Touring Flanders

Enjoy the flexibility of travelling in your own car and combine two or more cities to make the most of your visit. Plan your own itinerary for a short break of up to four nights - longer stays are also available at supplement. Select from any of our featured hotels in the enchanting cities of Flanders - Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels, Ghent, Leuven and Mechelen or take in a night at Ypres, best known for its First World War Battlefields and memorials or use our suggested routes and itineraries for touring.

Bruges/Ghent

4 nights from £177 per person

Day 1 & 2

On arrival at Calais drive straight to Bruges and stay 2 nights at the 3* Ibis Brugge Centrum. A wonderfully preserved medieval city, Bruges is a living museum, rich in artistic and architectural treasures. The city produces some of Europe's most distinguished cuisine, its finest beers and of course the world's best chocolate. Bruges is ideal for exploring on foot, but you can also take in this historic city by horse drawn carriage, on a canal trip, or even by hiring a bicycle. Here are just some of the sites to visit in Bruges:

• The Markt Square has multitude of cafes and restaurants and is situated at the heart of the city. It is a lively and fascinating place where you can enjoy a coffee or a drink and contains one of the city's most impressive monuments, the Belfry and Cloth Hall and on the north side, the Provincial Court.
• The Belfort (the belfry) is the belfry is the main attraction on the Markt. It's probably the city's most famous landmark, and parts of it date back to the 13th century.
• Burg Square is the city's other main square, the Burg, is the historical centre of Bruges and some of the city's most splendid buildings are to be found here, including the Stadius.
• The Groeninge Museum contains a superb collection of Flemish art dating back to the 15th century. Bosch, Hans Memling and Bruegel are all there, but the star is Van Eyck's powerful Madonna with Canon van der Paele.
• The Chocolate Story Museum -a slick, four-floor museum dedicated to chocolate.

Day 3 & 4

Leaving Bruges, drive 55km to Ghent and stay 2 nights at the 4* Ghent River Hotel. Ghent is a lovely driving destination and for many, is the hidden gem in Belgium's crown. It is a rare city, a magical place that is able to preserve both its proud medieval treasures and keep up with modern times. Ghent's centre showcases medieval Flemish wealth and commercial success - prepare to be stunned by many architectural delights that include Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque churches. The city has an extensive network of canals and endless streets to explore, which are some of the most picturesque in the Flanders region.

• St Baafskathedraal (St Bavo's Cathedral) - Probably Ghent's most important sight, St Baafskathedraal started off as a simple parish church in 942.
• Het Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts) - Parts of the castle date back to the 11th century, it has undergone many uses starting off as a seat for the counts of Flanders and remaining the city's main military stronghold until the 14th century.
• Citadelpark is a haven of peace and tranquillity in the south of the city and walking in the Citadelpark is a Ghent tradition. With its waterfalls, rockeries, colourful flowerbeds and statues it looks like an English country garden. It's also home to the Museum voor Schone Kunsten (Museum of Fine Art) and Stedelijk Museuum voor Aktuele Kunst (The Museum of Contemporary Art).

Day 5

Spend the morning in Ghent before heading back to Calais for your return Channel crossing.

What's Included:

• Return crossing with P&O ferries Dover-Calais
• 4 nights' accommodation as detailed above, in a standard room on bed and breakfast
• Guide books and maps
• For peak travel by P&O or travel by Eurotunnel, supplements may apply

Distances from Calais: Bruges 105km, Ghent 55km

Call To Book This Tour

Please call a member of our sales team on 0845 330 2084

Bruges/Antwerp/Mechlen

4 nights from £204 per person

Day 1 & 2

Following your arrival in Calais, drive to Bruges and stay 2 nights at the 4* Best Western Hotel Navarra. A wonderfully preserved medieval city, Bruges is rich in artistic and architectural treasures. The city produces some of Europe's most distinguished cuisine, its finest beers... and of course the world's best chocolate. Bruges is ideal for exploring on foot, but you can also take in this historic city by horse drawn carriage, on a canal trip, or even by hiring a bicycle. Here are just some of the sites to visit in Bruges:

• The Markt Square has multitude of cafes and restaurants and is situated at the heart of the city. It contains one of the city's most impressive monuments, the Belfry and Cloth Hall and on the north side, the Provincial Court.
• The Belfort (the belfry) is the belfry is the main attraction on the Markt. It's probably the city's most famous landmark, and parts of it date back to the 13th century.
• Burg Square is the city's other main square, the Burg, is the historical centre of Bruges and some of the city's most splendid buildings are to be found here. Including the Stadius.
• The Groeninge Museum contains a superb collection of Flemish art dating back to the 15th century. Bosch, Hans Memling and Bruegel are all there, but the star is Van Eyck's powerful Madonna with Canon van der Paele.
• The Chocolate Story Museum -a slick, four-floor museum dedicated to chocolate.

Day 3

Drive 105km onto Antwerp, stay 1 night at the 4* Astrid Park Plaza and enjoy a vibrant night in the city. Lively Antwerp is famous for it's fashion and diamonds, as well as some magnificent architecture. The city's cobbled streets and market places abound with medieval churches and handsome guild houses, and there are scores of stylish bars, restaurants and clubs. Here are a few sites that you might like to visit:

• The Grote Markt - The Grote Market Square is one of the most beautiful squares in the country and the perfect place to begin sightseeing. It is lined on two sides by splendid old guild houses showing the influence and wealth of the various trade guilds.
• Onze Lieve Vrouwe Kathedraal (Cathedral of Our Lady) - Antwerp's cathedral is one of the most stunning Gothic buildings in Belgium.
• Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten (Royal Museum of Fine Art) - The Museum is divided into two sections, one for the works of the Old Masters (15th - 17th centuries) and one for artists of the 19th and 20th centuries.
• MoMu (Fashion Museum) - MoMu is the nerve centre of Antwerp's booming design trade. MoMu has an international reputation for hosting innovative exhibitions.

Day 4

Take a 25km drive to Mechelen staying overnight at the 4* NH Mechelen. Located just a short distance from Brussels, this medieval city is full of historical culture with numerous museums, bell-towers, monuments and parks all contributing to its charm. Boat trips, stylish streets and classic Belgian gastronomy accompanied by home brewed beers make Mechelen an ideal choice for a relaxing stay.

Day 5

Leave Mechelen in the morning and drive back to Calais for your return Channel crossing.

What's Included:

• Return crossing with P&O ferries Dover-Calais
• 4 nights' accommodation as detailed above, in a standard room on bed and breakfast
• Guide books and maps
• For peak travel by P&O or travel by Eurotunnel, supplements may apply

Distances from Calais: Bruges 105km, Antwerp 205km, Mechelen 225km

Call To Book This Tour

Please call a member of our sales team on 0845 330 2084 or click below:

Brussels/Leuven

3 nights from £138 per person

Day 1

Take the Channel crossing from Dover, then drive onto Brussels where you will stay 1 night in the 3* Hotel Leopold. From this central location, you can explore the cities sites and attractions or simply relax in your lovely surroundings. Brussels is a veritable contrast of old and new where different cultures blend effortlessly. More than 1000 years old, this wonderful mix of cultures extends to Brussels' architectural styles. As well as being the capital of Belgium, Brussels is also home to the European Union, the European Parliament. Here is a selection of sites that you may like to visit:

• The Grand Place has some of the finest examples of ornate 17th century architecture in its guild houses although the square actually dates back to as early as the 11th century when markets took place.
• Hôtel de Ville - The city's town hall was built in the late 14th century and is the finest civic building in the country, if not Europe.
• Mannekin Pis - Brussels' most famous statue who, according to one legend, was cast in bronze as a symbol of the country's military courage as a result of a son a of a duke, in the 12th century, caught urinating against a tree in the middle of battle.
• Galeries Saint Hubert was the first shopping arcade in Europe. Designed in a Neo-Renaissance style, the vaulted glass roof covers a range of luxury shops and cafes, as well as a cinema and theatre.
• Palais Royal is an official residence of the Belgian royal family.
• Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts is made up of the Musée d'art ancien and the Musée d'art moderne, these are Brussels' premier art museums with exhibitions of work from the 15th - 18th centuries (ancien) and 19th century to the present day (moderne).

Day 2 & 3

Drive 30km to Leuven and stay 2 nights at the central 3* Holiday Inn Garden Court. Situated in the heart of Flanders, only a short drive from Brussels, this centuries old city has much to offer. The heart of the city is centred around the Grand Square, which is lined with cafés, St Peter's church and the impressive Gothic City Hall. Surrounding the square are cobbled streets and alleyways enticing you further to explore the stunning architecture and heritage of this wonderful city. Leuven is best known for having one of the oldest universities in the world and, more recently, as the home of the world-famous Stella Artois brewery, although even this has references dating back to 1366!

• Stadhuis - was built in the 15th century from the profits of the city's once thriving cloth trade.
• St Pieterskerk & Museum voor Religieuze Kunst is the oldest church in Leuven, the current Gothic building was built in the 15th century, on the site of the old church.
• Museum Vander Kelen-Mertens. On display is a collection of 16th and 17th century embroidered vestments, stained glass, ceramics, Oriental porcelain and medieval sculptures as well as some modern pieces.

Day 4

Leave Leuven and head towards Calais for your return Channel crossing.

What's Included:

• Return crossing with P&O ferries Dover-Calais
• 3 nights' accommodation as detailed above, in a standard room on bed and breakfast
• Guide books and maps
• For peak travel by P&O or travel by Eurotunnel, supplements may apply

Distances from Calais: Brussels 195km, Leuven 225km

Call To Book This Tour

Please call a member of our sales team on 0845 330 2084