Bruges and Ghent Private Tour from Brussels: Mercedes with Guide

Two medieval cities in one day, guided at your own pace from a private car

A private full-day tour from Brussels to Bruges and Ghent with hotel pickup and drop-off, professional guide, and air-conditioned Mercedes. Your guide speaks English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch or Arabic. The itinerary covers Bruges' Minnewater, Beguinage, Basilica of the Holy Blood, and Burg Square, then Ghent's St Michael's Bridge, Graslei and Korenlei waterfront, Gravensteen Castle, and St Bavo's Cathedral. Lunch is on your own. Optional canal cruise and museum entries are available at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Lake of Love30m
2. Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaarde40m
3. Basilica of the Holy Blood30m
4. Burg Square30m
5. Graslei and Korenlei30m
6. Gravensteen Castle30m
7. St. Bavo's Cathedral30m

Explore Bruges and Ghent highlights

• Visit Minnewater Lake
• Walk through Beguinage and Mariastraat
• Discover Basilica of the Holy Blood
• Admire Burg Square
• Optional canal cruise at Rozenhoedkaai
• Arrive at St Michael's Bridge in Ghent
• Walk along Graslei and Korenlei waterfront
• See Gravensteen Castle
• Visit St Bavo's Cathedral

The experience

A private car and driver collect you from your Brussels hotel and handle the route to both cities, leaving you free to focus on what you're seeing rather than navigation. The guide speaks your language and knows which corners of each city matter most. You spend the morning in Bruges starting at Minnewater, the "Lake of Love" with its medieval lock gate and swans, then move through the Beguinage (a 13th-century haven of white houses and gardens) before reaching the Basilica of the Holy Blood and the Burg, one of Europe's most photographed squares. The Rozenhoedkaai, Bruges' most famous viewpoint, is where you can add an optional canal cruise if the mood strikes.

The afternoon shifts to Ghent. St Michael's Bridge gives you the classic view of the city's three medieval towers rising above the water. You walk the Graslei and Korenlei, the waterfront lined with guild houses, then see the Gravensteen, the 12th-century Castle of the Counts, and finish at St Bavo's Cathedral, where the Van Eyck brothers' Ghent Altarpiece hangs. The pace is yours. Your guide shapes the stops around what interests you most. Water and WiFi travel with you in the Mercedes.

Eight hours covers both cities without the logistics of trains or figuring out which tram goes where. You pick where to eat lunch and how long to linger at each stop. The car waits while you explore, and the return to Brussels ends at your hotel or the address you choose.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned Mercedes.
• hotel or address pickup and drop-off in Brussels.
• professional guide fluent in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch or Arabic.
• bottled water on board.
• WiFi during the drive.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 11:00

Book up to1d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic and Dutch

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by FIRST CLASS TOURS & LIMO SERVICE

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're traveling as a couple, a small family, or a group of friends who want both Bruges and Ghent without splitting up or managing public transport. The private car means you move at your own rhythm and skip the coordination of meeting times and train schedules.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic and Dutch.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Minnewater and why does the tour start there?

Minnewater, the "Lake of Love," sits at the heart of Bruges' most peaceful corner, ringed by swans, willow trees, and a medieval lock gate. It's the opening stop because it sets the tone for the city: quiet, romantic, and far from the crowds that fill the main squares later in the day.

Can I take a canal cruise in Bruges, and is it included?

An optional canal cruise departs from the Rozenhoedkaai, Bruges' most photographed spot, and glides under stone bridges past medieval facades. The boat ticket is not included in the tour price, but your guide can arrange it if you decide to go once you're there.

What's inside St Bavo's Cathedral in Ghent?

St Bavo's Cathedral houses the Ghent Altarpiece, "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb," painted by the Van Eyck brothers. Entry to the cathedral and the altarpiece is optional and not included. Your guide will explain what you're looking at from outside, and you can choose to pay for entry if you want to see it up close.

How does the private car work? Is the driver also the guide?

Your private chauffeur drives the Mercedes, and a separate professional guide leads you through each city on foot. Both travel with you the whole day. The guide speaks English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch or Arabic, so you get commentary in your language as you walk.

What happens during lunch, and how long do I have?

Lunch is your own choice and expense. The itinerary builds in free time in both cities so you can eat where and when you prefer, whether that's a café in Bruges or a restaurant along Ghent's waterfront.

Is the Gravensteen Castle included, or do I pay extra?

Entry to Gravensteen Castle is optional. Your guide will show you the 12th-century fortress from the outside and explain its history, and you can decide whether to buy a ticket and go inside.