Overview
We visited this small Belgian city on the very first weekend that Christmas markets reopened after three years (December 8, 2022). The city center was unbelievably packed on Saturday. If you're driving, parking is a nightmare. Unless you arrive very early, you'll end up parking quite far from the center and walking in.
Because of the crowds, we couldn't really enjoy this fairytale town properly. People were clearly desperate to get out after COVID. I hadn't seen crowds like that anywhere in a long time. If you're planning a visit during Christmas market season (December), try to go on a weekday if at all possible. Otherwise, you might end up like us, heading back without fully savoring the city.
Food & Drink
The Bruges Beer Experience was underwhelming. The tasting beers were generally mediocre and the place felt overly touristy. You can find a more local spot for tastings.
One standout from the Christmas market was a cheese vendor. This guy of African descent who'd come from France had a truffle parmesan cheese that was genuinely addictive. Just don't buy any without asking the price first. It's outrageously expensive. If you can't bring yourself to pay, you can always sample generously and move on with your life.