We have a thing for European small towns, there is something so magical about them. In the past, we have visited Hallstatt and St. Wolfgang as a part of day trips (like many other travellers), but this time around on our trip we decided to stay for longer in small towns like Bruges in Belgium and Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Germany, and it was so worth it.

 

If you are a regular on our page, you would have already read about our escapade in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. If not, you can read the article HERE.

 

As for today’s post, we shall take you through the most delightful and romantic moments we spent in Bruges. With its charming market square adorned with cozy cafes, nondescript cobbled lanes with a backdrop of cute gingerbread houses, dreamy canals ornamented with boats and more chocolate shops than you can ever imagine, Bruges is as romantic as it can get.

 

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We had set aside two full days to discover this magical town but because of rail track maintenance work, our journey from Amsterdam to Bruges took forever. By the end of it, we were so tired that we checked in to our hotel, ate at a nearby Dominos, and took a nap. We have faced issues with train travel in Europe on a Sunday earlier as well, and after this incident we decided that we would never make any transfers on a Sunday… it just gets too taxing with all the train changes, waiting at the platform and dragging luggage from one platform to the other… it’s just not worth the hassle.

 

But our painful long train journey did come with a silver lining 🙂 You see, Bruges is a popular weekend destination and many weekend travellers usually retreat back by Sunday evening… so by the time we regained some energy after our nap and ventured out to explore the city it was already 6 PM and the town was almost empty…by 8 PM it was as if there was no one else in town but us 🙂 Empty streets, magnificent medieval architecture lit with amber lights, a slight nip in the air and an occasional tapping sound of a horse carriage passing by… I mean isn’t this exactly how you would have imagined a romantic getaway in an old European town? It was perfect!

 

We wandered through several quiet by-lanes and caught some really dreamy sites and were in awe of the architecture. Next, we explored the Grote Markt which is the city centre and although at this hour all the shops were already closed and restaurants were taking their last orders, the Belfry Tower was lit up and looked magnificent. We just stood there for a while and admired its beauty.

 

 

 

 

Thereon we went to Rozenhoedkaai, perhaps the most picturesque spot in the town and tried to capture that postcard shot of Bruges 🙂 By the time we were done clicking pictures we were very hungry and looked for options online. We came across a noodle bar nearby which was still open and had some Pho and noodles for dinner… we also got our first introduction to the famous Belgian beer. Before calling it a night and retiring back to our hotel, we strolled around the canals and soaked in the beauty of this magical town (minus the crowds!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did I mention we stayed at Ibis Budget for the first night? If you’re on a tight budget, this is one of the best hotels to stay at. It’s just next to the station and although it is basic, it has everything you need for a comfortable stay at a very reasonable price. We actually did a little balancing act by booking ourselves at Ibis Budget for the first night as for the second day we had something fancy lined up…keep reading to find out what 🙂

 

So, the next day we had breakfast at the hotel (big mistake…it was horrible) and post that we dragged our luggage and checked into Hotel Bourgoensch Hof, which is situated right at the city centre. We had an amazing room with a Canal view. The room was huge, the brick walls with wooden beams and a working fire place exuded old-world charm. This particular hotel is one of the most popular hotels in Bruges (if not the most popular) and for good reason… but it’s also quite expensive. However, we loved staying here for a night 🙂

 

 

 

 

After unpacking and freshening up we ventured out and just outside the hotel we found a kiosk selling tickets for the canal boat ride. Now you can’t visit Bruges and not go on a canal boat ride! Since this was on our absolute must do list in Bruges we didn’t waste any time and got our tickets, although we had to wait for a good fifteen minutes before the boat arrived and enough people gathered for it go on a tour.

 

 

The Captain doubles up as the guide and narrates historical anecdotes about the city in five languages. To be really honest, the fact that he could repeat the same thing back to back in five languages was far more fascinating than the actual narration! Having said that, the views were absolutely magnificent, and since it was an open boat, the overall experience was very enjoyable.

 

 

 

The boat ride was a great way to get introduced to a bit of Belgian history and afterwards we decided to learn a little more about Belgian Culture … well, Belgian Beer culture specifically, so we checked in to 2be Beer Wall and enjoyed some really amazing beers 🙂 They have around 4 options for beer tasting platter, each one is unique and absolutely fantastic. We chose to sit outside on the deck and enjoy our beer platter and even though it was a bit chilly outside, we just loved the vibe. There’s also a huge souvenir section inside from where we ended up buying cute Bruges coffee mugs for ourselves.

 

 

 

 

After that we caught some day time views of the Rozenhoedkaai and then climbed the famous Belfry Tower. The views were magnificent, but we were not carrying our main camera and our phone battery died so unfortunately, we couldn’t click any pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By the time we were done, it was lunch time and we opted for a traditional half roast chicken with fries and salad with a lager at one of the restaurant at the city centre with a magnificent view of the Belfry Tower. Also, on a side note – this town perhaps has the most beautiful building Façades that we’ve ever seen… take for example the  Zara store!

 

 

 

 

 

Next up on our list was the famous Bonifacius bridge, so we did some more site seeing as we walked till Bonifacius bridge and managed to get some really great pictures of the Beignof area and the Minnewater lake. It was such a beautiful, quiet and quaint place to sit and relax…. Plus the autumnal vibes made it a picture perfect setting!

 

 

 

 

 

While we were returning back to the hotel it started to rain and we found refuge in one of the chocolate shops which claimed to have cheapest prices. The shop mostly had pre-packed boxes, so we ended up buying a few boxes for gifting and while we were waiting for it to stop pouring we took a bite and realised we had made a huge mistake by buying so many boxes…The chocolates were nothing special.

 

Well, our search for gourmet chocolate experience didn’t end there. This time relying on the very trusted Trip advisor forums, we scored some awesome hot chocolate and waffles at The Old Chocolate house and later bought tons of chocolate from La Belgique Gourmande, where we were able to select from a variety of chocolates and make your own customised boxes. The experience in itself was so exciting and satisfying… and the chocolates – heavenly! 🙂

 

 

 

We were exhausted by dinner time so we ended the day with burgers and fries at Burger King… well, I know, not the best idea… the food was so-so but the view of Belfry Tower from BK was simply priceless 🙂

 

Next morning, we woke up early and sipped on steaming coffee while enjoyed some spectacular views from our room window… we watched the sun rise and were even given company by a flock of ducks chilling just outside our windows… adorable little creatures!

 

 

Before we packed our bags and said goodbye to this delightful little town, we headed to our final destination for a delightful breakfast at Tatties. The food and the views of Jan Van Eyck Square were breath-taking and it was the perfect way to bid farewell to Bruges.

 

 

 

 

We hope you enjoyed reading about our short little romantic getaway to Bruges. If you have ever been to Bruges, do leave us a comment telling us all about your favourite spots in the city 🙂