http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27358
The horse drawn carriage ride sounds a bit tacky but its great fun, about €35 for a 30-minute ride, the Bruges people are very forward about asking for tips! Look for special offers in the museums.

We stayed at the Boat hotel de Barge, great quirky place, the bedrooms were surprisingly spacious, and very clean and airy with views over the canal. Bird watchers delight, with Barnacle Geese tapping on the windows as you breakfast, from the canal they can see what you are eating! Great fun and good value all round.

I was most impressed by the hotel booking information provided by the online booking agent and easy navigation of the whole site. We booked with Just one hotel who have a website dedicated to Bruges.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27358 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16033
Cycle along quiet tree-lined canals and stop in Damme for a coffee or lunch. Then continue along more traffic-free tree-lined canals, popping into the odd village along the way.

Bike hire is very reasonable at about 15 euros for the day.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16033 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16008 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16008 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14675
Take a trip on the canals and a horse & carriage ride. Visit the lace making shops to witness the results of a near-miraculous craft.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14675 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14635
School's out and existential crisis for the RAC - the irrelevant car.

Stately matrons trundle through the market, bells ring furiously at chocolate-hunting pedestrians on the Wollenstraat bridge. Time to worship in the temple of homemade rolls and cakes, Het Dagelijks Brood [The Daily Bread].

Lose the calories first? Just follow the Sluis Canal to the open sea at Zeebrugge on your hired bike. Did I mention the train?]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14635 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14602 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14602 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14572 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14572 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14535
All residents of Bruges must be married in a civil ceremony conducted in the city hall in the Grand Place. There may be a religious blessing after.

Find a bench or low wall and watch the wedding parties arriving at the city hall by horse drawn vehicles, cars, buses or, accompanied by the rustle of fine wedding ensembles, on foot.

Check on the list of wedding times posted on a wall under the archway of the city hall in case you should hit a slack time.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14535 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14529
Just don't go during school Battlefield trip season - else the chocs and chips will all have disappeared.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14529 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14527
Enjoy an one and a half hour canal trip for approximately 5 Euros, and see the sights of Bruges from the water.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14527 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14524
The guides seem really informed and friendly. The best time to go is late afternoon when the crowds have dispersed. And don’t worry about the welfare of the horses either, they only work one or two days a week and are well looked after in the meantime.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14524 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14520 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14520 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14517
It is a fabulous little tea room with delicious cakes and chocolate taster plates from Sukerbuyc Chocolatiere, and you can buy more chocolates to take away at the Sukerbuyc Chocolatiere shop opposite when you've finished.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14517