Hi Everyone!

My wife and I will be in Bruge for a day trip in late November and I would like to get some ideas for day activities. Are there any "Must Do" activites that you would recommend? Keep in mind that My wife and I are not big art gallery nuts. Also, any outstanding restaurants that stuck out in your mind? Any input would be appreciated!

Thanks,

butterla

Hi butterla,

The town of Bruges is very charming with tall, narrow brick houses and canals (like Amsterdam). Just walking around the town is delightful. The old part of town is pedestrian and perfect for walking. Most of the hotels are within a 10 minute walk of the Markt (main square).

The people in Bruges are very friendly and helpful.

The sights I found interesting on my two trips to Bruges were the Beguinage (highly recommend), diamond museum (small), Church of the Holy Blood, Hospital with Memling Museum (small) and old pharmacy, Our Lady's Church (Michelangelo sculpture), Godshuizen, and lace museum. And, of course, there's lots of chocolate shops. There's more than enough to do in a day trip.

Here's a great web site for information on things to see in Bruges and some information about the sights.

http://www.trabel.com/brugge.htm

Thanks so much! Any other ideas?

Take the city bus tour from Grote Market before you do anything else , it will help you find your way around when you start walking.

we had fabulous dinners at Tom's diner and MArieken von Brughe. A great place for a pasta or pizza..the best pizza I've had in years and that includes Italy...Trium Academiestratt 23..just a short walk from the Market Square.

Adriennes advice is right on...but add san salvator too.

The www.brugge.be website should be very helpful for your preparation.
It has a few interesting itineraries.

Besides these... end of november...
You can visit Damme, 5 km north of Brugge, medieval harbour once the liaison between Brugge and the sea got to sandy.
You could also take the train to the North Sea, Knokke, and have a walk on the beach and maybe do some shopping.
It depends a bit on the weather, but you can have nice bicycle trips in the city of Bruges.

There is also a thematic guidebook presenting different theme-walks in Brugge, exists also in English.

An outstanding restaurant: De Gouden Harynck, Groeninge 25, 8000 Brugge, 050/33.76.37
Make your reservation as early as possible!

We're going to be there about the same time, and were very happy to see that both the Christmas Market and Snow & Ice Sculpture show start on the 28th!

I mean this only to be helpful! I respectfully disagree with Jody--I would not recommend taking a bus tour UNLESS riding around on a bus is fun for you. Bruges is small and easy to get to know by walking around. You could also rent a bike, which is what I plan to do when I'm there in January, not only to ride around town but also (weather permitting) to visit Damme and the coast as Baldrick suggests. (I personally hate riding buses to see a city, so I just wanted to make the point that you can find your way around easily without riding a bus first.)

One more point, again just trying to be helpful: Belgium is known for its cuisine, so I would try sampling local fare before resorting to pizza and pasta (with the exception of the 'best pizza in the world' place). Bruges has some great restaurants (perhaps others can give specifics).

Butterla, You MUST try this wonderful, small, flemish, restaurant called "Bistro de Bekoring". It is operated by Chef Roland and his wife. They are friendly and the food was the best I had in Bruge when I visited in September. The prices are very reasonable. It is located at arsenaalstraat 53-55 (Tel: 050 34 4157). Call to reserve a table in this warm cozy place. It is near the Beguine and the big park by the bus terminal. We stayed in a hotel near the main marketplace and walked there (20 minute walk). It is a very safe, beautiful walk. The illuminated canals are a plus. PLEASE make an attempt to dine here (casual dress, too). The "White Lady" is their premiere dessert. It is delicious, especially if you enjoy good chocolate. I look forward to seeing your comments online upon your return. Good luck and bonne appetite!

We hit many of the major sites, but the one thing you must do is simply walk around. It is a gorgeous little city.

I'd second Jody's recommendation for the Brugge city bus tour and I'd someone who'd never usually do one - infact I can't remember the last time I did.

A city tour was included with the hotel deal I booked and so I figured we might as well take it.

The tour lasted only 50 minutes and was easy to join as it begins from the main market square.

It's well designed to really give a very comprehensive introduction to the city, despite it's short running time - they have designed a circuitous route that takes in most major sites and a headphone system allows explanations to be timed just as one reaches a particular location.

I found the tour very helpful in getting an overview before walking the city independently and it also allowed me to at least glimpse some of the sights I didn't have time to visit in more detail.

I MUST have missed something. Brugge seemed to me to be Disney does Amsterdam. Its just too too quaint in a very contrived way and its all about shopping shopping and more shopping. Just one shop after another selling overpriced lace and chocolate. Even our local tour guide told us not to buy anything from the shops or eat in the overpriced restaurants. I just don't get the attraction - except that its better than Brussels, so if you're bored....

Well TC I can only assume that you missed the Beguinage, the Memling museum and the medaeval buildings and churchs and the canals. I hate shopping and I loved Brugge. Personally I do not think Brugge resembles Amsterdam in the least. Canals (and not even the same type of canals) are the only thing they have in common. Brugge is a medaeval city. Most of the older buildings you see in Amsterdam date from the renaissance.

If you decide to walk around the city take the walking trail and don't miss the windmills. I love Bruge and someday hope to see it in the cold of winter! Please report back.

!!!overpriced chocolate!!!

Admittedly the exchange rate was better last year, but we couldn't believe the great prices on sublime, wonderful handmade chocolates in Brugge.

We're not shoppers (other than chocolate), but enjoyed Brugge so much in 2001, that we put it on the list for a 2002 trip. Couldn't walk more than a few steps without seeing another wonderful view.

TC, I wonder if you were only there during mid-day, when it's crowded with tour-bus people?

This is actually a reply to TC who found that Brugge is a Disney does Amsterdam. In California there is a place called Carmel that is filled with cutsey shops and is a pleasure to walk around but it seems that after a few streets and a bit of eating that it's boring. This isn't meant to sound negative (although I realize that it sounds like it) but if we only have three days in Belgium, seems like it would be better spent in Brussels and Antwerp. Whaddya think? Am I nuts?

I agree with TC to some point. Brugge is a little Disneylandish and most of the shops are meant for tourists. The same goes for the restaurants in the Markt area where you will eat mediocre overpriced meals.

Brussels and Antwerp on the contrary are cities that are more alive and not 'just for tourists'. Both have business districts but their historical centre is as interesting for tourists as is Brugge.

Sausalito,
If you have 3 full days I would spend one in Brugge (you will survive one day!) and definitely one in Antwerp as well.

Hi
we will be in Bruge for New Years Eve and wanted to book a restaurant in advance. Does anyone have any recommendations or details of special packages?
thanks

Helen, "beanweb24" posted a trip report of her visit to Bruges. She had New Year's Eve dinner at Den Dyver:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34464289

My wife and I had dinner at the same restaurant in June 2003. I just looked up the notes from our journal:

"Their specialty is food cooked in beer. We chose the set menu that included the restaurant's choice of beer with each course. It was lovely food--for starters, ravioli of guinea hen and mushrooms in broth. Susan had pork with lemon, and I had a gratinée cod, all served with incredible beer. Desert was rhubarb sorbet with soupe aux abricots."

The service was perfect.

Anselm

I think your decision to visit Bruge is a good one. My wife and I stayed 2 nights in Brugge in Sept and thoroughly enjoyed it. Since you will only be there for a day, I'd suggest spending it walking around the city. You might want to consider a boat tour if you are there on a weekend. The boats run on weekends in November but I would wait to see how cold or rainy it is. Otherwise the bus tour might work. There is lots to see in a day and Burge is a lovely city. Be sure to take foul weather gear. We needed it one of the days we were there but even in rain Bruge is a lovely town. Have fun. Bob

Buterla;

Forgot to recommend an excellent restaurant we visited named Kok au Vin on Ezelstraat. It is fairly new and run by a young local couple. I had mussles, the special of the day, and they were outstanding; fresh and done in a delicate white wine sause. It is off the beaten track, e.g. not on the square which has many, many restaurants and frequented by locals.