Here’s our suggestion for a two day visit:

Day 1

Start your day early with a visit to the Markt, the city’s main square, before the tour parties arrive. Well worth it, if you’re feeling up to it, is a climb up the 366 steps of the belfry for a fabulous view of the city. Enjoy a coffee in the square, then head for the Chocolate Story Museum on Sint-Jansplein to discover all you need to know about chocolate!

Time for a spot of lunch, then make your way to Wollestraat to the canal for a half-hour boat-trip. The queues can be long but they generally move quickly. Then make your way through the antique and flea markets on the banks of the Dijver canal towards Walplein where you may find some live music or a jazz band.

Continue walking south to Minnewater, the Lake of Love. It’s a romantic spot with its swans and weeping willows. Cross the widening canal at the gunpowder tower and face north for one of the best views in Bruges. In the afternoon, take some time to stroll around the shops for gifts.

In the evening, start at the Burg, Bruges's other big square. Cross the canal on Blezelstraat, passing the giant colonnades of the fish market, and turn into Huidenvettersplein where a cluster of restaurants line the banks. If it's warm enough to sit outside, this is the perfect place to indulge in a spot of people-watching. Then if you fancy a nightcap, head east to where Predikherenstraat meets Hoogstraat. There you'll find De Versteende Nacht, an ambient jazz bar. Bruges doesn't have great nightlife but the pubs do stay open till the small hours.

Day 2

Hire bicycles and head north along the canal path that runs parallel to Kruisvest. Pass the four windmills and then follow signs for Damme, a quaint little village easily reachable in half an hour. If you continue past the main square to Kerkstraat, you can find some restaurants with beer gardens through the back for lunch or drinks. If you head back to Bruges early afternoon, you can fit in a visit to a museum. The Groeninge on Dijver has a superb collection of Flemish art dating back to the 15th century. Then in the evening, round off your trip with dinner out in a nice restaurant.