Bruges: The Jewel of Flanders from Thessaloniki

We have breakfast and begin our journey back in time through the charming cobblestone streets and romantic canals, where we’ll admire the medieval buildings. On the main shopping street, we’ll admire Saint-Sauveur Cathedral, an architectural masterpiece of the Middle Ages and the city’s oldest church, dating from the 12th to the 15th century. We will then arrive at Grote Markt Square, which has been a bustling hub since the Middle Ages, where merchants and people gather for social events. The square is home to one of the city’s most prominent landmarks, the Beffroi Bell Tower with its 47 bells, 366 steps, and a panoramic view. It formerly housed the treasury and municipal archives and served as a lookout to detect fires and other dangers. On our tour, we will also admire City Hall, an impressive building located in Market Square. It is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and houses the city’s government offices. The 12th-century Roman Catholic Basilica of the Holy Blood, with its three flamboyant arches and gilded statues. The church houses a relic of the Holy Blood collected by Joseph of Arimathea and brought from the Holy Land by Thierry of Alsace, Count of Flanders. The 13th-century Notre Dame Church, standing 120 meters tall, is built in the Gothic style; the altarpiece of the large chapel known as the Cappella sacra was created in the 18th century in the Baroque style and houses the church’s most famous artistic treasure, a white marble sculpture of the Virgin Mary with the Infant, “The Madonna and Child,” created by Michelangelo around 1504. We will also see one of the oldest preserved hospital buildings in Europe, “St. John’s,” featuring masterpieces by the Flemish artist Hans Memling and stunning contemporary artworks by artists such as Berlinde De Bruyckere and Patrizia Piccinini. Our walk will end at Minnewater Lake on the Lovers’ Bridge; legend has it that if you kiss your beloved while standing on the Lovers’ Bridge, your love will last forever.

We’ll have breakfast, and today we’d like to suggest a wonderful optional summer excursion full of sights, the scent of the sea, and Northern European charm. Our first stop is cosmopolitan Ostend, Belgium’s most famous seaside resort and a favorite summer destination for Belgians. Upon arrival, we’ll enjoy the long sandy beach, the seaside promenade with the cool breeze of the North Sea, and the city’s laid-back atmosphere. Colorful cafés, elegant boutiques, and beautiful seaside buildings create the perfect setting for a summer stroll. We’ll have time to stroll through the marina, enjoy a Belgian coffee or an ice-cold beer by the sea, and soak up the unique rhythm of this beautiful city. We then head to the enchanting De Haan, one of the most beautiful and elegant seaside villages on the Belgian coast. Here, time seems to have stopped in another era. The beautiful Belle Époque houses, the flower-lined streets, the sand dunes, and the long beaches create a setting full of romance and summer tranquility. De Haant is the ideal destination for leisurely strolls by the sea, photos with fairytale mansions in the background, and carefree moments under the Flemish summer sun. Our day continues with a visit to charming Lille, the Flemish “heart” of northern France. A city full of life, color, and unique architecture that blends French elegance with a Flemish atmosphere. We’ll stroll through the cobblestone alleys of the old town, admire the impressive historic buildings with their characteristic colorful facades, and arrive at the beautiful Grand Place, the lively heart of the city. There we’ll have time to stroll, shop, or enjoy French flavors and local delicacies at one of the city’s wonderful bistros and cafés. Late in the afternoon, we return to Bruges, our minds filled with images of the sea, summer squares, and the fairy-tale corners of Flanders. And for the perfect end to the day, we invite you to join us for one last evening stroll along the city’s illuminated canals or a romantic boat ride, where Bruges becomes even more magical under the summer twilight.

We have breakfast and set off for a wonderful and unique visit to Belgium’s second-largest city, Antwerp. Upon arrival, we head straight to Antwerpen-Centraal Station, considered one of the most beautiful train stations in the world. Its oldest section was built in 1905 by Louis Delacenserie. Its facades and the metal-and-glass dome are designed in the Neo-Baroque style, as is the interior, which features marble and gilded details. Upon exiting the station, we immediately find ourselves in the heart of the Diamond District. Antwerp has been known as the world capital of diamonds since the 15th century, and this is where they are cut and traded. We continue our walk toward Meir Street, Antwerp’s main shopping street, with its impressive architecture and shops belonging to well-known international chains. Later in our tour, we will admire the house of Peter Paul Rubens, the world-famous Flemish painter (16th–17th centuries), who lived and created many of his masterpieces in the city. We will also see the Cathedral of Our Lady with its towering Gothic spire; the cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inside the Cathedral are four masterpieces by Peter Paul Rubens, including the famous paintings “The Elevation of the Cross” and “The Descent from the Cross.” Like most European cities, Antwerp has its own central square, the Grote Markt, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful. Here we can admire the impressive Renaissance City Hall (Stadhuis), the elaborately decorated buildings of the old guilds, and the famous Brabo Fountain, which tells the local legend of the city’s founding. Here we’ll also have some free time in the square, which is full of bars and restaurants where you can try an authentic Belgian beer! Our final stop, for those who wish to visit, is the Plantin-Moretus Museum, which houses the original home and printing workshop of the famous Plantin and Moretus family of printers. The museum takes you on a journey through the Renaissance and Baroque eras and the intellectual and commercial life of Antwerp in the 16th and 17th centuries through its rich libraries and 400-year-old works of art.. Free time for coffee and lunch, then we depart for Belgium’s capital, Brussels. Check-in at the hotel and overnight stay.

We have breakfast early in the morning and, without wasting any time, begin our first exploration of the capital of Belgium, Flanders, and Europe, discovering that it is not only the country’s capital but also the capital of chocolate, beer, cafes, Art Nouveau architecture, surrealism, and comics. We begin our tour at the famous and most beautiful square in Europe, the Grand Place, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. Famous for its Gothic and Baroque buildings, many of which feature elaborate gold decoration, the square has served as a marketplace since the 12th century, while the magnificent City Hall was built in the 15th century. A hallmark of Gothic architecture, with a 96-meter-high bell tower, it is a landmark for the city. We’ll continue our walk with the futuristic Atomium, a giant representation of the chemical structure of iron. It was designed by engineer André Waterkeyn for the 1958 World’s Fair. But just like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Atomium proved so popular that it became a permanent attraction. Through the picturesque alleys, we’ll make our way to the Cathedral of St. Michael and Gudula. We’ll have some free time to sample freshly baked waffles, and of course, no visit to Brussels is complete without trying Belgian chocolate and pralines. The chocolate here is among the best in the world. The city is full of exceptional chocolate workshops and boutiques, and there is even a Chocolate Museum. We head to the airport for our return flight, filled with new sights, experiences, knowledge, and new friends!