Bruges Christmas Markets 2025
Key Information

 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​There's no need to rush to board your coach. You'll be sat in the same seats if you're the first or last to board your coach.  ​

Please keep the aisles clear of bags, legs etc at all times. 

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Passports: 

Don't forget your passport and please keep your passports handy, you'll need to show them more than once on both the outward and return journeys. 

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What to expect at customs at Dover:

A new area has been created at Dover where we now have to travel to the western docks area where coach passengers will need to leave the vehicle to use one of 24 self-service EES pre-registration kiosks to enter some data before they pass through border control. (All will be explained at the port so don't stress)  This should take less than two minutes per person. The coach will then be ‘sealed’ and will proceed to Dover Eastern Docks to check-in with Irish Ferries.

Once complete the driver with proceed to the boarding lane for the Ferry. Somewhere along the journey our staff need to scan your passports onto the Irish Ferries App. 

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What to expect at customs at Calais:

The coach will stop at the Irish Ferries check-in booth where the driver may need to collect all the passports, please have them open on your photograph page. The passports will be scanned at the booth. 

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The coach will then proceed to customs.  The Coach will park and everyone will be asked to leave the coach with their passports and any small bags.  You will then proceed through French passport control and then go through to the UK Border force passport control.  The coach should be waiting for you near the exit where you will get back on.  The coach will then proceed to the boarding lane for the Ferry.

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Travel Insurance:

With all the winter bugs around it is very important that you arrange full comprehensive travel insurance.  We can not offer a refund if you cancel for whatever reason.

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WC: 

There is a toilet onboard the coach however this is only ever meant for liquids. Any children must be accompanied by an adult. To help keep the coach smelling nice and fresh please use other toilet facilities wherever possible such as ferry and docks.

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Club Class Food & Drinks: 

If you have upgraded to our Club Class seats, there will be a hostess serving hot/cold drinks and snacks to your seat.  Such as hot mulled wine, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, soft drinks, as well as mince pies, hot dogs and a range of snacks such as crisps and chocolate.  Food may vary.  We only take cash please.

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Club Class Back Seat Entertainment

If you have upgraded to our Club Class and have back seat entertainment the headphone socket is a common single 3.5 pin. You can buy a headset on the coach for £5 and it's yours to keep.  We will have WIFI in the UK, but not in Europe.

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Comfort:

Please feel free to bring pillows and blankets to make your journey more comfortable.  You can leave non valuable belongings on your coach when you arrive in Bruges.

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USB Charging points

Although the coach has USB points they can sometimes be not very powerful and unreliable. We recommend you bringing with you a battery pack as a back up just incase as the last thing you want is for your device to run out of battery. You can also charge devises on the ferry.

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Arrival in Bruges:

Should be approximately 11:30/11:45 (local time) depending on traffic. All coaches must drop off and depart from the coach bus stops next to the Bargeplein Coach park. This is a 20 minute walk to the Markets. We depart Bruges at 17:50 Please be prompt back to the coach.

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Here is a live interactive google map with the Coach Park and other key points of interest, as long as your location is switched on your phone.  Make sure to set to walking!

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Some useful numbers to store in your phone: 

• British Embassy in Belgium: +44 7860 351445

• Coach Innovations 24 hour emergency number: 03301 335599

 

Back in the UK: 

Our arrival time back in Dover will be approximately 21.15 (UK Time).​

 

Finally have a great time in Bruges, details below of things to do and places to visit.  We look forward to seeing your happy smiley faces soon.

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