The 9 best photo spots in Ieper (Ypres)

A sombre place - 'a First World War memorial in Ypres, Belgium, dedicated to the missing British and Commonwealth soldiers who have no known grave in the Ypres Salient, with their names engraved on the walls of the memorial.' - I felt choked up approaching this place remembering my relatives that served here including my grandfather wounded at Passchendaele. We also saw groups of school kids, including some Indian students, and their teacher and a male and female student carried a wreath to lay remembering Indians who served as part of the British Empire.

This is a must go to see, and listen to the sound of last post played by buglers of the fire service. A sombre moment, knowing that all the names carved out on the walls, were of men whose bodies were never found, and remain scattered under Flanders fields. Heartbreakingly sad to think of.

Have visited a few times before. Last time (2024) it was closed for restoration, all done now and looking great. There’s an office on site where they will help you locate the name of a lost family member. (Don’t try to read all the names or you’ll never find the one you want). If your schedule allows, stay for the Last Post ceremony, done every day. Right in the town centre of Ypres, a beautiful place to visit.

This is a must visit site in Ypres, especially at 8pm every day when the last post is played. It is remarkable that this service happens every day of the year more than 100 years after WW1, but then it remains as poignant and relevant today as ever (sadly). We attended on two consecutive nights, one night with the Honourable Artillery Company Regimental Band playing (incredible) the next with a female choral choir. Both were very moving. I estimated about 500 people attended both nights. The four or five horn players of the last post were clearly very experienced. The gate itself is a mini-museum, and it is very impactful to see the thousands of names of lost soldiers from so many countries. Really, everyone should visit this site.

The gate is a large memorial to the British Empire and Dominions troops that were killed in the Great War. It was built in the 1920s and has the names of 54,000 allied servicemen who lost their lives but have no known grave, inscribed on panels inside the building. It is sited on the road that the troops used to march along to reach the nearby Ypres salient, scene of fighting for pretty much the entire war. It is also where the famous Last Post ceremony takes place. We read the CWGC information boards and saw the information on the hill next to the gate and then we walked through the galleries with the names of the fallen before joining the crowds to listen to the ceremony. I was surprised at how busy it was and the ceremony itself lasted about 15 minutes but the colonnade was full 45 minutes before it started. It was a lovely ceremony with the Last Post and then two songs sung by St Anthony's Catholic Girl School from Market Weighton.

A must see experience. Lots of emotions. Make up your own mind as to a celebration of war or a monument against it! A waste of human life for a just cause or maybe a monument against war. A lesson from history about the waste of war and its leaders who send men to there death! Looking at the world at the moment, have we learned? But to those who lost their lives a very moving monument.

Ypres is a lovely historic town with the memorial Menin Gate, 54000 names of soldiers lost between 1914 and 1918. Commonwealth War Graves Commission site meticulously maintained with the last post played each evening at 8pm. CWGC cafe next to the gate is lovely too.

Definitely worth a visit. Some interactive information. A number of short video presentations, either in English of with subtitles. Displays of WWI uniforms, munitions etc. Cafe and toilets on ground floor. Option to visit the bell tower, quite a number of steps, but even on a dull rainy day worth the visit.

One of the main museums, if not the main museum one can visit when retracing the Western Front and the WW1 trail. Located within a splendid building in the centre of Ypres. The museum is immersive with key station points for your audio guide to be activated, a very clever poppy band that also activated key points throughout the museum. Lots of videos of reenactments, great displays and lots of key information that can even make one who may know a lot, to think further. Very accessible and decently priced.

Great museum focusing on WW1 and the surrounding battles. Take advantage of the opportunity to climb to the top of the bell tower during your visit. Allow at least 2 hours for a comprehensive visit. There is also a small cafe and well stocked book shop. Parking is usually available in the public square outside.

Excellent museum with lots of interactive displays and videos. A brilliant telling of the experiences of the solders and civilians in the Ypres salient during the First World War. Very powerful and moving. All contained in the fabulous building rebuilt after the war.

I visited for two main reasons. First is that my Great Grandfather was a gunner with the RGA in the 3rd Battle of Ypres and not only was it a miracle that he survived but also the diary he kept of his experiences, which is a moving read. After transcribing this a few years ago, I have been researching the contents and the day I visited the museum was part of that and found it so interesting and informative. The layout is quite modern and I liked the use of videos with actors recreating the experiences, especially the medical staff. The other reason I was visiting is that my Great Uncle Charles was killed in 1915 and as he has no known grave, his name is inscribed on the nearby Menin Gate. The impact of his death, and that of his brother who was killed in action only a few weeks later, is still remembered by our family and I was also trying to find out more about his death. For both of these family members, I did manage to find out really useful additional information. Even if you are not like me and researching a specific family member, this is definitely worth visiting and is suitable for younger children with adult supervision. Our teen children found it interesting and we need to ensure the younger generation are aware of the events of 1914-18. There is an entry fee and you can pay extra for an audio tour and visit to the tower. We didn't do the latter two due to time restraints (we managed to get in for last entry time as we had had a busy day of visiting other sites which had to fit in 1 day) We hadn't pre-booked but no issues with that.

The museum itself is excellent – well-presented, with a wealth of information and artefacts that are both informative and engaging. Unfortunately, our overall experience was spoiled by the dishonesty of one employee and the poor handling of the situation by another. My partner and I purchased two inclusive tickets for both museums. It was explained to us that the Flanders ticket granted access to the tower, which is why we chose the full package. However, when we arrived at the Flanders museum, we were told we had to pay extra for the tower. When we challenged this, the employee’s response was hostile. I asked to make a complaint and was told there was no procedure for this and that I should “just do it on Google.” The employee initially refused to involve a supervisor, declined to give their details, and was not wearing a visible name badge. Instead, they repeatedly denied any issue and insisted Google was the only way to complain. Eventually, they contacted the desk where we had purchased our tickets. Unfortunately, that staff member fabricated a story that we had made two separate purchases (we had not) and denied ever saying the tower was included (which she clearly had). After I persisted, a supervisor eventually did attend (despite us previously being told there wasn’t one on site). Once we explained the situation and mentioned that CCTV would support our account, we were quickly granted access to the tower without extra charge. While we were pleased this was eventually resolved, it should never have required such persistence. A museum of this quality deserves front-of-house staff whose professionalism matches the high standard of the exhibits.

Loved visiting this museum. So much more information and displays than I realised. Definitely worth spending a couple of hours here. If you're feeling fit it's also worth the 231 step climb to the top of the bell tower. The views are perfect

The scale of this cemetery is staggering - it isn't just the number of graves but how many are unknown soldiers. I visited for several reasons. First is that my Great Grandfather fought in the 3rd Battle of Ypres and not only did he miraculously survived but so did the diary he kept of his experiences. I know that some of his comrades died and possibly buried here/named on the memorial wall so I wanted to pay my respects. There is also a memorial to the Sherwood Foresters, which several of my family members were part of so wanted to view this too. Finally my Great Uncle Charles, who was a Sherwood Forester, was killed in action locally but has no known grave. My research points to this being one of the two possible last resting places for him. It would take hours to view each grave, and we had limited time here, but I did spot a grave of an unknown Sherwood Forester and I would like to think that perhaps this is Charles and he guided me here. As with all Commonwealth War Cemeteries, this is beautifully maintained and is a fitting memorial to all those laid to rest here. There is a visitors centre along with free parking. Take tissues as you will have tears in your eyes. Free to visit.

This is the largest British Commonwealth military cemetery in the world with 12,000 marked graves and a further 35,000 names on the memorial plaques, where the bodies of the missing could not be found. Tyne Cot is the name of the German blockhouse, painted to look like a cottage, that was part of a defensive line responsible for so many deaths. It is now the base of the Remembrance Cross. The graves are very well tended by the CWGC and there were lots of visitors including two coach trips of schoolkids. We probably spent an hour in the Visitors Centre and Cemetery and also looking at the terrain that was being fought across and it was a very sobering experience. Luckily, as we left, there was a spaniel that was the happiest dog in the world so that injected some much needed positivity into the morning.

Tyne Cot Cemetary is the largest resting place for British and Commonwealth troops who lost their lives in WW1, especially those who fought in Passchendaele, the 3rd battle of Ypres. Its name derives from the Northumberland Fusiliers who thought the many German pill boxes looked like Tyneside workman cottages and was abbreviated to Tyne cots. My visit on 17th September 2025 was particularly poignant for me as it was on the occasion of my late father's birthday who was born in 1918 and his father, my grand-père Charles Villaret, was with the French First Army that supported the British offensive in 1917 at Passchendaele - he looked after the horses and obviously survived whereas many of his comrades and horses didn't. The cemetery, like others in Belgium, is taken great care of by the War Graves Commission and it's a special place to remember and pay tribute to the sacrifices made by British and AZTEC troops. However, it's alot to take in and probably requires more than one visit. It was busy when I went with a number of guided tours taking place.

A remarkable cemetery of those who sacrificed their lives. Beautifully maintained by the CWWGC. Have visited several times over the years. The calling of names of those who lost their lives on the route to the very small exhibition is quite profound. The exhibition has changed over the years but worth a look. Good parking. Toilets are 0.50€.

What a place. So peaceful, very well kept. You can't believe when looking out that it was the location of such devastation and loss.

First visit to Tyne Cot. Slightly confusing how to get in from the Visitors Centre. We did walk to this first and the display and information boards were very good. However there were no signs to say how to get into the cemetery from the Visitors Centre. The front entrance is directly opposite the car park. It’s a small gate which leads out onto the main portico of the cemetery. Note the cemetery shuts at 6pm. Once inside the sight of so many graves and names on the walls is over bearing. The enormous loss of life is so disturbing. In what was a war where life was given over for military tactic. In a place we’re not much land was taken and in some places 95 lives lost per 3 acre leaves you to question why? So much destruction in a few short years and all for land and power. The Commonwealth war graves keep the cemetery in excellent condition and the constant roll of names over the tannoy is keeping the memory of those fallen alive. Somewhere everyone should visit.

Beautifully kept cemetery. A thoughtful place to remember those who fought gallantly for peace.

Stunning building. Visit the museum and then climb the tower.. well worth a visit because of the views.. and the sound in the bell tower every 15 minutes..

Large museum with lots of interactive areas, well worth a visit and pay the extra 2euro to climb the tower for epic views.

We visited the In Flanders Museum that's housed in the Cloth Hall. The Hall was extensively renovated in the years following World War One when it suffered massive damage. We were very brave and paid a visit to the Belfry. It was very windy!

Fantastic building, so beautiful. Really is a miracle what they did in rebuilding this

A simply stunning building , beautifully and faithfully rebuilt after near total destruction during the first World War . Ypres itself is a beautiful city with very friendly residents with a good array of bars and restaurants .

In Flanders Museum - within the cloth hall. A 'must' visit if in Ypres. A stunning building, with an amazing 'rebuild ' history, housing A brilliant museum. This hall was pretty much flattened during the war, Churchill felt it should be left as rubble - a testament to the German destruction within Ypres. But it's been rebuilt, using as much of the original building material as possible. An incredible achievement. The museum is, of course, very sad, and by the end of your trip through it you can't help but recognise the futility of the loss of all lives here. We'll documented, with visual films etc in 4 languages. We'll worth a couple of hours here. Around £10 entry. Toilets etc inside and gift/information shop.

Beautiful medieval building (cloth hall), which houses the amazing In Flanders fields -museum (that is if you can call a war museum "amazing"). The exhibitions are informative and interactive, with a lot of information. The view from the bell tower is amazing. Definitely worth visiting when in Ieper, if not only just for the building.

Well worth the visit, especially, in my opinion, those with kids as they will absolutely love the immersive (recreated) dug out and trenches. An impressive making and simulation of what a trench would look or feel like. The museum is packed with information, mostly relating to the battle of Passchendale itself but also to the wider western front. The Audi guides are a great tool to have to guide you throughout and the museum itself sits in a wider memorial park area which is just beautiful. There is more parking a little further up the road if the main car park is full. Plenty of spaces to have a picnic in the surrounding parks. The museum itself probably hosts the friendliest and helpful staff you could ever encounter.

What a wonderful museum dedicated to the soldiers of WW1. The audio guide has all the information about each room and bunkers you visit. For me the most moving insight was the interactive cinema which gave an insight into the hard, difficult conditions the soldier's fought in. The underground tunnels and trenches were also an interesting eye opener into the fighting in WW1. Allow at least a couple of hours to really appreciate the whole museum

An essential visit for anyone interested in not only the military side of the 1917 battle but also the impact on the civilians. For me, this was a deeply personal and emotional visit as my Great Grandfather served the 1917 Battle and kept a diary of his experiences of being a British Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery. Amazingly the diary survived and therefore I visited as part of my research into his experiences and thanks to this museum I learned so much more. The trenches experience was really interesting and there is an excellent audio guide that takes you through the whole museum. We didn't buy tickets in advance but had no wait to enter. There is a shop and cafe nearby.

What a beautiful museum,ao much history of what happened at Passendale. You get to experience the underground living of the troops and has a wide selection of artifacts from the war. Some things putting things into perspective. You can also just spend time in their park which is also clean and scenic...just avoid the tour groups of children...most of them still have alot of energy from the long bus rides 😅

Cool museum, especially the recreation of the dug-outs and trenches are noteworthy. Also I suggest taking a few minutes for the immersive experience on the battle of Passendale.

Nice museum. My clients were very satisfied.

Excellent museum set in beautiful grounds. Audio guides were very informative.

Excellent place to learn about WW1; displays provide a good glimpse of what life in the trenches must have been. Kudos for the relatively simple and therefor easy introduction into WW1 material. Engaging material even for younger audiences. Passionate yet very professional exhibit material. A respectful addition to your visit of the war cemetery just opposite of the museum.

Went here for lunch on tour and museum ticket was included. Nice place and museum was a bonus. Video was great and had huge range of figures, artifacts and pictures. I didn't got to the bigger official museum so nothing to compare it with but felt worth a visit. As was included in tour I didn't pay extra, for it so unsure on value proposition. I was impressed and would recommend.

We stopped here for a bite to eat and to look at the impressive private collection of ww1 weapons and equipment. The food was very good and service as well. The museum has a lot of unique pieces so if you visiting all the battlefields you must stop here as well...it is very well maintained and you can see the love and attention put in everything.

Came here the other day was absolutely fantastic and fabulous. Had the best time and it was super educational - learnt so much. The best part was the reconstructed trenches and the picture boxes you could view. Definitely recommend for war history lovers. Staff were incredibly kind and helpful throughout the experience. And the free drink was very nice - lovely Fanta! Top notch definitely recommend

Great museum, not very big but very interesting. Multilingual too. Staff are really nice and was reasonably priced

An excellent museum and cafe, with a beautiful WW1 Cemetery opposite. Highly recommended.

came on a history trip with school to belgium and visited this amazing war museum! the owner was very welcoming and talked about how this museum started and talked about the meaning about it, and seemed passionate! i recommend this museum to you if you want to see what the war was really like and we learned and looked at one of the trenches as well.

A very humbling and moving visit, to the site of our local West Riding regiments from both world wars. It’s only a very small area, so we called in on our way to our overnight stay in the town. We parked right outside (it’s in the middle of an industrial estate) and it took us about 20 minutes to walk around and view the whole site. Well worth the stop and it’s free to enter. The only downside we found was the horrendous smell from one of the adjacent units.

Small but very good and informative. Museum about 250m walk from the trench. Quite moving and a great detailed video of events.

An interesting site to visit. Combine it with the 250m walk (via a dedicated footpath) to Klein Zwaanhof. Here there is a small unmanned museum. Excellent video presentation inside. Note there is more parking here than outside the Yorkshire trenches so you may wish to aim for here to park and then walk to the Yorkshire trench.

Great to see an original trench preserved for future generations. Some of the routes into the bunk, pump, and command rooms are now flooded but that is to be expected. Still an experience worth visiting either before or after the Menin Gate ceremony.

Went with tour. History of it and how they preserved it was interesting. There is not i guess a huge amount to see but what is there was interesting

Located in an industrial estate on the outskirts of Ypres. Limited parking. The site was renovated a few years ago but still some flooding.

A thought provoking historical site, free to enter memorial and reconstruction of the dark side of war. The site was exposed during excavation for the industrial site. There is space for maybe 3 cars to park nearby. Good information boards with photos

Incredible well kept and you can’t help but be moved by the loss of life.

I first saw this place from Hill 62 and was surprised at its size, but today when I visited it was even more impressive. About one fifth of the burials of Tyne Cot, it is a long and beautiful place. It’s flowers and landscaping were just so immaculate.

Incredible cemetery to honor the lives of 600,000 soldiers, it’s beautiful but haunting but worth visiting if you’re interesting in war history and the site immaculately maintained and very pleasant. Really opens your eyes to how different life could be...

Well kept British WW1 military cemetery immediately opposite the Hooge Crater museum, along the battle site of the Menin Road.

Something about this cemetery moved me greatly, maybe more than Tyne Cot. It is very somber and so quiet except for the odd bit of bird song. If you visit here then go and spend some time on the bench under a small tree on the right hand edge about halfway down. I found it very emotional and moving. What really struck me here was the very high percentage and concentration of headstones with simply the line "A soldier of the great war known unto God". No name, no regiment, no country. It is a small but powerfull reminder of the cost of war. EVERY school child should be bought to Pashendale and shown Tyne Cot, Hooge Crator and the Menin Gate but also one of the German cemeteries and memorials like Langemark and drum into these kids heads that this is the only thing that comes from war! ***Advice*** It is more powerful to walk this cemetery by yourself away from your group or family etc. Take your time to wonder where you feel drawn. ***NOTE***I strongly advise you to take a small wooden British Legion cross with you as I guarantee you will feel drawn to and want lay one at a chosen grave. Take a pen and write a message, note, or prayer on the back that will be known only to you. (They do sell them over the road at the restaurant/shop or you can pick one up in Ypres from the RBL shop just down from the Menin Gate if you forget or if you want another.)

Peaceful, but so sad, my heart weeps at every visit. Wander amongst the grave stones, and pause at everyone, those buried there, gave their lives for us, we must not forget them.

An impressive memorial to the fallen where we happened to find a family member we did not know of in the register.

Very comprehensive collection of experiences and items with plenty of information about them. But I did not get the story of the war with the time-line that I feel would explain it more clearly. I think it was there somewhere but I did not come away understanding the war.

Sweet little museum about the history of Ypres the city. A respite from all the museums about WWI. Lovely, well curated displays with videos and some interaction. The little animated videos inside the buildings on the city map are funny and reminiscent of Monty Python in their styling. Not crowded even on the weekend so you can take your time. Well worth a stop!

Went with a very bored and excitable boy. He loved it. The little videos around were amusing. Finding the cat - was difficult at times but had him thoroughly involved. Well worth a go with bored children.

An very interesting museum for the town's history. It isn't so crowded on weekdays. The comdi ticket is a good deal if you are planning to visit also the first world War museum.

This a must see museum, very nice maintained and quite self-explanatory. A lot of interactive activities and suitable for all ages, including children.

Is this a museum? or Promotion dangerous ideology?...

Great city museum with interactive experiences and a very nice display using text and images and movies. We enjoyed it a lot.