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.

With so many churches and galleries to visit in Bruges, the Diamantmuseum (Diamond Museum) offers…read moresomething out of the ordinary. The museum focuses on the history of the diamond trade in Bruges and its effects on the local and international economy. The museum is small enough that you can see the entire exhibition in only an hour or so, but you definitely leave with a greater appreciation for the gem stone industry and the work that goes into crafting each individual raw stone into a glittering gem. There are very few actual high quality diamonds on display (obviously you want to sell those), but there is a jewelry store attached to the museum if you want to find a nice gift to take home with you. Overall, a nice step out of the ordinary and a cool place to relax and learn about Bruges' past.

We had to wait to go inside. Its not because there was a long line, it was just no one was at the…read morefront to admit us in. I thought it would be interesting, but its a lot of reading just posted on the wall. This was just a tourist trap. I would skip this museum and the lamp and choco-story as well. Save your money and buy a hot chocolate from a restaurant instead.

When I visited the beautiful medieval city of Bruges, I joined a tour that included a visit to the…read moreChoco-Story Museum. We were taken to the chocolate classroom, where the chocolatier explained the chocolate-making process, the history of cacao, and demonstrated the actual process of making chocolate. We actually tried the chocolate right after the chocolatier made it, and it was incredibly delicious. After the class, we walked through the entire museum, which featured many chocolate artworks, free chocolate tastings, and a gift shop. I purchased a chocolate box as a gift and discovered many interesting chocolate products in the gift shop. I really enjoyed the museum experience, especially seeing the various chocolate artworks.

Tourist trap? Heck yes…read more I love chocolate though, so I have a bit of wiggle room to like this little museum. They have a location in Brussels as well, but I didn't go, so I don't know how they compare. They do have the same admissions fees though. Adults are 11 euros. I would have liked to try the workshops to make my own chocolate, but they were sold out on the day of. I definitely recommend booking that ahead of time! Admission comes with an audio guide that you scan on the numbers next to the exhibit and put next to your ear to hear. They have a ton of languages available. You also get a free piece of chocolate to enjoy. I thought they should have had rubbish bins so people can toss their plastic trash. There's about 3-4 stories of exhibits that teach you all about chocolate and how to make them. At the end, you get to try as much as you want of 4 different types of chocolate and watch the current chocolate-making class do their thing. You can watch a guy do a demonstration (timed) and get more free star-shaped pralines. (He made sure that everyone was ok with English first.) We even took a quiz at the end and scored 100%. HA! The museum ends at the gift shop of course. Worth a visit? I think so!

Illness (biliary colic). The staff generously offered pomme frites to my brother. He reported they…read morewere chewy and did not taste right. Such a durable texture and off-flavor suggests re-frying old fries (tough) in old oil (off taste). 4 hours later he suffered 7.5 out of 10 biliary colic. We were all worried for his health. He pulled through. Moral of the Frietmuseum: Don't eat their fries.

Fun and kind of funky museum about the history of fries and potatoes. It has a lot of memorabilia…read morefrom different countries that we can all relate to and fun. The history of the potato is very important in the development of the world. It fueled many countries and provided low cost and nutrition to many who could work in the Industrial Revolution and it continues to be a vital staple today.