The basilica was tucked away in a corner of this plaza hemmed in on one side by City Hall and the…read moreother side by the Basilica of St. Basil. I was able to enter the Basilica before mass and had the opportunity to explore both chapels. Upstairs was the ornate and richly painted chapel with a beautiful wooden ceiling. Downstairs the chapel was quite stark and a bit dark. Quite a contrast between the two different styles. The relic containing the cloth with the blood of Christ was located on a platform overseen by a sitting priest. One queued at the bottom while the person ahead spent time looking at the container. I suggest starting here before exploring the rest of the basilica in case of lines.

Tucked away in the corner of the square laid the church that has a sample cloth of Jesus' blood…read more The church had many wooden pieces and relics. Wonderful place to sit and reflect.

The Markt Square in Bruges is the central heart of the city. Cobblestone streets are throughout the…read moresquare and it's surrounded by stunning architecture. Here you will see the Belfry of Bruges. A prominent bell tower that you can climb for panoramic views of the city. In the square there are Beautiful historic buildings with plenty of restaurants and outdoor cafes. It's a lively and picturesque place to explore.

The entire historical city centre is a World Heritage City. Markt is the central square of Bruges…read more The Belfry (medieval bell tower) located here is also an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The colorful old Guild Houses are another point of interest. When we visited, the Christmas Market was being set up. It would've been a great experience if only we came a few days later.

I used my Brugge Museum Pass (purchased online and most cost effective when visiting 3 or more…read moremuseums/activities in 72 hours) and had the QR code scanned for admittance. If you have any backpacks or bags then you must store them in the free lockers due to the tight confines on the staircase. The climb was up 366 steps that first started with stone but later turned into narrower wooden steps making a tight staircase with two way traffic. If timed correctly then you may see and hear the carillon in action for a few minutes. That was the highlight of my visit but there are scheduled carillon "concerts" to enjoy when in Brugge. The views were nice as could be on that cloudy morning. Wire screens on all opening impacted some photos but one can capture most of the city. On the way down I took my time and finally stopped to view the exhibits on the bells, drum (programming for ringing the bells), carillon, the tower history, etc. Before exiting the staff will rescan your ticket. There was a small gift shop after the turnstiles.

I told myself that I am going to the top of Belfort even if it kills me…read more This is the center of Bruges. U just have to do this if u r here. From the outside looks like a medieval castle but it is a bell tower built in the 13th century, actually Bruges is a medieval city. It has 366 steps but felt like 1,000. Going up my heart felt like it was going to explode, on the way down does not affect ur cardio but hard on the knees. There is a thick rope on the right side to hold on too. Right of way goes to people going down. There are three levels u can take a break. One rest has the mechanical carillon which controls the music box, I was fortunate to be there when it was activated. This was physically brutal but I felt like I accomplished something big. I am physically strong however I realize I need to work on my cardio. Additionally, there was a Christmas Market in front of Belfort as well as others within walking distance. So much delicious food at the Christmas Markets. Belgian waffles are delicious, but they don't put syrup on them, they uses strawberries and bananas, powdered sugar or nutella. Hot wine is a thing, probably because it is about 40 degrees. The streets and businesses have lights and Christmas decorations, so festive. There was a celebrity chef Kurt Mortier there making delicious bratwurst, the line was long, he was very friendly, sausages are a big deal here. My favorite food discovery was chicken in mushroom cream sauce, where has this dish been all my life? This is the Christmas magic I felt as a child. There is a Santa Claus.

This city hall was over 600 years old and in open for public visits…read more Most of the first floor was freely accessible. A small gift shop and ticket counter was to the left after entering. After paying admission or scanning the Brugge Museum Card, all backpacks or large bags had to be stored in the free lockers behind the ticket desk before heading to the second floor. The main attraction was the Gothic room which was very ornate with epic paintings of Brugge history that wrapped around all four walls. Worth following along with the explanation placards (available at the entrance). A side room contained a VR map that traced the evolution of Brugge over time. Headphones needed to be set to your preferred language by the staff. After seeing the gothic room then head next door to the Renaissance Room (if it's open) or to the Basilica of the Holy Blood.

City Hall from 1376 in the Burg Square next to the Markt. There were benches & some greenery in…read morethis square. This is where locals get permits & licenses today. The beautiful square was filled with restaurants & shops.

Bruges is just an amazingly impressive old town. Even though big in size at first glance, it's very…read moreeasy to walk and to get around. Most of it is pretty flat, so also suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. Just be aware that some cobbled streets might make it a bit more difficult It's hard to describe what to see and what to do. Your options are endless and one day will not be enough. Just to see to historic center takes more than a day. And that's without visiting museums or taking a little river/canal cruise. Maybe plan the big must-do's. And after that ... or during ... it's just fun to stroll around and get lost in the streets and lanes of Bruges. Some of the sights you really should check out: - Belfort Tower - Markt / Marktplatz - Brugse Vrije - Stadhuis Brugge - Basiliek van het Heilig Bloed - De Burg Square - Huidenvettersplein - Nepomucenusbrug - Meebrug - Sint-Salvatorskathedraal - Bonifazius Bridge - Zuidzandstraat - Dijver - Rozenhoedkaai - Steenstraat - Sint-Amandsstraat And that's just to cover the biggest and most famous sights and streets. Belgian Waffles and chocolate. Give them a try. Surely a must-do. We sampled some. But sadly weren't convinced much. Nothing beats Swiss chocolate. An amazing old town. We really enjoyed it. One of the most pretty historic old towns we know. And we've seen many. Bruges. Really a place you must see at least once in your life. We love it and will be back one day.

Built in 1910 this bridge looks much older than it is because of the style of architecture. If you…read moreare walking south of the old Burg square towards the Church of our Lady, walk along the Djiver Canal. You will cross between Arentshof and Gruuthuse. Sitting on top of the bridge maybe one of the most pictureque views of Brugge. Seek it out when it's not crowded. It is one of the most tranquil places in the city with the cathedral as your backdrop and the canal below you.

This "Lovers Bridge" is picturesque, romantic and definitely worth searching out. Set near the…read moreGroeningmuseum and Church of Our lady it is a photographer's dream as it sits over a canal. Try to get there around dusk or early in the morning as the daytime brings lovers to not just steal a kiss but that perfect selfie or photo. Try to linger if you can and you can feel yourself delving back into a more romantic time. Despite the many people trying to get their selfies, it is not hokey at all but a true gem of a view and spot to sit and listen to the quiet of the canal once the tour boats have stopped speeding by. Romatically lit by the moon and little else, a sense of calm and detachment from the world will come over you as you ponder how lucky you are to be there with your significant other.

It was a neat experience to see this windmill and how it operates. You can visit it for €5. The…read moresteps are steep to enter and exit so proceed with caution. It was built in 1770 and is still in operation grinding flour.

Unless you're a massive massive history buff and/or the nerdiest mechanical engineer ever, my…read morehearty recommendation goes toward looking, but not touching the Sint-Janshuismolen windmill. (Honestly, I think this rule that one should apply liberally to much of what one encounters throughout life.) From afar, you'll have a lovely view of this imposing, historical monument from the days of yore, when it was actually a marvel of human ingenuity to devise such a contraption that could turn grain into flour without extreme manual labour. If you fancy looking at its inner workings, it'll cost you a mere €2. Unless you have an undying urge to do it, don't bother. As someone who's all about supporting the efforts of others in keeping museums like this available and operating for the public, I really can't offer a compelling reason to step inside (perhaps aside from the view). The most exhilarating aspect of this structure is the climb up the massive (and steep) stairs/ladder to the entryway, where you can view some of the history related to the windmills of Brugge. The entry fee gives you access to an extra ~100 square feet, mostly made up of wooden beams and massive gears. Save your change for some frites or ice cream instead.

This was one of the most interesting former hospital that I've visited to date. St John's Hospital…read morewas 500+ years old and restored to showcase its history as a hospital previously run by nuns but also housed one of the largest collection works by Hans Memling. This artist was hired to create art that could soothe the patients and paint St. Ursula's Shrine when her remains were originally interred here. Inside the relatively darkened hospital were displays on hospital instruments, historical patient mortality and top causes, its history, the nuns and more. A separate area housed all of Hans Memling paintings. It was the largest collection in one place and I found it to be Impressive. Inside the old chapel was his small but very detailed St Ursula's shrine. Very handy charging stations were located in lobby and inside the museum. Upstairs allowed visitors to see the cavernous attic which in the past helped circulate the air within the hospital. In addition, the Closer to Memling Experience took up one end with a bunch of couches and floor seating to watch the big screen showing of close ups and some animation of Memling's paintings. Very well done. Admission was included with the Musea Bruge Pass but also worth visiting on its own.

Saint John's Hospital is one of the oldest hospitals in Europe, dating back to the mid 12th…read morecentury. It is being renovated & we couldn't go inside. However, I understand there was one medieval ward, a church and the chapel. Next door, the hospital pharmacy and the Diksmuide attic, boasting one of Europe's oldest and most monumental roof support structures.