Bruges DIY Review

I recently did a short solo cruise on Celebrity Eclipse when one of the ports of call was Zeebrugge.

On this occasion I chose to visit Bruges and caught the excellent train from Blankenberge.

My priority for this visit was to get to the top of the Belfort Tower which stands on the edge of the Grote Markt...

The Belfort Tower opens at 9.30 am and I was the first to make it to the top where the views over Bruges were amazing...

I certainly covered some ground and among some unusual places I managed to include visits to were the Princely Beguinage...

and the Chapel of the Basilica of the Holy Blood...

I have written a full review on my blog site which contains over 60 photographs and three detailed street maps. Why not take a look...

http://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2015/06/15/one-way-to-do-bruges/

Nice photos. We went to Bruges twice last year, but on a land trip. There are also free guided walking tours available.

Had to cancel our Spring TA, which stopped in Bruge. It's one of my favorite places in Europe and I was really looking forward to another visit. I'll enjoy visiting it again via your blog. Thanks for sharing your visit.

HRPro

There are lots of very nice well preserved old towns in Europe. Many not as commercialised as Bruges. Fortunately, Bruges was left mainly unscathed during WW2c

HRPro

 

There are lots of very nice well preserved old towns in Europe. Many not as commercialised as Bruges. Fortunately, Bruges was left mainly unscathed during WW2c

Yes, and many of them in England and Scotland, which we also love. I saw Bruge on my first trip to Europe in the 90's, so it's probably much more touristy today than it was then. Still the fact that it wasn't bombed to bits in WWI & II is a huge plus.

Wonderful photos. We've thoroughly enjoyed Bruges, and the wonderful Groeninge Museum (featuring Flemish art).

Going to Bruges later this year on a land trip. Thanks for the great photos and info.

You have a very nice website! I enjoyed your Bruges Review and your photos are great!

It looks like your visit to Bruges was a one day trip, is that correct?

I am trying to decide how much time to spend in Bruges. We also want to visit Ghent.

We were searching for a DIY guide to Bruges and found this post and link to your blog.

The information and detail you provide is excellent.

Thank you.

Thanks for the review. Will be visiting in May.

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Thank you for posting the link to your walking tour which I enjoyed reading. I'm doing my research at present for our visit in June from Britannia, and this was a big help. I've also found an equally helpful self-guided tour on TripAdvisor, created by a local and you seem to have visited pretty much the same places he suggests although in reverse order. Did you find you really needed the guide you bought on the day in addition to your research?

And may I just ask one further question? The staircase in the tower is very narrow. Is it shared by people going up and down?

I'd also just suggest a different option of getting to Bruges and that is Viator run an express coach from the port gates to Bruges. We've booked it and though at €20 it's more expensive than the train, it looks very easy

I'm so glad to see your blog! Going to Brugge for second time in June. Learned from our mistakes last time and I hope to see more of it than previously. I'm going to check out the rest if your blog, too.

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Richard, thank you so much for your photos. I've depended upon your advice before on the Cunard board.

We'll be visiting in May. We're doing a RT crossing from NY on the QM2. Between the crossings, there's a little 2 day holiday to Bruges/Zeebrugge. My husband has difficultly walking more than a few blocks at a time, so our current plans are to take a taxi to the city center (which is evidently possible by taxi but not bus) take a canal tour, have lunch, walk around a bit and return to the ship.

- Do you have a recommended destination for an interesting, historic destination spot that will allow all three?

- From what I've read, the canal tours are all about the same, cover the same ground, and have fares that are regulated - so they, also, are the same. Do you concur? Do you have advice?

- Do you have advice for the return? Should we attempt to use the same taxi as we took to the city, or is there a good place (very nearby) to hail one to return to the port?

Eagerly awaiting any advice you can give. Thanks!

We are planning to go to Bruges when our cruise stops in Zeebrugge for the day.

I noticed that this port day is a Sunday.

Will there be enough spots open to justify the short train trip and see the sights?

Hopefully, Sunday is not a concern

Bruges is a very touristy town, so practically everything will be open on a Sunday.

Richard, thank you so much for your photos. I've depended upon your advice before on the Cunard board.

 

We'll be visiting in May. We're doing a RT crossing from NY on the QM2. Between the crossings, there's a little 2 day holiday to Bruges/Zeebrugge. My husband has difficultly walking more than a few blocks at a time, so our current plans are to take a taxi to the city center (which is evidently possible by taxi but not bus) take a canal tour, have lunch, walk around a bit and return to the ship.

 

- Do you have a recommended destination for an interesting, historic destination spot that will allow all three?

- From what I've read, the canal tours are all about the same, cover the same ground, and have fares that are regulated - so they, also, are the same. Do you concur? Do you have advice?

- Do you have advice for the return? Should we attempt to use the same taxi as we took to the city, or is there a good place (very nearby) to hail one to return to the port?

 

Eagerly awaiting any advice you can give. Thanks!

You might also consider the carriage ride that is offered from the main square. I was in need of knee replacements so walking was painful and we chose to do this. I think it was 35 euros and gave us a little over site to what shops were down some of the different streets. We then walked down the areas that interested us.

You might also consider the carriage ride that is offered from the main square. I was in need of knee replacements so walking was painful and we chose to do this. I think it was 35 euros and gave us a little over site to what shops were down some of the different streets. We then walked down the areas that interested us.

Thanks TX M&P!

- Mark