Brugge

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You'll need two to three hours to leisurely explore the city, more if you're an art fan or tend to linger at picturesque vistas. The best strategy is to start at dawn with the walkable sights and then to visit the museums as the crowds start to hit the Burg. Alternatively, you could explore the museums first and postpone your stroll until the early evening (a good plan for rainy days). Before setting out, check the carillon schedule so that you can try to be near the Markt in time to hear one of the performances. If you need a rest, consider riding high in a horse-drawn carriage, or hopping a boat for a swan's-eye view of the canals (although the boats are usually crowded and the pilot's spiels clichéd).

It's best to spend at least one night in Brugge so that you can enjoy the city when the day-trippers aren't flooding the streets. Brugge is at its most enchanting at night, when floodlights illuminate the buildings and melt on inky water. Or in the pink of morning, when bells chime and gliding cygnets seem to play hide-and-seek in the mist. Whenever you walk, bring a camera.

Early spring and late fall are good times to tour Brugge; the weather is still mild and there are fewer tourists. Temperatures hover close to freezing in January and February, but you'll have the sights to yourself—note, however, that some restaurants along the coast close in winter. Remember that municipal museums are usually closed Monday.