French & Belgian Christmas Markets - Bruges & Lille

Accommodation

We’ll stay at a well-appointed hotel such as the Acacias in Tourcoing or the Horizon in Ath. All the comfortable rooms are en suite and other facilities include a bar and restaurant.

Hotel accessibility information

Your hotel will be confirmed approximately 3 weeks before departure, therefore we cannot guarantee that the hotel will have a lift and/or ground floor rooms and may be unsuitable for those with limited mobility.

Coach Only

Coach Bullets

• Return coach travel & ferry crossings
• 3 nights at a selected hotel in France/Belgium (JG3 rating) with breakfast
• Excursions to Ostend, Bruges Christmas Market, Arras Christmas Market & Lille
• En-route visits to Ypres & Dunkirk

Itinerary

Day 1 – Journey to France/Belgium via Ypres

We take the ferry to Calais before travelling to the lovely Belgian town of Ypres. The charming cobbled streets lined with pretty Flemish-style buildings belie the town’s past as the scene of some of the most intense battles of the First World War. Almost completely destroyed, the town was faithfully rebuilt including the striking medieval Cloth Hall. Here we have some free time to find a local restaurant for dinner before we continue to our hotel.

Day 2 – Ostend & Bruges Christmas Market

Today we spend a couple of hours in Belgium’s premier seaside resort of Ostend, before heading to the beautiful medieval city of Bruges, famous for its picturesque canals. Held in the city’s main market square, the Christmas Market is full of stalls selling a tempting array of hand-made Christmas decorations and gifts as well as tasty local produce and warming mulled wine. Enjoy dinner in Bruges before we return to the hotel.

Day 3 – Arras Christmas Market & Lille

Our first destination today is the charming town of Arras where the Christmas Market is held in the magnificent setting of the Grand Place. Against the soft silhouettes of the rounded Baroque townhouses, over 100 artisans sell traditional crafts and gifts from their wooden chalets, transforming the whole square into a magical winter wonderland. Late afternoon we journey to Lille, sure to be crowned with huge festive garlands. Sample the spice bread or enjoy other regional specialities from the festive food stalls for dinner before we rejoin the coach to head back to our hotel.

Day 4 – Journey home via Dunkirk

This morning we check out of the hotel, stopping at on the coast at Dunkirk before we head back to Calais for our return ferry home.

Approximate Coach Pickup Times

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Drive Only

Itinerary (Self Drive)

Day 1 – Journey to France/Belgium via Ypres

You meet us at Stop 24 services to join the group. We take the ferry to Calais before travelling to the lovely Belgian town of Ypres. The charming cobbled streets lined with pretty Flemish-style buildings belie the town’s past as the scene of some of the most intense battles of the First World War. Almost completely destroyed, the town was faithfully rebuilt including the striking medieval Cloth Hall. Here we have some free time to find a local restaurant for dinner before we continue to our hotel.

Day 2 – Ostend & Bruges Christmas Market

Today we spend a couple of hours in Belgium’s premier seaside resort of Ostend, before heading to the beautiful medieval city of Bruges, famous for its picturesque canals. Held in the city’s main market square, the Christmas Market is full of stalls selling a tempting array of hand-made Christmas decorations and gifts as well as tasty local produce and warming mulled wine. Enjoy dinner in Bruges before we return to the hotel.

Day 3 – Arras Christmas Market & Lille

Our first destination today is the charming town of Arras where the Christmas Market is held in the magnificent setting of the Grand Place. Against the soft silhouettes of the rounded Baroque townhouses, over 100 artisans sell traditional crafts and gifts from their wooden chalets, transforming the whole square into a magical winter wonderland. Late afternoon we journey to Lille, sure to be crowned with huge festive garlands. Sample the spice bread or enjoy other regional specialities from the festive food stalls for dinner before we rejoin the coach to head back to our hotel.

Day 4 – Journey home via Dunkirk

This morning we check out of the hotel, stopping at on the coast at Dunkirk before we head back to Calais for our return ferry home. You are dropped off back at Stop 24 to continue your journey home.

Bullets (Self Drive)

• Return ferry crossings
• 3 nights at a selected hotel in France/Belgium (JG3 rating) with breakfast
• Excursions to Ostend, Bruges Christmas Market, Arras Christmas Market & Lille
• En-route visits to Ypres & Dunkirk