A day trip to Bruges in winter
Our journey begins in Antwerp, one of the less visited cities in Belgium, and is undoubtedly its best secret. A more popular option to visit is, of course, Brussels, the capital of Belgium, but I prefer the low key lifestyle of Antwerp. The sun isn’t rising until nearly 9am in winter, so make the most of your breakfast buffet, grab something on the go, or head to the station to book your ticket to Bruges.
Once we arrive in Bruges, we highly recommend stopping by the Tourist Information Center and grabbing a free map (in English – don’t make the same mistake as us!) We asked the woman behind the counter for the best walking route into town. The map (gifts, Go Goo One) highlights the best walks to the city centre.
Bruge Grote Mark
After an active stroll towards the city centre (it was 0 degrees when we visited), stop by Godiva to warm up some hot chocolate. Godiva is in the Grote Market itself and some would say it’s exaggerated (a bit expensive), but I couldn’t disagree any more! It was the best 4 euros I had that day.
Bruges Bell
If this is your first time visiting Bruges, you can climb the stairs to the top of the Grotemark bell tower and enjoy incredible views of the city below.
Cathedral of the Holy Blood
The Holy Blood Cathedral is an impressive Roman Catholic church built in the early 12th century. If you’re looking for something to do indoors (it’s really getting cold), this is a great option to spend time.
Walking the canal
It’s not a point of interest, but it tells me my favorite way to spend time in Bruges. The city is built on a series of waterways, allowing you to enjoy boat rides in the summer months, but also beautiful walking along the canals in winter.
Restaurants visiting Bruges
There is one thing that Bruges really doesn’t work. It’s not contested: a cozy winter atmosphere. We were fortunate to have a completely sunny day for our visit, but rain is very common during the winter.
Here in Bruges there are several very famous restaurants, including ones that have an impressive three Michelin stars. The restaurant is in January. The restaurant is located in a 180-year-old barn overlooking the lush gardens. It lies in the expensive aspect, but it certainly counts as one of a lifetime experience.
From then on to Ghent
You can also visit Ghent on the same day if you wish to allow yourself a day to visit Brussels or Bruges from Antwerp. The main difference between the two cities is that Bruges has a very tourist-centric old town, whereas Ghent feels much more local and filled with inhabitants. Ghent is a popular student town with a large university population. If you’re young and capable, there are some great bars and cheap meals to try in town.
The train journey from Bruges to Ghent takes just 15 minutes. It is recommended to get off the second stop by the Gent Dampoort Station train. This station is only a 10-minute walk from the town.
My favorite recommendation for Ghent is to stop by The Alchemist’sA truly amazing bar we found in the centre of town. It’s incredibly small, but cozy in the winter, dimly lit by candles on the table and works as a one-man show.