Written From… The nerve centre of my blogging empire aka my bedroom in the rainy North West of the UK
What do you get when you cross a city break with two girls born on the same day? If you didn’t guess the Goodbody Twins going on a Bruges day trip, then I don’t blame you! I’m going to tell you about what not to miss when in Bruges for the day.
Bruges in Belgium
A quaint medieval city in the West Flanders province of Belgium, Bruges is well-known for its stunning architecture, fantastic beer and cobbled streets. Only 3 hours by train from London, changing in Brussels Midi, it is remarkably accessible for short breaks.
Bruges restaurants
First up: Bruges restaurants. There is an all you can eat ribs restaurant called Bones. They really couldn’t have come up with a better name for it. By the end of the meal you have a bucket of ribs stripped of their flesh next to you, and the healthy satisfaction of an incredibly good meal.
After a long Bruges day trip, we decided that, after reading about this place online, it was just what we needed. It did not disappoint. They have things other than ribs on the menu, but there really is little point ordering them as you’ll just be jealous of your fellow diners as they gorge themselves on the succulent meat!
After that you’ll be needing a drink. There are several brewery tours on offer and I’m sure they’re all very good. We happened to stumble upon Bourgogne de Flandres at the just the moment when we were getting a bit too fed up with the rain!
The €10 admission includes a glass of their eponymous brew which is absolutly delicious. The tour doesn’t take too long, probably 30-40 minutes but it really is fascinating, and for girls who like their beer as much as we do, it is the perfect activity for when the weather isn’t the greatest.
Belgian culture
If culture is more your thing then head to the Groeninge. A museum that boasts six centuries of Belgium and Flemish painting. It is a beautifully curated space with exquisite canvases on the walls.
I’m still reeling from some of the paintings as they were simply incredible. The Groeninge is on the site of a former abbey which adds to the mysticism of the religious subjects in many of the works of art.
There’s also the interactive history experience at Historium which is located on the main square. As a French History Graduate, I’m used to learning the facts in a classroom.
Not the case in Bruges! Historium drops you into the golden era of the city where you follow an apprentice to the painter Van Eyck as he runs his errands for the day. I won’t say much more as it will spoil the surprise but it is definitely one of the most original experiences I have ever had.
Day trip ideas
Whenever my family goes on holiday they keep a list of all of the places they go to with a score out of ten and occasionally a witty remark. Great for day trip ideas. This trip was no different! The places I’ve listed got the highest marks from my sister and I.
We traveled to Bruges for the day thanks to a deal I had secured on Secret Escapes, a discount luxury travel site, that included trains and hotel! We stayed at the delightful Hotel Prinsenhof, which I would highly recommend for the impeccable service and friendly staff.
All in all, I can’t recommend a Bruges day trip enough. For someone who is as lackadaisical as me when it comes to planning there is so much to do that you can’t help but find something that will interest you. From the beer to the chocolate to the medieval architecture, you will thoroughly enjoy any amount of time you spend there!
