A stunning walkable European city adorned with quaint canals is similar to a mini-Amsterdam and the best part is that Brits can get there by train.
In Bruges, a medieval city in Belgium, the stunning Flemish architecture lines the beautiful canals which you can sit back and take in while enjoying a good waffle or two.
One hidden gem canal is the charming Augustine Canal, home to the Augustine Bridge, one of the oldest in the city.
Excavated in the 12th century, the name of the canal refers to the Augustinian monastery, which has now disappeared.
The Groenerei is one of the most romantic canals in Bruges, this quiet, tree-lined canal is the perfect spot for a heavenly stroll by the water.
Surrounded by beautiful greenery and a large number of medieval buildings, this canal is located near the city centre.
Built between 1896 and 1907 to connect Bruges with the North Sea, Brugge-Zeebrugge Canal is often called the city’s most important canal.
It is also one of the busiest canals in Bruges, as it’s actively used in trade and shipping.
With its bobbing boats, the Coupure Canal is a taste of the South of France in the city centre, in summer you can swim here, while in winter the boats are lit up in sparkly Christmas lights.
The city, which is the capital of West Flanders in the northwest of the country, attracted more than 8.3 million tourists to its charming cobbled streets last year, though the population is less than 120,000.
It’s easy to see why Bruges is one of the most walkable cities because it’s reasonably small, all major attractions there are easily explored on foot and there’s a wealth of beauty and culture at every turn.
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.
And one of the best things about this city is that it is so easy to get too with the journey by train taking just three and a half hours.
You can take a direct Eurostar train from London St Pancras International, located in London King’s Cross, to Brussels and change onto a local SNCB train to complete your journey to Bruges.