Beautiful Brussels

Day 01 Brussels, Belgium

Welcome to Belgium!

Arrival at International airport of Brussels, meet and assist and transfer by private car to your hotel. Check in and installation in your room.
Rest of the day is free at leisure and then overnight at the hotel.

Day 02 Brussels, Belgium

Breakfast at the hotel.
10.30 am meet your local guide at the Grand Place in front of the Town Hall and enjoy a walking tour in the historical downtown. On this 2.5-hour tour you’ll visit the Grand-Place, Manneken Pis, Sainte-Catherine, the Grand Sablon, the Royal Square and the Palace, the churches, and the museums (museum admission fees are not included). Learn about the Belgian Monarchy, the political system, the European Union in relation to Brussels, and more.
The time for lunch and the afternoon are free at leisure to explore this beautiful city on your own.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 03 Brussels, Belgium

Breakfast at the hotel.
08.00 am meet your local guide at the Centraal Station of Brussels for a full day tour to Bruges. Discover the “Venice of the North” on a full-day guided tour of Bruges from Brussels. Depart the Belgian capital at 08:00, and transfer to the charming town of Bruges, located 100 kilometers northwest (and just 15 kilometers from the North Sea).
Upon arrival, see why the entire historic center of Bruges is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Go to the Lake of Love (Minnewaterpark) to see a tranquil oasis in the heart of the city. Marvel at the 13th-century Begijnhof, which is covered in a carpet of daffodils in the spring. Continue to the quiet, paved square of Walplein, and stroll down the narrow Stoofstraat.
See sights such as the 800-year-old St. John’s Hospital, and the imposing façade of the Church of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk). Learn the history of the opulent palace of Gruuthuse, and walk alongside the banks of the Dijver Canal.
Other highlights include the charming canal-side houses of the Rozenhoedkaai, the tiny square of the Huidenvettersplein (Tanners Square), and the site of the 1st count’s castle on Castle Square. Striking buildings on the square and nearby include the Basilica of the Holy Blood, City Hall, the Oude Griffie, the neighboring Market Square (Grote Markt), a handsome Belfry (Belfort) and the impressive tower of St. Salvator’s Cathedral.
Then, enjoy 4 free hours for lunch and to explore the city as you please. Taste some of the exclusive chocolates of Bruges and pop into some of the legendary lace shops. Transfer back to Brussels, with an approximate 18:00hrs arrival time. (lunch and entrance fees are not included)

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 04 Brussels, Belgium

Breakfast at the hotel.
10.00 am meet your local guide at the Grand Place to proceed a full day tour to Ghent. After your transfer from Brussels, start your visit in Saint Bavo Cathedral, a spectacular Gothic church decorated with majestic Baroque ornamentation. Step into the marble choir and private chapels, admire Peter Paul Rubens’ painting “Saint Bavo Enters the Convent at Ghent” and the Rococo pulpit, and go into the Romanesque crypt, where you can also admire its frescoes.
You have the chance to opt for a visit to the altarpiece "the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" by the Van Eyck bothers (entrance fee Euro 4 per person), which is one of the most important works of art of the Middle Ages. See also the City Hall, an extraordinary building combining Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. You then see the market square, the Belfort tower, and the covered market. Continue to the churches of St. Nicholas, St. James, and St. Michel, three parish churches that stand as a reminding of Ghent’s medieval past.
Next you visit Graslei, the old port of the city and one of the most scenic places in Ghent, where you can admire the river Leie and the old guildhalls. Then head to Gravensteen, a medieval castle that was the former residence of the Counts of Flanders. Followed by this, admire Patershol, a picturesque area with buildings of charming brick facades where restaurants and cafes offering you the best of the Flemish cuisine.
Then see the medieval butchery, an imposing Gothic building of 1408 that is one of Europe oldest meat markets. You then enjoy some leisure time for museums, eating or shopping. You return to Brussels at 18.30hrs. (lunch and museum entrance fees are not included)

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 05 Brussels, Belgium

Breakfast at the hotel.
10.00 am board the luxury Shopping Express coach (ticket included) at Rue du Marché aux Herbes 82, 1000 Brussels to Maasmechelen Village for a 6-hour shopping tour. Discover an exclusive shopping village on the outskirts of Brussels and save money on luxury brands at Maasmechelen Village. Take the complimentary Shopping Express coach from the city center, and explore racks of discounted fashion brands, such as Guess, Escada, Desigual, Ted Baker, Kipling, and Calvin Klein Jeans on arrival.
Enjoy the glorious countryside and picturesque villages en route. Nearby gastronomic treats complete your day. Less than a 1.5-hour drive from the center of Brussels, Maasmechelen is easily accessible for a day of retail therapy.
Stroll the open-air, pedestrianized boulevards, popping into up to 100 boutiques of local and international brands. Enjoy savings of 30 to 60% on the recommended retail price. Save even more with a EUR 20 lunch voucher at Ellis Gourmet Burger. Take advantage of your free VIP card, offering an additional 10% off at selected stores, along with a complimentary Village Gift Card worth EUR 50.
At the end of the day transfer back to Brussels on the luxury Shopping Express coach. (arrival time approx. 16.00hrs) (lunch not included in the program).

Rest of the day is free at leisure.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 06 Brussels, Belgium

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Transfer by private car to the International Airport of Brussels for connection of your flight.

The package rates include:

• accommodation on bed and buffet breakfast basis at 3 or 4-star hotel
• roundtrip airport transfer on private basis
• sightseeings on SIC basis as per the itinerary