BELGIUM - Best of Europe 2014 - page 211

lowing attractions are open: bell-tower climb on the Markt, Begijnhof, De Halve Maan
Brewery Tour, Basilica of the Holy Blood, City Hall's Gothic Room, chocolate shops
and museum, and Church of Our Lady. You can also join a boat, bus, or walking tour, or
rent a bike and pedal into the countryside.
Museum Passes: The 't Zand TI and city museums sell a “Museumpas” combo-ticket (any
five museums for €20, valid for 3 days). Because the Groeninge and Memling museums
cost €8 each, art lovers will save money with this pass.
The Brugge City Card is a more extensive pass covering entry to 26 museums, includ-
ing all the major sights (€35/48 hours, €40/72 hours, sold at TIs and many hotels). If
you'll be doing some serious sightseeing, this card can save you money. Its long list of
bonusesanddiscountsincludesafreecanalboatride(March-Nov),avisitors'guide,and
discounts on bike rental, parking, and some performances.
Market Days: Bruges hosts markets on Wednesday morning (on the Markt) and Saturday
morning ('t Zand). On good-weather Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, a flea
market hops along Dijver in front of the Groeninge Museum. The Fish Market sells
souvenirs daily and seafood Wednesday through Saturday mornings until 13:00.
Shopping: Shops are generally open from 10:00 to 18:00 and closed Sundays. Grocery
stores usually are closed on Sunday. The main shopping street, Steenstraat, stretches
from the Markt to 't Zand Square. The Hema department store is at Steenstraat 73.
FNAC, the electronics/department store for all your needs, is on the Markt. There's a
good travel bookstore (which carries my guidebooks) at #12 on the Markt.
Internet Access: There are three free terminals at the TI on 't Zand. Call Shop, just a
block off the Markt, is the most central of the city's many “telephone shops” offering
Internet access (€1.50/30 minutes, €2.50/hour, daily 9:00-20:00, Philipstockstraat 4).
Bean Around the World is a cozy coffeehouse with imported Yankee snacks and free
Wi-Fi for customers (€1/15 minutes on their computers, Thu-Mon 10:00-19:00, Wed
11:30-19:00, closed Tue, Genthof 5, tel. [phone], run by American expat Olene).
Post Office: It's on the Markt near the bell tower (Mon-Fri 9:00-18:00, Sat 9:30-15:00,
closed Sun, tel. [phone]).
Laundry: Bruges has three self-service launderettes, each a five-minute walk from the cen-
ter; ask your hotelier for the nearest one.
BikeRental:BrugesBikeRental iscentralandcheap,withfriendlyserviceandlonghours
(€3.50/hour, €5/2 hours, €7/4 hours, €10/day, show this topic to get student rate—€8/
day, no deposit required—just ID, daily 10:00-22:00, free city maps and child seats, be-
hindthefar-outironfacadeatNiklaasDesparsstraat17,tel.[phone],Bilal). Fietsen
Popelier Bike Rental is also good (€4/hour, €8/4 hours, €12/day, 24-hour day is OK if
your hotel has a safe place to store bike, no deposit required, daily 10:00-19:00, some-
times open later in summer, free Damme map, Mariastraat 26, tel. [phone]). Kof-