City Trips

24 hours in Bruges: this is where you need to go

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24 hours Bruges

Whenever I hear the words ‘a weekend away’, Belgium is the place that I immediately think of. It started with Antwerp, then came Ghent and until recently I also added Bruges to the list of favorite getaways. The people, the style, the accent: it has something that the Netherlands sometimes seems to lack in my eyes. That’s why I come here so often, and this time it’s Bruges‘ turn. If you have the time, take it and stretch it into a long weekend. If you don’t, read on, because I’ll tell you all the hotspots you must visit in 24 hours. Let’s gooo.

You definitely have breakfast at Sanseveria. They are known for their generous portion of bagels (tip: try the bagel with speculaas and apple), but they also have açaí bowls and salads. Have a mimosa with it and you won’t be hungry until lunch, I can guarantee you that. The place itself isn’t too big, so on weekends I recommend making a reservation to ensure you have a seat. You can easily do that through the website. Ideal.

You can best grab a few shops right after breakfast if you don’t want to be overwhelmed by a swarm of tourists. After all, you are in Bruges. A COS, a ZARA, a Massimo Dutti: in the morning, your size will still be available. Around three in the afternoon, I’m not sure if I can still say the same and you might find yourself sweating while waiting for a fitting room. You want to avoid that.

The wonderful thing about a getaway, I find, is that you always have to eat out, whether it’s early in the morning or during lunch. At Nomad I had such delicious food back then. From a club sandwich, avocado toast, and American pancakes to quesadillas and a scampi noodle salad; their menu genuinely has it all. Which restaurant now has butter chicken on a lunch menu? Look, then you’ve already got me. In terms of prices, it might be a bit higher, but it’s not a typical sandwich shop. The quality definitely makes up for it, let me put it that way.

To let that food settle, I especially recommend taking some steps in the city. Bruges has beautiful canals, and there’s something to see on every corner of the street. You can easily spend a whole day just with that. Do you still want to soak up some culture? Then go to the beer museum, also known as the Bruges Beer Experience . Here you’ll definitely make a man happy, but it’s also interesting for a woman without jokes. For about 13 euros, you can get in and you’ll be handed a tablet. With this, you can decide which route to take in the museum (I always find that nice), and at the end, there’s a small beer tasting where you can try a few beers from the tap. Personally, I’m not much of a museum-goer and I actually went there without expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised. A recommendation, this one.

Have you even been to Belgium if you haven’t had stew? Exactly: no. The absolute best I had at De Vlaamsche Pot, (https://www.devlaamschepot.be) a very quaint little restaurant on the outside, and not much different on the inside. Do keep in mind: the menu is not super exotic or extensive: they actually serve Flemish cuisine. You have to like that, but a generous portion of stew or mussels doesn’t hurt anyone, I think. Do make a reservation, because you’re not the only one who has set their sights on this place.

If I could recommend one hotel, it would be Duke’s Palace. Upon entering, it starts already, because you arrive at a literal palace. The rooms are nice and spacious, the interior is just like the exterior truly a fairy tale, and the location is a perfect ten. Within three minutes, you’re in the heart of the city, so extra points for that. You do pay a bit more, but in my opinion, it’s worth every cent.