Destination Belgium

By Railbookers Sunday, June 15, 2014 Read time: 2 minutes

The Eurostar departed promptly from London St Pancras at 08.04 am. We raced through France, briefly stopping in Lille before arriving in Brussels at 11.05. After changing trains we had a short wait before we were on our way to Bruges. The sun shining gloriously made for a striking journey as we cruised through the Belgian countryside.

On arrival in Bruges we took a taxi ride to the Hotel Navarra located in the heart of the city. We were checked in by the extremely warm and welcoming hotel team. The Hotel Navarra oozes class and elegance, housed in a listed building which boasts a beautifully tranquil garden along with a swimming pool and wellness centre.
We pulled ourselves away from the hotel to explore the web of canals encircling the breathtaking architecture of Bruges. You can make the most of Bruges’ 300 cafés or rent a horse and carriage to explore the town. The relaxed ambiance allows you to enjoy Bruges at your own pace, exploring the sights or treating yourself to a drink.

The next day we took a 30 minute train ride from Bruges station to Ghent. From the station we made our way into the bustling centre by tram. This bustle along with the striking gothic buildings gives Ghent a very different feel than the tourist popular Bruges. We ascended the 91 metre tall belfry of Ghent which dates back to the 14th century. This historic building has a lift to the top, offering easy access to the tower. From the top you have a superb view of the St Bavo Cathedral and St Nicolas’ Church. The history rich Ghent really deserves more than a day to truly explore everything there is on offer.
Our third and final day was in the capital Brussels. Brussels instantly has the feel of a capital city immersed in history and culture. The city is well connected by metro, tram and buses but we chose to explore on foot. Brussels is full of extraordinary architecture along with artistic homages to Belgian cartoonists and artists.

After a busy day in Belgium we boarded the 18.56 for London full of Belgian culture and chocolates. Having explored Bruges, Ghent and Brussels by rail, I personally can’t wait for my next adventure by train.