Visit Bruges, Belgium
Bruges is best treated as a place to wander rather than a checklist with a canal attached. Give yourself enough time to leave the Market Square, cross a few bridges and choose the smaller streets that do not have a queue outside them. The canals, the Begijnhof, the old almshouses and the city's museums make a genuinely good long weekend, especially if you resist trying to do every postcard view before lunch. Start with the centre, then give the day a shape: a canal trip or walk, one proper museum or historic site, and time to stop somewhere because it looks worth stopping. The Belfry is a classic if you want the climb and the view; the Church of Our Lady, Groeninge Museum and Gruuthuse Museum all offer a different reason to slow down. Bruges is compact, but cobbles and crowds can make it feel larger than the map suggests, so sensible shoes are not a glamorous recommendation but they are the right one. A visit counts when you have spent enough time in Bruges to come away with more than a photograph of a canal and an expensive bag of chocolate. Stay overnight if you can, especially in busier months, and check current opening times before building a day around a particular museum, boat trip or tower climb. The official Visit Bruges guide is the best place to start with current sights and practical information.