Stuck for a Christmas break idea? Let Tessa Edmonson be your guide to Bruges, the magical Belgian city that’s only a train ride away.
There are few places that can compete with Bruges when it comes to festive cheer. Swans canoodle in the frosty canals, lights twinkle in the misty winter air and bells chime through the cobbled streets.
While the historical centre can become busy, there are endless alleyways to disappear down and plenty of deserted canals to explore. This perfectly-preserved Flemish city can be easily reached in just a few hours, by train from King’s Cross St Pancras, and once you’re there Bruges street maps will allow you to navigate with ease. So, here are five festive musts if you fancy a winter escape to this most magical of Belgian cities.
1. Climb the Belfry
Channel your inner Colin Farrell and climb the Bell Tower; this Unesco-listed 13th century building sits 83 metres above the central Market Square and provides a 360-degree view of the picturesque city. It’s one of Bruges’ most famous landmarks and has had a number of uses over the years – from accommodating municipal archives to serving as an observation post. The climb is not best attempted after a session in one of Bruges’ brown bars though; too many tipples could quite easily cause a topple down the 366 vertigo-inducing tower steps.
2. Gift hunt
Markets are big business in Belgium, and Bruges has more than its fair share. The obvious choices are around Market Square and the Simon Stevinplein, which flog generic tourist souvenirs – and a hidden gem or two – and pull in most of the crowds. But leave the heaving hoards of the centre behind you and there are plenty of lovely alternatives to be found. Many of the churches still hold traditional peasant markets selling authentic artisan produce including locally-crafted lace, marzipan fruits and ornate chocolates, which the Belgians are famed for doing particularly well. Defrost around one of the small fires that dot the streets and warm up with a steamy hot chocolate.
3. Drink up
It would be criminal to leave Belgium without tasting a few of the magnificent local beers. With everything from pale hoppy half pints to dark bitters and light fruity beers, there is something to quench any thirst. The local beer is appropriately named Brugse Zot, which loosely translates as Bruges Fool. One of the best places for sampling is ‘t Brugs Beertje (the little Bruges bear). This cosy pub is hidden down a small side street just off the main strip and is usually busy with a mixture of locals and visitors, all propping themselves up on a higgledy-piggledy selection of wooden furniture.
4. Get lost
Bruges is awash with fantastic museums, secret gardens, quaint squares and ancient churches. It is also a predominantly pedestrian town and brisk walking is one of the best ways to keep warm, so pack a pair of flats and stroll the canals, head towards St Bonifacius Bridge or the Minnewater, locally known as the Lake of love. Alternatively, you can’t go wrong with a horse-drawn carriage. It may be pricey and oh-so clichéd, but whizzing through the snowy city while snuggling under a blanket is a guilty pleasure well worth indulging in.
5. Fill up
Belgian cuisine is wonderfully varied, and perfectly suited to hungry winter tummies – particularly with the colder Christmas temperatures. Grab a cheap-as-chips (quite literally) snack at one of the frites stalls, not forgetting the obligatory dollop of mayo. Then pick up a delicious Belgian waffle smothered in chocolate and cream. If you want to escape the chilly outdoors head to Cambrinus, a raucous brasserie with a beer menu as thick as the yellow pages. The cuisine might not be the healthiest, but it will certainly make you feel better!
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