The Flemish countryside around Ypres is the main reason people come here, and it repays exploration. Dozens of cemeteries, memorials, and battlefield sites are scattered within 20 km of the town — Tyne Cot, Langemark, Essex Farm, the Yorkshire Trench, and Hooge Crater are all within easy reach by bicycle or car. Most are free to visit and open at all times.
For a complete change of pace, Bruges is 45 minutes by car to the north — beautifully preserved medieval city, excellent beer, and no WWI battlefields. Ghent is slightly further, an hour away, and is probably the best city in Belgium for food and nightlife.
