Day trip

From Brussels: Bruges & Ghent Full-Day Trip

4.4 / 5

85 reviews

Activity provider: Bravo Discovery
Day trip

From Brussels: Bruges & Ghent Full-Day Trip

Activity provider: Bravo Discovery

From US$ 75.43 per person

Explore one of Europe's most intact medieval cities - Bruges, the Venice of the North. Marvel at the ornate City Hall and the stunning market square in Ghent. Taste the famous Belgian chocolates, the national dish of Moules Frites and beer.

About this activity

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Duration 10 hours
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Live tour guide
Spanish, English, French
Wheelchair accessible

Experience

Highlights
  • Walk by the side of canals in the historic UNESCO-listed heart in Bruges
  • Marvel at medieval churches around the old port of Graslei in Ghent and the beautiful Castle of Gravensteen
  • Taste the famous Belgian chocolates, the national dish of Moules Frites and beer
Full description

Discover the highlights of Bruges and Ghent, Belgium's most attractive cities, with a round trip by train from Brussels. Tour two of the most fascinating medieval cities in Europe with an English/Spanish or French-speaking guide on a 10-hour guided day trip.

Depart from the Grand Place at 9:30 AM only on Sunday. Upon arrival at the central station of Bruges, begin with a 2.5-hour walking tour and 2 hours of free time for eating, souvenirs, and a boat trip. The scheduled return to Brussels will be at 17:00 and arrival at 6 PM with your guide.

In the case of small groups, there is the possibility of choosing between returning with the guide at the scheduled time or spending more time there and returning later by yourselves.

Program in Bruges:

In the ancient city wall park, the "Lake of Love" is one of the main water reservoirs nourishing the canal system of the Venice of the North. Visit the Beguinage, one of the best-preserved examples of medieval gated communities in which only women could live.

See Brewery De Halve Maan, the only brewery still operating in the city center. Afterward, Old St. John’s Hospital is one of the oldest hospitals in Europe, where you can appreciate 800 years of European architecture, learn about its history and visit the museum of Hans Memling (optional).

Head on to Our Lady of Bruges one of the oldest churches in the city. Admire its impressive tower which is still one of the tallest brickwork towers in the world, and take a look at its art treasures, including Michelangelo’s Madonna with the Child (optional).

Stop by the VisMarkt (fishmarket) and the Tanners’ Square, two of the oldest squares in Bruges with their beautiful guildhalls and lovely cafés and restaurants. You will also visit the Groeninge Museum, Burg Square, and Markt Square, the economic heart of Bruges.

Admire its imposing guildhalls and its Belfort tower, which is one of the most famous Gothic buildings in Belgium. In the end, have an optional canal tour (8 EUR per person, pay while embarking on the boat), which is one of the best ways to see Bruges.

Program in Ghent:

Journey to the port city of Ghent, located at the scenic confluence of the Leie and Scheldt Rivers. Start your tour of the historic city at Saint Bavo Cathedral and admire the spectacular Gothic church and Baroque ornamentations.

Next, step into the marble choir and private chapels, and appreciate the painting of “Saint Bavo Enters the Convent at Ghent” by Rubens and the beauty of the Rococo pulpit. Look at the stunning frescoes of the Romanesque crypt.

Then, opt to visit the altarpiece of "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" by the Van Eyck brothers and admire one of the most important works of art from the Middle Ages for a small extra fee.

Continue to City Hall to see its extraordinary mix of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. Go to Market Hall to look at the Belfort Tower and the covered market.

Marvel at the nearby churches of Saint Nicholas, Saint James, and Saint Michael, serving as reminders of Ghent’s medieval past. Proceed to the old port of Graslei for beautiful views of the river Leie and the old guildhalls.

Then, head to the medieval castle of Gravensteen, where the counts of Flanders used to live. Explore the picturesque district of Patershol and see charming buildings with brick facades where restaurants and cafes offer the best Flemish cuisine.

Finally, head to the 15th-century Great Butchers' Hall to discover one of Europe's oldest meat markets.

Includes
  • Guided tour
  • Local guide
  • Transportation from/ to Brussels
  • Boat trip (€ 8)
  • Entrance to “The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb” by the Van Eyck Brothers (€ 4)

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

Grand Place Brussels in front of the Tourist Information Office at 09:30. Find your guide holding a white umbrella.

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Important information

What to bring

  • Comfortable shoes

Know before you go

  • Please wear comfortable shoes as there will be a lot of walking on uneven surfaces
Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.4 /5

based on 85 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.8/5
  • Transportation
    4.4/5
  • Value for money
    4.3/5
  • Safety
    4.8/5

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Star rating:

It was a wonderful trip. Very well organised and our guide was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Even when there was a misunderstanding and my friend and I did not disembark the train at the correct stop, the Bravo Discovery office was in contact with us to help us and the guide and group kindly waited on us. We appreciated it very much! It is a packed day with long hours of walking and a lot of information shared. But, if you have limited time in Belgium, it is worth it to see both these cities in a day.

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November 14, 2022

My husband, sister, 12 year old son, and I took this tour in April 2022. The tour was led by an older lady from the Netherlands who was incredibly knowledgeable and funny. She enjoyed answering questions and was loud enough to here in a large group of 25 people. She did great with both kids and adults. We were given about 90 minutes of free time in Bruges for lunch and to buy souvenirs. The tour is slow enough that if you saw an interesting shop you could pop in to buy a souvenir or even some food from a vendor and still not get separated from your tour group. We would recommend this tour to other families who want a nice easy walking tour with some historical review.

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April 23, 2022

A great way to spend a day in Belgium, especial if it's your first visit and you're not sure what to see, but if you want to see each city in detail then it might be better to find seperate day tours for each. Although it can be quite tiring as you have to walk near constantly to see all the places, the sites and Louise's commentary really kept me engaged. Many great photo opertunities. Only thing that could be improved is that the meeting point description wasn't accurate, it in the center of Grand Place. Overall, had a wonderful time and would recommend.

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October 17, 2021

Product ID: 89772