Bruges
Holiday Highlights
- Guided walking tour of historic Bruges, arguably Europe’s most perfectly preserved medieval town
- Visit to Ypres including the thought-provoking First World War battlefields
- Visit to a traditional chocolatier creating exquisite Belgian chocolates, probably the world’s finest
- Services of our experienced tour manager
- Three nights’ accommodation, including all local taxes, in a choice of quality three-, four- or four-star superior centrally located hotels with breakfast
- Return standard class reserved seat on Eurostar from London St Pancras International and transfers to and from your hotel included
- Return rail connections available on selected dates from over fifty regional stations
- Departures available exclusively for solo travellers
- Selected departures up to December 2018 and March to November 2019
What's Included
- The price of this holiday is per person, based on two people sharing a twin room. Single rooms are subject to availability at the relevant supplement. The price includes a return standard class reserved seat on Eurostar coach transfer from Lille to your hotel in Bruges (approximate transfer time one hour), three nights’ accommodation with breakfast, all local accommodation taxes and the services of a Riviera Travel tour manager.
- Included excursions are: a walking tour of Bruges, a chocolate making demonstration, a visit to the First World War battlefields. Occasionally the opening times of the places of interest vary, and if this happens we may change the order of the visits on this tour.
- Not included in the price is: entrance fee to the ‘Halve Maan’ brewery museum which is approximately €7.50 and payable locally, the boat trip which is approximately €6.40 and payable locally, entrance to the Flanders Field museum which is approximately €7 and payable locally, entrance to the Passchendaele Memorial Museum which is approximately €7 payable locally.
Itinerary
Day 1
You take the late morning/early afternoon Eurostar service from London St. Pancras International to Lille (exact time will be indicated on travel documents), arriving approximately 1 hour 30 minutes later. A coach will then take you to your hotel in the heart of Bruges old town.
Day 2
After breakfast you have a guided walk of this beautiful town which really does show off its charm perfectly. The whole atmosphere of Bruges is pure romance and really reflects the true spirit of medieval Flanders. Its streets are crammed with fascination and yet it is so compact that the walking tour emphasises the main sights and attractions perfectly. Bruges has so much to offer and is centred around the main square, dominated by the Belfry and when the unique old Flemish chimes are heard, the atmosphere is perfect. You can climb this tower, if you can face the 366 steps: the view is breath-taking. You will also see the City Hall, the old Law Courts and the ‘Basilica of the Holy Blood’ in which is housed some of Jesus’ blood. Another must is the Notre Dame Church which houses Michelangelo’s beautiful Madonna and Child, carved in pure white marble. Belgium, and Flanders in particular, is very famous for brewing beer, indeed there are over 500 varieties throughout the country. One of the features of brewing in Belgium is the great variety of types of beer and ingredients used, even things as diverse as cherries and oats! So a tour to Bruges would not be complete without a visit to a brewery! Some of you may choose to take the short walk to the “Halve Maan” brewery museum to learn the ins and outs of brewing in this quaint and very traditional establishment and then unwind with a tasting.