Discover Beautiful Bruges & The Belfry Tower

When in Rome Brugues

So, picture this: my birthday surprise was supposed to be a quick weekend trip. But guess what? Life decided to throw in a plot twist. Next thing I know, I'm on the best unplanned mini-cruise ever, stumbling headfirst into an unexpected festival extravaganza in Bruges, Belgium. It's like life went, "Hold my waffles, we're going big!"

Our trip to beautiful Bruges starts here...

Getting There

Ah, the birthday to remember! My partner's secret weapon? A sneaky getaway – a mini cruise to Bruges. With the kids left in the capable hands of Nanny (cue the dramatic exit), we made a mad dash to freedom and set off from Hull on a mini cruise adventure. Heads up for the cruise novices: Hull is the launchpad for P&O's mini cruise magic, while DFDS works its UK mini cruise wonders from Newcastle, Dover, and Newhaven. Who knew birthday surprises could lead to such epic adventures and logistical insights?

Picture this: customs checkpoint, two employees. They hit us with the classic "anything naughty in your bags? " Question. And oh boy, like a deer caught in the brightest headlights, I blurted out my confession without missing a beat. "we've got wine in there! " I declared, practically handing over a treasure map to contraband. But hold your laughter it turns out my attempt at smuggling sophistication was a total failure. The wine was a no-go, and it marched right back to the car before they plotted its doom in the "forbidden items" bin.

Yet, here's my conspiracy theory: those sneaky employees probably keep the spoils of their conquests, our wine included, for after-hours revelry. And who knows, they might even share a laugh at our expense, our hilarious confessions, and perhaps the occasional rogue underwear that sneaks into the mix.

And after they orchestrated a symphony of chaos by rifling through my bag's entire contents, they finally granted us passage. Ah, DFDS where customs checks are a wild adventure and your secrets might just become a part of the crew's comedy lineup.

Bruges is Reasonably Cheap

Unfortunately from the 1st of January 2021, P&O will no longer be running the service between Hull and Zeebrugge however it cost around £150 due to being in the peak season. However, ferry companies regularly offer 2 for 1 on the mini-cruises meaning book at the right time and a couple can go for under £100. You can also compare the ferry prices of all operators at Direct Ferries.

Anyone who’s been on a cruise will know food isn’t exactly cheap, but we made an exception for cider, right before I took ill and crawled into bed!

Now, onto Bruges – the promised land of budget-friendly bites. Waffles, those glorious stacks of happiness, set you back a mere £4-5, toppings included. And for the desperate souls pining for home, there's the golden arches – a McDonald's meal for around £7. Not too shabby if you're walking a budget tightrope. And let's not forget the nectar of the gods – beers ranging from £4-5. Bruges: where food dreams come true, even for the cider-crawlers among us!

Umm…

If you're thinking about souvenirs, Belgium chocolates have a higher markup, expect prices from £5 for a box of 9 chocolates upwards.

The Smell On The Street Had Us Craving Waffles

Touchdown in Bruges, and our chariot of choice was the trusty bus, provided and ready for action. A mere half-hour later, we were on the brink of breakfast bliss. Now, normally, I'd engage in a heated debate with the kids about waffles masquerading as breakfast. But hey, when you're in the realm of "when in Rome Bruges," breakfast rules get a bit... wobbly. And as for the old adage, "what they don't know won't hurt them," well, it's the unofficial travel mantra, isn't it? So, we dived into our sweet-topped waffle dreams, kids included. Shhh, the breakfast purists need not know!

Who can resist waffles?

Certainly not me!

Festival Delight

In Bruges, a peculiar air surrounded us – seats lined sidewalks, and oddly dressed people filled the scene. New country charm, or was it holy attire? Little did we know, we hit the jackpot. Our visit coincided perfectly with the Procession of the Holy Blood – explaining those eccentric ensembles. Accidental planning for the win! Who knew our timing would lead us into a world of costumes and revelry?

Suddenly, those outlandish outfits made total sense – or at least some sense. We unintentionally stumbled into a world where normalcy takes a vacation, and costumes reign supreme. Who knew our accidental planning would have us rubbing shoulders with festival revelers and their mysterious get-ups? Read all about it here - it's like stepping into a parallel universe!

Discover Bruges by Water

You can take a tour around the canals often referred to as ‘Venice of the North’ settlements.

Lunchtime calls at the market square, where restaurants and cafes offer outdoor seating or a view of the canals. The buildings around the square seem plucked from a fairytale, fit for a princess. But that's just the tip of the enchantment iceberg – the entire city wears its history like a crown. The steep, Gothic architecture of the buildings narrates a tale of ages past, many of which are safeguarded as listed buildings, preserving Bruges' captivating history. It's like stepping into a storybook that refuses to fade.

Protected Buildings In Bruges

You can recognise them by keeping an eye out for the blue and white shields with Beschermd Monument at the bottom and are displayed on the building walls.

Uncover the Belfry Tower

Time for some retail therapy – because what's a Belgium trip without smuggling back some divine Belgian chocolate?

But hold up, my personal pick? The Belfry of Bruges – a towering 83 meters of awe-inspiring splendor. Think best-in-town views of Bruges that'll blow your socks off. Originally a humble market square, this tower sprouted in around 1240 and kept growing, thanks to a series of unfortunate events. Remember that movie ‘In Bruges’' with Colin Farrell? Yep, the Belfry was the stage for an epic fall you need to watch before you visit – trust me, it adds a whole new layer of entertainment. And when you descend, for the love of all things - use the stairs. That movie-inspired jump might be tempting but far less forgiving. It also contains a treasure chamber and some 47 rather loud silver bells which they do like to use, fair warning!

You can climb this tower for under 10 euros each, yes, climb, this isn’t for the faint-hearted the narrow, steep and spiral staircase (single file please) take you to the top. With a few pit stop rooms along the way. Did I mention how fun it was getting a few steps up or down and ducking back into the room I’d come from so others could get around. And if that hasn’t twisted your arm it’s UNESCO protected as well, pretty much got to visit now?

If you still have some time left at the end of the day relax and enjoy a Belgium beer at a local pub like the locals do – just watch out its strong!

I thoroughly enjoyed my mini-cruise to Bruges and partly because we accidentally planned it very well, check out my post on the Procession of the Holy Blood to find out more.

I fully recommend you visit the welcoming and beautiful city of Bruges.