Travelling to Bruges from Calais

kroberts

Hi
We have booked to go to Bruges at the end of November for a few days. We will be travelling by car on the ferry from Dover to Calais and then driving to Bruges.

Has anyone travelled from Calais - Bruges in November, we're wondering if we are likely to need snow chains?

Also has anyone been to Bruges Christmas Market?

Thanks

martindow

Belgian weather is like that in UK. Snow is incredibly unlikely and if there was any, roads would be blocked with stuck cars so snow chains would not help.

peachyprice

Would you expect to need snow chains in November in the UK?

Weather is exactly the same, just a bit wetter usually. It's only 100 miles from the UK.

Tarry

I went December 2010 for the day. It was the day after all that snow in the UK that brought the UK to a halt, however, the day I sailed over to Calais it was force 9 gales (the ferries where having trouble docking) and heavy rain in the channel, however, in Bruges and up to Bruges the roads had had snow, but had had snow cleared away, and was still very icey and snowy in Bruges, the canal was iced up, but the rain and the gales that had been battling the south east corner of the UK travelled across the channel so was very wet there too later on.

I went there for the Christmas market and despite the cold and ice, it was lovely I loved the way the shops where done up for Christmas The Christmas market wasn't amazing but I enjoyed Bruges itself

kroberts

Thank you.
I was checking as the european checklist said snow chains were compulsory on some roads in France, seeing as we're travelling through I didn't know whether we needed them.

Thanks Tarry, I will make sure to take plenty of wet weather items

maman

kroberts wrote: »

Thank you.
I was checking as the european checklist said snow chains were compulsory on some roads in France, seeing as we're travelling through I didn't know whether we needed them.

Thanks Tarry, I will make sure to take plenty of wet weather items

You'll be absolutely fine. The sort of roads that need snow chains are high up in the mountains, nowhere near Bruges or the bit of France you're driving through.

Have a great time.:)

blue_haddock

We went to Bruges last year for the christmas market, its tiny really, maybe an hours worth of browsing including getting some food and drink.

maman

blue_haddock wrote: »

We went to Bruges last year for the christmas market, its tiny really, maybe an hours worth of browsing including getting some food and drink.

Yes, that may be true of the market but there's lots more to see and do. Horse and carriage ride, boat trip on the canal, general wander round the back streets. If churches are your thing, this one is amazing

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g188671-d243316-Reviews-Basilica_of_the_Holy_Blood-Bruges_West_Flanders_Province.html

And there's always the Chip museum!:rotfl:

bylromarha

We drove Calais to Bruges last year in Nov. No snow. And once out of the port, the roads are all dual carriageway, pretty major routes which would be kept clear.

Enjoy it - Bruges is beautiful - but glad we were only there for the day. Think I'd have got bored after an overnight stay. And keep your eyes open for C + A!

maman

If you think you might get bored and it interests you there are plenty of WW1 sites to visit. Ypres for the last post, Passchendaele etc. Get planning OP, make the most of your trip.

Tarry

bylromarha wrote: »

We drove Calais to Bruges last year in Nov. No snow. And once out of the port, the roads are all dual carriageway, pretty major routes which would be kept clear.

Enjoy it - Bruges is beautiful - but glad we were only there for the day. Think I'd have got bored after an overnight stay. And keep your eyes open for C + A!

I love C&A, wearing a nice tshirt from there now

I liked Bruges, but than I didn't go just for the Christmas market