The 3 B’s of Belgium – Blankenberge, Battlefields and Bruges
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Blankenberge Marina, Belgium ©Tourism office Blankenberge
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Blankenberge Pier ©Tourist Office Blankenberge
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Blankenberge Promenade
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Begijnhof, Bruges ©VisitBruges, JanDHondt
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Burg, Bruges © Toerisme Brugge / Jan DHondt
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Tyne Cot WW1 Cemetery © Commonwealth war graves commission
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Menin Gate, Ypres
A short journey from the Channel ports, you’ll find the charming Belgian seaside town of Blankenberge. This proves an ideal base from which to explore the picturesque coast, as well as Ostend and Bruges. The tour is based at the Alfa Inn, in the heart of the town and a favourite of Greatdays’ groups. With newly renovated rooms and excellent hospitality, you are sure to enjoy your stay.
Blankenberge has many Art Nouveau buildings, seafood restaurants and boasts Belgium’s only pier. During your stay, you will explore the beautiful Belgian coast, including the remains of the German Atlantikwall from WW1.
Additionally, a visit to Ypres allows further exploration of WW1 military history. The evocative ‘In Flanders Fields’ Museum is a particularly insightful museum, looking into personal accounts of the locals during the battles in Flanders. With your Battlefields guide, visit some of the area’s best-known memorial sites and war cemeteries which lie in the fields around Ypres. If time permits, perhaps stay for the emotional ‘Last Post’ ceremony each evening at the Menin Gate.
Furthermore, this tour features the chance to explore Bruges. This charming medieval town is simply beautiful and a firm favourite destination with Greatdays’ groups. It’s easy to spend a day admiring the dramatic architecture while a guided tour will bring the cobbled streets to life. Take to the canals to cruise under bridges and past the quaint houses.
Dates
24th February 2020 and 23rd March 2020
Suggested itinerary by coach
Day 1
Arrive in Belgium
Travel to your hotel in Blankenberge, your base for the next four nights.
Day 2
Belgian Coast, Ostend and Blankenberge
This morning we travel along the coast to cosmopolitan Ostend, with 9km of wide sandy beach and a spacious promenade. Perhaps call in at the former home of impressionist painter James Ensor. Now a museum, the ground floor is presented as a 19th-century souvenir shop. Along the coast, there are more than 60 World War 1 bunkers, observation posts and artillery positions: the remains of the German ‘Atlantikwall’.
In the afternoon, we return to Blankenberge with free time to explore the town and see the many Art Nouveau buildings. Take a stroll along the promenade that runs alongside the vast sandy beach, and explore the marina and Belgium’s only pier.
Day 3
Ypres and WWI Flanders Battlefields
We travel to Ypres to visit ‘In Flanders Fields’. Located in the imposing Cloth Hall, this interactive museum looks at the story of WWI through the eyes of those who were involved.
In the afternoon, we take a guided tour of the ‘14-18 Route’ with visits to sites and memorials including Tyne Cot and Langemark cemeteries. There is an option to have dinner in Ypres and then watch the emotional ‘Last Post’ ceremony at the Menin Gate.
Day 4
Bruges Sightseeing
Today we spend the day in Bruges, the ‘Venice of the North’. Enjoy a guided tour to discover the medieval city, which boasts many canals and waterways, a maze of winding cobbled streets, some remarkable architecture, and more than a few specialist chocolatiers. Cruise leisurely along the waterways on a canal cruise, and perhaps visit the ‘Historium’ in the main square, a popular virtual reality experience that reveals the history of this fascinating place.
Day 5
Return to the UK
It’s time to leave Belgium and return to the UK.
Suggested hotel
Alfa Inn, Blankenberge***
The family-run Alfa Inn is 5 minutes walk from Blankenberge’s beach. This hotel, situated in an old monastery, offers modern guest rooms, with cable TV and a work desk. Each morning a continental buffet style breakfast is served, and you will also enjoy soft piano music in the bright breakfast room one morning during your stay. The hotel also features a wellness area and a tranquil garden terrace. Rooms have been refurbished in 2018 and 2019.
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- Bar of Alfa Inn, Blankenberge
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- Exterior of Alfa Inn, Blankenberge
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- Double room in Alfa Inn, Blankenberge
Looking for an alternative tour to Belgium? Then here’s some inspiration:
https://www.greatdays.co.uk/europe-group-travel/belgium/
https://www.greatdays.co.uk/tour/gardens-belgian-ardennes/
https://www.greatdays.co.uk/tour/ww1-battlefields-mini-cruise-belgium/
| 5 days by Land and Sea | Half Twin | Single Supplement | Half Board Supplement |
| 24th February 2020
23rd March 2020 |
From £179.00 per person
From £179.00 per person |
From £49.00 per person
From £49.00 per person |
From £21.00 per person per night
From £21.00 per person per night |
Prices are available on request for travel by overnight North Sea crossings or by air. Dinner is optional and is a 3 course set menu. No drinks are included.
