ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a trip
    de|en
    All Places & RegionsAbout FernwehFAQPrivacy PolicyImprint
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a trip
    • Neighborhoods & highlights
    • Eat & drink
    • Food culture
    • Culture
    • Getting around
    • Accommodation
    • Plan trip
    • Nearby
    Ypres
    Mark Ahsmann / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Belgium

    Ypres

    City

    Ypres (Ieper) in West Flanders, near the French border, is Belgium's central place of remembrance for the First World War.

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Belgium
    7. West Flanders
    9. Ypres
    Ypres (Ieper) in West Flanders, near the French border, is Belgium's central place of remembrance for the First World War. Every evening at 8 PM, the Last Post sounds under the Menin Gate for the fallen of the Commonwealth armies, and war cemeteries like Tyne Cot lie around the city.The old town with its Cloth Halls and Cathedral was almost completely destroyed in the war and then faithfully rebuilt. Those staying for a day combine the In Flanders Fields Museum, a walk on the Vauban ramparts, and the evening ceremony.
    Ypres is a small town of around 35,000 inhabitants, whose centre you can easily explore on foot. The heart of the town is the Grote Markt, with the mighty 13th-century Cloth Hall, which today houses the In Flanders Fields Museum; behind it rises the Sint-Maartenskathedraal. The old town is enclosed by ramparts, which the French fortress builder Vauban expanded at the end of the 17th century. You can stroll along them from the Menin Gate to the Rijselpoort. For the surrounding battlefields, such as Tyne Cot near Passendale, you will need a car, a bicycle, or a guided tour.

    Sights in Ypres

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Attraction

    1Menen Gate

    The Memorial Gate, inaugurated in 1927 by Sir Reginald Blomfield, bears the names of over 54,000 Commonwealth soldiers who fell in the Ypres Salient and have no known grave. Every evening at 8 PM, buglers play the Last Post here; come early, as it gets crowded in summer.
    Open in Google Maps
    Museum

    2Cloth Halls and In Flanders Fields Museum

    The 13th-century Cloth Halls were set on fire on November 4, 1914, and faithfully rebuilt after the war; their 70-meter-high belfry is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Inside, the In Flanders Fields Museum tells the story of the First World War in West Flanders with personal testimonies and interactive stations.
    Open in Google Maps
    Church

    3St. Martin's Cathedral

    The Gothic church dates back to 1221 and was the cathedral of the Diocese of Ypres from 1561 to 1801. It was almost entirely destroyed in the First World War and given a taller tower during reconstruction.
    Open in Google Maps
    Attraction

    4Tyne Cot Cemetery

    The Commonwealth War Cemetery lies near Passchendaele, northeast of Ypres, site of the Third Battle of Ypres. It holds 11,956 graves, and Sir Herbert Baker's memorial wall lists some 35,000 missing names. The cemetery and visitor centre are freely accessible.
    Open in Google Maps

    Restaurants in Ypres

    1

    Klei

    Restaurant with modern cuisine at mid-range prices right on Grote Markt, listed in the Guide Michelin.
    Show on Google Maps
    2

    Klaver

    Upscale restaurant with modern French cuisine on the western outskirts on Poperingseweg, listed in the Guide Michelin.
    Show on Google Maps

    Food and Beverages

    Wipers Times (De Kazematten)

    De Kazematten Brewery has been brewing since 2014 in the vaults beneath the Vauban ramparts. Its Wipers Times Blond is named after the satirical newspaper that British soldiers published in Ypres in 1915.

    Poperings Hommelbier

    The golden strong beer with 7.5 percent comes from the neighboring town of Poperinge and has been brewed since 1981 with hops from the surrounding area. The largest part of Belgium's hop fields is located around Poperinge.

    Beers from the Westhoek

    The Westhoek around Ypres has a dense brewery landscape, including Westvleteren and St. Bernardus.

    Memory and Tradition

    Last Post at the Menin GateDesigned by Sir Reginald Blomfield, the Gate was inaugurated on July 24, 1927, bearing the names of over 54,000 Commonwealth soldiers with no known grave. The Last Post was played here for the first time on July 2, 1928. Since then, buglers from the Fire Brigade have played it every evening at 8 PM, interrupted only during the German occupation in World War II. From 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM, the street is closed to traffic. Arrive early; it gets crowded in summer and around November 11.KattenstoetEvery three years in May, the cat parade moves through the city. It commemorates a medieval custom where cats were said to have been thrown from the belfry of the Cloth Hall. Today, a jester throws plush cats into the crowd. The next edition is scheduled for May 9, 2027.

    Getting Here and Around

    Getting ThereYpres is on the Kortrijk–Poperinge railway line; trains run hourly to Kortrijk. From Brussels, allow 1h 15m to 1h 45m, depending on your connection.LocallyThe city center, between the station, Grote Markt, Menin Gate, and ramparts, is compact and easily walkable. For the cemeteries and memorials in the surrounding area, such as Tyne Cot in Passendale, take a car or bicycle, or book a guided battlefield tour.

    Accommodations in Ypres

    Find perfect stay in Ypres

    Booking.com* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Agoda* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Airbnb
    Vacation Rentals

    * Affiliate link: if you book through it, we earn a small commission. The price stays the same for you.

    Campgrounds in Ypres

    Find perfect campground in Ypres

    Search via Google Maps
    Campgrounds nearby (15km)
    Camping.info
    Find Campgrounds
    Park4Night
    RV Parks & Camping

    Plan your trip to Ypres

    Save places, build a route and plan your city trip, all in one place.

    1. 1
      1234

      Round trip

      12 days · 4 stops

      Saved

      Pick a route

      Pick a ready-made one or save places and plan your own.

      Open bookmarks
    2. 2

      Trip to Ypres

      Live
      • 1Menen Gate3 days
      • 2Cloth Halls and In Flanders Fields Museum4 days
      • 3St. Martin's Cathedral5 days
      Budget

      Plan your trip

      The planner sorts stops, days and budget. Plan together in real time.

      Start trip planning
    3. 3
      9:41 No signal
      Available offline

      Use it on the road

      Download the guide to your phone and use it on site, even offline.

    Nearby

    West Flanders

    Belgium's westernmost province stretches from the North Sea to the French border. Inland lie medieval Bruges, whose Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Ypres with its cemeteries and memorials from the Western Front of World War I.
    Hauts-de-France

    Hauts-de-France

    The Hauts-de-France region in northern France combines Gothic cathedrals, Flemish-influenced cities, and long sandy beaches along the Opal Coast. It is shaped by its role in both World Wars and its mining heritage, and is conveniently located between Paris, Brussels, and London.
    Lille

    Lille

    The dynamic capital of the Hauts-de-France region boasts Flemish architecture, vibrant squares and a rich cultural scene, making it a major hub in Northern France.

    Belgian Coast

    The Belgian North Sea coast stretches from De Panne on the French border to Knokke-Heist on the Dutch border. The Kusttram connects all coastal resorts along approximately 67 kilometers, interspersed with wide sandy beaches, dunes, and seaside resorts like Ostend.
    Dunkerque (Dunkirk)

    Dunkerque (Dunkirk)

    Dunkerque, a significant port city on the northern French coast, is deeply connected to its maritime history and the events of the Second World War. The city is internationally renowned for "Operation Dynamo" in 1940, its history comprehensively documented at the Musée Dunkerque 1940 Opération Dynamo. You can visit the Port Museum to learn more about the port's development and seafaring, or climb the historic Leughenaer Tower, a former 15th-century lighthouse. The long sandy beach of Malo-les-Bains invites you for walks and offers a contrast to the industrial port area. Culturally, the lively Dunkerque Carnival shapes the city, an annual event of great importance to locals. To explore the history and coastal landscape at your leisure, a visit outside the main season in spring or autumn is recommended. For an authentic insight into the local cuisine, try the regional fish dishes in the harbor restaurants.