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Bruges, Belgium
Bruges feels like stepping into a Flemish painting. The entire historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its intimate scale means you can walk from one end to the other in twenty minutes. The Markt square, dominated by the 83-meter Belfry tower, is the city's beating heart. From there, wander to the Burg square with its ornate Gothic city hall, then follow the canals to the serene Begijnhof, a 13th-century community of whitewashed houses around a quiet courtyard. Bruges is famous for chocolate, beer, and lace — and shops dedicated to each line the pedestrian streets. The Groeningemuseum houses masterpieces by Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling. Beyond the tourist core, the Sint-Anna quarter offers a quieter, equally charming side of the city.
explore by interest
Bruges is tiny — resist the urge to take a horse carriage and walk instead, as the best discoveries are down side streets too narrow for carriages.
April through June offers mild weather and blooming gardens before the summer tourist rush fills the narrow medieval streets.