Let's Go Europe 2019. Harvard Student Agencies

carrot turning into a bottle can be titled “The Explanation” despite explaining absolutely nothing. Remember the Mona Lisa? Yeah, Magritte has one of those too, but instead of a half smiling woman, it’s two red curtains suspended from thin air, a chunk of blue sky, and a strange white ball. This Belgian surrealist really got away with a lot.

       i Admission €8, students €2; audio guide €4; wheelchair accessible

       MUSEUM OF COCOA AND CHOCOLATE

      Rue de la Tête d’Or 9; 25 14 20 48; www.choco-story-brussels.be; open daily 10am-5pm

      A museum of chocolate isn’t exactly a hard thing to sell. There are free samples. Yet even after you gorge yourself on them, it’s worth sticking around. You’ll learn about the ancient history of cocoa, like how Aztecs used cocoa beans as currency, regarding chocolate as the food of the gods. Posters with chocolate facts cover the walls, as well as decorated tins and special hot chocolate pourers. The museum traces chocolate’s appearance in Europe, too, from its status as a symbol of wealth to its dissemination amongst the masses. Don’t miss the machine where you can dip cookies into this liquid gold, or the chocolate-making demonstrations where you’ll experience first-hand how this famous Belgian treat is crafted (with more free samples of course).

       i Admission €5.50, students €4.50; last entry 4:30pm; no wheelchair accessibility

BRUGES

      There’s much to see in this small city, whose old architecture, fine art, quaint streets, and picturesque canals make it the perfect day trip from the area’s larger cities. At different points in its history it’s been an important harbor city, a significant European stock exchange, and a tourist attraction. (Guess which one it is now?) Its skyline is defined by the old tower of the Church of Our Lady, the belfry, and the spire of the St. Salvator Cathedral. While tourists may flock to the more well-known landmarks, dipping down lesser-known side streets can yield surprising discoveries like a second-hand book shop, a park that’s home to dozens of swans, or a scenic place for a picnic. It would be hard to have an unpleasant day in Bruges.

      There’s not much orienting to be done in a town that’s more or less the size of an American Super Walmart. The belfry borders the busy square right in the center of Bruges, with the St. Salvator Cathedral and the Church of Our Lady slightly to its south. A trip to the outskirts of the city will reveal parks and other small green spaces along the canals. Outside the city center are twisting medieval streets and more affordable restaurants and bars, and a bike trip farther north to Zeebrugge will take you to the beach. To get back to Brussels or Ghent, just find the train station to the southwest.

      GETTING THERE

      Getting to Bruges for the day from surrounding cities is simple. Just take a quick train ride to the city’s only station. They run fairly often since it’s a popular destination. On the southwest side of the city, the station is within walking distance of the city center and main sights.

      GETTING AROUND

      Public transport in Bruges is largely unnecessary because of its small size. Getting around by foot is easy, but bike rental is fairly cheap and may give you a better picture of the city beyond the main squares and tourist spots.

       Swing by…

       BELFRY OF BRUGES

      Markt 7; 05 044 87 43; www.visitbruges.be/nl/belfort; open daily 9:30am-6pm

      Belfries, common in Flanders and Northern France, were celebrated as symbols of municipal autonomy in the Middle Ages. The one in Bruges is stunning, even if getting to the top of the tall tower means €8, a potentially long wait, and 366 steps. At least the wooden structure that used to rest on top of the existing belfry is no longer there, finally abandoned after a couple rounds of getting struck by lightning and burned. Live and learn, as they say. If you make it to the top of this seven-century old building you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous panoramic city views and an elevated heart rate that will delude you into thinking you did enough cardio for the day.

       i Admission €10, students €8; no wheelchair accessibility

       Check out…

       GROENINGEMUSEUM (MUSEUM)

      Dijver 12; 05 044 87 11; www.visitbruges.be/nl/groeningemuseum; open Tu-Su 9:30am-5pm

      You may have seen statues of Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling around Bruges, but to see the artists’ finest work you’ll have to head to the Groeningemuseum. This museum features the largest collection of “Flemish Primitives” in the world (“primitive” as in the fifteenth and sixteenth century, not learning how to make fire and doing cave paintings). Don’t miss the Jan van Eyck masterpiece Madonna and Child with Canon Joris van der Paele. A few things to keep in mind: you can access the museum until 4:30pm but you’ll certainly want to have more than just half an hour here. In addition, if you try to go on Monday you’ll be out of luck. Guess you’ll just have to resort to the priceless Michelangelo masterpiece in the Church of Our Lady. Sigh, life is hard.

       i Admission €8, students €6; last entry 4:30pm; wheelchair accessible

       Grab a bite at…

       SOUP ($)

      Hallestraat 4; open daily 11am-3:30pm

      The owner of this adorable little lunch spot must have a cat named “Cat” and a child named “Mistake” because the place’s name really leaves no question about its nature. For some warm and filling comfort food on a budget, grab one of this restaurant’s five soups with fruit—and not just those lackluster melon cups restaurants always seem to have. This €6 meal comes with bread, or pair your soup with half a panini for €8.50. A mural of rolling hills and some red-checked trays will make it feel like an indoor picnic, but to-go options are also available if you feel like riding off on your rental bike for a real one.

       i Soup with bread and fruit for €6, add half panini for €8.50; cash only; gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options available; limited wheelchair accessibility

       Don’t miss…

       RENT A BIKE!

      Bruges and outskirts

      Bruges is small enough that you can see most of it on foot in just a day. Having a bike, however, can lead you to small and off-the-beaten-path gems you probably wouldn’t make it to on foot alone. Ride by the water at the city’s edge and spot the handful of windmills to the north. Stop in at a plant-filled, abandoned house on Botenmakersstraat (at your own risk since the house is always on the verge of collapse). Pay a visit to some friendly sheep at Hof de Jonge, or ride north to Zeebrugge’s beach. Or, get lost! Bruges is scenic everywhere! (Trust us.) There are bike rentals all around the city (for one hour, four hours, or the whole day), but make sure you ask for the student discount.

       i Daily rentals typically run €6-15, places further outside the city center have better deals

       OLD MASTERS MUSEUM

      Rue de la Régence 3; 25 08 32 11; www.fine-arts-museum.be/en/museums/musee-oldmasters-museum;