Suggestions for Bruges, Belgium?

[Pugsley]

Wow, I'm so excited to see this thread. I'm stopping in Bruges on a cruise next spring. I had never even heard of it before I booked this cruise, but now it may be my most anticipated port! I'm already dreaming of the chocolate -- how am I going to wait eight months?

 

[Deb in IA]

I've been there twice on day trips. Here are some of my favorites that have not been mentioned yet.

Bell Tower in Market Square - there are 366 steps and the ones toward the top are narrow and winding. You also have to slink up against the wall since there is not enough room for guests to go up while others are going down. The view from the top is amazing. It is VERY noisy when the bells are ringing.

Church of Our Lady - this church contains a Madonna and Child by Michelangelo. It was removed by the Germans near the end of World War II, found and returned several years later.

Memling Museum - there are a number of nice museums. We chose this one because I was interested in the fact that it had been used as a hospital.

Groeninge Museum - we wanted to go there, but it was closed to change over an exhibit. It features early Flemish art produced in that area.

Bruggemuseum-Gruuthuse - this was a wealthy brewer's home and had a little of everything.

I was not aware of any mark to tell which shops made their chocolate on site, but we actually saw it being made in the shops we got chocolate at. We were lucky to have a Belgian foreign exchange daughter, who told us which ones to go to.

Dumon Chocolate shop - the shop looked like something out of a fairy tale, with gingerbread walls and an impossibly small door. When you get up to it, you see there is actually a little landing with a few steps down, so the door only looks too small.
Madame Dumon herself helped us to pick an assortment of chocolates (handmade by her family) at the shop.

Chocolatier Stephan Dumon - another shop owned by the Dumon family. The outside of the building is old, but inside it's a mix of modern decor, sort of Art Deco design and less traditional chocolate than at the other shop. You can see into the very modern kitchen (they were not making chocolate at the time we went - kind of late in the day). We were told to go there for the "best hot chocolate you will ever have". I won't spoil the surprise about how it's made, but I will say it more than lived up to the hype.

The Chocolate Line - in this shop you could watch chocolates being made through a glass window that overlooks the kitchen.

Belgian waffles - enough said.....mmmmmmm!

We recently saw the George Clooney movie "The Monuments Men" and the Bruges Madonna was a big part of the plot, so that piqued my interest in seeing it, if I do go there someday.

 

[EMom]

We recently saw the George Clooney movie "The Monuments Men" and the Bruges Madonna was a big part of the plot, so that piqued my interest in seeing it, if I do go there someday.

Amazing, beautiful and stunning......No, it is beyond that.

On another note, my DD was 5 when we visited. They had a t shirt with (I think) several stick figures on it , reading, "BAD GIRLS OF BRUGES". It was so funny. We couldn't find one on the last day and missed the chance to get one. I regret that.

DD and DH ate enough chocolate to kill a horse.

 

[SarahWeasley]

One day in Brussels was enough for us. We found it to be more modern and less charming than Gent and Bruges. If you have a spare day, consider stopping in Gent (it's right between Brussels and Bruges).

 

[kawc1945]

One day in Brussels was enough for us. We found it to be more modern and less charming than Gent and Bruges. If you have a spare day, consider stopping in Gent (it's right between Brussels and Bruges).

I just watched a House Hunters International show where the couple was moving to Ghent! It looked so beautiful, I might add that to our itinerary.

I am really looking at Hotel Adornes in Bruges. It is a family run hotel which overlooks the canals. It is a few blocks from the main area, and offers free bicycles to it's guests to use during their stay. There is also some sort of City Card offered included with the booking.

As far as the chocolate goes, I will gladly try all of the places listed, eat as much as I can handle, and report back to let you know which one is the best!

 

[CPT Tripss]

Wow, I'm so excited to see this thread. I'm stopping in Bruges on a cruise next spring. I had never even heard of it before I booked this cruise, but now it may be my most anticipated port! I'm already dreaming of the chocolate -- how am I going to wait eight months?

Be sure to visit Cruise Critic . . . This thread discusses ways to make the 1/2 hour trip from Zeebrugge (the port) to Bruges.

 

[Libertyke]

Hello there!

Just wanted to let you know, that if you have any questions about Bruges, let me know! I've lived in Bruges all of my life (30 years ), and during my studies, I have sometimes even been a touring guide in my own town.

As you may guess, I can not really help you with the hotel (except if you want to know if it's a good location, but not with the quality).
But if you need practical information, or would like to visit certain shops/museums/churches/restaurants... please, just ask!

Greetings from sunny Bruges!

 

[Stinkerbe11]

Bruges is one of my favorite places on earth My absolute must-do is to buy chocolate at the Chocolate Line! The best chocolate ever. Seriously, just go and then let me know what you thought of it

http://www.thechocolateline.be/index.asp?taal=en

The De Halve Maan Brewery was a fun tour and the Straffe Hendrik beer is awesome! The Basilica of the Holy Blood dates back to the 12th century; the architecture is beautiful, definitely worth checking out. I also enjoyed the canal boat tour, Dumon Chocolate (not as much as the Chocolate Line though) and tea at De Proeverie. Of course there is the beautiful Markt and the Belfry that you can climb...don't forget the frietkoten (I like my frites with andalouse sauce)

Basically, you can't go wrong. I hope you have a great time!

 

[bookgirl]

I immediately thought of The Monuments Men and the Madonna in Bruges as well. Wonderful movie.

 

[SueM in MN]

We recently saw the George Clooney movie "The Monuments Men" and the Bruges Madonna was a big part of the plot, so that piqued my interest in seeing it, if I do go there someday.

I immediately thought of The Monuments Men and the Madonna in Bruges as well. Wonderful movie.

DH AND I saw the movie and thought, wow, we were there!

 

[kawc1945]

UPDATE: Not sure if anyone is still subscribing to this. But, we are back from Euorpe and LOVED Bruges! It is such a wonderfully quaint and friendly town. We stayed at Hotel Adornes overlooking the canal. We went on the brewery tour and loved the Brugse Zot and the Straffe Hendrik beer. Both nights DH had mussels for dinner and loved them! Hotel recommended a bar called De Garre, really enjoyed the house beer there. We enjoyed walking around and seeing the sights and shopping around. We went to the church with the Holy Blood, toured the Historium, went on a boat ride around the canals, went to the church with the Madonna of Bruges, and just had a relaxing couple of days there. There are so many chocolate shops I couldn't believe it! We ended up buying from a local shop that Rick Steves recommended, although we did go to Dumon and many of the others recommended here. Taking the train in and out of Bruges was also very easy.

If only I could go back tomorrow.......