Bruges and Ghent - Belgium's Fairytale Cities - from Brussels
Description
Discover Flanders’ two most enchanting cities and follow your guide on his walking tour way back in time! We take you to Ghent. We visit Saint-Bavo’s Cathedral, home to the world-famous Mystic Lamb painting (optional) and walk along the Castle of the Counts of Flanders, the picturesque medieval harbor and many more highlights. In Bruges, after lunch you enjoy the view of the peaceful Lake of Love and the picturesque Beguinage. Your guide will explain the stories and secrets behind the city’s history from the Viking period until the end of the Middle Ages. You see literally ‘all’ highlights of Bruges: the Basilica of the Holly blood of Jesus, the Belfry tower, our Lady’s Church, Saint John’s hospital etc. You even have the option to enjoy a pleasant boat trip along the narrow canals, entirely organized by your guide. Do not forget your comfortable shoes to brave the cobbled streets!
Tour Options
Itinerary
The 91-metre-tall belfry of Ghent is one of three medieval towers that overlook the old city centre of Ghent, Belgium, the other two belonging to Saint Bavo Cathedral and Saint Nicholas' Church.
A quay in the historic city center of Ghent, Belgium, located on the right bank of the Leie river.
The Saint Bavo Cathedral an 89-meter-tall Gothic cathedral in Ghent, Belgium. It is the seat of the diocese of Ghent, is named for Saint Bavo of Ghent, and contains the well-known Ghent Altarpiece.
The current castle dates to 1180 and was the residence of the Counts of Flanders until 1353. It was subsequently re-purposed as a court, prison, mint, and even as a cotton factory.
St. Nicholas' Church is one of the oldest and most prominent landmarks in Ghent, Belgium. Begun in the early 13th century as a replacement for an earlier Romanesque church.
The Basilica of the Holy Blood is a Roman Catholic basilica in Bruges, Belgium. The church houses a venerated relic of the Holy Blood allegedly collected by Joseph of Arimathea and brought from the Holy Land by Thierry of Alsace.
The Church of Our Lady in Bruges, Belgium, dates mainly from the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. Its tower, at 115.6 metres in height, remains the tallest structure in the city and the second tallest brickwork tower in the world.
The Bruges City Hall is one of the oldest city halls in the entire Netherlands region. It is located in Burg Square, the area of the former fortified castle in the centre of Bruges.
The famous area is called the "Lake of Love" and" Lovers bridge" . It’s a romantic place to be with someone you love! An amazing location within the confines of the city.
The Burg Square is the political center of Bruges. It is a lovely place where architecture lovers can enjoy the amazing mix of beautiful buildings.
The Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaerde is the only preserved beguinage in the Belgian city of Bruges. There are no more Beguines living there, but since 1927 it functions as a convent for Benedictines, founded by canon Hoornaert.
There will be time for an optional but unforgettable canal tour.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Access to the Mystic Lamb at St Bavo's Cathedral is not possible on Sundays
- Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
- Our guides are pleased to guide the tours in English, Spanish and/or French depending on the language need of our guests on the tour
- Please note that we cannot accomodate latecomers
Reviews(4,971)
Ghent was a great part of the trip. The guided walking tour was excellent with a lot of interesting information. We had plenty of time to stroll around on our own until it was time to leave to Bruges. The Bruges part of the tour was not that great. We were guided on this boring walk to the center market which wasted almost an hour of our tour. The guide was boring. I lost an hour of my time. Several people walked away from the tour so we did the same. The boat tours were recommended but they were NOT good. They DID NOT last 30 min and were boring. In all I feel like I maybe had 45 min to run around which was NOT acceptable.
One of the best tours I have done in a long time. Guide Colin? was excellent. Clear directions & instructions for meeting time & places. Great story teller & helpful guide. Ran to schedule
Bruno and Joelle were lovely!! Bruno kept our group punctual and on time. The guides were very knowledgeable and the free time allowed plenty of opportunity to explore the cities in our own.
It was a long day as indicated with lots of walking which was fine. We were split into 2 groups for Bruges but our English speaking guide did not have a radio therefore it was hard to hear, he tried his best. Could have had more free time to explore.
Awesome! I had Joel and Bruno as my tour guide for the day trip. Were amazing and very friendly and extremely informative, very satisfied with the experience
Day trip to Ghent and Bruges was exceptional. Central pick up location in Brussels was easy to find. Free time in Ghent to grab a drink at a local bar/cafe and something to eat. Bruges was the pinnacle, wonderful city to wander, free time to visit Michangelo's Madonna rescued after WWll and returned to Bruges and time to browse some markets along the riverbank. Enjoyed the optional canal cruise. Great day, long but well worth it
My experience with Viator was excellent. The platform made it easy to find and book tours that aligned with my family interests, while offering a wide range of well- organized options. I particularly recommend including Ghent and Bruges in your itinerary when visiting Brussels. Both cities are exceptionally beautiful, rich in history, and provide an authentic glimpse into Belgium's cultural heritage.
Lovely experience, charming towns, the guide was friendly. For both visits, you must walk to explore; I recommend taking the boat tour and that the company should include the tour in the payment.
Tour was organized very nicely. Tour guide was amazing. We had enough direction to enjoy our free time.
This is a great day trip to see two beautiful cities. If I had infinite money to spend, I would have done this tour, then with the info I gathered, booked a night or two in Bruges and stayed longer. We got a good layout of the cities and lots of valuable historical context from our guides. The sights are breathtaking. I only wish we could spend longer in each - but that's the downside of a day tour. They do a great job of showing you as much as they can in the limited time. If you only have a day or two in Belgium, this tour is a great way to see as much of its beauty as you can!
