There is no doubt that Bruges is one of the jewels in Belgium's crown. The town is a maze of narrow streets lined with quaint chocolate-box buildings and filled with pedestrians. Follow the signs to the railway station on the outskirts of the town where you will find a huge car park that costs just €2.50 a day. From there you can get a bus or walk the mile to the centre of the town.

1 TAKE TO THE WATER
The two best ways to see the sights of Bruges are by horse-drawn carriage or by boat. Several boat companies ply their trade along the canals and waterways of the town. We hopped aboard one that was waiting at the landing stage in Katelijnestraat. If it looks like it might rain when you are visiting then take an umbrella as the boats are all are open-topped and therefore offer no protection from the elements. Tours usually last about 30 minutes.

2 LET SOMEONE ELSE DRIVE
You can catch a coach tour from the Markt (market place), which lasts about 50 minutes depending on traffic and costs €11.50 for adults and €6 per child. There is audio commentary in English accompanied by a video presentation. They offer a more stable alternative to the boat trips and explore the town away from the canals. The coach trip will give you a good overview of the place, allowing you to then go back and soak up the best bits on foot.

3 A SMALL PIECE OF ITALY
En route to town from the station car park, make sure you go via the Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk (Church of Our Lady) with its spire reaching 122m into the sky. But the church's main attraction lies inside – a white marble statue of the Madonna and Child by Michelangelo, claimed to be the only Michelangelo to have left Italy during his lifetime.

4 THE NEPOMUCENUS BRIDGE
Bruges is the Flemish word for bridge and the town has many of them. One of the standouts is situated at the end of Wollestraat off the Markt and is adorned by a statue of Jean Nepomucene, a Polish saint who had his tongue cut out before being drowned for refusing to reveal confessional secrets.

5 A BIRD'S EYE VIEW
The Belfry dominates the town's Markt. You'll need to go after a hearty meal and a good rest as it is 366 steps up to the 272ft-tall summit. The spectacular view goes for miles, but the tower also contains a carillon of 47 bells weighing a total of 27 tonnes so you don't want to be inside there come ringing time.

6 BASILICA OF THE HOLY BLOOD
The Heilig Bloed Basilik is home to a phial reputed to contain Christ's blood that was brought back from the Crusades in the 12th century by the Count of Flanders. It is on view every Friday, while each Ascension Day more than 100,000 pilgrims from around the world gather to witness the phial being carried in procession around the city walls.

7 JAN VAN EYCK
At the junction of Academiestraat and Spiegelrei is a bronze statue commemorating Jan Van Eyck, the famous Flemish master. Next to it is a full-sized model of the medieval, man-powered cranes which used to unload the barges which came to the town from Damme. The old tax office is also nearby.

8 TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
Stroll back to the station car park via the Astridpark, a pleasant oasis of green, which houses a bandstand as well as a pretty fountain. From there, follow the Ghentpoorstraat to the Grand Porte – one of the town's old gateways. From here you can take a leisurely stroll alongside the canal back to your car.