Group Tour Operator & DMC for holidays to Belgium
Best of Belgium – Bruges, Ghent and Brussels
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Ghent at night ©Alexandra Fletcher
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Bruges Canal ©Emma Beard
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Horse and carriage ride in Bruges ©Visit Bruges, Toerisme Brugge, Jan D'Hondt
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Atomium in Heysel Park, Brussels ©VisitBrussels - Global View - S. Schmitt
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Grand-Place – Grote Markt in Brussels ©visit.brussels - Jean-Paul Remy
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
The Flanders area of Belgium is home to some of the best towns and cities in Europe and all are within easy driving distances of each other. Explore medieval Bruges, an iconic city known for its charming cobbled streets and labyrinth of canals. Historic Ghent and the metropolis of Brussels are also fascinating places to explore. Discover three of the best of Belgium!
Dates
Dates throughout 2024 and 2025
Suggested itinerary by coach
Day 1
Travel to Belgium
Take a short sea sailing crossing to Calais and travel to Belgium and to your selected hotel.
Day 2
Bruges
Bruges is one of the finest preserved medieval towns in Europe. Meet up with a local guide for a walking tour which will highlight the most important attractions of the historic centre. Grote Markt is the main square bounded by colourful, ornate and historical buildings. A museum worth visited is the interactive Historium which brings the history of Bruges to life. A canal cruise will show the city from a different angle and where you will discover the many waterways that give the city the nickname of the ‘Venice of the North’. A horse and carriage ride is another way to see the city or climb the 366 steps of the Belfry for a birds eye view!
The Beguinage is beautiful and worth a visit, or enjoy a beer tasting or a chocolate tasting and visit the fine chocolate shops or watch the lace makers at work.
Day 3
Brussels
Capital of Belgium and a city of many contrasts. Our guided tour will highlight all the places of interest including those on the outskirts of the city in Laeken such as the Atomium, built for the 1958 World Fair and the Royal Palace. Back in the centre, where the guided tour will be on foot, the highlight will be the spectacular Grande Place, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its decorative architecture, cobbled square and the Gothic splendour of the City Hall and opulent guildhalls.
Just a stone’s throw away from the Grand Place are the Royal Galleries, one the oldest covered galleries in Europe, as beautiful by day as by night. Nearby, is the little Mannekin Pis statue/fountain of a small boy who is dressed in a variety of costumes for special events and sometimes the flow of water turns to beer!
There will be plenty of time to explore this great city before sitting down to a traditional meal at ‘Chez Leon’ restaurant located on one of the many cobbled alleyways in the old part of town – renowned as the best ‘mussels in Brussels’!
Day 4
Ghent
Take to the canals and streets to discover Ghent, starting with a canal cruise followed by a guided walking tour. En-route stops will be made for tastings of regional and typical Ghent produce. Enjoy many of the sights including the regal dragon perched atop the Belfry, the Castle of the Count and St. Bavo’s Cathedral, home to the Ghent Altarpiece ‘The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb’ a work of art recognised worldwide. It is made up of a total of 18 panels forming scenes from the Bible.
Walk around old squares and along streets enjoying the different architectural styles or along the famous Graslei with its many canal side cafés and restaurants. Alternative, make self guided audio tour of Gravensteen Castle ‘the Castle of the Count’ which boasts a collection of torture equipment!
There are also the opportunities to see chocolate making demonstrations or visit a local brewery or dine in a traditional restaurant offering Belgian fayre.
Day 5
Return to the UK
Make your way back to Calais for your short sea crossing back to the UK.
Suggested hotels
Academie Hotel, Bruges
The Academie Hotel is less than 100 metres from the famous Minnewater in a scenic and peaceful area of Bruges. The hotel includes a cosy bar, underground parking and a terrace garden with a fish pond. Air conditioning, a TV and refrigerator are provided as standard in the rooms at Academie. Each room also has a private bathroom with a shower and a bath. The Beguinage and De Halve Maan Brewery are less than 150 metres away. Academie is a 10-minute walk from both the Grote Markt. A daily buffet breakfast is served in the cellar of the hotel and includes pastries, breads and fresh coffee. There is also a lounge with tourist information and computers with free internet access. Coaches need to drop off about 200m from the hotel due to the small cobbled streets.
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- Academie Hotel reception
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- Academie Hotel bedroom
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- Academie Hotel breakfast room
Mercure Roeselare ****
The Mercure Roeselare hotel, set in the Accent Business Park, lies 3.1 km from Rumbeke Castle and 4.5 km from Rodenbach Brewery. The bright rooms feature flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. Some have kitchens or kitchenettes. Amenities include 5 meeting rooms and an auditorium that seats 100, plus a low-key bar and a restaurant with terrace seating.
The Bedford Hotel , Brussels***
The Bedford Hotel is located only 500 metres from the Grand Place in Brussels. The contemporary rooms feature TVs and minifridges. There is a high-end dinner restaurant, as well as a piano bar, plus 17 conference rooms. Coaches can park nearby free of charge.
| Dates | Hotel | Half Twin | Single Supplement |
| 2024/2025 dates | Price on request | Price on request |
