Day 1: Overnight departure from North Wales and travel to Calais for the 9.00am DFDS Seaways Channel crossing to Calais. Take some time to relax on board. Upon arrival in Calais, we disembark and continue to the Novotel Brussels City Centre for a 3-night stay. Arrival mid-afternoon, the rest of the day and evening is at leisure.
Day 2: Bruges
A full day excursion to Bruges where you can experience the magic of 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: Brussels and the Carpet of Flowers
The Brussels Flower Carpet blooms into the Grand Place only once every two years, making each edition a fleeting spectacle worth the wait.
Make your way into the Grand-Place to see the magnificent Flower Carpet. You will have the opportunity to walk around the Carpet taking in all the detail of the stunning begonias and intricate handiwork of the volunteers who put the carpet together. Then, head up to the balcony of the City Hall for an incredible view of the carpet from above. Here you will be able to see the full design as the artist intended, and it is sure to impress! (entrance cost payable locally).
Whilst in the centre of the city, take a stroll through the Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert, a grand shopping centre under an arched glass roof, sample some of the local cuisine such as chocolates and a delicious range of local beers, and don’t forget to visit the symbol of the city – the Mannekin Pis – the little boy fountain statue!
In the evening, why not head back to the Grand-Place for the sound and light show that takes place every evening? Every year, a different piece of music is composed to coincide with the carpet’s theme. This is played as a stunning light show is incorporated into the floral design, to really make it special.
Central Brussels offers an abundance of restaurants, making it easy to find a great spot for an evening meal.
Day 4: Enjoy a final breakfast before we make the journey to Calais for the 12.00pm return ferry to Dover. Upon arrival in Dover, we complete our journey home to North Wales.