Blankenberge

Skipping Bruges for a visit to Blankenberge would be the mistake of a lifetime. But you can take the tram to the railway station in Blankenberge and catch one of the frequent trains there to Bruges, takes about 15min or so. And ofcourse you can walk straight to the promenade and the pier, but for the rest there is not so much to see and do there. However you can see the locals in their natural habitat, so an off the beaten path experience. Best to do this if the weather is good, otherwise Blankenberge feels abandoned like last Friday during my visit there. The pier is last year restored to it's former glory so that's good news.

There is a tram stop named "Blankenberge Pier" a few minutes walking from the pier. From there you can walk in about 15min / 20min. to the railwaystation and include the promenade in the proces.

Thank you for answering so quickly and honestly. Perhaps if there are any recommendations for a private tour OR could we take a taxi and explore the town on our own? Any further information would be so helpful.

If you mean with the town Bruges its easy to tour on your own. Most daytrippers arriving with the train walk along the Lake of Love and the Beguinage to the Main Square and continue further to De Burg with it’s Gothic townhall and Basilica of the Holy Blood. It’s a very walkable place. You can climb the Belfry, visit the Church of Our Lady to see Michelangelo’s Madonna with Child and/or the Groeninge Museum. Join one of the many boat tours or having one with a horse driven carriage. Or you can bike to Damme along the canal etc. etc. You can easily fill the time you have there the cruise ship is docked in Zeebrugge. For more info or ideas: https://www.visitbruges.be/en/things-to-do

In case money is not so much an object you can take a taxi back to the cruise terminal and having a stop in Lissewege and the nearby medieval tithe barn Ter Doest. On the way to Bruges you can have a stop in Blankenberge, but about 15 min. further with the tram one in De Haan too and wellknown for it’s Belle Epoque architecture. Einstein stayed there a half year before moving to Princeton, the house - Savoyarde - is still there to see only from the outside. Instead of going back to Blankenberge to catch the train to Bruges you can continue with the tram in the same direction to Oostende to catch a train to Bruges as well. Train to the latter will take about some 15 min. too. Travelling from De Haan via Oostende or Blankenberge to Bruges takes about the same time.

I agree with Wil that Bruges is easy to do on your own as long as you are able to walk and follow a map. The center is compact and so charming. Will you have a cell phone, data service and a mapping program? Easy to do that way but also easy to do with a paper map. There is a kiosk in the station area that usually has maps or perhaps they are available on your ship...not a cruise person so don't know.

I recommend you do some research on what you want to see to check opening times. Many of the museums are closed on Mondays so if that is the day you are there, look for alternate sights to the museum collections. The Bruges tourist information website is pretty good for research.

https://www.visitbruges.be/en/things-to-do/sights

And in looking further at the Visit Bruges site I see they also have an app with a set route to follow if that works for you!

Many thanks to those who replied. We love to wander a town on our own and having some "must see" spots is very helpful.