When Belgians party, they don’t go to bed much before sunrise. Most of the nightlife in Bruges tends to revolve around drinking rather than dancing. Large nightclubs for some serious clubbing are a little thin on the ground in Bruges, but nearby Antwerp and Ghent are full of them.

For a quieter evening, T’Zand’s state-of-the-art Concertgebouw concert hall, near the railway station, has a varied programme of musical events, ranging from classical music to rock and pop concerts. For more information contact (00 32 (0)50 476 999) or visit www.concertgebouw.be

Eierarkt Square, near the Markt, is a pleasant place to stroll in the evening, or to enjoy a beer or a coffee in one of the many cafes, and indulge in a spot of people watching.

Plenty of bars can be found towards Kuipersstraat, Vlamingstraat or T’Zand. For local beer, locate De Garre (De Garre 1) or the Cactus Café (St Jakobstraat 36A), which has a huge beer selection.

Bars

't Brugs Beertje - lively bar with over 300 beers on offer. The walls are covered with beer posters from all over the world. Kemelstraat 5. (00 32 (0) 50 33 96 16).

De garre - a welcoming bar set in a 16th-century house with cosy brick walls and wooden beams; it has an enormous selection of Belgian beers. De Garre 1. (00 32 (0) 50 34 10 29).

Celtic Ireland on Burg Square, also doubles up as a restaurant.
The Top on Salvatorskerhof St and De Versteende Nacht on Langestraat are also really popular.

De Versteende nacht - the walls are festooned with jazz posters and cartoons, and there is jazz on Wednesday nights. Langestraat 11. (00 32 (0) 50 34 32 93).

Clubs

Kant - a super-stylish club, with white and silver décor, and all the best floor sounds played by the DJs. The extensive champagne list may stretch your budget but Belgian beers and wines are a much more affordable option. Kraanplein 6. (00 32 (0) 50 34353).