5 Dishes To Try When Visiting... Belgium
October 18, 2018
Just a short journey across the English Channel from the famous port of Dover, Bruges may not be the most iconic port in Europe, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in historical wonders. Romance flows throughout this city and during the peak times in the summer months there is a mixture of couples, families and solo travellers exploring this wonderful city.
After arriving the in the Port of Zeebrugge, you will have a short transfer taking around 30 minutes before reaching the city of Bruges.
Even during the winter, there is plenty to do here, from climbing the Belfry Tower to indulging in Michelin Star restaurants. So here are a few of the things that you can expect when visiting Bruges.
From quaint cobbled streets to intimate boat journeys down the canals, love is really in the air. The main attraction for couples visiting Bruges has to be the picturesque parks. These colourful escapes are the perfect setting in which to immerse yourself into the city's beauty. The centre has also been named a UNESCO cultural heritage site, thanks to the amazing architecture, village atmosphere and never-ending chocolate shops.
Even as the day settles to dusk, late-night walks present sights to behold, as convenient pubs invite you into their doors. You can also take a stroll to Minnewater (the lake of love) to experience what Bruges is all about. After all, Bruges is rated as one of the most romantic cities in Europe.
Belgium is well-known for being one of the leading chocolatiers, and Bruges celebrates this with an abundance of chocolate shops. From the best white chocolate truffles to rich vintage fudge, the city boasts over 30 different candy-based emporiums for every type of chocolate lover. Before you plan on only eating sweets during your stay, Bruges also hosts several Michelin Star restaurants too.
Most travellers will be excited to know that beer runs through Bruges's veins, literally. In September 2016, Bruges constructed its 'beer pipeline' that runs a whopping two miles underground from De Halve Man brewery in the south to the bottling plant in the north-west. This somewhat ludicrous idea came to life after the ongoing issue of traffic in the city streets when large vehicles attempting to reach the bottle factory would block up the road. This new invention now transports 1,000 gallons of alcohol every hour - enough to fill up 12,000 bottles of alcohol and more than enough to fuel the entire city.
While great food and romantic scenery make Bruges sound like the perfect holiday destination, the city has one more exciting feature to entice you in. The most obvious starting point has to be the Belfry of Bruges, a symbolic tower situated in the centre of the city that was originally built over 800 years ago but has been rebuilt on numerous occasions due to fires within the Markt Square. Climbing to the top of the tower is a steep 366 steps and here you can admire the cityscape in all of its glory. Plus, you can make up your own mind up on whether the tower is leaning or not.
The second historical monument is famed for being the tallest structure in the city and the second tallest brickwork tower in the world (only falling short by 8.6 metres to St Martin's Church in Landshut, Bavaria). This section of the Church of Our Lady stands at a colossal 115.6 metres tall and holds famous artworks like Michelangelo's white sculpture of the Madonna and Child.
Finally, the city's Markt is a must-see during your journey. Vast open stalls and various sightseeing and city tour options are all part of bringing life back to the centre. Plus, with the renovations in 1996, the area has become mostly traffic-free and open to celebrations.
Bruges is a city of many wonders and to experience this cultural hub in full tourists will have to fully immerse themselves into the sense of adventure. If you would like to visit the city of Bruges or any other ports close to the UK, contact our friendly sales team via the freephone number above or complete the online enquiry form.
