Belgium
The railway station in Bruges is 2km from the city centre. If your bags are heavy or walking is a problem, save money on taxi fares by taking any bus from outside the station with the heading 'Centrum'.
The fare is 1.5 Euros and the driver will almost certainly speak English so ask to be alerted to get off at the ‘Markt’. You will alight at the most beautiful square in the city and hotels, bars and restaurants are plentiful. Most usefully you will be only a few yards from the Tourist Information Bureau.
I think the best way to see the historical city of Bruges is on an open-top canal boat. Daily between March and mid November 10am to 6pm. Take a jumper or jacket as it can get chilly even on a sunny day!
Travel early in the season, when it is crowd-free and not too hot to walk miles in this most beautiful and relaxing of cities. When you can't walk anymore, take a horse drawn buggy ride, or boat trip along the canals.
You can hire a bike cheaply from the station at Bruges, so you can see a lot more of the city very easily.
My top tip though, would be don't carry your shopping on the handle-bars, get your carrier bag tangled up in your front wheel and spread the contents of your bag all over the road!
Cyclists do get priority over other road users, but not that much!
Tickets to Bruges (or anywhere else in Belgium) can be bought cheaply at UK train stations. As long as you are prepared to take local trains and the ferry.
My wife and I bought train tickets that went from Lond to Dover, crossed to Zeebrugge and the by local train to Bruges. Yes, slightly longer, but we enjoyed this old-fashioned travel.
Take your bicycle! Bruges is lovely and flat to cycle round and the railway station has a massive bike rack!
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