It’s hard to walk down a street in Bruges without seeing some kind of chocolate shop along the way. They really do love their chocolate in this medieval city. As tasty as it is though, it’s not all about chocolate in Bruges – there are a range of more unusual things to do in the city that provide an insight into the city, and without the added calories!

Belfry Tower

from keith.bellvay

For anyone in the city wanting to get as far away from chocolate as possible, you can’t get much further away than at the top of the Belfry Tower. Located in the centre of the city, climbing the 366 steps to the top of the 83-metre high medieval bell tower is not for the faint-hearted, but the views from the summit are extraordinary – and from there, you probably won’t be able to smell even a hint of chocolate at all!

The Friet Museum

Who needs chocolate when you can have fries? Although Bruges is famous for its chocolate, many people don’t know that the city is also the home of the good old chip! Many of us love nothing more than tucking into a bag of chips on a Friday or Saturday night, so if you’d like to know all about the history of the humble fry (and who wouldn’t?), the Friet Museum is certainly the place to be.

Beaver Tour

Perhaps the last thing a visitor would expect to see on a trip to Bruges is a beaver, but there are various tours around the city dedicated to this cute furry animal. Located along the watery areas of the city, tourists can catch a glimpse of these beavers in their natural environment, while a tour guide will provide information about everything you could ever wish to know about them – and possibly some things you didn’t!

Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival

Every year between November and January, Bruges hosts the Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival. You’ll have to wrap up warm for this annual event that celebrates some of the most famous movies including Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings – all made out of snow and ice. Consisting of around 400 tonnes of snow and 300 tonnes of ice, the detail on these creations is simply amazing.

Bicycle Bar

In a country that’s renowned for its beer, it’s only natural that Bruges would have some kind of beer-related activity available. For anyone with a love of both beer and cycling, the Bicycle Bar is perfect as you’ll get to combine the two! Complete with its very own bartender, riders will be able to sit around the edge of this unique vehicle with pedals meaning you can explore some of the city’s most famous sites, whilst enjoying an ice cold beer or two.

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