Sweet Surrender, Brugge, Belgium

If any city can make a visitor feel like a youngster in a sweet shop, it has to be Brugge.

This postcard-pretty Belgian city upholds a luscious reputation as one of the world’s finest chocolate centers. "Death by chocolate." You’ve no doubt heard the term and scoffed at the notion but if there is one place where the concept would be plausible it would have to be in Belgium.

The Belgians are famous for producing the world’s finest chocolate and have been doing so for more than a century. Jean Neuhaus opened the country’s first chocolate shop in Brussels in 1857. Brussels is often touted as the chocolate capital but the pretty Flemish city of Brugge is emerging as a major chocolate player and that’s where I headed for my chocolate overdose. 

The World Heritage-listed city center is picture perfect, with a moat surrounding the old town and willow lined canals snaking throughout the city. Gliding past tilting Gothic buildings on a canal cruise is an essential way to experience the atmosphere, even though you’ll have to line up in summer when it seems every tourist in Europe descends on the place. Around three million people visit Brugge each year, but don’t let that put you off. This is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe, and well worth seeing.

Brugge is lucky enough to have more than forty specialist chocolate shops, an annual chocolate festival and other special chocolate promotions. They even have a museum dedicated to the stuff.

If ever there was a place to test your self control, this is it. Around every cobblestone corner lurks a chocolate shop. There are also lots of lovely little coffee and pastry shops in historic buildings where you can sit and sample everything that looks good. Think thin when you get home.

The antique shops here are extremely interesting and the street markets are fun to browse in and you can certainly pick up a valuable treasure.

Brugge is a must-see on any European itinerary. I use the Prinsenhof Hotel or the Bourgondisch Cruyce in Brugge, and in Brussels the Royal Windsor or the Hotel Amaigo. My clients get special amenities, free breakfast and an upgrade.

Don’t fly within Europe. Either use a luxury motor coach tour—Insight—or use a several city package using Rail Europe. I’ve added it onto my London or Paris visits many times.

Maureen Jones is president of All Horizons Travel at 160 Main Street in Los Altos.  Members of her staff are experts in business travel, cruises, and all types of leisure.