Often referred to as the ‘Venice of the North” Bruges is a city dating back to medieval times. The old city centre retains much of this medieval feel up to this day. Bruges has a population of around 120000, with about 45000 of these people living in the old centre.

Bruges is a popular destination for day trips from Brussels, but many people are beginning to notice that the rich history of Bruges means there is too much to see and do in one day. Bruges is filled with many beautiful “old-world” hotels, making it the perfect destination for a short break.

Whilst in Bruges, there are many attractions for the holidaying tourist. A cruise down the canal’s will help you understand why Bruges is referred to as the Venice of the North, as you see gabled houses, stone arch bridges and the many church spires that dot the city.

On a Saturday morning you can head down to the Market Square to catch the lights reflecting on the 13th Century belfry.

You can also climb up to hear and watch the bells chime. A short walk through the cobblestone alleys will bring you to the Church of Our Lady. This is famous as being home to Michelangelo’s Madonna.

As well as wandering the streets of Bruges, it is a short journey to Flanders, the beaches at Zeebrugge, which is also home to the Maritime Theme Park. Also within a short distance from Bruges you can find the University city of Leuven, who’s Baroque architecture has led to it becoming listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bruges is hard to travel around by car because of its narrow streets. As such it is best to travel from Brussels to Bruges by train. The Eurostar network offers a short break package to Bruges. They can bundle your transport with a hotel to offer you the best holiday packages available.