A Magical 24-Hour Adventure in Bruges, Belgium
Bruges, often dubbed the “Venice of the North,” is a city that radiates charm and history at every corner and, quite honestly, surprised me! Now, I’m going to be straight with you—it wasn’t a place we specifically planned to visit. It was a stop on our second Disney Cruise aboard the Disney Dream.
We were fortunate enough to experience this medieval gem. After docking at the port in Zeebrugge, we made the short 30-minute journey to the heart of Bruges and embarked on a whirlwind 24-hour adventure that, quite honestly, left us blown away.
Our day began with excitement as we disembarked from the Disney Dream. The port of Zeebrugge greeted us with crisp air and no clear expectations of what lay ahead. After a scenic 30-minute transfer, during which our tour guide shared insights about the train lines connecting the port to the city, we found ourselves stepping onto the cobbled streets of Bruges—a city that, at first glance, felt as though it had been plucked from the pages of a storybook. With less than 24 hours to explore, we set off to experience as much of Bruges as possible—and I have to say, we were not disappointed!
Bruges Canals, Belgium
Our tour guide on the coach suggested, as we stepped off the coach, that one of the best ways to soak in the beauty of Bruges is by gliding along its historic canals—a true journey through history.
We hopped on a canal tour and were immediately captivated by the stunning architecture lining the waterways. Our daughter kept trying to dip her hand in the water, and after many attempts to stop her, we found ourselves in awe of the mesmerizing reflections of medieval buildings on the surface. Our guide shared fascinating details about the city’s rich history as we passed iconic landmarks. From ancient bridges to Gothic structures, we snapped countless photos while repeatedly telling our daughter “no,” as she insisted the water was a giant swimming pool.
We then finished the canal tour, which lasted approximately 60 minutes. Every street we walked down tempted us with two of Belgium’s most famous treats: Belgian waffles and Belgian chocolate. As soon as we found a shop selling them (just two minutes after getting off the canal tour), we sat down to enjoy a freshly made waffle topped with strawberries and whipped cream
The waffles were perfectly crisp on the outside, light on the inside, and an absolute treat for all of us! Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, we wandered into one of Bruges’ renowned chocolate shops to bring some of that sweetness home with us.
After all that deliciousness, we weren’t sure what to do next, so I asked the owner of the chocolate shop for a recommendation. He suggested the Belfry of Bruges (Belfort Tower). At the time, I had no idea what this was, and I’m pretty sure the shop owner didn’t realize we had a toddler. Nevertheless, we decided to check it out. This 83-meter-high medieval bell tower dominates the Bruges skyline and offers a breathtaking view of the city for those brave enough to climb its 366 steps. However, there’s no lift—or if there was, we couldn’t find it—so yes, I had to carry our daughter up all 366 steps because she gave up after just 25!
We made the climb after around 15 minutes with multiple stops, and while it was quite a challenge—an understatement, really—the panoramic view of Bruges from the top made it all worthwhile and gave us a moment to catch our breath and I couldn’t feel my legs!.
By late afternoon, we were all starting to feel a bit tired, so we took a slow walk back to the meeting area to board the coach returning to our ship.
On the slow walk back, we stopped in some shops to pick up some souvenirs and discovered what the locals call the Lake of Love (Minnewater). As we strolled through the nearby park, the serene lake came into view, with graceful swans gliding across its surface. By the way, I’ve never seen so many swans—hundreds! It was peaceful, scenic, and the perfect place to relax and take in the beauty of nature.
Lake of Love in Bruges, Belgium.
Is Bruges worth a visit? Absolutely! Is it worth visiting with children? Absolutely! If you plan ahead of time. Upon returning from Bruges, we found numerous attractions online that would have been more suitable for kids. But since Bruges was just a stop on our cruise, we made the most of it and had an absolutely amazing time—and so can you!
