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Day Trip to Ypres, War Sites, and World War I Battlefields in Belgium

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: April 19, 2023

Day Trip to Ypres, War Sites, and World War I Battlefields in Belgium

Does the name Ypres (Ieper) ring a bell to you? What about Flanders Fields – the World War I battlefields in Belgium ? If it does, you are now probably seeing images of the ‘great’ war, of the trenches and poison gas, and of hundreds of thousands of young soldiers who lost their lives in the war…

If you are wondering how to visit Ypres and the WW1 sites and battlefields in Belgium , then read on!

In this article, we are sharing our experience and tips for your visit to Ypres and the WWI battlefields. First, you can read about what to see and do in Ypres. In addition, you can find information about Tyne Cot and other famous Great War cemeteries near Ypres, as well as other WWI sites.

At the bottom of this post, you can find our suggested self-drive 1-day itinerary and also organized day tours that visit Ypres and WW1 sites in Belgium.

TIP: If you have no time to read the article and are looking for the best tour that visits Ypres and the battlefields, then check out this highly-rated day tour . It’s the best tour that’s available and ideal if you don’t have a car.

Day Trip to Ypres and World War I Battlefields

Why did we choose Ypres and the WWI battlefields for a family day trip?

This part of Europe has been a battlefield for so many armies throughout history, and Belgian schools do their utmost to ensure that future generations do not forget. The WWI battlefields near Ypres and the WWII Bastogne War Museum and Mardasson Memorial are the main war sites in Belgium and every child learns about their significance.

So it was not a surprise that our 8-year-old son came home from school one day and told us what he had learned about the terrible battlefields in West Flanders where hundreds of thousands of soldiers from all over the world died in the mud. He learned about the use of poison gas, Yperite, life in the trenches, and the fact that the soldiers were even eating their horses in order to survive in no-man’s-land.

We then realized that it was maybe time to bring him and his little brothers to the places he had heard and read about. In fact, we felt a bit ashamed, because it’s less than 2 hours from where we live and we hadn’t visited Ypres yet. While, in the meantime, tens of thousands of people come from all over the world to visit Ypres and the war battlefields every year…

So we thought it was a good time to take some time for reflection and to go back in time a hundred years (or does that sound too serious now?). And we decided to make a day trip to Ypres and surroundings.

We had a very interesting, moving, and educational day and so I want to share our experience. Whether you live here or are visiting Belgium, Ypres and the WWI battlefields are certainly worth the trip!

In Flanders Fields

Before I share practical information about visiting Ypres and the WWI Battlefields, I’d like to share this beautiful poem by John McCrae – ‘In Flanders Fields’.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery and Memorial

It was a cold December day and when we arrived in the tiny village of Zonnebeke the faint winter sun was there to welcome us.

It is here that some of the most infamous battles of WWI, the battle of Passchendaele (Passendale), took place in 1917, taking the lives of more than half a million soldiers.

Tyne Cot war cemetery is an obligatory stop when visiting the war battlefields in Belgium. It put us all in the ‘mood’ for the rest of that day: an impressive burial ground for almost 12,000 Commonwealth soldiers, most of whom the name/identity could never be established.

Our kids understood the meaning of a ‘world war’ after seeing headstones of soldiers from places as far away as Australia, New-Zealand, Canada, South-Africa or India in this tiny little village in Flanders.

The stone wall surrounding the cemetery makes-up the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing. Walking around here and seeing the names of almost 35,000 missing Commonwealth soldiers who died here after 1917 is very moving.

World War I battlefields and Ypres day trip with kids - Tyne Cot

Practical information for visiting Tyne Cot:

Tyne Cot is located approx. 10km outside the city center of Ypres. Address: Vijfwegestraat, 8980 Zonnebeke
The Tyne Cot visitor’s center was closed during winter, but the cemetery can be visited anytime.

After visiting Tyne Cot, we drove to the center of Ypres, where we had a quick lunch. It wasn’t that easy to find something at a decent price and good quality in this tourist area in the low season, but there were a few restaurants open. I assume that there is more choice if you come here in the high tourist season.

After lunch, we visited the In Flanders Field Museum – it’s located right on the main town square of Ypres.

Ypres – Ieper

When you are visiting the battlefields, make sure to also take the time to explore the small town center of Ypres. If you are not sure where to go, you can follow the signs on the pavement for a tourist route – see the picture below.

Don’t miss the Cloth Hall where In Flanders Fields Museum is located, the St Martin’s Cathedral , the Menin Gate Memorial and the Ramparts next to the canal! Read on for more information about these places!

In Flanders Fields Museum and the Bell Tower

The In Flanders Fields Museum is situated right on the main square of Ypres town, in the impressive Lakenhalle building, or Ypres Cloth Hall . This is definitely a must if you want to get a picture of life during the war!

We steered the kids away from some of the videos and photographs that were too shocking in detail. On the other hand, our kids showed a huge interest in the stories told by children who survived the war, in the weapons, the clothes, and the various interactive displays.

For more information and practical information, check the official website of the In Flanders Fields museum .

In Flanders Fields Museum Ypres (Ieper) Belgium

Inside the museum, you can also opt to climb the Bell Tower (Belfry). If you’re fit enough, make sure to do it! The views are great and in the distance, you can see the surroundings where all those battles of WWI took place.

Needless to say, we climbed the 231 steps of the Bell Tower (our kids can never resist a tower to climb!). From there, we had a fantastic view of the city, including the Menin Gate. It’s definitely worth the climb and the kids loved it!

The Menin Gate and the Last Post

Another must-see landmark in Ypres, the Menin Gate , is sometimes also referred to as Ypres War Memorial. It has the names of almost 55,000 missing Commonwealth soldiers who died in the area between 1914 and 1917. Hundreds of thousands of men passed through this gate on their way to the battlefields.

The size of the monument is very impressive. But it’s not before you see thousands of names on the endless walls that you really get a lump in your throat. There are flowers everywhere and many ‘We will not forget’ messages that people still leave here every day.

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them.” – Laurence Binyon

Good to know: Every evening, at 8 PM, the Last Post is sounded at the Menin Gate . Following the Menin Gate Memorial opening in 1927, the people of Ypres wanted to express their gratitude towards those who had given their lives for Belgium’s freedom, and since that day for almost a century now, a daily ceremony is held at the Menin Gate. It’s a simple, but moving tribute.

The Last Post would certainly have been an unforgettable experience, but we also wanted to visit other places around Ypres, so we decided to leave this for a next visit. And indeed, a few months later, we returned to Ypres and listened to the Last Post. It’s so moving! If you can, wait for it.

The Ramparts of Ypres

If you have some time to discover Ypres more, it’s well worth walking on the walls surrounding the city.

The Ypres ramparts can be accessed via the Menin Gate. The official website of Ypres tourism has some more information about the Ramparts of Ypres .

Yorkshire Trench & Dug-Out

Our kids wanted to see the trenches, so we drove to the Yorkshire Trench & Dug-Out where we could walk through the restored trenches.

We had some difficulties finding the place in the middle of an industrial area. In fact, the whole place has only been discovered in 1997 with the creation of the industrial site. While the kids walked through the trenches we read the explanatory signs. It’s so eye-opening to learn about life during the war.

Practical info for visiting Yorkshire Trench & Dug-Out:

Yorkshire Trench & Dug-Out is not easy to find. It’s a very small place, amidst the industrial buildings, so drive slowly and look for a sign, on the left side if coming from Ypres. Address: Bargiestraat, 8904 Ieper

Day trip to Ypres and the war sites in Flanders Fields with kids - Yorkshire Trench and Dug-Out

Langemark German War Cemetery

We continued our trip and went on to Langemark , where the first gas attacks took place, to visit the German war cemetery . More than 44,000 German soldiers are buried here, almost 25,000 of them in a mass grave.

If you come to meditate, this is a very good place to be. It was calm and quiet at the popular landmark like Tyne Cot, but this place was absolutely abandoned. The flat grave markers give this cemetery a distinct and modest look. The German graveyards are very different than the somewhat pompous Tyne Cot.

Practical info for visiting Langemark German war cemetery:

Address: Klerkenstraat 64, 8920 Poelkapelle

Langemark German war cemetery near Ypres Belgium

Essex Farm Cemetery

One of the best known WWI sites in Ypres is the Essex Farm Cemetery . If you have the time, it’s definitely worth a visit too. You can read more about it here: Essex Farm .

Yser Tower – IJzertoren Diksmuide

The kids wanted to see the Yser Tower (IJzertoren) so we drove to the nearby town of Diksmuide . The Yser Tower is a peace monument and commemorates the soldiers killed on the Yser Front during WWI.

The Yser Tower, the highest peace monument in Europe, symbolizes the demand for peace. Words ‘No more war’ are written on the tower in the four languages of the fighting forces in the area during the First World War (Dutch, French, English, and German).

We knew it would be too late to visit the 22-floors museum (they close at 5 PM in winter), but we could at least make a walk around the peace site with the tower and the impressive Gate of Peace .

Gate of Peace at the Yser Tower in Diksmuide Belgium

Trench of Death, Diksmuide

You can also visit the Trench of Death near Diksmuide . It’s a larger site than the Yorkshire Trench & Dug-Out. We skipped this as it was already dark by the time we were in the area. From what I understand, it’s a much more popular site with longer trenches, so if you have time to do just one, try the Trench of Death.

Here you can find more info for visiting the Trench of Death.

Vladslo German War Cemetery

Our next stop was the Vladslo German war cemetery . It’s one of the many cemeteries in the area, with almost 26,000 soldiers buried there.

It is an impressive place, with each gravestone containing 20 names of soldiers. But it is especially known for the Grieving Parents statues by Käthe Kollwitz , whose son is buried in this cemetery.

It was getting pretty dark by now and walking amongst the graves of so many young men who lost their life here was a moving and unusual experience. Although it all happened a hundred years ago we could still feel the pain, the suffering, and the death around us.

The grieving parents - Vladslo German war cemetery

Suggested one day itinerary for Ypres and the World War I Battlefields in Belgium

Visiting Ypres and the war cemeteries was a unique experience, also for the children. We won’t quickly forget it!

If you are visiting Belgium, I highly recommend paying a visit to the WWI battlefields and Ypres.

If you have your own car and want to visit the most interesting WWI battlefields and cemeteries around Ypres in a day, I suggest the following itinerary:

Vladslo German war cemetery – the Trench of Death – Yser Tower and the Gate of Peace – Tyne Cot – Essex Farm or Langemark German War Cemetery – Ypres .

Best Tours to Ypres & WWI Battlefields

If you don’t have a car, it’s best to book an organized tour to Ypres (see below). You can also take a train to Ypres and visit the sights in town, but it’s not easy to see any other sights if you don’t have transportation.

Ypres tour from Brussels. This might be a good day trip to consider if you are staying in Brussels for a few days. However, the tours for visiting Ypres from Brussels seem to have been discontinued. So you’d have to first take a train to Bruges and then a tour from there – see below.

There are also organized tours to the Ypres battlefields that leave from Bruges . Bruges is very close to Ypres, so this is something definitely worth doing if you are staying there for a few days. Check this highly-rated tour to Ypres from Bruges .

TIP: You can easily take a train to Bruges from any other city in Belgium and join this tour for a day – it starts and ends at the train station in Bruges.

Tips for Visiting Ypres and WWI Sites

Plan ahead what you want to see , read about the places you want to visit, and decide on your itinerary in advance. There is so much to do in the area! If you travel with kids, you may want to tell them some history so that they know what to expect and understand what they see. Ypres City has an excellent website to help you prepare for your trip.
If you are traveling by car, start your day early in the morning, especially in winter. Or stay overnight and take your time to explore the area more in-depth. Here you can find the best deals for Ypres accommodation .
Take a picnic lunch if you are visiting the cemeteries during the day. We went to Ypres for lunch but wasted so much time on this.
Dress warmly for the cemetery visits. There is a lot of wind in the area.

Books and Movies about the WWI

If you like history and want to know a bit more about World War I, here are some great book- and movie suggestions:

The guns of August by Barbara Tuchman – about the start of WW I.
The Great War: A Combat History of the First World War by Peter Hart.
Voices from the Front: An Oral History of the Great War by Peter Hart.
Movie and books about Passchendaele .

Yes, Ypres is worth visiting. The city is beautiful with some impressive landmarks, including Menin Gate and Flanders Fields Museum. In addition, Ypres is the starting point for visiting the World War I sites, battlefields, and war cemeteries throughout the region.

Ypres is best known as the site of five WWI battles between Germans and the Allied armies. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers have lost their lives near Ypres during the First World War. It was in Ypres that mustard gas (now called ‘Ieperiet’ or ‘Yperiet’) was used by Germans in 1917 for the first time.

At least 1 million people died in the battles near Ypres during WWI, with estimates up to 1,35 million casualties. First Battle (Oct-Nov 1914) had over 250,000 casualties, the Second Battle (Apr-May 1915) – around 100,000 casualties. The Battle of Passchendaele (July-November 1917) had around 400,000 to 800,000 casualties. The Fourth Battle of Ypres – 200,000 casualties, and the Fith Battle of Ypres had at least 10,000 casualties.

Yes, you can visit Ypres and Belgian WWI sites as a day trip from Brussels. Ypres is 120km from Brussels and it takes about 1,5 – 2 hours to drive there by car. You can also get to Ypres by train. But if you want to visit the war sites, it’s best to either come by car or with an organized tour.

So, this is our guide to visiting the Flanders Fields and Ypres. If you are visiting Belgium and are not sure how to best plan your time, please check our suggested Belgium itinerary for 3 or 4 days . It covers all the musts!

Touring the Battlefields of Flanders Fields

October 25, 2020 November 3, 2020

When touring the Battlefields of Flanders Fields and northern France, using an experienced guide can make all the difference.

Very soon after the guns fell silent on Flanders Fields and northern France in November 1918, visitors to the battlefields began arriving. It was a difficult and expensive journey, but these first “battlefield tourists” or “pilgrims” as some preferred to be called, were driven to make the trip to see where their sons, fathers, brothers, uncles and friends had fallen. Those who couldn’t afford the time or expense could try and pay for a photographer, as described in a book I recently reviewed .

Nowadays a whole host of guides, tour operators and self-guided itineraries, cycling and walking routes exist. Check this comprehensive list for more details.

The company Flanders Battlefield Tour organizes daily tours of the Ypres Salient and the Somme. It’s run by Jacques Ryckebosch and Genevra Charsley, who have featured on BBC and other international television stations. Both are extremely passionate about the First World War. Genevra has been a member of the Western Front Association since 1997 and has assisted with the Poppy Parade in Ypres since 1997. For many years Jacques was curator at Talbot House .

Their Grand Tour (North Salient) visits several battlegrounds and memorials, including: Essex Farm (Advanced Dressing Station and John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Fields”), Pilckem Ridge (Gas Attack 1915), Langemarck German Cemetery, Vancouver Corner, The Brooding Soldier Memorial, New Zealand War Memorial Gravenstafel, Tyne Cot Cemetery (The Third Battle of Ypres aka Passchendaele) and Hill 62 (Sanctuary Wood) Museum with trenches, returning back to Ypres via Hellfire Corner.

Their Extended Tour (South Salient) takes you to: Bayernwald German Trenches, Lone Tree Crater/Pool of Peace, Hyde Park Corner Memorial & Cemetery (Plugstreet), Irish Peace Park, New Zealand Memorial and finally to the Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

They also provide a Short Tour around Ypres as well as tours to Fromelles, The Somme, and Vimy Ridge. Moreover, they offer bespoke tours, for example for people wishing to follow in the footsteps of relatives who are resting in peace within a cemetery or listed on one of the many memorials to the missing.

I asked Genevra to explain a little more about the work of a battlefield guide.

what brought you to Belgium?

“I was brought up in the English Midlands near Stratford-upon-Avon. My first real encounter with Belgium was a four-day walking battlefield tour of the Ypres Salient.”

How long have you lived in Belgium?

“We lived in Ypres for three years but then moved back to the UK for 18 months. We returned to Belgium in July 2007 to live in Poperinge.”

Were you interested in First World War history before living in Belgium?

“Yes, and history in general. After going out on my very first tour with Retired Lieutenant Colonel Graham Parker (aka Daddy Parker), my whole perspective on life changed completely. It felt like a monumental shift within me. From that moment on I collected, read, researched, and regularly visited the battlefields with good friends.”

How did you get a job as a Battlefield Guide?

“I don’t think of it as a job, more of a vocation; something that I’m extremely passionate about. Initially I guided part-time whilst living in Ypres and still working part-time for a publication in London. Eventually I made the transition to full-time guiding.”

What do you enjoy most about being a battlefield guide?

“I love interacting with people from across the world, hearing their stories, and being able to help them with furthering their knowledge and research. It’s so rewarding to help people make connections with those who served in the First World War and the generation that came afterwards.”

What makes a good battlefield guide?

“Obviously a battlefield guide needs in-depth knowledge, but also the ability to communicate that information clearly. It means being able to translate from items such as war diaries and military operational histories to on the ground, in a way that your customer can understand and appreciate what’s being said, thus bringing it alive for them in context of the subject matter. It’s also important to be approachable and to be empathic, as many times I am dealing with people who have lost relatives in the war and may still be grieving in some way. Finally, trench and road map reading along with orientation skills are a must. The worst scenario would be for a tour guide to get lost and orientate to an incorrect trench!”

Genevra is an excellent guide, not only well informed but passionate about the history of the area during World War I. She also has a great sense of humor and made the afternoon very enjoyable. I would highly recommend her tour. Trip Advisor

Are you constantly adding new material to the tours?

“We are eternal students, so yes we constantly add new material into our tours. Apart from anything it helps us as guides to stay fresh. A recent example is Essex Farm. I did some research on a soldier attached to the Irish Guards. He formed part of a trench raid on enemy lines to gather intelligence and bring back German prisoners. The unit was not allowed to ‘withdraw’ until they had achieved their objectives. He was fatally wounded during the raid and today he’s resting in peace in Essex Farm. So that’s a story that I can add to the tour. It provides an excellent opportunity to explain how deaths occur outside of major offensives. The bespoke tours that we offer generally result in research which enables us to collate new material and build it into our tours.”

Do you have a favourite tour?

“That’s difficult to answer! All the battlefields have their own stories and their own personalities. I enjoy the bespoke tours. But I’m repeatedly drawn to Hill 60 down to Plugstreet in Flanders, and to Loos, along with the Ancre Valley and Serre, in France.”

Thanks Genevra for this insight into an interesting and valuable job. Anyone interested in touring the battlefields of Flanders and northern France can contact Genevra via Flanders Battlefield Tour .

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4 thoughts on “Touring the Battlefields of Flanders Fields”

We did a battlefield tour from Bruges and it was well worth it. Much easier than us driving around everywhere and we learned so much.

I can’t imagine the appreciation families feel for their guidance.

I have toured several times with Gen & Jacques and always find them very interesting and entertaining (same tour is never the same). Very highly recommended for anyone, whether you know a bit (like me) or you are a novice… Walk the ground, see where it all happened, listen to the stories…

Thanks for your input Edward; delighted to hear you are in good hands with Genevra and Jacques.

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Flanders Battlefield Tours, Ieper (Ypres)

The original Flanders Battlefield Tour

Company since 1993.

Welcome to

Salient Tours and

The British Grenadier Bookshop

Take a look at our rare and interesting items currently in the shop .

We are Ypres' oldest and most respected independent tour company. Since 1993, we have provided memorable battlefield tour experiences of the Ypres Salient and France including the Somme, Fromelles and Vimy Ridge. Our experienced, award-winning guides are not only very knowledgeable in their fields, but are passionate, friendly, approachable and willing to accommodate our guest's needs whenever they can. Our tours begin with an introduction that explains why Ypres became the most famous town on the Western Front. We describe the ebb and flow of the fighting and, with wartime photographs, illustrate the almost unbelievable state of the battlefield. Our minibus then takes you slowly through the now-peaceful farmland that still echoes those terrible days as tonnes of live artillery shells are still unearthed every year. All tours can incorporate visits to others sites by arrangement, so if you want to visit the grave of a relative in the area, please do let us know. Please feel free to call or email us if you would like help in choosing a tour to suit your interests. We would also be glad to help with any research with regards to family members who fought or fell in the area. We would be honoured to help make your battlefield visit a memorable and special experience, so please book your place in our air conditioned and comfortable minibus.

Day Trips & Excursions

World War I Battlefields Tour of Flanders from Brussels

Full-day Flanders' WWI battlefields tour from Brussels with an expert guide
See the poignant KÃƒÂ¤the Kollwitz sculptures called Grieving Parents at the German Military Cemetery of Vladslo
Stop for a typical Belgian lunch of cheese and bread in Passchendaele's legendary Old Cheese Factory
Visit quietly dignified memorials to fallen WWI soldiers like Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery
Enjoy an audio-guided tour around In Flanders' Fields Museum near Essex Farm Field Hospital
Spend time in Ypres and attend the Last Post Ceremony in the evening

Inclusions & Exclusions

Air-conditioned vehicle
Lunch at the Old Cheese Factory
Hotel pick up & drop-off
Food and drinks, unless specified
Poppy (1 euro) at In Flanders' Fields Museum

Departure & Return

Grasmarkt Straat 82

9:00 AMHotel pickups commence approximately 30 - 60 minutes prior to this time

Returns to original departure point

What To Expect

Depart from your centrally located hotel in Brussels or greet your guide in the city center, depending upon which option you selected. Climb aboard a comfortable, air-conditioned coach and admire the scenic surroundings as your travel towards the town of Vladslo. Disembark and explore the German Military Cemetery of Vladslo, a poignantly peaceful area that features the famous sculpture by KÃƒÂ¤the Kollwitz, Grieving Parents. Next, venture to the small city of Diksmuide and see a stretch of the Western Front that symbolizes Belgium's courage and heroism during the conflict. See impressive monuments like the Yser Tower (IJzertoren) and the grand Gate of Peace (IJser Gate) then return to the vehicle for the scenic subsequent leg of the journey. Stop in the somnolent town of Passchendaele and discover how a bloody battlefield underwent a radical transformation into this quaint place, then revitalize with a hearty ploughman's lunch in a local restaurant. After feasting on local delicacies, head to the Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery to reflect upon the 35,000 graves that immortalize the memory of fallen soldiers. Next, travel to Essex Farm Field Hospital and see the bunkers that inspired John McCrae to write his influential poem, In Flanders' Field. Hear fascinating tales of violent warfare and the dank conditions soldiers lived in then enrich your knowledge with the comprehensive exhibitions of the Flanders' Field Museum. Venture to Hill 60 to see some strategic tunnels then disembark at the picturesque town of Ypres to enjoy some independent exploration and dinner (own expense). Reconvene with your guide at a pre-arranged time to witness to soul-stirring Last Post Ceremony at Ypres' Menin Gate. Absorb the saddening simplicity of the service then return to your vehicle for the drive back to Brussels.

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel At least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Your Contact Details

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