Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
well-preserved Gothic city and a handy gateway to Europe. It's no
secret, but even with the crowds, it's the kind of place where you
don't mind being a tourist.
Bruges' ultimate sight is the town itself, and the best way to
enjoy it is to get lost on the back streets, away from the lace shops
and ice-cream stands.
Planning Your Time
Bruges needs at least two nights and a full, well-organized day.
Even non-shoppers enjoy browsing here, and the Belgian love
of life makes a hectic itinerary seem a little senseless. With one
day—other than a Monday, when the three museums are closed—
the speedy visitor could do the Bruges blitz described below (also
included in the Bruges City Walk on page 329):
9:30 Climb the bell tower on Market Square.
10:00 Tour the sights on Burg Square.
11:30 Tour the Groeninge Museum.
13:00 Eat lunch and buy chocolates.
14:00 Take a short canal cruise.
14:30 Visit the Church of Our Lady and see
Michelangelo's
Madonna and Child.
15:00 Tour the Memling Museum.
16:00 Catch the De Halve Maan
Brewery tour (note that
their last tour runs at 15:00 in winter on weekdays).
17:00 Calm down in the Begijnhof courtyard.
18:00 Ride a bike around the quiet back streets of town or
take a horse-and-buggy tour.
20:00 Lose the tourists and find dinner.
If this schedule seems insane, skip the bell tower and the
brewery—or stay another day.
OVeRVieW
The tourist's Bruges—and you'll be sharing it—is less than one
square mile, contained within a canal (the former moat). Nearly
everything of interest and importance is within a convenient cob-
bled swath between the train station and Market Square (a 20-min
walk). Many of my quiet, charming, recommended accommoda-
tions lie just beyond Market Square.
Tourist information
The main tourist office, called
In&Uit
(“In and Out”), is in the big,
red concert hall on the square called 't Zand (daily 10:00-18:00,
take a number from the touch-screen machines and wait, 't Zand
34, tel. 050-448-686, www.brugge.be). The other TI is at the train
