The best cycling holidays in Europe.
Service Rating 4.7 from 898 reviews

Bruges Cycling Break

4.7
(6 reviews)

Bruges is the perfect base for a Belgian cycling holiday as the city is right in the heart of some great cycling countryside. Base yourself in this beautiful, medieval city enjoying daily rides around the famous sights and into the surrounding countryside, such as the North Sea coast and the historic town of Damme.

This single-centre trip gives you the ultimate flexibility as you can take the cycle tours in whichever order you choose. The four easy-to-navigate rides take you on circular routes north, south, east and west from Bruges, to make the most of the surrounding towns and countryside.

Flexitreks Cycling HolidayDunes at De Haan

Highlights include the elegant seaside resort of De Haan, the dunes and beaches of the coast, and the wide open polder landscapes and the pretty canal towpaths that will form the backdrop to your daily rides.

Returning to Bruges each night you’ll really get the chance to know the ‘Venice of the North’, arguably Belgium’s most beautiful city. It boasts an outstanding canal-lined centre, plus quaint chocolate stores, good restaurants and local cosy bars.

The terrain in Flanders – Belgium’s northern half – is typically very flat, and the rides mainly follows good quality and well-signposted cycle paths.

Itinerary

This single centre trip gives you ultimate flexibility as you can do ANY of theses optional rides on any day you choose.

On arrival make your way to your hotel in Bruges. After check-in you’re free to relax or explore this beautiful medieval city. During your stay you have the choice of the four itineraries below. You’re of course free to choose which of those to ride and in what order.

This tour takes you on a circular route south west from Bruges into the very heart of Flanders, the Flemish speaking northern part of Belgium. You’ll be heading for the Wijnendael area, where there are a couple of fascinating castles to visit. First up is castle d’Aertrycke near Torhout, then you’ll have the chance to visit castle Wijnendael, before getting back on your bikes and returning to Bruges.

You’ll get to know some of Flanders’ most picturesque old villages on this tour. Damme is a fine example with a beautiful central square and some fine restaurants serving superb regional cuisine. The route then leads you up to the North Sea coast and the seaside town of Knokke, close to the Dutch border, before leading you back to Bruges along quiet cycle paths.

Today’s ride leads you north west into the polder landscape. Stop to admire the charming village of Lissewege, with its picturesque canal before pedaling on to the elegant town of De Haan on the coast. The town was a fashionable haunt back in the late 19th century and is still full of ‘Belle Epoque’ charm today. Spend some time on the long sandy beach before returning tp Bruges for the night.

Heading south from your base, follow the main canal that links Bruges with Ghent. Your destination is the castle, park and nature-filled countryside around Bulskampveld, where you can stop and admire the surroundings before looping back north to Bruges. You can also see the Male Castle, once Flanders’ most important fortification.

Bikes

On this tour you can choose between a regular bike or an electric bike.

Regular bike: Is an alloy framed unisex model with 21 speeds and a comfortable, relaxed riding position, perfect for a leisure cycling holiday. Male specific frames with a crossbar are available from a height of 170cm. Bikes come equipped with a pannier, lock and repair kit. 

Electric bikes: These unisex/step through electric bikes are a popular option on this route and ensure riders can enjoy the scenery along the way, whilst not working too hard at the climbs. Bikes come equipped with a pannier, lock and repair kit. 

Helmets are not supplied, so you will need to bring your own.

Accommodation

Below you will find examples of the types of accommodation typically used on this tour. Please note that the hotels we book for you may differ slightly from those described but they will certainly be of a similar standard.

Comfort: Hotel Velotel

Superior: NH Hotel Bruges 

Local taxes

Some hotels have started to charge a local/tourist tax. These taxes are not included in the sale price of the tour and must be paid directly by you at check-in or checkout at the hotels. This fee varies and is ever changing but as a guide, you may be asked to pay between €2-€4 per person per night

Getting There

Fly to Brussels or take the Eurostar. Then take the train to Bruges

Research flights from UK airports.

Research Eurostar.

Research trains in Belgium.

Reviews

Laurence Martin - September, 27 Sep 2022
Service
5
Not only was the original booking straight-forward, we were helped through the changes that were made necessary due to the covid pandemic.
Andy - October, 24 Oct 2022
Glad we got there in the end Laurence, despite covid complications.
Service
4
The hotel was very nice and in an excellent location, but could have done with some re-furbishment, especially the room we were in.
Andy - October, 24 Oct 2022
Many thanks Laurence, we have fed your review back to the hotel as a gentle prompt.
Daniel Somogye - August, 28 Aug 2018
Service
5
We booked a self guided cycling tour of Brugge, Belgium and were very pleased with the service we received. The bikes, maps, and information booklet were at the hotel and ready when we arrived.
Andy - January, 30 Jan 2019
Thanks Daniel, we're glad you were pleased with the service.
Geoff Knight - September, 10 Sep 2017
Service
4
We understood what we were buying.
Service
4
Hotel NH Bruges is perfect location 10 minutes walk from rail station and on edge of city square for eateries and for exploring the city centre on foot or cycle. Bikes are modern reliable "utility" machines, very much sit up and beg, but very comfortable, good gears, and built in locks, racks and guards to stop oil / clothing from getting caught up etc. Very reliable. Hotel needs to invest in better bike storage facilities, as lock up area is crowded with cycles, and not under cover, so wet machine in morning. Getting access to get out / put bike away a bit of a faff in having to ask reception to open it. Could do with a combination keypad lock on door with code change every day. Belgium cycling routes are sign posted all the way, so you "join the dots" on the road against your itinnery & map. Very easy. Cycling routes of 36 to 50 miles are just right length, but you easily shorten or length to suit by following the signs. North Bruges junction at points 3, 23, and 27 could be made clearer. We messed this crossing up on both the red and green routes leaving Bruges. You cross a canal bridge and are faced with a duel carriageway all protected for cycle crossing, but where to exist it is a nightmare. We were zig zaging about looking how to exit the other side, clashing with local Belgium's who "looked at us in a funny way". Plastic map case for handle bars provided by Flexitex on this tour was rather poor. Had better "bags" in past holidays. Only provided with simple plastic B5 case held on by Velcro which made it sloppy on handlebars, needing one to hold it and re-fix the Velcro periodically. Would not support mobile phone / camera had to keep opening panniers to get camera out, real pain. Needs a proper pouch on bars to hold more "quick draw items" like on Danube trip we did in Austria. Belgium is expensive (take tea bags with you). We found plenty of supermarket outlets in small towns we cycled through to buy food for lunch, leaving evening meal to "café culture". Sum up: Good road infrastructure for safe efficient cycling. Good quality utility bikes. Romantic city Bruges, nice quiet hotel. Not so good: Belgium cost of living, one scary junction in northern Bruge, poor map case on handlebars won't support camera for quick draw.
Andy - October, 14 Oct 2017
Many thanks for the very comprehensive review Geoff. Some good suggestions here which will be given due consideration for next season.
Neville Andrews - May, 25 May 2017
Service
4
Service from Flexitreks was excellent. Hotel was in a good position for access to Bruges and the surrounding countryside. Bike storage very secure and waterproof. Suggested routes were a bit long for a couple of beginners but we found useful shortcuts. Only downside was the lack of vegan/vegetarian options on the standard menu but the chef was very accommodating and Bruges centre was only 10 mins by bike. Would happily recommend Flexitreks to others.
Service
4
Good value for money. Would definitely book with Flexitreks again.
Andy - July, 03 Jul 2017
Thanks for the positive review Neville and sorry about the lack of vegetarian/vegan options at the hotel. Glad to hear this didn't detract too much from the overall experience.
Jeremy - July, 30 Jul 2016
Service
5
Very efficient and, as beginner cyclists, told us everything we needed to know. Everything was ready and waiting for us when we got to our hotel - hassle free!
Service
5
This was a great intro to cycling holidays for us. Very flat and gentle, plus extremely well sign-posted and easy to follow routes. Bruges is a lovely place to be centred, with lots of good restaurants and bars. Having a bicycle makes it a lot easier getting around too. Think we'll be back for more!
Ally - August, 02 Aug 2016
So glad we were able to accommodate your booking at short notice Jeremy and it's wonderful to hear you are now both cycling holiday converts!
Suzanna - June, 19 Jun 2016
Service
5
Very helpful
Service
4
Ally - July, 04 Jul 2016
Thank you.