Bruges in 4 Hours, Bruges, Belgium

My first impression of Bruges was…well, let me explain. I visited the city on a whim, and after stepping off the train from Paris, gauche and droit were suddenly replaced by links and rechts - all the signs were now in Flemish, a Dutch dialect that’s spoken in northern Belgium. I guess I missed that part in the guidebook?

My second impression of Bruges was absolute delight. Once the initial “we’re not in Kansas Paris anymore” feeling wore off, I snapped a photo of the map in the train station and headed out to explore this storybook city.

Located just about an hour north of Brussels by train, Bruges has all the ingredients of a fairytale-like setting: cobblestone streets, adorable shops and canals that run throughout this “Venice of the North.” Oh, and the chocolate isn’t half bad either. So whether you’re visiting for an extended period or decide to make Bruges a daytrip from Paris like I did, here’s a sample itinerary of some of my favorite highlights.

Bruges is easy to explore on foot, with the old town centered contained within the circular ring of the city’s former ramparts and the main canal. After arriving at the train station I walked for about 20 minutes through the adorable cobbled lanes to reach my first destination - Market Square (alternatively you can take a bus). With its gingerbread house-like facades, the square is anchored by the Belfry of Bruges, an impressive bell tower dating back to the 12th century. The 366-step climb to the top is well worthwhile for its great view of the city below. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).