-
• #6
Yep, go to Ghent, much less tourists (esp Yanks) and half the price, much more chilled out, good student town and just as pretty.
-
This x 1000
Bruges is nice and very pretty, but a bit too touristy. I don't have much advice on there as we left after a few hours but
There's a lovely cycle ride that can easily be done in a day from Gent to Oostende via Bruges, all along canal paths, completely flat and all off road. Along the Canal Ghent Bruges then the Canal Bruges Oostende, but might be too much to do it return in one day.
Oostende is great fun too and well worth a visit, it's where Marvin Gaye really got in to junk and has a connection across the north sea with Northern Soul so it's got some really interesting bits
Club Reserva in Gent is a great place to get pissed and the museum in the basement of Plum Cycle shop in Gent is well worth a look, as is SMAK museum and the Herbert Foundation if you're into the modern Arts.
-
In Bruges there is a restaurant called Der Vlaamsche Pot, go there for the Flemish Beef Stew and sink a 1L beer while you're at it. So damn good!
Edit: an there's more! I'll have a look through my maps/notes/photos to give you a good rundown of what I did in Bruges. I do recall a few good lunch spots...and a few not so good ones.
-
Ok to follow up, here's what I did. Bear in mind I went to Bruges to just relax and unwind between contracts rather than do touristy things.
-Der Vlaamsche Pot (mentioned above)
-Bike hire is rather cheap, especially if you are staying at a hotel which provides discount vouchers. I got a geared city bike for 24h (they let you keep it overnight) for 9euro. Bike theft is non-existant for cheap city bikes, and they come with the wheel lock so you can lock it somewhere quiet outside your hotel overnight. Get one of these and do the Bruges lap around the city on the hard gravel...windmills and canals etc. Maybe even do the Oostende trip (I went there by train) as it's quite nice and quiet there too.
-There's a bagel shop which does decent bagels, called Sanseveria Bagelsalon make sure you stop by for a quick bite.
-Go up the tower, just cos and it's in the movie.
-Cambrinus is the name of the pub with quite the beer selection. That being said, a better Cambrinus is found in Brussells with an even better selection and better atmosphere.
-If the hotel you're staying at has vouchers on a little carousel, take the time to look through it, they're quite decent value. Also hotels have partnerships and recommendations for various restaurants that can get you a good discount.
-Farmers markets and other markets in the Great Square...I forget what day it is, Wednesday I think
-Just ride around and look at everything, it's pretty tranquil and fun exploring all the little laneways
-I didn't do any of the touristy/museum things, so unfortunately you're left with trip advisor there.Anyway, I'm sure you'll enjoy it, as other's have said it's fairly easy to grab a train to other places for a day trip! Here's some photos :D
Top of the tower, farmer's markets are down below in the square:
Windmill ride:
Flemish beef stew, get the Tripel with it:
Oostende (I went there on a weekday, and it was earily quiet):
-
Another nice ride is along the cycle path to Sluis, which is partly a really odd town, over the border in Holland. The centre is really tacky, but has some nice bits around the edges. You may be there in time to see the Storks which nest on large platforms on poles around the town (to stop them nesting on the roof tops). You might see them in the fields on your way.
There are some bars on the way too. You follow the canals most of the way and you may find some really poignant memorials to the many small battles that were fought here in 2nd world war, the canal was a major barrier to the german advance, and the many bridge crossing were hard fought.
The old part of Bruges is fascinating, but it only takes a short while to see it all all, and the remainder isn't very distinctive, but it is pretty expensive. Go out to the edge of town to eat! -
Bruges / Ghent / Antwerp are all fab cities.
for history / cycling / culture..
the food is always good and biers are like champagne.Finally, when you are there. Don't be afraid to ask locals whats best to see / do. Flandrians love the Brits, and often go out of their way to help.
have fun and enjoy this amazing country.
-
Be aware that Tour of Flanders starts from Bruges on Easter Sunday this year.
I'll be there again actually. If you want to wave the riders off, you'll need to be in the main square (where the tower pictured above is) at around 8.30am. Don't worry, all the bars will be open already.Last year we went to a great place for food that was down a backstreet and basically in someone's living room. I can't remember the name of it though so I'll try and dig it out.
-
Make sure you let us know how you go and what you find! When I'm back in Europe I plan on blitzing through Belgium again!
-
Bumping this coz I'm in Bruges just now.
Been to the Sanseveria Bagelsalon, would totally recommend it. If not for the delicious bagels then just for the comments book and blackboard ceiling in the lavvy!
Don't bother with Cambrinus, the service is shite, it's full of tourists and every Belgian bar offers a selection of beers that puts anything the UK has to offer to shame anyway. The bar in behind the '2be' shop has better prices, much friendlier staff and a beer garden overlooking the canal plus a wash hand basin made from a fish tank. You need to see it to understand!
There's a 'pita house' just along from Cambrinus that I would recommend though. Lots of veggie (and maybe vegan?) options and the lamb pita I got was amazing. Very busy though so maybe book.
-
Yeah, tbh now I think about it I wasn't too impressed with Cambrinus either.
Oh god I could do with a bagel right now though.
-
Yeah we went to Cambrinus for one drink, got treated like shit and left. Would not recommend.
This was the best place we visited: http://www.brugsbeertje.be/index_en.htm the staff are lovely, their beer cheese was excellent and the encyclopedia of beer to flick through was ace!
-
%~}
hippy
Backsplash
fredtc
Philip_J_Fry
adroit
almac68
szeliaxe
M_V-
Post a reply
About
Bruges
Posted by
@Cazakstan
I am planning on going to Bruges on Eurostar for 4 nights over Easter.
It'll just be two of us, can I pick your brainz for accommodation/ sight seeing/ bars/ food recos please!