Part of our Belgium guide.
Bruges offers a compact medieval core of cobblestone streets and winding canals, while Dinant delivers cliff-top fortifications and saxophone history. These two Belgian towns each pack distinct experiences into a small area.
Related travel guides: Hidden Gems In Belgium, Hidden Brews Of Belgium's Trappist Abbeys, How To Spend 24 Hours In Ghent, Belgium, Belgian Culture And Traditions In Belgium, and The Beautiful German Town Of Bacharach.
Things To Do In Bruges: A Medieval Town In Belgium (Top Tips)
Bruges, a city in northwest Belgium, is called the 'Venice of the North' for its canals and medieval architecture. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, its compact size makes it easy to explore by foot. Walk the cobblestone streets past gabled houses and over arched bridges that cross the winding canals. The Markt square holds the Belfry tower, which you can climb for views over the red-brick rooftops. Along the canals, boat tours glide past former guild houses and the Begijnhof, a tranquil white-walled convent from the 13th century. For chocolate, sample pralines at shops like The Chocolate Line or Dumon. The city also hosts the Groeningemuseum, displaying Flemish Primitive paintings from Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling. If you want to see more of the region, our the best things to do in Antwerp, Belgium covers another major city. Bruges draws millions of tourists annually, so visit early morning or off-season to avoid crowds on the narrow streets.
Top Things To Do In Dinant (Belgium Travel Guide)
Dinant sits on the Meuse River beneath a sheer cliff topped by the Citadel. This is the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, and the town celebrates that legacy. Start at the Maison de la Pataphonie, a museum dedicated to the saxophone and its inventor, housed in a historic building near the river. Then take the cable car or climb the 408 steps up to the Citadel, which dates from the 19th century and offers views over the valley and the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame below. That church, with its distinctive onion-shaped dome, was rebuilt after a landslide in the 18th century and holds a treasury of religious art. Back on the river, boat rides along the Meuse let you see the cliffside from the water. For a deeper look at the area, you can also explore the best things to do in Antwerp, Belgium for a different Belgian city experience. Dinant also produces the spicy gingerbread-like cookie called couque de Dinant, sold in local bakeries. The town's position in the Ardennes makes it a base for hiking and kayaking on the Lesse River, though those activities require a short drive south.
