Travel Guide to Bruges｜A Half-Day Fairy Tale Adventure

"Bruges is the city of fairy tales." Stepping into the old town of Bruges feels like traveling back to medieval Europe. Red-brick houses, bell towers, and stone bridges reflect on the water, creating postcard-perfect scenes that are all real. 🚄 Itinerary｜Half-Day in Ghent + Half-Day in Bruges Morning: Take a train to Ghent and explore the city on foot. Noon: Take a train to Bruges (about 30 minutes). Afternoon: Stroll through Bruges' old town, enjoy waffles and desserts, shop for souvenirs and beer. Evening: Take a train back to Brussels. Although the schedule is tight, both cities are compact, and with the right walking pace, you can leisurely enjoy their unique charms. 🏰 Why is Bruges considered Belgium's most romantic city? Because its beauty is simply magical. Almost the entire old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with canals, cobblestone streets, ancient monasteries, and colorful buildings. Every corner feels like stepping into a fairy tale. 📍Must-Visit Attractions: ✅ Market Square (Markt): The bustling heart of Bruges, featuring colorful gabled houses and horse-drawn carriages, exuding a fairy-tale vibe. ✅ Belfry of Bruges: You can pay to climb to the top for a panoramic view of the city (but expect long queues, so arrive early). ✅ Bruges Canal District: Known as the "Venice of the North," walking or boating along the canals is incredibly poetic. ✅ Chocolate Street: A whole street filled with artisanal chocolate shops—a paradise for dessert lovers! 🧇 My Half-Day Experience in Bruges｜Sweet Treats and Beer Galore🍺 📍 Christmas Market I visited in early January, and the Christmas atmosphere was still lingering. The Christmas market is highly recommended (it’s like a night market with lots of affordable snacks!). 📍 Waffles & Desserts You can’t visit Belgium without trying freshly baked waffles! We went to the chain store Chez Albert, where the waffles were crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and smelled heavenly. We tried two flavors: chocolate sauce and whipped cream. They were incredibly sweet, so if you’re not into sweet treats, I’d recommend sticking to the plain version🤌🏻~ Afterward, we explored several dessert and chocolate shops, some of which offered free samples🥹. Perfect for buying as souvenirs to take home! 📍 Award-Winning Beer🍺 We stumbled upon an amazing Belgian beer at the 2be shop brewery store in Bruges: a set of eight bottles, each a gold medal winner. The staff enthusiastically recommended it, and we ended up buying the whole set (and lugging it all the way back to Brussels😂🤣)! The flavors ranged from refreshing white beer to rich dark beer. It was the most aromatic beer I’ve ever had🍻😭 (I haven’t found anything as good since returning to Taiwan…). 📝 Tips: ⚠️ While Bruges' tourist hotspots are concentrated, it gets very crowded, especially during peak seasons (spring/summer holidays, Christmas markets). Be patient when taking photos or buying food. 👟 Wear comfortable shoes. The old town streets are cobblestone, and walking for long periods can be tiring. 🛍 Chocolates and beer make great souvenirs, so prepare extra luggage space and strength for carrying them🤩💪🏻. 💬 Conclusion｜Bruges is like a glowing fairy-tale town. Even a short half-day visit is enough to leave a lasting impression. The sound of horse hooves on cobblestones, the sunset reflecting on the canals, the aroma of desserts, and the laughter in the taverns… It all feels like a poem written for travelers. Some places don’t require much time to leave a deep mark on your memory. Bruges is one of those cities.