Bruges – The New City of My Heart

Bruges or Brugge in Belgium has honestly (ok maybe, or quite nearly) overtaken Rome as the city of my heart. However, it is very different and much smaller in size than Rome. For me, Brugge is the quaintest, most beautiful and seemingly perfect place on earth.

But with this perfection comes pretty high prices in terms of accommodation and eating out. So if you are travelling to this city on a budget take note! Believe you me, this destination is well worth the expenses you will incur. So don’t let the prices put you off (I’ll talk more about reasonably priced restaurants and things to do in the post that follows).

Brugge is stunningly Disneylandish – its charming, colourful buildings, narrow  little streets and greenery surrounding the canals makes for a breathtaking experience unlike any other. There is very little to fault here.

The city has more of a town-like, countryside feel to it (without the tourists of course). It has an old world charm with its many horse and carts, cobbled streets and overall medieval appeal. This is particularly true if you walk towards the outer ring of the city to the many greener, more tranquil spots.

And yes, there are tourists – even during the height of winter! As with many popular cities in Europe, I would not want to visit in the summer and endure the crowds and the heat. I found it particularly pleasant to visit during the so-called off-peak season. It is so much nicer to visit museums and galleries (which are aplenty) when the weather is a bit cooler in any event.

What I really loved about Bruges in Belgium are the many boutique chocolate and tea stores with a welcoming, alluring scent and tastings to boot.

All-in-all, if you dream of a magical world, inspiration for hundreds of fairy tales, horses and carts and utter beauty and luxuriousness all around, look no further than Brugge. This is a city that has moved me immensely and I am positive it will conjure in you equal feelings.