I'm thinking of booking a surprise trip to Bruges in December for my fiancée. It will only be one of the P&O day trip jobbies, but even so, I want to make sure that we get a good immersing, and experience everything we can whilst we are there. Oftentimes we go away and end up just meandering around and getting lost (which I quite like, as I hate sticking to guide books and the like and you can quite often stumble accidentally across some hidden gems). As we'll only be the there for the day, for those that have been before, can you give me your top 5 things that you'd definitely experience whilst there. Top of my list are sampling some chocolate, some waffles (covered in chocolate) and above all, plenty of beer. I'll be taking my camera along also, so I'm hoping to get plenty of nice photos. Cheers all.
Would suggest staying simple.....historic centre of Bruges (big open square with plenty of cafe bars and restaurants) and a trip around the city on a boat. Westmalle Tripel, La Chouffe, Chimay........be a reight day !!!
We went last year - there's a chocolate museum (which includes tasting and then the opportunity to buy goodies). That should take care of the chocolate. You ought to climb the steps of the Belfry, which is in the main square at the centre. That gives great views - but you need to be reasonably fit - so do it before visiting any bars - of which there are plenty. You also should also do a bit of aimless wandering around the centre. It is a stunning place.
Thanks for that lads. One of my mates has mentioned a little bar, pretty hidden away that serves a house beer known has 'La Garre' (SP). He says I have to find that and sample some of the tripel in there. Any ideas?
Don't know that beer, but I've spent a lot of time in Belgium and my experiences say you will get polite and informative locals/waiters who will guide you on everything......including the beer.....and there's a great selection.
one piece of advice. don't go on sunday, it's shut. all you'll find open, is lace shops and the odd cafe
it's a nice enough place, you'll enjoy it. get well oiled on the way back though - that ferry back is choppy as ****!!
Can't you manage a couple of days? Great place for a short break and it won't be a "quick, we've got this to fit in next" occasion.
We went in May for gazredtykes stag do, lovely place but certainly more of a couples place than a stag do destination. Like tomfun says get some ale inside you for the ferry home
Went last year and I'd recommend La Garre. Also recommend Beertje. Cambrinus is always busy too. The chocolate is better in Brussels to be honest and many more places to try. Dumon is about the best... there are two. Ones in a big glass fronted place off one of the squares (forget which) and the other one is down a cobbled road. I mention that because there was a cracking narrow bar there. Looked quite modern on the outside. They served small samples of beers, 3 to a tray and it was a great way to taste lots of different ones. The other chocolate place to go is the "chocolate line". Run by a chap who is the self proclaimed "king of schockolat"... very weird flavours but it was pretty busy and just off the same little square as the first Dumon I mentioned. Try a geuze "guz" or if you dare, try a quadruple at about 12%. Check out the De Haalveman brewery too. Good little tour round, done in English and a free drink at the end. One of the things it suggests in the guides are frites from the green vans in the main square... they are good, so do it! There is a Frites museum too which we did, which was a bit naff but enjoyable with it! And to be honest, the rest... just follow your nose, Bruges is really small and stunningly pretty so you can't wander too far wrong as it's surrounded by a giant canal! I went with my other half in January and the winter months made it nice and quiet to get around and even more pretty with snow on the ground and the canals frozen which people were testing to skate on. Have a wicked time!
