If you’re based in the UK then the beautiful fairytale city of Brugge is only a couple of hours from you by train. This makes it the perfect place to explore for a day or two and it gives you just enough time to fall in love with the city. Nestled in the North of Belgium, Brugge can honestly make all of your fairytale dreams come true, from the beautiful buildings to the quaint streets lined with waffle houses and chocolate shops (there’s more than 73 across the city!). If you're looking to discover somewhere new but you're a little short on time you can easily see the best of the city in just 24 hours.

We spent just over 24 hours in the city and found plenty to do without feeling as though we were rushing around or had missed anything off our list. What to know how to spend 24 hours in Brugge? Here you go!

Getting there

Taking the Eurostar from London (or Ebbsfleet or Ashford if they’re closer to you) means you can be in Brussels in under 2 hours and then easily catch a connecting train to Brugge. Your Eurostar ticket will include the cost of your connecting train, it takes a little under and hour and they’re fairly regular, running every 20-30 minutes throughout the day from Brussels-Midi/Zuid (the station has two names, it caused us so much confusion).

I haven’t travelled by Eurostar for years but I'm a total convert and now only want to travel to Belgium and France by train. Its quick, comfortable and you get considerably more legroom than you do on a flight. Cost wise it actually worked out cheaper too (approx £90 for a return each) and the on-board WiFi means you can have a productive journey if you so wish. Or you can binge watch Modern Family, whatever you prefer!

Where to stay

There are countless hotels, hostels and Air BnB's across the city so really you’re spoilt for choice. It is far from the cheapest city in Europe but I found the most beautiful B&B about 5 minutes from the market square and honestly we couldn’t fault it. The staff were lovely, service was excellent and in all honesty we didn’t want to leave. It’s given us all of the home decor inspiration and the gorgeous living/dining area have us a welcome spot to relax in after an afternoon of exploring and before heading out to dinner. The Champagne breakfast was included and set us up nicely for the day (and was a lovely way to celebrate the birthday that we were there for).

What to do

There is plenty to do in Brugge, whether you're there to eat, shop, learn or a combination of the three. Just wandering around the streets and taking in the beauty of the city is a lovely way to spend a few hours. There are so many gorgeous shops that we spent a little time just popping in here and there and relaxing.

One of the best things that we did was take a half hour boat tour along the canals (€10 each). We got to see so much of the city from a different perspective and our guide, who gave the tour in English, French and German, dropped in facts and pointed out the key buildings of the city. It was a little chilly so wrap up warm, especially if you're going in the autumn or winter, and pack a waterproof if it’s due to rain as the boats aren’t covered (and we learnt this this hard way…).

Wandering around the market square on Wednesday morning was a lovely detour and had we been there for a couple of nights we could heave easily stocked up on the essentials there. Cheese lovers beware, the choice is overwhelming and had it not been for the fact I'd have to take it back on the train I think I would have had to try at least a little bit. The fruit, veg and flower stalls were amazing and again, it was only the train journey and limited space that put me off buying the most beautiful bouquets.

The Belfry is also in the market Square so if you want a panoramic view of the city this is the place to go. Wait times can be up to 45-60 minutes so unfortunately we didn’t get the chance to do this, but had we arrived earlier we would have been fine. Its 366 steps up so the perfect way to build up an appetite for all of the waffles when you get back down.

Eating and drinking

We only had 3 meals in the city as breakfast was included with our room. The Brugge Die Scone restaurant overlooking the canal and that view of Brugge was our first spot. Was it the best meal we’ve ever had? No. But the food and beer were good, the atmosphere was great, the view was stunning and I couldn't fault the staff. Yes you pay a little more for the view but in a city where eating out is expensive anyway, it’s better than looking at a wall.

We also stopped by That's Toast for a light lunch. The concept is easy, lots of different things on toast. Yes, it’s a little gimmicky but the food is good, there's a good number of allergen-free options (including egg, nuts and gluten) and I had one of the best chai teas ever.

You’ve got to sample the local food when you’re in Brugge. A lot of the main meals were meat based and as two veggies we obviously didn’t try these. But boy did we sample the fries, chocolates and waffles. Wherever you go you can easily pick these up for a few euros. When it comes to the chocolates I'd reccomend shopping around for a good deal and checking out all of your options because there are so many. From unusual truffles to your classic bars there is more chocolate than you could imagine and every store smells incredible. It's more a case of “what can you carry home?” than “is there anything I'll fancy?”.

When to visit

The start of October suited us perfectly. The city has started to turn a beautiful shade of orange and feel really cosy but its still warm enough to walk around all day and even sit outside for a meal. When the Christmas markets start I'm sure the city becomes even more magical and I think it's a city made for walking around with a warm waffle and mug of glugwein.

Brugge stole our hearts and was entirely charming. Everyone we met was friendly, the food was great and there was the perfect amount to do. Whether you’re going as a group or on your own I'd feel perfectly safe in the city. Plus with the mix of languages spoken in Belgium you're likely to find someone who speaks your language whether that’s English, French, German or Dutch.