Bruges

Stepping into Bruges felt like walking directly onto the canvas of a 15th-century Flemish oil painting. I checked into the Relais & Châteaux Hotel Heritage, a 19th-century classical mansion tucked just steps from the Markt square, where champagne and fresh Belgian chocolate truffles were waiting in my suite.

My morning began at the Rozenhoedkaai (Quay of the Rosary), the most iconic and photographed view in Belgium. The still canal reflected the medieval gabled brick buildings and the towering Belfry of Bruges, while weeping willows dipped their branches into the mist-covered water. We hopped onto a wooden canal boat (€12) for a thirty-minute cruise, gliding beneath low stone bridges and past quiet swan sanctuaries at the Minnewater (Lake of Love).

In the afternoon, we embarked on a private artisan chocolate and beer tasting tour. We visited master chocolatier Dominique Persoone at The Chocolate Line, sampling innovative pralines filled with yuzu, passion fruit, and salted caramel (€18 for a bespoke box). Next, we toured the historic De Halve Maan brewery, learning about their famous underground beer pipeline and sipping a freshly tapped, unfiltered Brugse Zot blond beer on the rooftop terrace with panoramic city views.

As twilight wrapped the city in a soft golden glow, horse-drawn carriages clattered across the cobblestones of the Burg square. We took our seats for dinner at De Karmeliet's protégé restaurant, Zet'Joe by Geert Van Hecke. The North Sea sole with hazelnut butter and crispy Belgian frites was perfection, paired with a rich Trappist Westvleteren 12 ale. Bruges is an enchanting, timeless medieval dream.