The Solo Scale:

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If you’re in Bruges, there’s a few things that might be on your list. Maybe you’re taking a canal cruise. You might go see the Madonna of Bruges, a Michelangelo sculpture in the church. Maybe you’re simply enjoying as many Belgian chocolates as you can find. That’s an extremely justified choice, given how delicious they are and how many shops you’ll be able to find.

If you’re craving some physical activity, there’s a climb waiting for you in the Bruges Clock Tower. You might recognize it for its notable appearance from the movie In Bruges.

There is a small admission fee to climb to the Belfry. You can find more information about that, as well as the price here. Other than paying, you’ll just want to be ready to climb the 366 steps to the top. It’s not quite child’s play, but also not as daunting as some other climbs in Europe like the Eiffel Tower. For me, the climb took about fifteen minutes at a steady pace to get to the top, where the views were waiting.

From there, it was roughly the same to get down (more time needed at the top where it’s narrow and slippery), and then you’re let out into a little courtyard where you’ll get a great view of the tower that you just climbed (maybe a little more sweaty for the wear).

Once you’re done with your climb, you can reward yourself with chocolate truffles at one of the many chocolate shops in Bruges (and don’t forget water to hydrate!) Then, you can leave Bruges having crossed off ascending to the highest point in the city — and if you’re like me, somehow, that feels like you’ve conquered a city by seeing the view from that point.

Get more information about the Bruges clock tower here, and get planning!