Brussels to Bruges
Belgium Bike + Barge Tours
Bike and barge Belgium along the Schelde River
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length8 days
- Prices from€1065 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
Bike and Barge in Belgium, the heart of Europe! With three official languages (Flemish, French, and German), Belgium is a culturally diverse country with a rich and varied history and an understated sophistication which makes it a charming country to visit and the perfect place for a bike and boat tour.
It boasts a wealth of spectacular architecture, with many of its oldest buildings listed as UNESCO world heritage sites. The renowned grand squares of Brussels and Bruges, with hundreds of museums, parks, restaurants, and bars will not fail to impress you.
Belgium also has a proud tradition of fine art and the works of many well-known artists, from medieval masters such as Van Eyck to modern surrealists like Magritte. For lovers of the outdoors, Belgium's beautiful countryside offers a range of things to do. Most of all, Belgians know how to enjoy life to the full - their world-famous beers, chocolates, waffles, mussels, fries, and fine cuisine are a testament to this. It's never difficult to find a great place to eat or drink in any Belgian town or city.
Highlights
- Enjoy the best of Brussels
- Vibrant Antwerp
- Understated Ghent
- Unesco world heritage listed Bruges
- Small and picturesque Mechelen
Be sure to check out all of our Bike and Barge tours in Belgium.
Itinerary
Day 1: Brussels - Vilvoorde
Day 2: Vilvoorde - Mechelen - Willebroek
Day 3: Willebroek - Antwerp
Day 4: Antwerp
Day 5: Antwerp - St. Amands - Dendergem
Day 6: Dendergem - Ghent
Day 7: Ghent - Bruges
Day 8: BrugesDaily distances average 40 - 45 km per day. All distances are approximate. The above-planned itinerary is subject to change, even on very short notice, due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, docking location changes, lock repairs, etc.
Day 1: Brussels - Vilvoorde
Boarding between 12 and 2 pm.Day 2: Vilvoorde - Mechelen - Willebroek
Sailing breakfast, then biking along the Zenne River to the historical town Mechelen. St. Rumbold's Tower is Mechelen's centerpiece, a towering 15th-century cathedral, 318 feet (97 meters) and more than 500 steps high. Climbing to the top will be rewarded with a magnificent view over Mechelen and a glimpse of other cities such as Brussels, Antwerp, and Leuven. The cathedral is also home to some incredible art. In the luminous baroque interior, you'll find The Crucifixion, a marvelous painting by the famous master Anthony Van Dyck, and dozens of other fine artworks. Peter Paul Rubens is considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time. Go to St. John's Church and admire his 17th-century masterpiece 'Adoration of the Magi'. Rubens himself called it one of his best works ever. After the visit of Mechelen, you’ll bike along the tidal river the Dijle to an authentic pub near the lock of Zennegat. It seems as if time stood still here. Then to the (small) rivers Nete and Rupel you will enter the estuary of the river Scheldt, the vein of Belgian wealth, then and now. You will meet the Feniks in Willebroek for the night.Day 3: Willebroek - Antwerp
You will bike on the meandering dikes along the Rupel and Nete to the picturesque city Lier, with its medieval town center. We will continue our bike tour through Flemish Brabant (a Belgian province) to the well-known harbor city Antwerp. The Feniks will be moored in the old Willemsdok, once the center of naval merchant activities, now still a beautiful place to berth.Day 4: Antwerp
Today a stopover in Antwerp to give you the opportunity to visit exhibitions of the Flemish Masters such as:
• House of Peter Paul Rubens, the absolute top painter of the late 16th and early 17th century.
• The “Museum aan de Stroom” (MAS), meaning the Museum at the river Scheldt.
• Museum of Contemporary Art; one of the leading Belgian museums for contemporary art.
• Possible excursion by tram or bike to the Coogels-Osy-Lei, a neighborhood with many houses in Art-Deco, Art-Nouveau, ane Jugendstil style.Day 5: Antwerp - St. Amands - Dendergem
Bike tour through marvelous nature upstream along the river Scheldt. Via Temse to St. Amands where we will visit the Morocco-Stone-Exposition. From St. Amands we will sail on the river to Dendermonde for the night.Day 6: Dendergem - Ghent
Another beautiful bike ride of 50 Km upstream the Scheldt to Ghent. Visit of the medieval town center including a city walk. The St. Baafs cathedral with the triptique of the Lamb God’s of the brothers Van Eijk is not to be missed.Day 7: Ghent - Bruges
Bike ride along the canal of Ghent to Ostend through the varied Flemish farmland to the end of this tour: Bruges. The Feniks will moor at the Bargeweg approx. 5 minutes from the medieval townDay 8: Bruges
Looking for more? View all of our featured bike and boat tours, or our full list of bike trips.
Boats & Bikes
Aboard the Comfort class boats, the Feniks or the Mecklenburg
- Feniks
Comfort Class Boat
This comfortable little vessel is the pride and joy of its captain/owner, Marius. As is true for many of our boats, the Feniks was originally built as a freighter, but then converted into a hotel passenger ship in 1992. Since then, she has undergone several renovations. Wearing her history well, you will find a welcoming atmosphere on board, a crew ready to serve, and great food showcasing local cuisine featuring fresh fruits and vegetables straight from the market to the table. Read More
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodation for 8 days/7 nights
- Breakfast, packed lunches, and 6 three-course dinners
- Coffee, tea, and biscuits<
- Afternoon snacks
- All bed linens and towels
- Daily cleaning of the cabin
- 24-speed city touring bike with rear pannier, water cage and bottle, and frame lock
- Helmets available
- Tour guide
- Laundry service (clothes are returned clean but not dry. Clothes can be hung midship)
- Wifi, signal strength and speed cannot be guaranteed and may not be what you are accustomed to
What’s Not Included
- Beverages other than those mentioned (beverage package available with supplement. See pricing.)
- Museum entrance fees
- Gratuities
- Bicycle Protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates & Pricing
2022
Comfort Class
Feniks
Bruges to Brussels: July 16, 2022
Brussels to Bruges: July 23, 2022Cabin type
Premium twin cabin $ 2286 £ 1287 $ 2,008 € 1465 ₪ 5504 NZ$ 2510 kr 16056 $ 1,558 Regular twin cabin $ 1951 £ 1098 $ 1,713 € 1250 ₪ 4696 NZ$ 2142 kr 13700 $ 1,330 Single cabin $ 2443 £ 1375 $ 2,145 € 1565 ₪ 5879 NZ$ 2682 kr 17153 $ 1,665 Bunk bed cabin for twin use $ 1662 £ 936 $ 1,460 € 1065 ₪ 4001 NZ$ 1825 kr 11672 $ 1,133 Extra Options
Electric bicycle rental: $ 75 £ 42 $ 66 € 48 ₪ 180 NZ$ 82 kr 526 $ 51
Gluten-free or other special dietary requests: surcharge may apply. Please ask
Please Note
- Rates are based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy
This is an easy, guided bike and boat tour with average daily distances between 24 and 33 miles (40 and 55 km).
Airport Info
Fly to Amsterdam or Brussels.
Local Travel
If you fly into Amsterdam, you can access the train station on the lower level of the airport. From there you will take a short train ride to Amsterdam Centraal, the main train station in Amsterdam. A train to Brussels Central is about 2 hours and 40 minutes with one transfer in Rotterdam Centraal. A train to Bruges is close to 4 hours with either one or two transfers. If you fly into Brussels, it is just a short train ride to Brussels Central from the airport and then you can take a taxi to the harbor. If your tour is beginning in Bruges, it is about an hour and a half train ride with one transfer in Brussels Midi.
Climate
Please check local conditions before your arrival. Average high/low temperatures (°F) for Brussels: April 55°/40°, May 63°/47°, June 67°/52°, July 72°/56, August 72°/55°, and September 66°/52°.
Day of Rest
Any day can be designated a day of rest by remaining on board and enjoying the scenery from on deck.
Important to know
Travel Documents
It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with the country or countries you plan to visit. This includes and is not limited to passport validity, visa requirements and acquisition, blank passport pages required for your destination (s), etc.
US citizens: A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and entry into other countries is travel.state.gov.
Non-EU and EU residents: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and your destination country or countries.*Important note: Beginning July 1, 2021, additional documentation from the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.
Covid-19 Info
Country Entry Requirements
Due to the changing requirements for entry, it is imperative that you stay up to date on requirements set by the country/countries that you are visiting. Please visit our Travel Restrictions Tool page and the country/countries government webpage for this information.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by SE Tours and Feniks charter.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
Photos
Reviews
Robert B.
3 years agoVerified Reviewer
Patricia D.
4 years agoVerified Reviewer
Lynda B.
4 years agoVerified Reviewer
Joanne M.
4 years agoVerified Reviewer
Dorothy M.
5 years agoVerified Reviewer
Robert K.
5 years agoVerified Reviewer
Wendy D.
5 years agoVerified Reviewer
Wheaton L.
5 years agoVerified Reviewer
Patricua O.
5 years agoVerified Reviewer
Henry S.
6 years agoVerified Reviewer
Jeff S.
6 years agoVerified Reviewer
George Pappas
7 years agoVerified Reviewer
Terry Brannigan
7 years agoVerified Reviewer
Maryellen Doyle
7 years agoVerified Reviewer
Archie Benton
7 years agoVerified Reviewer
Larry and Nancy Bern
9 years agoVerified Reviewer
Tripsite Customer Reviews
Robert B.
3 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Patricia D.
4 years ago
Verified Reviewer