Extime Travel · Pullman Paris Centre Bercy
Extime Travel's full day by coach from Paris to Bruges, with a guided walk and a canal cruise in the guided option, and free time to eat and explore. It is the only way on our list to see Bruges from Paris without planning the trains yourself.
You meet outside the main entrance of the Pullman Paris Centre Bercy, 1 Rue de Libourne in the 12th arrondissement. There is no hotel pickup, so plan how you get to Bercy early in the morning. The coach drives north into Belgium, with stops for breakfast and the toilets, and Extime gives the whole day as about 14 hours. In Bruges the guided walk covers the Gothic City Hall on the Burg, the Basilica of the Holy Blood and the historic centre, and then you have free time for lunch, the shops or the Groeningemuseum with its Flemish masters. Guests describe about four hours in town.
Now the boat. The canal cruise is included only in the guided option, and only from April to October (Extime gives 1 April to 31 October). Book from November to March and there is no cruise in the price, whatever the option. You can still buy the boat yourself in your free time: in winter at least one jetty sails every day by rota, though which one varies. Other options come without the guide or the walk, and the audio-guided one needs the operator's app and your own headphones. The boats themselves sail every day from 15 March to October, at least from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the last trip half an hour before closing. From November to 14 March the five companies work a rota: at least one jetty sails every day, and the others decide for themselves whether they open.
Bring a passport or ID card: Extime asks non-EU residents for a passport. Luggage and large bags are not allowed on board, nor are pets or smoking. The tour is not suitable for children under 3 or for wheelchair users. Neither the boats nor the jetties are wheelchair accessible: there are steps down to the water and no lift. The canal boats are open, with no roof. In a shower the skipper hands out umbrellas; if it rains hard for a long time, the boat companies can stop sailing for a while or stay shut, and that decision is theirs, not the tour's. English and Spanish run on every departure; one guest who booked another language got a Spanish guide, so check the language on your confirmation.
Meet outside the hotel's main entrance at 1 Rue de Libourne. No hotel pickup; the start time is on your voucher.
The coach crosses into Belgium with a breakfast and toilet stop on the way.
The Burg with the Gothic City Hall, the Basilica of the Holy Blood and the streets of the historic centre.
The standard city route on an open boat. From November to March it is not part of the tour.
Lunch, lace and chocolate shops, or the Groeningemuseum. Guests describe about four hours in Bruges in all.
The long drive home, for a day of about 14 hours.
★★★★★such a wonderful day trip from Paris. we had plenty of time to explore, eat, take a canal boat cruise and shop! Bruges is absolutely magical and now i cannot wait to go back!
★★★★★The experience was very good. We had about 4 hours to explore the city, which is fine, but if you like to explore and stop to eat at a restaurant in the area, the time goes by very quickly. The guide and the bus were very clear and punctual. We had no problems.
★★★★★It was a beautiful day, they make pit stops for breakfast and washroom. We had more than enough time to do everything. The guide was amazing and very informative. Overall we enjoyed and had a comfortable tour.
Read next:
Only in the guided option, and only from April to October. From November to March no option includes it, but you can buy the 30-minute boat at a jetty in your free time.
Outside the main entrance of the Pullman Paris Centre Bercy, 1 Rue de Libourne, 75012 Paris. There is no hotel pickup.
A full day of about 14 hours, with about four hours in Bruges according to guests.
Bring a passport or ID card. Extime asks residents from outside the EU for a passport.
Ready to book
Paris to Bruges and back in one day, with a guided option that adds the canal cruise from April to October.
Bruges Day Trip from Brussels with Boat OptionA coach from Brussels, a guided walk or audio guide and free time in Bruges, with the canal boat in the boat options.★ 4.5 · 10 hours · from $38
Bruges Day Trip from Amsterdam, Boat & Beer OptionsA 12-hour coach day from Amsterdam with a guided walk or audio guide, free time and the canal boat as an option.★ 4.6 · 12 hours · from $44
Bruges Boat, Chocolate & Walking TourA licensed local guide, a chocolate tasting and the canal boat with its captain, all in one price, from the Markt.★ 4.8 · 2 hours 30 minutes · from $44