Brugges
 

Taking a one day train trip from Paris. Looking for recommendations for a tour or guide.

There's that much to see, if you're there for a day I'd consider taking the 90-minute walk in the Eyewitness Guide (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brussels-Bru...8292910&sr=8-1), a short (30-min) tour along the canal (which isn't especially educational, but is a wonderful way to see some of the most impressive buildings) and spend the rest of the day ambling around.

A day isn't very long here - although it's very small, there are several museums and plenty of streets to walk along. And don't miss the Moules!

Don't eat or drink on the market square, it's a rip-off.
PM if you need suggestions.

It's extremely expensive, yes - but then you're paying for the location which ain't bad after all! We ate at the Golden Mermaid on our first night after a late arrival. The service was excellent and the food very good too. About €200-odd for four of us, but that was par for the course the whole time we were there. Brugges is very expensive indeed.

We ate at Quick Burger one evening and enjoyed the same location at a fraction of the price you paid.

There are some lovely places in Brugge for decent cuisine worth paying for, but it seemed to me that The Golden Mermaid was not one of them.

It's been YEARS since I've had a Quick Burger and my husband was a Quick virgin. We relished the experience on its own terms and enjoyed the view just as much as anyone who paid 50Euros a head for their meal.

For our 'real' meals we went elsewhere and enjoyed them amongst Flemish speaking clientele. Prices were similar to what we'd pay for the same quality in London (i.e. 3 course meal with musselens 'al fresco' in a charming square that isn't Markt for around 13Euros).

Spend the entire trip at Dumon chocolatier!!!

And bring me some back!!!

Oh, and it's Brugge, or Bruges, but not Brugges.

Off topic, but did you know that you can get Quick burgers in Spain now? :D (At least in Barcelona...)

Take a horse drawn carriage ride from Market Square, well worth it. We videod the ride with an excellent commentary by the carriage driver.

Some amazing beer glasses for the collector, if you have a large enough bag!! ;)

OT
 

Now that LapInfant's arrival is imminent there's going to be a lot more visits back to see the family, but I can't imagine making it to Barcelona for a long, long time.

I do hope that Quick Burger fares better in Spain than they did in England. I remember when they opened in London. And then how quickly the quality of the burgers deteriorated afterwards. It didn't last too long.

Ah well, the flipside is that (and in a rather desperate attempt to bring this back on topic), thanks to my recent visit to Brugge, I discovered the Belgian chain "Le Pain Quotidien" and that it has branches within St Pancras Station and also next to the hospital in Hampstead where I seem to be going to 2 or 3 times a week lately.
Who knew that in my quest for value drinks and breakfast whilst staying at the CP Brugge I'd stumble on such a wonderful and convenient source for good bread (stone baked baguettes for £1.50) for home and wickedly good sandwiches to supplement the hospital rations.

I am so glad I went to Brugge!