Day 1: Early morning departure from North Wales and travel to Dover for the short ferry crossing to Calais. We complete our journey to Bruges for a 4-night stay at the Hotel Academie.
Day 2: A free day to experience the magic of Bruges – the ‘Venice of the North’. It is regarded as one of Europe’s finest preserved medieval cities. Bruges boasts a network of canals, crossed by pretty humpback bridges and winding, cobbled alleyways leading to beautiful squares, lined with magnificent guild houses – a true architectural gem.
Day 3: A full day to discover the sights of Brussels. Undoubtedly, the highlight is the spectacular Grande Place which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the 1990’s. Admire the architecture of the stunning medieval buildings dominated by the imposing Gothic City Hall and opulent guildhalls.
Just a stone’s throw away from the Grand Place are the Royal Galleries, one of the oldest covered galleries in Europe, as beautiful by day as by night. A key aspect of any trip to Brussels is meeting Mannekin Pis. This amusing fountain of a little boy is the city’s mascot.
Day 4: This morning, we journey to Antwerp. There will be time at leisure to discover this fashionable yet cultural city, the second largest in Belgium. It is renowned for being the diamond capital of the world with various attractions and activities to be explored.
This afternoon we continue the charming city of Ghent, often referred to as the historic heart of Flanders. Ghent manages to combine medieval architectural wealth and idyllic charm within its city walls. From St. Michael’s bridge there is a wonderful view of the skyline of Ghent, which includes the three impressive towers of St. Nicholas’ Church and Sint Baafs Cathedral with its elaborate stone and marble naves.
Day 5: Enjoy a final breakfast before we make the journey to Calais for the return ferry to Dover. Take the opportunity to do some duty-free shopping at the Cite Europe Carrefour Hypermarket in Calais, we have plenty of room on the coach! Upon arrival in Dover, we complete our journey home to North Wales.