---
title: "Take the First Canal Boat of the Day | Chocolate Suites"
url: https://www.chocolatesuites.be/en/journal/canal-boat-morning
description: "Everyone does a canal tour in Bruges. But the first departure of the morning is a completely different experience."
lang: en
---

Back to Journal (https://www.chocolatesuites.be/en/journal)

Experience · 3 min · March 21, 2026

# Take the First Canal Boat of the Day

Everyone does a canal tour in Bruges. But the first departure of the morning is a completely different experience.

Image: Take the First Canal Boat of the Day (https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1733573730155-51fbe6160388?w=800&q=80)

Canal boats in Bruges run from about 10am to 6pm, March through November. Most people wander onto one sometime after lunch, when the queues are long and the boats are packed shoulder to shoulder.

The first boat of the day is different. The water is still. The light is soft. Your boatman might actually chat with you instead of rushing through the script. You'll glide under the Bonifacius Bridge, past the garden walls of old almshouses, through tunnels of overhanging trees — and for a few minutes it genuinely feels like the 15th century.

The ride lasts about 30 minutes and costs €15. Prices as of spring 2026; check the official site before you go. There are several departure points along the Dijver and Rozenhoedkaai. It doesn't matter which one you pick; the routes overlap. Just show up at 10am sharp and you'll practically have the boat to yourself.

One tip: sit at the back. You get a slightly better view and more room. The front fills up first because people assume it's the best spot.

## Where to stay

Dark Chocolate Room: https://www.chocolatesuites.be/en/rooms/chocolate-suite-1
Candy Family Suite: https://www.chocolatesuites.be/en/rooms/chocolate-suite-2
Sweet Chocolate Room: https://www.chocolatesuites.be/en/rooms/chocolate-suite-4
Giant Donut Family Room: https://www.chocolatesuites.be/en/rooms/chocolate-suite-9

See the 10 suites (https://www.chocolatesuites.be/en/rooms)

## More from the Journal

- Climbing the Belfry: 366 Steps and the Best View in Bruges (https://www.chocolatesuites.be/en/journal/belfry-tower) 3 min
- The Most Unique Luxury Suites in Bruges: A Curated Guide (https://www.chocolatesuites.be/en/journal/luxury-suites-bruges) 5 min
- How Bruges Became the Richest City in Europe (https://www.chocolatesuites.be/en/journal/bruges-medieval-economy) 4 min

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