Bruges City Guide

I had such a lovely few days in Bruges that I thought i'd put together a little city guide. I love finding out about places people went during their travels. I've got a photo dairy coming later this week.

I'm going to put my hands up and say many of these suggestions were given to me by the wonderful Hannah. There's hardly anywhere in the world that girl hasn't been. If you're ever jetting away, be sure to drop her an email!

Soup
This is a lovely little place just off the main square that only sells soup. Hence the name. For around 7 euros you get a hearty bowl of soup, half a panini, a small tub of grated cheese, a small tub of croutons and a piece of fruit. Absolute bargain! This was the perfect meal to help warm our cockles after wandering around in the cold. We left with very full bellies!

The Windmills
Bruges is very small and after a while you run out of things to do. Hannah had informed me the Windmills had a somewhat romantic air about them so I dragged my boyfriend on a walk. Armed with a map, we navigated the cobbled streets and finally ended up in the location. Despite the drizzle, it was a lovely way to see the city and i'd fully recommend seeking them out. There's a cracking quaint pub next to them too which is worth a visit.

Contrast B&B
I found our B&B on the Guardian's website after being determined to seek out somewhere a little quirkier than the bog standard hotel. This was a complete gem! We were immediately welcomed in by one of the enthusiastic owners Cathy and it really set the standard for the rest of our stay. They were so helpful and the breakfast spread they put on each morning was amazing. I gorged my face on homemade bread, croissants, freshly squeezed orange juice, scrambled egg with lashings of ham and cheese. I would wholly recommend anyone visiting the city to seek out this place! Opt for a garden room as they're so cool!

The Habit
We were in search for some delicious local food and came across this on Trip Adviser. They've never let us down before so we took the plunge. It was worth the risk! The portions were absolutely massive and in hindsight we really didn't need the starter. I chose 'Old Fashion Meatballs' and picked a winner. They came out the size of my fist with oodles of chips and a thick gravy. I struggled to finish it all much to my dismay. It did get fairly busy so i'd recommend you get there earlier or book a table.

't Poatersgat
Hannah had previously described this pub as her favourite in Bruges so I knew we had to check it out.  It's so easy to miss so make sure you keep your eyes out for small wooden monk doors - they lead to an basement. Once inside it's very cosy and has such a good atmosphere filled with locals and tourists. They have a darts board and table football if you fancy getting competitive! The beer is reasonably priced and they have a good selection. The cherry beer gets a thumbs up from me!

Belfry of Bruges
No trip to the city is complete without a trip up to the famous bell tower. Be prepared for over 300 steps! It's worth it as the view is incredible. It's only around 6 euros to get in and you can stop on different floors to read all about the history. We went during the week at around 11am and it was absolutely fine but I should imagine it gets rammed at the weekends so go as early as possible.

't Brugs Beertje
This place sells over 400 different types of beer - amazing! It's like sitting in someone's living room and it does get fairly busy but it has a fast turnaround. Stick it out and you'll get a table in no time. They do table service which is fab and have various bar snacks on offer if you get a bit peckish. It's next door to The Habit so kill two birds with one stone!