Bruges: Boat Trip & Walking Tour with Chocolate Tasting
The canals surprise you first, then the medieval squares
You board a small canal boat for a guided 30-minute tour of Bruges's waterways, then walk through the medieval center with a certified guide, stopping at Market Square, the Basilica of the Holy Blood, and the Beguinage. Chocolate tasting and a map are included. The whole experience takes a few hours, and you'll need to arrive on time at the Historium Point of Sale to meet your guide.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Bruges historic center and canals
- Visit the Belfry at Market Square
- See Basilica of the Holy Blood facade
- Tour the centuries-old town hall
- Walk through the Fish Market by canal
- Enjoy a 30-minute boat trip
- Discover the Beerwall with Belgian beers
- View columns and statues at Arentshuis garden
- Explore Gruuthuse family palace courtyard
- Discover the beer pipeline at brewery
- Learn about the beguinage site
- Market Square 10m
- Basilica of the Holy Blood 20m
- De Halve Maan Brewery 5m
- Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaarde 5m
What’s included
- Your tour includes a 30-minute guided boat trip on the canals, a walking tour of the medieval center led by a certified guide, chocolate tasting, and a map of Bruges.
- The guide will show you Market Square and the belfry, the Basilica of the Holy Blood (with access to both the upper and lower chapels), the fish market, the Gruuthuse Palace courtyard, and the Beguinage.
- You'll meet your guide in front of the Historium at the Point of Sale of Bruges, and the entire experience takes a few hours.
Times
- Every day 10:00
Before you book
Operated by City Tours Belgium
Prices and times updated yesterday
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The experience
You don't expect the boat to be so small, or the water so close to the old facades. The 30-minute canal trip through Bruges comes early in the tour, and it changes how you see the rest of the city. From the water, the stepped gabled houses and the Bonifatius Bridge look completely different: the captain points out corners and stories you'd miss from the street. After that, walking feels slower and more deliberate, because you've already seen how the whole thing fits together.
The guide meets you in front of the Historium at the Point of Sale, holding a sign with City Tours Belgium. From there, the walk takes in Market Square with its belfry and guild houses, then the Basilica of the Holy Blood. The lower chapel is thick-walled and dim, almost a shock after the gold-colored statues and neo-Gothic staircase upstairs. The town hall sits on the same square, its slender towers catching your eye before the guide even mentions them. You'll pass the fish market surrounded by 126 columns, the Gruuthuse Palace courtyard, and the Beguinage, where the guide explains what this place meant for women centuries ago. It's a lot of ground, but it never feels rushed because the group stays small.
Chocolate tasting happens somewhere in the middle. The kind of thing that would feel like a tourist trap if it weren't actually good. You get a map of Bruges to keep, which is useful because the alleys loop back on themselves and you'll want to wander on your own later. The whole thing takes a few hours. Language matters: German starts at 9:30am, English at 10am, Dutch at 10:15am, French at 10:30am. If you're coming from Zeebrugge port, it's about 25 to 35 minutes by taxi or shuttle bus. The train station is a 20-minute walk away, or you can take a taxi from there. Bring warm clothing. You're on the water and walking through narrow streets, so it gets cold faster than you'd think.
One thing: be on time. The guide won't wait if you're late, and you'll miss the boat. That's not a threat, just how it works. Small dogs are allowed, and if you're traveling with infants, strollers work fine on the cobblestones, though they're uneven in places.
Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to see Bruges's main sights in one morning without figuring out which attractions to visit or how to navigate the canals: the small group and fixed route mean you cover the essentials and still have the afternoon free to explore on your own.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 18 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 2 years).
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 time does the English-language tour start?
10am. German is at 9:30am, Dutch at 10:15am, and French at 10:30am.
How long is the boat trip?
About 30 minutes. The captain explains the sights along the route.
Is the Basilica of the Holy Blood included?
Yes. You'll see both the upper chapel (neo-Gothic style, with an elevator option) and the lower chapel.
Can I bring a stroller or pram?
Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, though the cobblestones are uneven in places.
Are small dogs allowed?
Yes, small dogs are allowed. Service animals are also welcome.
How far is Zeebrugge port from the tour starting point?
About 17 km, roughly 25 to 35 minutes by taxi or shuttle bus.
What happens if I arrive late?
The guide will not wait. If you're late, you'll miss the boat and the tour.
Is the train station close by?
Yes, it's a 20-minute walk from the Point of Sale. Taxis and vans are also available.
What's included in the tour?
The boat trip, guided walk through the historic center, chocolate tasting, and a map of Bruges.
What should I wear?
Bring warm clothing. You'll be on the water and walking through narrow streets, so it gets cold quickly.
Bruges: Boat Trip & Walking Tour with Chocolate Tasting
2h 30m · EN
from € 44 per person
≈ US$ 50 in your currency
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