Belgium · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS

15 Cruises & Boat Tours in Belgium Worth Booking

32 tours  ·  from $12 a head

Good cruises & boat tours fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.

Ghent: 50-Minute Medieval Center Guided Boat Trip - Graslei and the old port
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Ghent: 50-Minute Medieval Center Guided Boat Trip

1.50-Minute Medieval Center Guided Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,637 reviews · 1 day · from $12Our pick

Take a 50-minute boat ride through Ghent’s medieval center, passing the Three Towers, Gravensteen, guildhalls, old port, and Prince’s Court. Live commentary is given in Dutch, English, and French, with illustrated translations in six more languages. Guides such as Kobe, Brent, Anna, and Tom have been praised for clear stories and humor.

“Great activity with a knowledgeable guide. Seeing Ghent by boat is a great option!”

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Bruges: Small Group Boat Cruise and Guided Walking Tour - Starting at Markt, the heart of the old city
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Bruges: Small Group Boat Cruise and Guided Walking Tour

2.Small Group Boat Cruise and Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4,102 reviews · 2h 30m · from $51Top rated

Meet your local guide at the Historium on Markt for a 150-minute introduction to Bruges. Walk past the Basilica of the Holy Blood, Fish Market, Four Horsemen, Gruuthusemuseum, and Church of Our Lady, then cruise the canals and taste Belgian chocolate. Guides speak English, French, German, and Dutch.

“Patrick proved to be an excellent guide , informative and interesting and very willing to answer questions A well balanced walking tour with a boat trip in the middle.”

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Bruges: Walking Tour, Canal Boat Trip w/Beer Tasting Option - Starting near the station and the Lake of Love
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Bruges: Walking Tour, Canal Boat Trip w/Beer Tasting Option

3.Walking Tour, Canal Boat Trip w/Beer Tasting Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 2,759 reviews · from $41

Follow a live English, French, or Spanish-speaking guide through Bruges, from the Lake of Love and Begijnhof to Markt and the Belfort. The walking tour covers the city’s essential sights, then a 30-minute canal cruise offers a new view of the medieval center. English tours can add a tasting of four Belgian beers.

“Maria was a really great and insightful guide, who made everything about Bruges really interesting. She kept us entertained and was also very helpful in giving us tips on bars and must dos in Bruges”

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From Amsterdam: Bruges Day Trip in English with Boat Option - Starting at Aloha Bowling in Amsterdam
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From Amsterdam: Bruges Day Trip in English with Boat Option

4.Bruges Day Trip in English with Boat Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,989 reviews · 12 hours · from $61

Spend 12 hours traveling from Amsterdam to Bruges with an English-speaking guide. See Minnewater, Begijnhof, Burg Square, the Church of Our Lady, and Grote Markt, then enjoy three hours for chocolate, lunch, shopping, or a canal boat. Guides such as Blanca, Pia, Peter, and Gabriel are known for clear storytelling and useful local tips.

“I had a great day in Bruges! Our tour guide, Peter, was great and very knowledgeable about the city and its history. After the tour, he recommended me a place to get vegetarian fries since most places in Belgium use animal oil. The bus transport there and back is also very nice. Overall great trip!”

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From Amsterdam: Bruges Day Trip in Spanish with Boat Option - Meeting at Aloha Bowling and settling into the bus
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From Amsterdam: Bruges Day Trip in Spanish with Boat Option

5.Bruges Day Trip in Spanish with Boat Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,866 reviews · 12 hours · from $61

Travel by comfortable bus from Amsterdam to Bruges for a Spanish-language walking tour of the Begijnhof, Lake of Love, Burg Square, Grote Markt, and more. Guides such as Blanca, Adrian, Rafael, and Juan Mi have led past departures. You get three hours to eat, shop, and explore, with a boat option available when offered.

“Good organization. Comfortable bus. Guide Adrian was excellent and very knowledgeable. I learned a lot from him an he gave us some good advices about activities, places to eat and shop. The only thing I will make different is to have more free time. But I understand the limitation due to the distance from Amsterdam.”

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From Brussels: Bruges Day Trip with Boat Tour Option (ENG) - Meeting at Brussels Central Station
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From Brussels: Bruges Day Trip with Boat Tour Option (ENG)

6.Bruges Day Trip with Boat Tour Option (ENG)

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,352 reviews · 570 minutes - 10 hours · from $50

Travel by coach from Brussels to Bruges for a two-hour English walking tour led by guides such as Peter, Blanca, or Jorge, followed by about four hours to eat, shop, and explore. Add the canal boat ride for a different view of the city. Expect cobblestones, headphones, and no bus toilet.

“Blanca was a great guide, she has a good grasp of the history of the place we visited and she gave good recommendations on where you eat and the places where you should spend your money”

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From Brussels: Bruges Day Trip with Boat Tour Option (ES) - Meeting the guide outside Brussels Central Station
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From Brussels: Bruges Day Trip with Boat Tour Option (ES)

7.Bruges Day Trip with Boat Tour Option (ES)

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,171 reviews · 9h 30m · from $50

Travel from Brussels to Bruges with a Spanish-speaking guide, then explore the UNESCO-listed center on foot. See Minnewaterpark, Begijnhof, Market Square, the Belfry, and the canals before four hours of free time. You can add a canal boat ride, hunt for chocolate, or enjoy lunch at your own pace.

“I really enjoyed my trip to Bruges. Our guide Lucia was very kind and helpful. The city is worth visiting, but with the help of a guide it makes the experience even more rich.”

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From Paris: Day Trip to Bruges with Optional Seasonal Cruise - The coach ride from Paris to Bruges
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From Paris: Day Trip to Bruges with Optional Seasonal Cruise

8.From Paris: Day Trip to Bruges with Optional Seasonal Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,034 reviews · 1 day · from $153

Cross from Paris into Belgium by comfortable coach and spend the day in Bruges, exploring Gothic squares, canals, the Basilica of the Holy Blood, and local chocolate shops. Choose a guided walk with a seasonal cruise from April through October, or save money with the self-guided option and explore at your own pace.

“The guide is amazing and helpful! definitely recommend. The driver is friendly and helpful too”

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Ghent: 40 Minute Medieval Center Guided Boat Tour - Boarding at the medieval harbor
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Ghent: 40 Minute Medieval Center Guided Boat Tour

9.40 Minute Medieval Center Guided Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 884 reviews · 1 day · from $12

See central Ghent from the River Leie on a 40-minute guided boat ride. Your guide covers the medieval harbor, three famous towers, Prinsenhof, guildhalls, churches, monasteries, and Castle of the Counts in Dutch, English, or French. Illustrated text is available in Spanish, German, Italian, Russian, and Japanese.

“Loved this boat tour! Our guide was hilarious and knowledgeable. The best combination! Fit so much into and details in during the boat ride. Highly Recommend!”

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Guided boat trip and walk - Starting at the Markt and the Belfry
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Guided boat trip and walk

10.Guided boat trip and walk

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 703 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $53

Walk Bruges with a local guide such as Fabienne, Patrick, Bruno, or Mark, then cruise its canals for 30 minutes. You’ll see the Markt, Basilica of the Holy Blood, Beguinage, Beerwall, Gruuthuse area, and more. The gentle route suits first-time visitors, but bring warm clothing and arrive early for the boat.

“Delightful walking tour with Brigit and fun canal boat ride with Captain Alan. Brigit had a wealth of interesting knowledge about the magical 800 year old UNESCO World Heritage city of Brugge. Totally worth the time, gentle walk, easy pace. Beautiful to see the details of the city. Canal boat ride was excellent-great to see Brugge from the canal view. Highly recommend! Visit Brugge Madonna after! Oh and we especially loved the area founded by and lived in exclusively by women- Begunenhuisje is a 12th century community formed by women who had husbands out on the crusades (felt unsafe) or widows and nuns-only women have ever lived here through to…”

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Ghent: 40-Minute Historical Boat Tour of City Center - Starting at the Graslei jetty
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Ghent: 40-Minute Historical Boat Tour of City Center

11.40-Minute Historical Boat Tour of City Center

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 430 reviews · 40 min · from $12

Cruise Ghent’s center for 40 minutes with a local guide speaking Dutch, English, or French. From the Graslei jetty, you’ll pass medieval façades, the Great Butcher’s Hall, Dulle Griet, the Old Fish Market, Gravensteen, and Rabot. Open and covered boats run according to weather, with written commentary available in Spanish, Italian, and German.

“It was a great tour and the guide spoke in 3 languages to give the tour.”

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Walking tour of Bruges with boat option and/or beer tasting - Walplein, medieval houses, and old medical care
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Walking tour of Bruges with boat option and/or beer tasting

12.Walking tour of Bruges with boat option and/or beer tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 416 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $37

Walk Bruges with an English-speaking guide such as Maria, Peter, or Helmut, visiting Minnewater Lake, the Beguinage, Burg Square, and the canalside photo spots. The tour lasts about 2.5 hours and may include separate boat and beer options, so confirm exactly what is covered before booking.

“Combination of a walking tour (1.5 hours) and boat ride (30 minutes, at my leisure). Enjoyed the excursion.”

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Guided Boat Trip in Ghent - Great Meat Hall: A Look at Ghent’s Trade Past
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Guided Boat Trip in Ghent

13.Guided Boat Trip in Ghent

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 181 reviews · 40 minutes (approx.) · from $13

Cruise Ghent’s River Leie for about 40 minutes in an open or covered boat, with live commentary in English and often other languages. From Graslei, you’ll pass the Historic Port, Great Meat Hall, Castle of Counts, and other old-city sights. Departures run every 15 minutes in high season and every 30 minutes in low season.

“Our guide was great had a nice sense of humor. It was difficult to hear / understand him at times. Couldn’t have asked for a nicer day!”

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Ghent: Guided Walking Tour and Canal Boat Trip - Meeting the guide outside the Belfry
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Ghent: Guided Walking Tour and Canal Boat Trip

14.Guided Walking Tour and Canal Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 128 reviews · 2h 30m · from $32

Walk central Ghent with an English-speaking local guide, visiting St. Bavo’s Cathedral, the Belfry, Graslei, Patershol, and Gravensteen. Hear the story behind the Van Eyck altarpiece, then take a 30-minute canal cruise with an audio guide and illustrated translations. Guides such as Ariel, Peter, Juliana, and Eros have led recent tours.

“Got a late start as much of the group was coming from Brussels but the guide was very knowledgeable and well informed about the history of Ghent.”

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Day trip to Bruges from Paris with canal cruise - Leaving Paris in a small vehicle
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Day trip to Bruges from Paris with canal cruise

15.Day trip to Bruges from Paris with canal cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 81 reviews · 13 hours · from $159

Travel from Paris to Bruges in a small group with a multilingual guide such as Jean Baptiste, Serge, or Roland. See the Belfry, Grand Place, Burg Square, Beguinage, and Lake of Love, then enjoy free time for Belgian food, shopping, and a canal cruise from April to November. Winter visits include the Gothic Town Hall Hall when conditions allow.

“Jean Baptiste was a great guide. Very sociable and informative. The canal boat ride and walking around Bruge was well worth it. Fantastic atmosphere.”

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New in Cruises & Boat Tours

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★ 5.0Bruges Tour from Your Cruise Ship with Canal Cruse & Leisure TimeFrom $786 reviews
★ 4.0Charms and Gems of Bruges for the First Timer Cruise VisitorsFrom $8411 reviews
★ 3.0Bruges Uncovered: Historic Walking Tour & Canal Boat ExperienceFrom $06 reviews
★ 4.5Bruges Charms and Gems Tour for Cruise PassengersFrom $8113 reviews
★ 5.0Stress-Free Bruges for Cruise Passengers with opt. Canal CruiseFrom $3276 reviews
★ 5.0Private MAS Antwerp Aperitif Cruise (8 – 12 Guests)From $5421 reviews
★ 4.5Offshore Wind Farm Tour by BoatFrom $966 reviews
★ 4.5Bruges & Ghent Tour with Cruise & Chocolate VisitFrom $8113 reviews

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