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Venice is full!
Or at least that’s what we hear from their tourism office, which is introducing several programs reduce overtourismincluding entrance fees to the city.
So where could you go instead? I suggest Bruges!
Bruges, in Belgium, has just been declared the best European city to visit by train. But it offers so much more than just convenient transport links.
It’s a beautiful one, affordableand underrated city.
Here’s why you should visit.
Why visit Bruges?
Bruges is so beautiful that it is Historic center has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Honestly, if you like old-fashioned European architecture, there are few better places to be!
The skyline here is dominated by a 13th-century tower, the Belfry of Bruges (a medieval bell tower), and there are also several medieval buildings present.
If you really want to immerse yourself in the culture here, visit the Groeninge Museum. This is an art gallery that focuses on the works of Belgian masters, and tickets cost 15 euros ($) each.
But the most important reason to visit Bruges? Are incredible canals. There is a reason why Bruges is called the ‘Venice of the North’, and this is it!
I admit you can’t take that photogenic gondola ride in Bruges, but you can take a boat ride along the canals and they are just as beautiful. With swans floating along the canal next to you, this is the best way to do that see the city from a unique angle.
You can book a tour at Boattour Brugge, with each tour taking about half an hour.
These are small boat trips, allowing you to pass under some of the city’s most beautiful bridges. This will costs only 15 euros ($16.71) per person.
Want to explore the canals of Bruges on foot? The Groenerei (the ‘green canal’) is considered the city’s most romantic canal and is lined with elegant 17th-century mansions and mansions.
Transport to Bruges
I’ve already mentioned that Bruges is considered the best city in Europe to visit by train, but that’s not much use if you’re traveling from the US!
The good news is that there are non-stop flights from the US to Brussels, the Belgian capital, and from here you can take the train to Bruges.
You can fly directly to Brussels from New York, Washington DC and Chicago.
Fly from New York with Delta Air Lines from November 8 to November 15 costs $594. You can fly the same route on the same dates with United for $620.
This route has a flight time of 7 hours and 20 minutes there and 8 hours and 45 minutes return.
What happens when you land in Brussels? Well, take the express train from Brussels to Bruges only 53 minutesAnd costs 34 euros ($37.83) for a single ticket.
There is a slower train, which takes just over 2 hours, but I recommend looking at the fast train option when booking your tickets.
Eating in Bruges
I’m a self-confessed foodie, so I couldn’t finish an article about Bruges without talking about the city’s food.
From the pale beer to the Belgian fries (best served with mussels in a dish known as Moules frites) and of course the chocolate, Bruges is the perfect place to eat. And it doesn’t have to be luxurious to be delicious!
If you’re not a particularly adventurous eater, you’ll be happy to discover that foods that are popular internationally are also a big hit in Belgium. On most menus you will find items such as hamburgers and spaghetti bolognaise.
Try Poules Moules if you want to enjoy the best moules frites in town: officially the best mussels I’ve ever eatenand the service here is exceptional too.
If you have a sweet tooth, you will be interested to know that Bruges has its own official chocolate.
This is known as the Bruges swan (Brugsch Swaentje) and it makes a great souvenir, if you don’t eat it all straight away of course!
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
