BRUGES | Euro Trip Part 4
Stop 4: Bruges
15th August 2018
This one came highly recommended by one of my close friends. While they hadn’t stayed in Bruges overnight, they recommended we do since this place was just gorgeous and needed a little more time if you truly want to take in all that beauty. We were prepared for that.
View this post on Instagram
A short train ride from Brussels, with trains frequenting every 30 minutes or so, and tickets readily available at the station, Bruges was a little paradise that had magically appeared out of a fairytale. Yes, having too many tourists might not truly preserve that fairytale-like appeal of the city, but believe you me, walking down those tiny lanes and stone pathways of Bruges is one of my best memories from Europe.
Our hotel in Bruges: ibis budget Brugge Centrum Station http://www.booking.com/Share-2NBlHw
For our one-night stay at Bruges, we again chose ibis Budget. This one was right next to the train station so we were able to quickly check-in, freshen up and head out to explore Bruges. We didn’t have any agenda for Bruges so we walked and walked throughout the city taking numerous photos trying to capture the true essence of Bruges. But honestly, no picture did complete justice to this incredibly beautiful little town of Belgium. Lined with stone and brick architecture and streets all over the centre of the city, Bruges is a tourist’s haven. Little canals opened up into waterways for cruises and at the same time made a picturesque backdrop for houses across the town. We spent most of our time in Bruges walking across the city, admiring it’s buildings and taking in all the gorgeousness this place has to offer.
View this post on Instagram
We stopped by for a quick bite where I tried some more Belgian Frites, and then walked again, clicking pictures against the beautiful backdrop of colorful buildings. We also visited the Diamant Museum (which helped me decide what ring I would potentially want), followed by The Beer Wall.
View this post on Instagram
While all of us don’t drink, some of us do, and for those who do, Belgian beers are a must try. Cities in Belgium not only offer a good selection of different local beers, but you can also visit breweries, museums and beer tastings.
Among these, The Beer Wall in Bruges comes highly recommended. Showcasing beers from all across the world on a grand wall, this place is dotted with tourists – from families to couples to friends, young and old – everyone!
We decided to opt for a beer tasting tray in Light flavor which came with a petite portion of sweet coconut beer, light Bruges white beer, local Bruges Zot beer and the very famous Kriek cherry beer. All these along with nuts and cheese for just 10 Euros.
Other tasting trays included dark and local with a mix of 4 different tap beers that fit the type. What’s more, if you like them, you can buy them at the store within the 2be complex – buy a single bottle or the entire tasting combination, your choice!
Next, we stopped for a tour of an old prison converted to a Torture Museum, which really gave me the chills. Not for the faint hearted that one! After some more pictures at the central square of the city, we realized it was actually quite late into the evening and most shops were already shut, so we settled in for a McDonalds meal and navigated our way back to the hotel to get a good night’s sleep before an exciting morning.
Bruges, or Brugge was undoubtedly the prettiest city I’d been to so far in Europe. It wasn’t just the buildings or the canals, but also the cool weather, late sunsets, and of course good food that made it such a beauty. Too bad my stay here was only for a night 🙁
16th August 2018: BRUGES
We had an early start on this day. We had lots to do, and we had to time it right so we don’t miss out on anything. We took an early morning train back to Brussels and made sure we have enough time in the city to check out the Flower Carpet at Grand Place and also get back in time to hop on to our train to the next city.
We found out luggage lockers at the Brussels station where we dropped off our suitcases and quickly strolled into the Grand Place. The whole area was nothing short of spectacular. I loved the manner in which they had converted the whole central arena into a big flower display. Scores of people stood all around taking pictures and admiring the beauty of the carpet. It was surely one of the best things I experienced in Brussels, and I am more than glad to have been there at the right time. We had one last round of Belgian Frites topped with cheese and then set foot for the station towards yet another adventure – the one we were awaiting the most!
After exploring the wonderful country of Belgium it was time to move to A’DAM. Click here to read about City 5 AMSTERDAM
