Travelled back in time at Bruges (Dutch: Brugge) and it was love at first sight. Checked into our hotel and we were given this huge key, like those castle key that you see in cartoons. The elevator in our hotel was an antique one, similar to the ones in Titanic, where you'll have to manually close the cast iron of the elevator door! 

The view from our hotel room was even prettier. I was hypnotised by the medieval buildings separated by cobblestone streets and canals, salvaging every quiet moment of dusk through our hotel window (Dusk was at 10pm during summer! See first picture). Next morning, we were awaken by the smell of ham, toast and butter coupled with the ring of bells from Belfry Tower. Everything was so magical and picturesque here.

So, if you are travelling to Amsterdam, a 2-3 hours train ride to Bruges thereafter is worth it!

1. Following the recommended route on a tourist map. This World Heritage Site of UNESCO ain't that big compared to many others, but yet so much charm. However, googling up the top tourist spots / most photographed spots will land you back at almost the same places. These places are reachable by foot. Just get lost in this quaint town, you'll love it.

2. Mussels at Brasserie Mozarthuys. Mussels were good here! It can be slightly pricey, but Bruges ain't cheap when it comes to food. Definitely the better ones compared to many other restaurants around Belgium.

3. Climb 366 steps to the top of Belfry Tower for a panaromic view. Steps are steep, but it's all worth it. Confession - my motivation to climb up these steps were partly because of "Hunchback of Notre Dame". I was curious if the top of the bell tower was the same as those in the cartoon. Not as animated of course, but it was still beautiful. It was the ring of these bells that woke me up that morning, too surreal.

4. Beer at Brouwerij De Halve Maan. Skipped the brewery tour since we have just visited the Heineken experience at Amsterdam. The seating area outdoor was nice, a great place to chill out while enjoying the house brewed beer. But, the place can be pretty packed, so don't expect the best of service at times.

5. Chocolate truffles. Belgium is all about beer, chocolates and waffles! There weren't many waffles in sight as compared to Brussels, but chocolate truffles! Shops do give free samples for you to try out, but it's so good that you'll definitely not leave the shop empty handed.