost impossible to walk - we sat out in a cafe, carefully studied assortment of shops with chocolate and lace and tried not to go out for a long time. By 6 pm the sun appeared, but already at 8 it got dark on the street, so we set off to inspect everything only the next morning (which, incidentally, was not warmer than the previous day).

From personal experience, I highly recommend shoeing waterproof shoes, taking warm socks with you to keep warm after a walk in the room and buying a good raincoat - you can walk in it despite the weather, and the umbrella will not obscure you!

Bruges in the fall

Autumn in Bruges comes already at the end of August - it gets cooler on the street, the air only occasionally warms up to 16 ° C, most often it is only 10-12 ° C degrees even on sunny days. The chance of rain is even higher than in summer, so admiring the golden autumn in Bruges is far from the best idea.

Bruges in the spring

In spring, Bruges is even cooler than in summer, only 6-10 ° C degrees, but more often there are sunny days. The trees are covered with leaves at the end of April, so you can enjoy fresh greenery during the May holidays, but it will be much cooler than in Moscow, and it is getting dark here quite early - at 7-8 pm dusk is already coming down to the city, so to see the sights these hours will not work.

Bruges in winter

Winter days in Bruges are quite comfortable, the air temperature is slightly above zero, but at night it can freeze to -5 ° C. Sometimes it snows, sometimes it rains, so that slush forms underfoot, and it gets dark early - at 5 pm it is night on the streets. Of course, like all European cities, Bruges dresses up in Christmas lights and garlands, and Christmas markets and fairs are held in the central squares, but the weather can greatly spoil the impression of the city even during the New Year holidays.

Brugge - monthly weather

hint: Bruges - weather for the months of January January ± 3.1 February ± 3.1 March ± 6.2 April ± 7.8 May ± 11.7 June ± plus 14.5 July ± 16.6 August ± 16.8 September ± 14.6 October ± 11.4 November ± 12 7.1 December & plus; 5.1

Areas. Where is better to live

On the site of ancient Bruges today is the large port of Zeebrugge, and the city itself was 16 km away from the coast. The shipping channel Boudewijnkanaal connects it to the sea, breaking up into many small canals in the old city (see the map of the old city below, the full file is here).

This historic area is surrounded by the ring of the Vesten River. Below I placed a map of the old city: it was in this part of Bruges that the main attractions of the city and the pedestrian zone, which includes two key areas - Markt and Burg (the pedestrian zone is circled in a red square on the map) are concentrated. Housing is best chosen in the area.

A double room in the hotel will cost about 90-120 euros per night, prices in remote areas of the city, for example, near the port, are not much lower - 85-110 euros for a similar room. There are not many hostels in the city, a bed in a dormitory room in the center costs 18-20 euros, and a double room in a hostel (shared bathroom) starts at 50 euros. You can book a hotel, for example, at Bucking - here, and compare prices from different sites - here.

Renting an apartment in Bruges is slightly cheaper, one night will cost you 70-100 euros, however, there are much fewer options than hotels, more about prices here.

For visiting, it will be interesting not only the area of ​​the old city, where each street is a real architectural treasure, but also the port area, which is already in the suburbs of Bruges. You can read more about it in the section "What to see in the surroundings".

Walking around the modern areas of the city (they are located outside the river ring, so they are almost not visible on the map) is hardly worth it - here you will find only modern brick houses with two or three floors and office buildings. Why waste time on sleeping areas, if the old town has so many interesting things ?!

What are the prices for vacation

Belgium is far from the cheapest country to vacation, and Bruges in the full sense of the word is a Belgian city. Living together will cost you about 90-100 euros per night, meals for two more at 60-70 euros per day. Most likely, you will not have to spend money on transport, only if you decide to go to the port of Zeebrugge or to the suburbs. Traveling by public transport costs 3 euros, you can buy a ticket with unlimited travel for a day for 6 euros in special kiosks or for 8 euros from the driver.

A walk through the canals of the city costs 7 euros per person. You will also have to spend money on visiting museums - ticket prices range from 4 to 14 euros, for a couple of days in Bruges you will spend about 200 euros, and I would also like to buy souvenirs, go to a tasting ...

You can save money in Bruges with the help of the special Brugge City Card, which gives you the opportunity to visit 27 city museums for free, a free tour of the canals, as well as a discount on train tickets in Flanders and for buying souvenirs. You can buy it online or at tourist information centers in the city. But such a card costs 47 euros for two days and 53 euros for three days, so it makes sense to purchase it if you plan to spend time actively in the city and visit many attractions. It pays off after 3-4 museums.

hint: Cost of food, accommodation, transport and other currency: Euro, € US dollar, $ Russian ruble, rub Prices in restaurants and cafes
Eating (lunch / dinner) in a reasonably priced restaurant1357 rub
Lunch / dinner for two, 3 course, middle class restaurant3929 rub
McMill at McDonald's or similar combo lunch572 rub
More details

The main attractions. What to watch

Bruges, although a small city, but there are a lot of attractions. You will be pleased with architectural monuments - not only municipal buildings of the 15-16 centuries. and ancient churches, but also ordinary residential houses built on canals and fascinating tourists; numerous bridges - there are more than 50 here; it is no coincidence that the city was nicknamed the "Venice of the North". Also interesting museums telling about ancient local crafts - making chocolate, brewing beer and weaving lace.

Top 5

Canals and streets of Bruges

I recommend starting a tour of the city with a walk along the most important streets and squares. Head to a small lane first Rozenhoedkaai, from where one of the most famous and beloved views of Bruges opens: a canal turn, a romantic bridge, red-gray brick houses going into the water and weeping willows lowering the branches into the water. The bridge has a small pier, from where you can go for a walk along the canals of the city in a boat for 20-30 people. This is a great option to start exploring the city in fine weather. A standard trip lasting 40-60 minutes will cost you 7 euros, you can admire the numerous bridges through the canals and look at the old houses from the water.

Next we continue walking along the street Wollestraat, which will lead us directly to the main city square Markt (Markt). From far away you can see the carved Belfry tower, but I admired the charming houses all the way to the square. The best examples of medieval Belgian architecture on this street and neighboring lanes: many houses are similar only in that they are only 3-4 floors high, two rectangular windows wide, and each one has a unique finish - it is made of red brick.Either colored frames, or decorative lattice-balconies, then crowning the tower house. I especially like houses with stepped roofs, and here there are entire neighborhoods with such buildings.

Among these houses it is pleasant to stroll as if you are walking around the city from Andersen's fairy tales. The first floors of the houses are reserved for shops - they sell both lace and chocolate, and one or two families live in the upper floors. It is curious that in the city there are almost no straight streets, they all meander a little, constantly turning a little left or right. This is clear evidence of a very long-term development of the city: in the 13-14 century. residents did not think about the layout of the city and built houses as they liked.

Markt Square, Belfort Bell Tower

If Brugge has not yet managed to charm you with its streets, Markt Square will definitely do it: here all the same charming houses look even more puppet and elegant due to the bright colors - yellow, pink, red, white, red! The main attractions of the square are the already mentioned tower Belfort, which became the symbol of the city after the movie "Get to the bottom in Bruges." Built in the 13th century. The belfry managed to serve both as a treasury and as a repository of archives.

Today you can climb it, on the way looking into the halls of the medieval treasury and studying the mechanism of the clock. A stunning view of the city opens up from above, this is the best observation deck in Bruges. Belfort is open every day from 9:30 to 18:00, a visit will cost 10 euros for adults, 8 euros for young people under 26 and senior citizens over 60.

Another notable building in the Gothic style square - Provincial Palace (Provinciaal Hof), it is located on the right hand of Belfort. It is perfectly complemented by two Gothic buildings on the sides, this ensemble appeared on the square already in the 19th century, but it seems to me that it fits perfectly into its ensemble. I enjoyed looking at carved windows, arches and turrets while sitting in a cafe in the square.

In the center of Markt stands monument two national heroes of Belgium - Jan Breidel and Peter de ChronikIt is a popular meeting place for locals.

Near Markt Square

Just behind Markt is another small square - Eiermarkt, or Small Market, here you will find several more cozy cafes where you can have a snack while walking. From here, take the Sint-Jakobsstraat street to the eponymous Church of St. Jacob. The architecture of this cathedral is typical of Bruges: like many buildings in the city, it is made of red brick, there are Gothic elements in the exterior decoration, but the decor is rather small, so the building seems to me massive and quite oppressive against the background of lighter and playful houses around. Opposite the church on a small square is an old well, and the streets nearby are interesting for a combination of modern and ancient architecture. Local residents are fighting to preserve the historical appearance of the city, so new houses in these quarters differ only in the shape of the roofs: not a triangular or stepped attic, but an ordinary flat roof.

Burg Square and City Hall

The second key square in Bruges is Burg, with Markt connected to it by the small side street Briedelstraat. This is one of the oldest squares in the city, so the buildings here have been rebuilt several times in accordance with the fashion of a given time. It is here that from the 9th century the city government lived, later judges. This square reminded me of a small copy of the main square of Brussels, and it is considered one of the most beautiful in all of Europe!

On the burg is located city ​​hall (Stadhuis) is the most elegant building in the square. The town hall was built in the 14th century, now there is a museum of the city’s history inside, you can visit it daily from 9:30 to 17:00, a ticket will cost 4 euros.

Right adjacent to the town hall Basilica of the Holy Blood of Christ (Basilica of the Holy Blood), together the buildings form an impressive Gothic ensemble.

Popular tourist streets in this part of the old town: Geldmunstraat, Noordzanstraat, Steenstraat. Walking through them, you will see many shops with souvenirs and local specialties - laces of the city masters and handmade pralines - as well as clothes, shoes, cosmetics of famous brands.

Church of Our Lady

Be sure to take a walk to Mariastraat Street, where the main city cathedral rises - Church of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk, which literally translates as "Church of Our Lady"). Inside, there is a rich collection of works of art, including the Madonna and Child Michelangelo, but the church building is noteworthy from the outside. Its size is amazing. When you look at the cathedral from the canal, it seems that the carved bell tower seems to soar above the whole environment. The red brick burned out so that the whole structure looks more elegant than other churches in the city. Another boat station is located nearby, so you can take a trip through the canals and from here.

The famous swans of Bruges

It’s a good idea to walk along the canal, then you can go to Beguen House (Begijhof), near which begins a small park Minnewaterpark, named after the canal expanding at this place. It is nice to rest in the shade of trees and feed the swans. These birds have become a symbol of the city. According to legend, in the 15th century, during the uprising, the adviser to the emperor Maximilian, Peter Long-necked, so nicknamed because of his long neck, was executed here. Having regained power, Maximilian ordered the inhabitants of Bruges to keep “long necks” forever and since then numerous swans have been living on the canals of the city.

City Mills

It will also be interesting to take a walk north of the central squares, moving along Langestraat street or lanes parallel to it, you will come to the old fortress, which served as a city gate in the Middle Ages (Kruispoort). To the left of it is Kruisvest Street, move along it along the canal and you can admire the water mills, there are four of them on the banks of this canal. They have been standing here since the 18th century, and all four still work, grinding corn into flour. Anyone can visit for 3 euros.

Beaches. Which are better

Although the city is located not far from the coast, the North Sea is here and the climate is quite cold, so a beach holiday is not about Bruges. But there is an excellent route along the sea coast, where you can admire the bays and dunes, you can read about it in the section "What to see in the vicinity."

Churches and temples. Which are worth a visit

As in any medieval city, in the rich Bruges in the 13-14 centuries. many churches were built. Their architecture is similar in many respects: almost all buildings are brick-built, without complex decorative frills, due to their simplicity, they look more elegant, spiritual. Try to see the churches not only nearby - because of the dense buildings in the center, it is almost impossible to consider the cathedrals from the surrounding streets. But from the side of the canals it is quite comfortable to study the architecture of temples. From the water you will see how tall and geometrically verified bell towers rise above all the roofs, as if trying to pierce the clouds and clouds, almost always hanging over the city, and bring the residents of the city sunny heat.

I offer you a list of the most important churches of Bruges with addresses, so if you want to see them all, you can build the route of your walk around the city, respectively:

  • Basilica of the Holy Blood of Christ, Basiliek van het Heilig Bloed, Burg 13, 8000 Brugge. Inside you will find one of the main city shrines - the blood of Christ, and the interior of the church will amaze with its wealth.

  • Church of Our Lady, Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk, Mariastraat 8000 Brugge. The highest bell tower in the city reaches 115.5 meters and is rich in the collection of works of art in the museum at the cathedral.

  • Church of St. Jacob, Sint-Jakobskerk Brugge, Sint-Jakobsplein 1, 8000 Brugge.
  • Cathedral of Saint Salvator, Sint-Salvatorskathedraal, Steenstraat 8000 Brugge. One of the oldest churches in the region, inside there are underground catacombs and a rich collection of paintings by Flemish primitives of the 14-18 centuries.

  • Church of St. Walburga, Sint-Maartensplein 8000 Brugge. One of the few churches in Bruges in the Baroque style, in the summer there are free concerts of classical music.

  • St. Gilles Church, Sint-Gilliskerk, Sint-Gilliskerkstraat 8000 Brugge.
  • Church of St. Anne, Sint-Annakerk, Sint-Annaplein 8000 Brugge.

  • Jerusalem Cathedral, Jeruzalemkapel Brugge, Peperstraat 1, 8000 Brugge. Inside is now an interactive museum that tells about the life of Anselmo Adornes, the philanthropist who built this rich cathedral. A visit to the exhibition is a great opportunity to learn more about the life of the city in the 15th century.

Museums Which are worth a visit

There are more than a dozen museums in Bruges; you can find the full list on the city website. But with confidence we can say that the most famous museum of the city is Museum of Fine Arts Groeninge (Groeningemuseum). It houses the largest collection of old Flemish craftsmen in all of Belgium. The main exhibition presents paintings by J. van Eyck, I. Bosch G. Memling, canvases by H. van der Hus, P. Brueghel the Younger and other artists of the 15-16 centuries, so for those who are interested in painting, a visit to this gallery is required. The museum is open from 9:30 to 17:00 from Tuesday to Sunday, the entrance ticket costs 8 euros, for youth and senior citizens - 6 euros.

For those who prefer more modern and interactive museums, I would recommend visiting one of the city’s three atmospheric museums: the Chocolate Museum, the Brewery Museum or the Lace Museum.

If you choose Choco-Story Chocolate Museum, be sure to check out the workshop section on their website - they offer many interesting activities for children and adults: you will not only learn about the history of chocolate, but also learn how to make pralines, truffles and even chocolate sculptures yourself. The entrance to the museum costs 8 euros, it is open daily from 9:30 to 17:00, discounts are available for students and children, as well as large groups, all information is on the site.

For those who prefer the equally famous Belgian chocolate to the famous Belgian chocolate, there are two whole brewing museums in Bruges. One of them - Bruges beer museum - Located right on Markt Square and is interactive. The ticket price (14 euros) includes an iPad with headphones and a virtual guide, as well as a tasting of drinks in the bar overlooking the central square. More information is available on the official website. Second Museum - Bourgogne des flandres - more authentic, here you can visit the brewery, watch the brewing process, create a drink in your own unique bottle, and groups are invited to brew their own beer. Entrance here is slightly cheaper - 10 euros (the brewery's signature drink is included), you can enjoy beer with a view of the canal. Look for work schedules and discounts on their website.

Kantcentrum Lace Museum It is no coincidence that it is located in Bruges; the city will be replaced by a special old bobbin weaving technique. The lace museum tells the story of the creation of various weaving techniques, presents the best samples. It turns out that even 1000 euros for one lace doily is not the limit! If you have a couple of free hours, be sure to check here. Admission is 5 euros, for children under 12 years old - free of charge. More information about the exposition is on their website.

Parks

Since Bruges is divided by a network of channels, there are almost no undeveloped spaces. In the area of ​​the historical center you will find only two small parks. The first of them - Minnewaterpark - was already mentioned by me in the "Top 5" section. The name of this place is translated as “the waters of the Fairy of the Waters”, in the Middle Ages this intersection of several canals served as a parking lot for barges and cargo ships, today you can admire the beautiful views and city swans.

The second park in the old town - Koningin Astridpark - is a five-minute walk from Burg Square. Here you can be a bit alone with yourself - this is a quiet place for walking with many benches, sculptures, a small pond in the center and a royal gazebo on its shore.

But I would go in your place to the mills: they stand on green grassy hills along the canal, so here you will find beautiful views, paths for walks, and a place for a picnic.

Tourist streets

The main tourist streets and alleys are located near the Markt and Burg squares. In search of cafes and shops, head to Geldmunstraat, Noordzanstraat, Steenstraat, Philipstockstraat and Vlamingstraat (numbers 1-5 in blue circles on the map below). If you want to learn more about the architecture of Bruges, look at the alleys running in different directions from these large streets and take a look at Wollestraat (blue number 6 on the map). Be sure to stroll along the canals, for example, along the streets of Gruuthusestraat-Dijver-Rozenhoedkaai or along Steenhouwersdijk-Groeneri (the routes are indicated by a purple line on the map). It is from here that you can admire the old buildings and see the best panoramas.

In general, in any city on the water, the main city streets are canals, so if the weather allows you, you better go for a boat trip!

What to see in 1 day

The territory of the old city of Bruges is relatively small, so even in a couple of hours you will have time to explore the two main city squares, the surrounding streets and walk along the canals.

If you have 3-4 hours in the city, try also to ride along the canals by boat or drop in one of the city museums, they are all located within walking distance from the old city.

If you spend all day in Bruges, take a leisurely stroll through the old town, drop by the swans in Minnewaterpark and admire the mills, after which you can walk through the chocolate shops in search of souvenirs and taste local beer in one of the bars. Take a walk around Bruges in the evening - it will appear before you completely different: soft light and crushing reflections in the water make the city even more cozy and fabulous.

Bruges is an unhurried city, ready to offer many architectural monuments, interesting routes and interesting museums to those travelers who are in no hurry and are willing to spend a couple of days exploring the city. If you come here with the right attitude, you will definitely love the city and you will want to come back here again!

What to see in the surroundings

Arriving in Bruges for a few days, you must go to the coast of the North Sea - not to swim and sunbathe, the climatic conditions here are unlikely to allow you such pleasures, but to enjoy the scenery.
To get started, head to the old port of Bruges - Zeebrugge. Here you can not only explore the huge existing port, but also visit Seafront theme parklocated on the site of an old fish market. The park will tell you how the port was built in the past, how important the harbor was for the city, how the docks work and what ships they once called here. Here is the Russian submarine, on which you can go down and see how real sailors live, and the current lighthouse, which you can climb. Those who wish can also go on a boat tour of the harbor from here. Entrance fees for adults - 12.5 euros, along with a walk - 20. Detailed information on opening hours and prices for children, students and groups is on the site, but keep in mind that visiting such a theme park will take a whole day!

You can get acquainted with the life of the sea in aquarium, which is located in the neighboring town of Blackenberg. You can get here from Bruges by suburban train, departure from the central station every half hour, the fare is 3 euros. The road will take you about 40 minutes. Sea Life Blankenberge has more than 50 aquariums, not only the inhabitants of the North Sea, but also exotic fish, as well as fur seals, turtles and other animals. Ticket price - 18 euros, when buying online discounts apply. Look for details on their official website.

There is a third option for exploring the North Sea - from the window of a tram running along the coast. Shore Tram Kusttram walks along the coastal route from the city of Knokke to the town of De Panne, both are easily accessible from Brugge Central Station. However, the tram passes through Zeebrugge, so you can look at the port and catch it here. The trip will cost about 4 euros, the tram stops in the port are indicated on the map (yellow dotted line), a list of all stops of the route is on the carrier’s website.

hint: Routes to neighboring citiesBrugg - Ostkamp 6 kmBrugg - Zeebrugge 13 kmBrugge - Knokke-Heist 14 kmBrugg - Ostend 21 kmBrugg - Gent 39 km

Food. What to try

Eating in Bruges is not a problem: in the old town, in every square and every tourist street, there are a lot of different establishments from pubs where you will be offered delicious draft beer and snacks to it, to fine restaurants.
According to travelers, you can familiarize yourself with the top of the best places in the city on the Tripadvisor website, and I advise you to safely choose the places that you like best. Do not be afraid to sit on the summer verandas even on rainy days - almost everywhere there are special heaters and blankets are offered, so you definitely will not freeze and enjoy wonderful views. Prices in almost all cafes in the city are approximately the same - a dinner for two with a beer will cost about 40 euros, a day to drink coffee with buns on the terrace - about 10 euros.

Real connoisseurs of culinary delights can go to Bruges to one of the Michelin-starred restaurants - there are seven of them here! The most titled of them:

  • De Karmeliet (Langestraat 19).
  • Hertog Jan (located in the suburbs, Loppemsestraat 52, 8210 Zedelgem).

They have three Michelin stars.

From local specialties, pay attention to desserts with chocolate - they will certainly be freshly prepared. If you don’t like to eat sweets, you can try hot chocolate instead of coffee - a variety of tastes and variations of this drink will amaze you. Of the denser dishes, boldly order seafood and mussels (they say they are especially good in the restaurant Poules Moules - Simon Stevinplein, 9). The port is located just 16 kilometers from the city, so everything is delivered here daily.

Well, one can not help but mention Belgian beer. In Bruges, many beer bars have their own branded varieties and offer a wide selection of draft foam, so try and choose the most original flavors.

Holidays

Festivals and holidays are held in Bruges all year round, so when planning a trip, be sure to look on the Internet to see if there is any interesting festival in the city on your arrival date. The largest city festivals: the feast of the Holy Blood and the historic Omegang Festival.

Main event holiday of holy blood - A magnificent religious procession, during which scenes are played out on biblical subjects. You can see it in May, the procession takes place on the day of the religious holiday of the Ascension (in 2017 it falls on May 25, although this is usually an earlier time - the 10th of the month). At this time, it’s good to come to the city, as the streets are decorated with flowers and the city becomes even more elegant.

Ommegang - A large-scale historical festival, accompanied by a costume parade in many cities of Belgium, including in Brussels. However, in Bruges it is celebrated only once every five years in August (the next holiday will be held in 2018), the procession participants put on real costumes of the 15-16 centuries, almost 1000 residents of the city become performers in historical dramas. In addition, concerts are held on the main squares of the city, and local restaurants offer culinary master classes. The canals these days residents ride on decorated boats to the old festive music. The whole city seems to be returning five centuries ago and gives you a chance to see what Brugge was like during its heyday.

If you want to look at something more modern, visit the annual Kookeet Food Festival (September 24-26, 2016), in the framework of which Michelin chefs conduct workshops, and restaurants, wineries and breweries organize tastings. Detailed information on the site.

In December, in addition to Christmas markets, the city hosts festival of ice sculptures Ice Magic. You can find out the topic of this year and the site where the works of participants will be exhibited on the official website.

Security. What to watch out for

Bruges is one of the most quiet and calm cities in all of Europe, unlike Brussels, there are few immigrants here, and all the locals are friendly and polite. There is nothing to fear, so feel free to come and take a walk at any time - day, evening, night.

Things to do

Bruges provides a lot of opportunities to learn city life from many different angles, so don’t be lazy and try not only to walk along the streets of the old city, but also to look at museums and shops.

My personal list of required cases in Bruges is as follows:

  • Climb to the Belfort tower and admire the view of Bruges from a bird's eye view.
  • Take a boat ride along the canals of the city, count the bridges and weeping willows encountered, and feed the city swans from the hands.
  • Find all the corners from the movie "Get to the bottom in Bruges."
  • Go to the shore of the North Sea, find out how the port works in the theme park in Zeebrugge and ride a tram along the coast.
  • Try different types of pralines and chocolate and buy the most delicious for your memory of the trip.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

As a souvenir from Bruges, you can bring something unique and craft, made by local craftsmen: chocolate, beer or lace - you decide.

Going in search of sweet gifts, do not rush to buy chocolate in the first store. Most of them are family shops, honor grandfather recipes and prepare their own unique product. So be sure to taste the chocolate and pralines, the homeland of which is considered to be Bruges. Ordinary sweets sold by weight will cost a lot - 4-8 euros per 100 grams. Chocolate bars will cost a little cheaper - from 2.5 euros per 100 grams. The most expensive will be ready-made gift sets that you will find in any souvenir shop - from 3 euros for a chocolate bar in a special souvenir wrapper depicting the sights of the city. You'd better choose weighted sweets - they will be both fresher and original, and you can definitely taste them, although it is much more difficult to bring a bag of pralines or tiles in a suitcase than a neat cardboard or tin box.

If you decide to please your friends beer, feel free to go to a regular grocery store, where local beer will cost you two times cheaper than in any specialized store: 1.5-2 euros per bottle instead of 4-5. But if you are looking for something special or want to bring a specialty drink to a certain brewery, head to the beer bars and shops, there they will help you.

Buy lace this is not a simple matter, since the price range is huge - from 3-5 euros for a small napkin or bookmark in souvenir shops to hundreds of euros for tablecloths or bedspreads in specialized lace shops. If you want to understand the matter and choose really high-quality and valuable products, visit the Lace Museum first - there they will tell you how it is made, how it should look and how much it costs.

How to get around the city

If you plan to explore the old part of the city, you will not need any city transport - everything is within walking distance, and the streets are so beautiful that it will be foolish to use public transport instead of walking through these historical places. It’s worth paying attention only to the boats, because if the weather allows, a ride through the canals of the city is a must - how else can you see so many bridges and so many old houses, hidden in the alleyways-dead ends An hour boat ride will cost you 7-8 euros, marinas are located throughout the city.

Another tourist attraction is a horseback ride around the city center. Pleasure is not cheap; half an hour in a carriage will cost you 35 euros. Landing is carried out on Markt and Burg squares.

If you decide to go to the port or remote modern quarters of the city, you can use buses or trams.

Taxi. What features exist

Taxi in Bruges is paid by the meter, and this is far from the most profitable transport in the city for a tourist: landing costs 2.5 euros, each kilometer is the same. A short trip around the city (up to 2 km) will cost you 7 euros during the day and 9 nights, a taxi to the port of Zeebrugge costs about 50 euros.

If you still decide to use the services of drivers, you can go to one of the taxi stands - at the Markt market or near the central railway station. To call a taxi to the hotel, contact the receptionist - many hotels have an agreement with a particular taxi service and you can get a special discount. If you decide to call the car yourself, call any number from this list, all companies operate at the same rate.

Trams and buses

One company is responsible for all public transport in the city - Lijn, so you can see the available routes and the schedule of trams and buses on their official website. A single trip will cost you 3 euros, there are unlimited tickets for trips for 1, 3, 5 days and weeks.

Tips for motorists

You can find the rates for car rental in Bruges and nearby major cities in this section of travellask. Moving around the historical center by car is a bad idea - one-sided and pedestrian streets are found every now and then, you will spend a lot of time crossing the canals. If you arrived in Bruges by car one day, it is best to leave it in one of the parking lots near the old city, for example, near the railway station. The cost of parking is usually 1-1.5 euros per hour, a day will cost 4-5 euros. View a map of parking lots in Bruges here.

Bruges - holidays with children

Although Bruges is a classic European city, which involves primarily long walks, you can come here with children. Surely they will also be interested in walking along the old streets with houses, as if descended from the pages of books with fairy tales. In addition, there are many interactive museums where you can go together. I would recommend taking the children to the chocolate museum and going with them to the port of Zeebrugge, to the Seafront theme park.

Ski vacation

Watch the video: HOW TO SPEND 1 DAY IN BRUGES. BELGIUM (March 2024).

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