Travelling from the UK to Belgium by Ferry: Itineraries & Tips 

Travelling from the UK to Belgium is easy; the travel experience varies significantly depending on the boat route you choose.

[Sponsored post] A little preparation allows you to spend less time traveling, whether you’re on a road trip across Flanders or integrating ferries with Belgium’s rail network. If you’re planning a trip to Belgium, here is a tool to see how you can reach your destination in Belgium by ferry that will get you where you’re going.

Why Choose the Ferry Instead of Flying?

While flying gets you in the air faster, taking a boat usually gives you more freedom once you get there. Travellers who possess a car may skip renting a vehicle and go straight to their destinations in Belgium, which is great for families because there is more room for luggage and fewer airport limitations.

Also, using a ferry makes the trip feel more leisurely because you don’t have to go through as many airport procedures. When you get to Belgium on the continent, you can easily reach both big cities and smaller villages thanks to the excellent network of motorways.

Choosing the Right Ferry Route

Where you choose to start your Belgian vacation will determine the optimal boat route.

• Passengers traveling west in Belgium frequently opt for crossings offering easy access to the highway system leading to Bruges, Ghent, and the Belgian coast. Routes that save travel time upon arrival could be preferred by those planning to tour Antwerp or eastern Belgium.
• Think about whether you’d like a daytime or nighttime cruise, the length of the voyage, the departure ports, and the times of day before making a reservation. Planning a trip for a school break or a long weekend often requires at least a few weeks’ advance booking.
• When planning your road trip across Belgium, it’s important to consider both the crossing time and the driving distance between the port of arrival and your initial destination. If taking a slightly longer boat ride gets you closer to your destination, you might be able to cut down on your travel time.

Driving Into Belgium

Bringing your own automobile on a boat ride is a perk. The freeway network in Belgium is excellent; it links the nation’s main cities and is well maintained and well signposted.

Belgium does not impose tolls on most passenger vehicles that use its highways, unlike many surrounding nations. Because of this, traveling by car between locations is easy and cheap.

Motorways, country roads, and urban regions all have different speed restrictions, so drivers need to keep that in mind. Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent are just a few of the urban centers that have Low Emission Zones (LEZs), meaning some cars must be registered before they can enter certain restricted areas.

The highways in Belgium are replete with petrol stations, and the signs post the destinations in the regional languages. Tourists relying solely on English spelling may be taken aback to find that road signs in Wallonia use French names, whereas in Flanders they use Dutch names.

To avoid any unpleasant surprises, make sure to check these prerequisites below before you travel. Before finalizing the journey, travellers should also check whether their nationality requires a Schengen visa for a short visit to Belgium.

Where to Stay After You Arrive

Staying the night near your route of arrival will help you relax during the trip if you’re arriving later in the day.

To have enough time to see Market Square in the evening and the historic center in the morning, travelers heading to Bruges often book accommodations near the historic center.

For easy onward travel without the hassle of city parking, guests considering train travel may choose to book a room within walking distance of stations like Brussels-Midi or Antwerp-Central.

Make sure you know where to park before making a reservation if you’re staying in the heart of Brussels or Bruges. There are a number of historic hotels within pedestrian or limited-traffic zones, but you can usually find cheaper rooms and simpler parking at hotels outside the center.

A Practical Five-Day Belgium Itinerary

Day 1. Arrival and Bruges

Depending on traffic, the drive from Calais to Bruges typically takes around 1.5 hours. In the afternoon, you may spend some time touring the city’s canals, Markt, and Burg Square. The perfect way to ease into Belgium is with a romantic meal by the canal.

Day 2. Ghent

Ghent is about 50 km from Bruges, and it takes about 25 minutes to get there by rail. Before coming back for the night, be sure to see Gravensteen Castle, St. Bavo’s Cathedral, and the Graslei shoreline.

Day 3. Brussels

The typical travel time for a direct train from Ghent to Brussels is 35-40 minutes. Take a day to stroll about the Royal Palace neighborhood, Grand Place, and the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert. Stop by the Atomium before nightfall if you have the time.

Day 4. Antwerp

The train ride from Brussels to Antwerp takes around 45 minutes. The enormous architecture and historic design of Antwerp Central Station make it one of the most impressive train stations in Europe. Make sure to start your journey here. There, you may begin your ascent to the Cathedral of Our Lady, which houses works by the artist Peter Paul Rubens.

Surrounded by charming cafés and well-preserved guild buildings, the Grote Markt is yet another must-see. The Fashion District is a great place to find unique shops run by Belgian designers and independent stores, or you may visit Meir, Belgium’s largest shopping street.

The Scheldt River and the restored docklands are other great options for tourists interested in the city’s nautical past.

Day 5. A Scenic Stop Before Returning

It may be worth considering a last stop before returning if your return boat isn’t until later in the day.

At Waterloo, history buffs can visit museums and see the world-famous Lion’s Mound, which overlooks the site of Napoleon’s defeat in 1815. If you want to visit the museum and climb the monument, you should allow at least two or three hours.

The Ardennes region, and the area around Durbuy in particular, is a popular choice among nature enthusiasts. Durbuy is one of the smallest cities in Belgium. The tranquillity of its stone streets, riverfront cafes, and strolling paths is a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of Belgium’s bigger cities.

Ostend, Belgium, is a great place to stop in the summer for a stroll along the North Sea coast, a variety of seafood restaurants, and sandy beaches.

Best Times for Ferry Travel from the UK

Ferry schedules and hotel rates are also affected by the season when you plan to visit. Ferry crossings and hotel reservations should be made at least a few weeks in advance during the busiest travel times, including Easter and the weekends of UK bank holidays. The summer months of July and August see the highest demand for sailings, particularly from travelers who want to bring their own automobiles.

The best time to visit Belgium to see the world-famous Christmas markets is in late November or early December, when cities like Bruges and Brussels see a flood of tourists. You can get better tickets during peak travel periods and have more sailing times to choose from when you book your boat early. In particular, hotels tend to sell out months in advance of events like the Winter Wonders in Brussels and the holiday markets in Bruges.

Practical Tips for UK Travellers

• Some foreign cars are required to register online before entering Brussels, Antwerp, or Ghent; therefore, it’s a good idea to verify the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) regulations before you go.
• Make sure your passport meets the entry requirements and have your driver’s license on hand if you’re planning to drive yourself out of the country before you go.
• Carrying a small amount of euros might be helpful for local markets, smaller cafés, or public restrooms that may not accept cards, even though cards are widely accepted across Belgium.
• You can save time and money by using safe public parking lots outside historic city centers, as parking is usually restricted in such areas. After finding a parking spot in Brussels and Antwerp, using the bus or train is typically the most convenient option.
• On weekends, Belgian Rail often offers promotional pricing on certain routes, so purchasing your tickets in advance might help you save money if you’re planning to take the train to many towns.

Stay connected with a Holafly eSIM

If you want to stay connected while travelling without relying on expensive roaming or buying a local SIM card, Holafly’s eSIM offers a convenient alternative. Its eSIMs are digital SIM cards that can be installed directly on a compatible, unlocked smartphone, allowing you to connect to local mobile networks as soon as you arrive.

Holafly offers eSIM plans for more than 200 destinations, including individual countries, regional plans such as Europe, and global options. Many plans include unlimited data for the number of days you select, making them particularly useful for travellers who regularly use Google Maps, WhatsApp, social media or other data-hungry apps. Installation can be completed through the Holafly app, by scanning a QR code or manually entering the eSIM details.

The service is particularly useful for multi-country trips, as a regional or global eSIM can eliminate the need to change SIM cards as you cross borders. Just check that your phone supports eSIM technology before purchasing.

Common Mistakes to Avoid UK Travellers Make 

1. Attempting to see too much in one day is a common blunder made by first-time tourists. Even though traveling across Belgium is a breeze due to the country’s small size, you should take your time seeing each city on foot.
2. Not registering for the LEZ and entering pedestrian zones
3. Bruges hotel bookings made at the last minute, city parking assumed to be free, sightseeing tours scheduled for a single day
4. Ignoring lesser-known locations is another typical blunder. Mechelen, Dinant, Leuven, and Ypres are less crowded but still offer interesting architecture, museums, and local character, in contrast to the more popular cities of Antwerp, Brussels, Bruges, and Ghent.
5. Lastly, the hours of operation for each attraction may vary. Especially in the off-season, certain historical sites, churches, and boutiques close earlier than expected.

FAQs

Is travelling to Belgium by ferry a good option?

Tourists from the United Kingdom who wish to bring their own car, bypass airport limitations, or keep on driving in Belgium and the surrounding countries might consider taking a ferry instead.

Which city in Belgium is best for first-time tourists?

Bruges is perfect for history buffs, but Brussels is a good starting point due to its train links. If you’re arriving by vehicle, Ghent could be the perfect balance between accessibility and attractions.

How many days are enough for Belgium?

Travelling for four or six days gives you the perfect amount of time to see a number of big cities as well as lesser-known ones like Dinant, Waterloo, or the Ardennes.

Is public transport reliable in Belgium?

Sure thing! The major cities of Belgium are all connected by a vast train network, and getting about cities is a breeze with buses and trams.

Which ferry route is best for visiting Bruges?

Routes that offer the shortest onward journey to western Belgium are commonly chosen by travellers wishing to visit Bruges. Whether you’re continuing on to Ghent or Brussels afterwards, your travel itinerary, and the port from where you depart in the UK all play a role in determining the best option.

Conclusion

Taking a ferry from the United Kingdom to Belgium allows you the freedom to see both bustling cities and more peaceful locations at your own speed. Travellers can experience a more seamless journey while seeing a different side of Belgium than what many short-break tourists see by selecting the correct ferry route, estimating reasonable driving distances, and residing near transit hubs.

Denzil Walton

I created Discovering Belgium in 2011 to share the country’s hidden stories, fascinating places, and remarkable people. Through articles, photography, and audio walks, I share discoveries that reveal Belgium beyond the obvious. Hope you enjoy this site.