Zeebrugge

Zeebrugge is a commercial port on the Belgian coast, and on its own there is not much to see. The reason ships stop here is Bruges, which is about 15 kilometres inland and reachable by shuttle bus, taxi, or the coastal tram to Blankenberge followed by a train. Bruges is a medieval town with canals, Gothic churches, a belfry with a 366-step climb, and cobblestone squares lined with guild houses. The Markt, the central square, has horse-drawn carriage rides and café terraces. Belgian chocolate shops and waffle stands appear on nearly every block. The Church of Our Lady has a marble Madonna and Child by Michelangelo, one of the few of his sculptures outside Italy. Beer is serious business in Bruges, with the De Halve Maan brewery offering tours and tastings in the city centre. Belgian frites (fries), served in a paper cone with mayonnaise, are a reliable street snack. The currency is the euro.