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In Bruges in Belgium, there is only one boat tour through the canals of the Belgian city. The special thing is that it is a combined offer: The Bruges canal cruise also includes a guided walk through the city.
Here we present the timetable, docking location, sights and the price of the boat trip.
Inhalt
Find boat tours & River Cruises in Bruges, Belgium:
Bruges River Cruise Belgium:
City Tours Belgium BV.
- Boat trip & city tour of Brussels in one ticket
- Duration: 2 - 3 hours
- Tour guide bookable in English and German
- Prices: Adults 44€, teenagers 36€, children 20€
- Cancellation free of charge up to 24 hours before departure
- Meeting point: Markt 1, 8000 Brugge
Take a canal cruise in Bruges
Bruges and water – a perfect match. The Belgian city, whose center is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was once even directly connected to the North Sea via rivers, as this article suggests.
Even today, there is hardly a better way to discover the city than on a short guided boat trip through the beautiful canals past the historic buildings!
Bruges’ waterways enjoy a great reputation and are also known as the ‘Venice of the North’.
Because the canals meander so beautifully between the old houses through the city center of Bruges, they are sometimes referred to as the “Venice of the North”.
And indeed, it is true: Although there are boat tours offered on the local rivers in many large cities, we think that Bruges, with its canals, is definitely one of the most beautiful cities in Europe for a boat trip!
Bruges has a total of 43 bridges and the total length of the water canals through the city is 12 kilometers! There are a total of five jetties for boats along the canals, which – unsurprisingly – tend to be full of curious tourists in good weather!
Boat trips & Canal Cruises in Bruges (Belgium) are popular
In our opinion – and according to many enthusiastic visitors to the city – a boat trip in Bruges is very worthwhile! Especially when the weather is nice, it’s wonderful to let yourself be sailed along the canals of the Belgian city by a captain who knows the area!
It should be noted, however, that most of the boats are without a canopy, as they are small motorboats and not larger vessels. This means that it may not be so comfortable in bad weather – or tours may even have to be canceled or postponed if necessary.
It is therefore advisable to check the weather forecast before booking – or simply hope that it will be dry and the sun will be shining in the sky. It is also helpful to take waterproof shoes and a jacket that can withstand wind and weather with you on the boat tour.
Discover the sights of Bruges from a boat
You can discover some of Bruges’ most famous buildings and places on a relaxing boat trip. From the water, you can enjoy a perfect view of the city’s sights. These include, among others:
- Holy Blood Basilica and town hall with Gothic hall on Burgplatz
- Gruuthusemuseum with the Four Horsemen
- Beautiful bridges, historic buildings on both sides of the canals
- The Boniface Bridge behind the Church of Our Lady is particularly popular
- Historic market square with lovely cafés and the 83-metre-high Belfry of Bruges tower
- Fish market
- Courthouse
- Beguinage (also located on the canal) with beautiful convent garden
- Rozenhoedkaai square, the city’s most popular photo motif
- Taste Belgian chocolate in the Chocolate Museum or the Chocolate Line store
- Two windmills from the 13th century
- Discover the culinary delights of Bruges: Try Belgian waffles and Belgian beer
Boat tour in Bruges at a glance:
- Jetty/boarding point
- Timetable
- Duration
- Prices
- Positive things about the provider
- Negatives about the provider
1st landing/entry point
The meeting point is at the market in the old town. From here, you will walk through the city together with your guide and then onto the boat. We quote:
“Your guide from City Tours Belgium is waiting for you in front of the gray Historium building on the market square. – Look out for a sign saying “City Tours Belgium”. – Please be at the meeting point on time. In the event of delays or non-appearance, there is no entitlement to a refund of the tour price.”
2 Timetable
The start time for the tour is usually at 10 am. First, the guide will lead you through the old town on foot, then the tour is rounded off with a boat trip with a captain and German-speaking guide. By the way: In the winter months, the canals sometimes freeze over, which is why there are often no boat trips.
3rd Duration
The tour is estimated to take 2 to 2.5 hours. Some guests report that they have even spent 3 hours with their guide.
4 Prices
The prices for the boat tour including a city tour of Bruges are 20 euros (children) and 44 euros (adults)
Positive things about this provider:
- Guide available in German
- the guides convey the feeling that they enjoy their job
- you learn insider tips about Bruges
Negatives about this provider:
- you can only book the boat trip and city tour as a combined ticket, not individually
F.a.q.:
The ticket price for a boat tour in Bruges including a guided city tour is €44 for adults. Children and young people pay a reduced price.
Yes, the boat trips presented on this page can be booked online.
Yes, you have the option of completing your boat tour in Bruges with a German-speaking guide. You will need to select this option when booking, as the provider offers boat trips in several languages.
Contact the provider:
If you have any questions about a Bruges boat trip, please contact the relevant provider:
- City Tours Belgium BV: +32 471 29 48 93, annadeilaghi@gmail.com
If you have already purchased a ticket from Get Your Guide and have a question about your booking, please contact their customer service.
Tip: There are also beautiful river cruises including sightseeing in other Belgian cities and in the Netherlands, e.g. in Ghent, and of course a canal cruise through Amsterdam.