A small city is constantly being named among Europe’s most walkable destinations, and it’s just an hour away from London. Bruges is the sixth-largest city in Belgium, with a population of just 118,000.
The city topped travel site Motel One’s list of the top 20 walkable cities in Europe, with a walking time of 30 minutes between 2.3 km. The site considered how many of the top attractions you would see along the way and how long it would take. In 2023, Bruges saw a whopping seven million tourists visit the city. One of the city’s most iconic landmarks is the Belfry of Bruges, a medieval bell tower located in the city centre.
This 83-metre-high tower, housing 47 bells, is one of the oldest examples of medieval urban and public architecture, earning it a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The city is home to a plethora of museums and offers tourists the chance to delve into its rich history spanning various eras.
The Gruuthuse Museum, with over 600 exhibits, vividly recreates the city’s Burgundian heyday, the ‘underexposed’ period during the 17th and 18th centuries, and the rediscovery of Bruges in the 19th century through stunning paintings, unique sculptures, and more.
Most visitors to Bruges are day trippers, and given the concentration of beautiful sites within the city centre, it’s possible to soak up much of the city’s charm in just a day. Travelling to Bruges takes just over an hour from UK airports and just over three hours on the Eurostar.
Reviewing their stay in Bruges, one person wrote on Tripadvisor: “My favourite thing about Bruges was the small fairytale feeling of the city. Even though I did crave more to do and see after a couple of days, it’s a lovely little place to just walk around and enjoy. If you’re planning a visit, a weekend is enough time to see the city.”
If you’re keen to venture further, explore Bruges’ woods and wetlands or enjoy a leisurely stroll along the coast. It even boasts its own sandy beaches, with a regular tram service ferrying visitors from one resort to another.
Winter is also the perfect time to visit Bruges; according to Christmas.co.uk, the Belgian city is one of Europe’s most picturesque and has beautiful Christmas markets. Explore around 150 market stalls as the city transforms the historic centre into a winter wonderland.