Bruges Day trips from Brussels

Bruges grew rich in the Middle Ages as a hub of trade between the Mediterranean, the Baltic and England, with close ties to the Hanseatic League; a bourse opened here in 1309 that is probably the first stock exchange in the world. Its historic centre, listed by UNESCO in 2000, is among the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. The Markt is dominated by the 13th-century Belfry and its 47-bell carillon, and on the Burg the Basilica of the Holy Blood keeps a relic brought back after the Second Crusade.

The Church of Our Lady holds Michelangelo's Madonna and Child, and the Groeninge Museum displays Early Netherlandish painting, including works by Jan van Eyck. The city's canals have earned it the name 'Venice of the North', and it remains known for bobbin lace.

Most trips leave Brussels by coach with a guide who explains the history along the way. Some stop first in the medieval village of Damme, others add a canal cruise or a visit to a chocolatier, and several combine Bruges with Ghent, where St Bavo's Cathedral, the Belfry and the medieval harbour await.