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Bruges is a quiet storm of a town: tranquil on the surface, yet fascinatingly compelling. Located in Flanders, Belgium, not far from the North Sea, Bruges is best known for its romantic setting on a series of canals.
Of course, Venice is Europe’s premier city of canals. But Bruges, though it has its share of tourists, is much quieter, more peaceful, cleaner, and more geared toward adults. You tend to see more couples and fewer families in Bruges than you do in Venice.
If you’re coming off a whirlwind tour of Europe, Bruges is a perfect place to catch your breath. Spend a day or two relaxing, eating, and strolling around this beautiful city.
those houses look so cute – also really nice pictures kate!
Thanks so much, Nathan!
i’m probably not the first one to tell you, but if you happen to be in Belgium again, visit Ghent in stead of artificial bruges 😉
you’ll like it 🙂 and there’ smore to party too 🙂
I’d love to visit Ghent, Jeronimo! I hear the nightlife is awesome. If we had had more time, I definitely would have visited both Ghent and Antwerp!
Beautiful pictures – how did you get the city to look so empty? 😉 Bruges is such a nice town, quiet, relaxed, not many tourists, great cafes & restaurants.
That’s funny — I don’t know! It was an evening in June and my sister and I were strolling around town. I have no idea why it was so quiet out!
Gorgeous!!!!!!!
Bruges is the definition of “picturesque.” Everything about it is absolutely gorgeous. Have you seen the movie “In Bruges?” It offers the gorgeous sights of Bruges but with Colin Farrell’s Irish thug sarcastic musings on Bruges. I’d really recommend watching the film!
Second person to ask me that today! Yep, I’ve seen it. Great film.
That looks awesome. Although I can’t help about the smell.. They say Venice isn’t the best place for your nose, is it also applicable to Bruges?…
Oh, Bruges smells MUCH better than Venice! Part of it is that Bruges isn’t on the ocean, and part of it is that it’s so much cleaner. Bruges is as pristine as it looks.
Love the pics of Bruges. Thanks for posting. Brought back memories of my trip to another great canal-filled city, Amsterdam.
Ah so beautiful. I spent a weekend in Bruges with girlfriends before moving to China last year, your photos bring back so many memories of our canal boat ride around the canals. Thank you for the memories :). Really enjoying your blog, I just found it! You remind me of me leaving everything behind to go travelling.
BlogaBannie
I’ve just got back from a long weekend in Bruges, and it is a fantastic city. Things might have changed a bit since you were there as I thought it was the busiest place I’ve ever been (even more so than Venice and Dubrovnik!)
Interesting, Richard. Would love to return and compare it to back then!
Bruges is the prettiest town in Europe and it beats Venice all hands down
It has better accommodation, much better food,awesome, best beer and way more picturesque.
We were there for a week and can’t wait to go back
Hello Kate!
I saw you visited Belgium. Did you enjoy your trip to Belgium?
Did you taste our Belgian chocolate and French fries?
You only visited Bruges, isn’t it? Would you like to come back to visit Ghent and Brussels?
Why did you choose to travel alone? Did you miss your family?
Thanks for this nice blog!
Kind regards
This was a long time ago. 🙂 I went with my sister, visited Brussels and Bruges, and had both chocolate and frites! Great country and would love to go back.