Top Things to do in Ieper (Ypres)
Top Restaurants in Ieper (Ypres)
10 Hidden Gems Things to do in Ieper (Ypres) That You Shouldn't Miss
An ancient city in the Flemish province of West Flanders, Ieper (as it’s known in the Flemish tongue) has enjoyed financial and cultural status since the 12th century. Today, visitors can check out remnants of its impressive past, including ramparts that date back to 1385 and an historic moat, which now is a haven for wildlife. Ieper found itself in the middle of World War I and suffered tremendous damage to all of its buildings, but has been both reconstructed in its medieval style and built up with modern structures.
Restaurants in Ieper (Ypres)
1. Flanders Battlefield Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,014 reviews
Flanders Battlefield Tour is well known for organising both, daily tours of the Ypres Salient and the Somme amongst other Western Front areas. Run by Jacques Ryckebosch and Genevra Charsley both are extremely passionate about the First World War. Prior to Flanders Battlefield Tour Jacques curated for many years at Talbot House (TOC H as it was known by the soldiers/veterans) meeting and becoming good friends with First World War veterans. Genevra Charsley has been a member of the Western Front Association since 1997 and assisting with the Poppy Parade on Armistice in Ieper (Ypres) since 1997, both are associate members of the Guild of Battlefield Guides and both have featured on BBC television and international television. Our guides all come highly recommended and are as equally passionate about the First World War, residing within the Ypres Salient they are always well informed and involved about the latest discoveries and development..
2. Frontline Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 252 reviews
We invite you to join us in the comfort of our air-conditioned Mercedes minibus, for an interesting, informative and unforgettable journey through Flanders Fields and its amazing history.
3. Cruising Along the Frontline
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 74 reviews
Private battlefield tours to Flanders Fields and the Somme ... Follow the track of the front soldiers with a WWI historian as your personal guide. - Minibus tours - Motorcycle tours (incl. intercom) - Vespa tours (incl. intercom) (motorbikes and scooters can be rented)
4. 2Xplore Flanders Fields
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 184 reviews
“If you want a superb tour of the WW1 battlefields then you can do no better than be guided by Patrick! Himself a senior military man of considerable contemporary experience, he cleverly sets out an interesting series of events that, at the end of the day, come together to provide a fascinating insight into The Great War! " 2Xplore Tours differs because of its unique concept. Forget about endless lectures and ready explanations on the usual tourist sites. A careful selection is made of “must-see” sites and “off the beaten track” (private) sites, going local!
5. The Longest Hour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 313 reviews
The door closes and you are locked. You and your friends have 1 hour to escape from a mysterious house by solving puzzles and mysteries. The Longest Hour in Ypres is the very first 'real life escape game' in Belgium! A unique and intense experience, for groups of 3 to 6 players. Your age is not important , teamwork is the key to finish the game!
Reviewed By EditCoro - Ghent, Belgium
This was our first escape room experience and we absolutely loved it! It was really great to work together with our kids (10, 13, 14) to get through all puzzles. We had to divide the work according to our abilities and work against the clock. There are 4 rooms in the house, full with different challenging and varied puzzles/challenges to solve, under the theme of WWI. You get some tips via a screen, gradually after some time if they see you are blocked in a room, to help you get to the last room. The challenges are very well thought & designed but some of them are quite difficult to solve.!!!...causing your adrenaline to dangerously rise... It is very fun to observe how we all react in a different way under this pressure. We managed to get out, but I think thanks to the comments we had gotten some from a friend who had been there before... otherwise I am not sure... But independantly of if you manage to get out or not, it is a great experience to have! I recommend it to everybody who likes puzzle solving & adrenaline levels to rise. It is a great activity to do with your family (if your kids like puzzle / challenge solving, and probably best +13, although our 10 year old solved quite some of the puzzles!). We where with 5 and we found that was the perfect number of people. With less we would have felt short of brains & hands, and with 6 we might have bumped too much into each other. We will now try other Escape Rooms in Belgium, but he have heard from friends that The Longest Hour was one of the best in the area.
6. Hill 60
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 600 reviews
Reviewed By Harrison-F-Carter - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
We were fortunate to visit with a BBC war journalist and he was able to share the story of this site in incredible detail... be sure to research prior to, or during, your visit.
7. Ramparts Cemetery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 443 reviews
Reviewed By churchbarn
An easy 10 minute walk from Menin Gate along the Ramparts through pleasant wooded area. Actual cemetary is in a peaceful spot overlooking a lake and as expected very well maintained . Very moving to read headstones of our brave young men dying so early in life.
8. Saint George's Memorial Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 337 reviews
Tucked away almost and across the road from the Cathedral is this unique church built to honour the British and Commonwealth fallen of both world wars but principally the First World War. Built in 1927 it remains a superb place of remembrance and somewhere where families and individuals connected to 'the fallen' in Flanders Fields can find a moment of quiet, calm and reflection. There is a small resident congregation who live in Ypres and surrounding area of Belgium and Lille (Northern France). All are welcome to our regular Sunday services held in the Anglican tradition and you will be sure of a warm welcome.
Reviewed By iancP7845YU - Chalfont St. Giles, United Kingdom
The church just off the main square is a must visit when in Ieper. Built as a memorial to British troops after WW1 it contains many plaques to regiments, individuals and schools who served and died in the battles. It is beautifully kept.
9. The Black Watch
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 46 reviews
Reviewed By afrobain
we stumbled accross this whilst looking for polygon wood cemetery, this was a nice monument and being scottish it was nice to see that the black watch were remembered as they took part in a lot of major battles right from day one
10. Sanctuary Wood
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 731 reviews
Reviewed By PatriciaG147 - Worcester, United Kingdom
Poignant and atmospheric, Sanctuary Wood will stay in my memory forever. Original trenches, original shell craters, old shells, bones, rolls of rusty old barbed wire - even some of the original blasted tree stumps that were standing in 1915, now bearing moving tributes from visitors over the years. You really feel the spirit of those who fought and died here, many of them buried in nrarby cemeteries. Inside the museum is an extraordinary archive of photographic material and other items. At the end of your visit you can pause to reflect over a coffee in the museum tearoom. Not to be missed
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