AT A GLANCE The beautiful city of Bruges is fondly known as the Venice of the North due to its many canals.

The Belgian city has retained much of its medieval charm making it a wonderful place to visit on a city break at any time of year, offering a huge variety of attractions and things to do. WHEN TO GO Bruges is a fantastic city break destination whether travelling as a couple or with the family. Summer is the main tourist season and temperatures are warm, but if you want to brave the chillier weather and escape the crowds, winter is a magical time to visit. The city becomes a winter wonderland with picturesque Christmas markets and sparkling lights everywhere you look. Weather Spring: The climate is becoming warmer and the city is overflowing with beautiful Belgian flora Summer: Temperatures can reach as high as 26 during July and August making it an excellent time to stay Autumn: A romantic and mysterious time to visit as temperatures begin to drop and leaves start to fall Winter: The winter climate is at its chilliest in January and February so wrap up warm whilst wandering around the Christmas markets

Image: Bruges Snow by Tanya Hart

THINGS TO DO The great thing about Bruges is that many of the citys main attractions are within walking distance in the city centre. With various museums from art to chocolate, as well as a tranquil and picturesque canal system, tourists are able to discover this beautiful city at their own pace. Traditional Belgian bars can be found dotted around the city, while day trips to other big cities in the country are just a short train ride away.

Attractions Belfry of Bruges: Standing in the centre of the city, this historic bell tower is one of the most iconic landmarks in Bruges. Groeningemuseum: Home to six centuries of Flemish and Belgian art with paintings from various Renaissance, Baroque, Realistic and Neo-classical styles. Sint-Salvator Cathedral: The main cathedral in the city that also houses a variety of works of art and a superb organ. Choco-Story: A fun museum dedicated to everything you need to know about chocolate from its early history to health benefits. Rozenhoedkaai: One of the most picturesque areas of Bruges (perfect for a stunning photo opportunity) with the attractive view of the canal and Belfry Tower. The Kruispoort: Also known as the Gate of the Holy Cross, this is one of the citys gates dating back to the early 15th century. The Provinciaal Hof: Located on Markt Square, this gothicstyle building is the government HQ. The Groenerei: Meaning the green canal, this is the most romantic canal in Bruges, lined with trees, 17th century mansions and the cathedral tower. Church of our Lady: Dating as far back as the 13th century, the 122 metre-high tower of this magnificent church is the tallest structure in the city. Nightlife It may not be the wildest city in the world with nightclubs being few and far between, but there is still a lively night scene around Bruges. The huge selection of pubs along the citys maze of narrow streets is hard to beat, meaning there are plenty of places to sit in cosy surroundings sipping on a pint or two of traditional Belgian beer.

Blekerstraat: Has a range of traditional old pubs to try a variety of Belgian beers Breidelstraat: Home to a cluster of trendier places in the south of the city Eiermarkt: A younger clientele are attracted to the many bars here Langestraat: The student area of the city that offers a more vibrant atmosphere t Zand: A small square with several live music venues and bars

Day Trips From Bruges: If youre planning on visiting Bruges for a few days dont just stay in the city. You may want to consider one of the many day trips available to see even more of Belgium. Discover beaches in Knokke or museums and zoos in Antwerp for a memorable day out. Knokke: This seaside resort in the north east of the country is famous for its beaches making it the perfect place to spend a day in the summer. The town also has an impressive dike system, as well as a variety of restaurants and shops. Travel Time: 20 minutes

Brussels: The countrys capital is well worth visiting and anyone travelling on the Eurostar will pass through the city on their way to and from Bruges. Wander around the Grand Place, take a look in some of the citys museums (from chocolate to comic strips) or marvel at the iconic Atomium. Travel Time: 1 hour

Antwerp: For a range of museums such as the Royal Museum of Fine Arts and the Plantin-Moretus Museum, you cant go wrong with a trip to Antwerp. The city is also home to one of the oldest zoos in the world, as well as various churches and cathedrals. Travel Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Ghent: As the largest city of the East Flanders province, Ghent is a busy part of the country with a port and university. The city is home to impressive medieval buildings such as Saint Bavo Cathedral and various museums of art, while around two million people visit the Ghent festival every July. Travel Time: 30 minutes
Images: Belfry Tower by keith.bellvay on Flickr / The Kruispoort by Taco Witte / Sint-Salvator Cathedral by David Huang / Knokke Beach by David van der Mark / Grand Place, Brussels by Christopher John SSF / Museum in Antwerp by Rick Ligthelm / Saint Bavo Cathedral, Ghent by Reinout van Rees

SHOPPING From huge department stores and pretty boutiques to some of the most exciting markets in Europe, Bruges is sure to meet all your shopping needs. Many famous brands can be found for anyone looking to update their wardrobe, while the Christmas markets are always a breathtaking sight and a hotchpotch of colour and smells.

Shopping Areas: Steenstraat: A busy shopping street with famous clothing stores such as Zara and Mango Katelijnestraat: A dream for chocoholics, this street is home to various chocolate shops including Sukerbuyc - One of the citys oldest confectioners Geldmuntstraat: Another popular street featuring upmarket shops and boutiques Markets: Wednesday Market: Every Wednesday from 8am to 1pm, the Grote Markt sells everything from handmade goods to local produce Christmas Market: A festive and joyful atmosphere can be found here with the wide variety of stalls, an ice rink in the centre and lots of tasty food and drink to warm you up FOOD & DRINK Part of the fun of any trip to Bruges is experiencing some of the Belgian cuisine in the city, which tends to have French and Flemish influences. Food may be quite expensive but a big steaming pot of mussels served with French fries and mayonnaise is a real treat. Of course no visit to Bruges is complete without sampling some traditional Belgian chocolate that can be found throughout the city. Good quality wine is a nice accompaniment to any meal but the national drink of the country is, without a doubt, beer. Popular Bruges Restaurants: De Karmeliet: A restaurant with three Michelin stars serving a variety of seafood and meat Bistro du Phare: Situated by the canal with a huge choice of meat, fish, salads and pasta Restaurant Couvert: Contemporary cuisine in a 17th century building with a warm, cosy atmosphere Chagall: A relaxed seafood restaurant where mussels and chips is a favourite dish
Image: Mussels, Chips and Beer by Colin Cameron

CULTURE & ETIQUETTE Belgium residents are often pretty laid back but its important to remember to dress and act respectively when visiting cathedrals and churches. Handshakes are common when meeting a man for the first time, along with three kisses on alternating cheeks when interacting with a woman. Its always handy to learn a few phrases before you go to really impress the locals. Useful Phrases Hello / Good Morning - Hallo / Goedemorgen Could I have the bill, please? - Mag ik afrekenen, alstublieft? Do you speak English? - Spreek je Engels? or spreekt u Engels?

Dos and Donts DO be careful of your personal belongings around the main tourist areas DONT wander around alone at night away from the city centre DO pack a pair of comfortable shoes to wear when walking along the quaint cobbled streets DO try the traditional dishes in the city such as moules frites (mussels and French fries) or sample a pint of the local beer, Brugse Zot DO shop around for the best quality chocolate shops as these are definitely worth paying a little bit extra for DONT get your languages confused. The main language in Bruges is Flemish (or Dutch), while just an hour away in Brussels, around 80% of people speak French

Tipping The standard service charge in most restaurants is 16%, but if youve experienced good service, its common to leave a few extra euros for the waiter. When service is not included, 10% of the total bill is a reasonable amount to give. When travelling by taxi, simply round up the fare to the nearest euro. TRANSPORT The compact, historic district of Bruges means that its easily accessible on foot. The two central squares, Markt and the Burg are easy to get to and many of the main tourist attractions can be found in the city centre. Traffic in the city has been reduced in recent years so Bruges is a great city for walking. Bikes are also available to rent for the whole day if you want to travel at a faster pace. Getting Around Buses: A small bus network covers most destinations around Bruges stopping at locations such as Markt, Biekorf and t Zand Cycling: Various places to rent bikes can be found around the city including Hallestraat and Stationsplein Taxi: Find taxis at the Stationsplein and the Markt or ask your hotel if they can book one for you Train: Bruges train station is about 1.5km south of the city centre with trains to Brussels every 30 minutes

Fare Information Bus: A single ticket bought from De Lijns information office costs 1.20 or 1.50 on the bus, while a day ticket (dagpas) is 5 or (6 on the bus). A 10-journey lijnkaart (network card) costs 8 or 10 on the bus. Cycle: The average cost of hiring a bike is about 4 an hour.
Image: Bus in Bruges by Timitrius on Flickr

HEALTH & SAFETY British Embassy in Belgium - UK in Belgium Emergency numbers Police: 101 Ambulance & Fire: 100 General Emergencies: 112 TOP FIVE BRUGES BLOG ARTICLES 1. Hidden Bars in Bruges - Jaunting with the Kerr Sisters 2. Chocoholics Guide to Bruges - Urban Travel Blog 3. 10 Things to do "In Bruges" - Flipkey 4. Beautiful Bruges - Journey Tom 5. A Romantic Weekend in Bruges - Travel with a Mate