Bruges By Night

Dorine at Bruges by Night made our time in Bruges wonderful. She marked places to see and eat on a map when she introduced us to the city. Our room was quiet and comfortable, and breakfast was incredible, with eggs, breads, cheese, fruit jams, coffee or tea, and more. We took a piece of fruit along in our packs each day as a snack while exploring. She also had bicycles for us, so we rode around town and even went to nearby Damme one afternoon. We had so much fun and felt like locals. We highly recommend Bruges and Bruges by Night.

Bruges, or Brugge in Dutch, has the storybook feel of a medieval town, with cobbled lanes, dreamy canals, market squares, tall towers, old churches and rows of whitewashed almshouses. It's one of Europe's best-preserved cities. The magic comes with crowds in the medieval center during the busy summer months. Staying a night or two lets you see the city beautifully lit after dark, which day visitors miss. A midweek trip can also help avoid weekend crowds. Spring brings daffodils to the quiet courtyard of the historic begijnhof, while in winter outside Christmas the town can feel nearly empty, though it's icy.

Dorine was so friendly and helpful. The bed was huge and comfortable, and the bathroom spotless. It's a short walk into town, with a Carrefour conveniently around the corner. There's also a great local pub on the corner.

The breakfast was amazing, honestly worth charging more for. Our host gave us a lovely welcome and helpful advice about where to visit, and the room was superb.