Janepie33 Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 Just watched the film 'In Bruge' in preparation for our trip there on Monday. Bit of a violent film! Was hoping for beer and chocolate!! Any advice from previous visits greatly appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 I have been to Bruges twice. It's really nice but very tourist driven. We made the mistake of going to restaurants that front onto the the main squares, the food is fine but incredibly overpriced. We saw lots of fine restaurants in side streets which we should have used. I couldn't figure out what language to use so spoke a mix of French, English & German, which seemed to work. I loved the boat trips along the canal, and visited the convent. Lots of cobbled streets, coffee shops with amazing pastries, and shops full of lacey stuff. Loved the farmers market and the beer and chocolate shops. If you are happy to accept that it is a honeypot for the locals and go along with being conned a bit then you'll enjoy it. I was very happy there. We also did a trip on a small boat on a canal to a village which was expensive but nice. Bought a beer and sat wrapped up against the cold just looking at countryside and river. Nothing fantastic, but just nice to relax. I think you'll love it, only problem was finding supermarkets to buy wine, snacks etc. If you are driving stock up in hypermarkets in Calais etc before travelling into Belgium. Jealous, have a great time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 Oh..I'm very jealous....I haven't been to Bruges yet..but it's definitely on my list... my best friend has just returned from a four day trip to Bruges and they loved every bit of it..(but it is a bit pricey for food....) Enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickpea Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 Go to the De Halve Maan brewery - Straffe Hendrik is a beautiful beer! Spent a happy afternoon there after the tour getting slightly sozzled with my father! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 would love to go to bruges, my friend asked for suggestions and I put that one forward and she said it was beautiful. In Bruges is a fab film, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 I went to Bruges a few years ago with my Mum, we had a great time there. I agree with the advice to stay away from the restaurants fronting onto the squares - overpriced and not very special. We found a great little bistro near to our hotel, I can't for the life of me remember what it was called, but it was in a little side street right by Sint Salvator cathedral. It was packed with locals, reasonably priced and the food was superb. Ask at your hotel for restaurant recommendations for places where the locals eat. There's loads of things to do in Bruges, museums galore, chocolate shops, places to stop and have a coffee or a beer, you'll have a great time! The city is small too, which is great as you can walk everywhere. We also used the buses as my Mum had terrible arthritis at the time and couldn't walk very far, the bus drivers were so helpful, telling us where we needed to get off the buses and they all spoke great English. I think the locals speak Flemish which is very similar to German and Dutch. Apparently French is a bit of a no-no in that part of Belgium, but everyone spoke brilliant English so it wan't an issue for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenp Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 Have been twice and loved it, first in the summer & second in winter with the ice-rink in the main square. Agree about avoiding the main square for meals, we found a fondue house just off the main square which was amazing, you certainly leave full, meat fondue was great (pre-veggie days). Also a restaurant near where they hold the market that does mules marinare which were to die for. A coffee shop called Au lait did amazing mulled wine & cakes!! Take a boat tour on the canals as it gives a different view and if the market is on go as there are wonderful gifts and food to be found. The beer is also great!! Agree about stopping at the hypermarket on the way back & stocking up on wine etc.. Have a great time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 It's lovely, a mini Vienice, took my boys a couple of years ago, we did a boat tour and a horse ride. Lots of lovely shops, it is touristy though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janepie33 Posted October 22, 2011 Author Share Posted October 22, 2011 Thanks for the tips everyone. We are really looking forward to the trip. We are going on Eurostar and a friend told me that the food is really expensive on the train so I plan to stock up at M&S before we go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 Sounds fab! Eurostar to Bruges is so easy, the change of trains at Brussels is very straightforward. Good plan to stock up on M&S sandwiches before you board the train Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
