Belgium Itinerary: How to See the Best of Belgium in 3 or 4 Days

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198 Comments

1. Hi
   I am looking at driving to Belgium from UK for a week. I’d like to visit the coast, Bruges, Ghent, Ypres etc but am unsure where to stay. My husband thought about us staying self catering perhaps in a town on the rail network near a station between Bruges and Ghent then we could park the car for some of the time and use the train to get around where possible. Don’t really want to stay very rural but having a struggle to find apartment/house for two that’s near a station. Am open to other ideas too but am thinking it would be easier to stay in one place for the week and travel around maybe?

   Reply

   1. Hi Debbie, sure, that’s an option if you find accommodation with parking. And you might be able to find somewhat cheaper options than in the main tourist towns.
      I just quickly looked at the map and found a few places that could fit your criteria. For example, this B&B in Hansbeke, a few minutes walk from the station, or this hotel in Aalter, about 15 minutes walk from the station.
      However, most self-catering places I found were either much too big for just two people or a bit too far to walk to the station. That said, most train stations in smaller towns usually have pretty spacious parking areas, so you could likely leave your car at the station if taking a train for a day.
      In that case, you could stay at e.g. a place like Apollonia, with easy parking, close to the highway and not too far from the station so you keep more flexibility.
      Hope this helps.

      Reply

   2. @Jurga, thanks for responding so quickly. I really liked your suggestion of the B&B Hansbeke but unfortunately they have no availability for my dates in early May 25. Can you recommend a website that is good to see the train stops between Bruges and Ghent please? I’m wondering if Oostcamp might be an option?

      Reply

      1. Hi Debbie, you can check all the train stops for any trip on the belgiantrain.be website. Just insert your destinations and you will see the available trains and the stops they make. Between Ghent and Bruges, you have a direct train, but there are also trains with a stop in Aalter. If you stay in Oostkamp, I think you will have to take a train to Brugge first before changing to any other lines, but I’m not very familiar with local train stops in that part of Belgium.
         Let’s just say that if you want to take a train on a daily basis, it’s easier if you stay in a bigger town close to the station. Whereas if you want to take a car, then it’s better to stay closer to a highway.

         Reply

2. Hi, thanks for you article.

   I liked the activies in Brussels, however, the idea to visit Mini Europa is completely ridiculous.
   No Belgian would ever suggest this place to be a highlight,
   especially not for a 3-4 day trip.

   Kind regards.

   Reply

   1. Well, I’m a Belgian and so is my family, and we have been to Mini-Europe a few times. We also took some international visitors and everyone always enjoyed it. Many overseas tourists love it too, so we like to show our readers different options and let them decide what they like to see and do. Thousands of amazing reviews (e.g. on GYG – also from Belgians and people from neighboring countries) show that many people find it more than worth it. But I’m sure there are plenty of others – like you – who have different opinions (often without ever having set a foot inside ;)).
      In fact, I personally wouldn’t go to the Atomium just for it alone, but in combination with the Mini-Europe, it becomes well worth a detour from the city center. But that’s just my opinion. And yes, there are plenty of other great things to do in Brussels, especially for museum enthusiasts.

      Reply

3. Hello Jurga:
   We are strongly considering visiting Belgium next Spring. It is best to know that we are also 65+ years old. We like to take our time and not rush. Belgium looks very interesting to me. Do you think that 12 days would be too long to visit Brussels, Ghent, and Bruges?
   Thanks,
   Joe

   Reply

   1. Hi Joe, 12 days is a nice amount of time to explore Belgium, but I would venture outside these main cities as well. Spend a few days in Brussels, a few in Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges. Visit the war sites if you are interested, spend some time at the coast (we love a seaside walk between De Haan and Wenduine, for example, or the sand dunes of De Panne, and Oostende is well worth a visit too).
      If you are visiting during the orchard blossom season, visit the area around Sint-Truiden – Borgloon (don’t miss the “Reading between the Lines” See-through Church). Hallerbos near Brussels is worth seeing when the bluebells bloom.
      If you want to see some nice smaller towns, check out Mechelen, Leuven, Hasselt, Ypres, or Lier in Flanders or Namur, Dinant, Durbuy, Liege, Bastogne, or the Caste of Bouillon in the French-speaking part of Belgium. There is so much to see and you won’t have difficulties filling two weeks or even more.
      Have a great trip!

      Reply

   2. @Jurga,
      Thanks Jurga These smaller towns don’t appear in the guide books

      Joe

      Reply

4. Need your advise. We are planning a trip that starts in Paris and we want see Bastogne, Beigium because our father was in the Battle of the Bulge. We also want to stop in Bayeux and Deauville France. Please let me know how you would plan the travel and if it is doable in 4 – 5 days. Your expertise and advise very welcome.
   Thank you,
   margaret

   Reply

   1. Hi Margaret, the best way to visit all these places would be by renting a car. We use this website to find the best deals for car hire. We also recommend using Google Maps to plan your trip, estimate driving times and distances, etc. Just keep in mind that depending on when you travel, traffic can be very busy around the main cities so you need to factor in some extra time for potential traffic jams.
      I don’t know if you have looked at the map already. Bastogne is about 4 hours drive from Paris and in a totally different direction than Bayeux or Deauville (which are both also at least 3 hours drive away). If you have 4-5 days outside of Paris, you could plan a nice little road trip, but if you only have that much time including the city and want to use Paris as your base, then you have to prepare for some very long drives on at least two days. Also, driving in and around Paris can be quite stressful if you aren’t used to it, so I would never use the city as your base if renting a car.
      Hope this helps. Good luck with the planning and have a great trip!

      Reply

5. Hi there, I am taking my son to the Spa Grand Prix in July (staying in Trois -Ponts) and am going to combine it with some sightseeing around Belgium. Having read your fabulous article, we will visit Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges. I am trying to decide the best way to travel, my options are
   i) to drive from UK to Calais via the shuttle and then do Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Brussels and then to Spa. How easy is it to drive around and park in these towns and cities?
   ii) Fly to Brussels and a) hire a car or b) take train to the various places and just hire a car to go to Spa
   iii) Euro star and train to the various places and then hire a car at Brussels to travel to Spa

   If I drive, we will leave Spa on Sunday evening and get the shuttle back sometime on Monday, any recommendations are where to stay over / visit on the way back to Calais?

   Thanks in advance.

   Nicola

   Reply

   1. Hi Nicola, only you can decide what makes the most sense for you. Overall, you don’t need a car to explore the main cities and if you have one, it will likely make things more complex. Some places (like Antwerp) have low-emission zones where not all cars are allowed, in Brussels, there are very strict speed limits, and in most cities, parking is very expensive and not always easy to find. Plus, there are constant traffic jams, all over Flanders and around Brussels. July will be quieter than normal since it’s a school holiday, but still.
      If it were me, I would do as much as possible by train and only rent a car to visit Spa (although even that is possible by public transport, but is a bit less straightforward than places that can easily be reached by train).
      And yes, Eurostar is usually so much more relaxing than flying, especially if you are coming from London. Otherwise, if you live close to an airport, that could be easier. Once again, see what makes sense for you.
      And if you drive between Spa and Calais, you could stop at Dinant or Namur for a few hours. But if you are looking for a place closer to Calais, then Lille in France is the nicest option. It’s a beautiful city.

      Reply

6. I saved your article for years (due to Covid). We were finally in Belgium this past week. I found your suggestions extremely helpful. We had dinner at Spago and it was very good. We toured Brussels and went to Bruges and Ghent in one day. We skipped Antwerp and went to Leuven instead. A local we met on the train suggested it. The people are very friendly and helpful. Thanks for a very helpful article.

   Reply

   1. Glad to hear that you enjoyed the trip, Joan, but it’s a pity you missed Antwerp. Next time ;).

      Reply

7. Hi, we are planning to come in end of February next year to Belgium for 3 days, can you advise if it rains a lot in February so that we can pack our clothes accordingly, we will be traveling with our 2 years old kid. And is it advisable to travel in February. Loved your blog but didn’t see lot of festival and activities in February. Also in the cities, from one place to another do you advise to walk or use public transport. Planning to stay in Brussels and doing day trips to Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, hoping that won’t be too tiring with the kid. Thank you!

   Reply

   1. Hi Priyank, if there is one thing you can’t predict is the weather in Belgium (in any season). February is usually quite cold and rainy (can snow too), but we have had some amazing warm weather in February too. You really never know, but you can check the weather forecast a few days before you travel and you’ll get a better idea of what to expect.
      As for whether it’s advisable to travel to Belgium in February, it all depends on your expectations and what you want to see and do. February is the Carnival season, so there will be a lot going on. Google “Aalst Carnival” for example, and there are many other places where you can see carnival celebrations. Do some research and see if anything interests you.
      Most city centers are walkable, but there are lots of cobblestones. We also have good public transport if you need to cover bigger distances (trams, metros, buses, etc.). For intercity travel, take a train.
      With a child that age, be sure to pack a stroller (ideally with big wheels and a rain cover)! Also, you may want to plan some time visiting museums. Keep in mind that the days are rather short at that time of the year, so it gets dark early (around 6pm depending on when exactly you travel).
      You may also want to read this article to get a better idea of what it’s like to visit Belgium in winter.

      Reply

8. Can you suggest how we can create an itinerary that takes us from the Dinant/Durbuy area to Bruges/Ghent and on to the Netherlands (Delft, Hoorn, Giethoorn, Amsterdam)? How long should we plan on for Belgian portion? And the Dutch? We are driving. No children.

   Reply

   1. Hi Diane, unfortunately, I really have no time to help our readers with individual itinerary suggestions. There are just too many options and everything depends on your interests and the time that you have.
      You can spend just a few hours in most of these places, or a few days in each. You can find quite a few detailed guides for Belgian and Dutch destinations on our blog. So try to figure out what you really want to see, how much time you want to spend, and how you will travel/where you’ll stay and park your car in the cities (or just outside), and then it will be easier to make an itinerary.
      Good luck!

      Reply

9. We’ve scheduled an upcoming Viking cruise which will end in Antwerp on 04/04/23 and I was considering your comments & like the itinerary on the 4-day Belgium tour. Maybe stay in Antwerp 2 nights; Bruges 1 night & 1 night Brussels and travel by train to see Ghent & battlefields?? Need to get to Brussels airport for exit. Any thoughts/suggestions for hotels, etc??

   Reply

   1. Hi Tess, sure, all this is doable if you want to change hotels and move around. You could also easily stay at any of these towns and visit others by train without having to take all your luggage with you. Trains go from early morning until late at night.
      If you want to visit the WWI battlefields, it’s a bit difficult without a car, so it’s best to take a tour. The best ones run from Bruges and start in the morning at the station, so it could indeed be somewhat easier if you are in Bruges already that day.
      Also, on your last day, depending on the flight time, you may want to stay closer to the airport or closer to the train station with a direct train to the airport. It’s no big deal if your flight is later in the day, but if it’s in the morning, be sure to check the train schedules so that you can easily get there on time.
      As for hotels, we have some suggestions under each city guide (Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges). For Brussels, we also have this guide to the best areas to stay.
      Hope this helps. Have a great trip!

      Reply

10. Hello! We are flying into AMS (Netherlands). Can we easily book and catch a train ticket to Brussels from the airport? If so, where? I plan to get a hotel in central station as you recommend. Should we buy a train pass so we can travel throughout Belgium over the three days on your suggested itinerary or should we just buy single ticket train rides as needed?

    Reply

    1. Hi Lori, if you don’t mind taking the regular (=slower) train, then yes, you can just get the tickets on the spot and take the next train. If you prefer the faster one, book your tickets on the Thalys website in advance. I find that it’s often not worth the price difference to go for the faster one (and you keep flexibility because the regular trains don’t have assigned seating so it doesn’t matter which one you take). But if you are in a hurry, Thalys can be worth it.
       In Belgium, you can just get your train tickets on the day itself or buy them on the website or via the app of Belgian Railways. Normally yes, we just get single or return tickets, but they also have all kinds of passes, seasonal tickets, passes for young people, etc. See the ‘Tickets & Railcards’ section on their website for more info (for some reason, I can’t link directly to it). Here is a link to the ticket options for young people under 26.
       Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!

       Reply

11. Hello- Your blog is very helpful. One last question please. Im flying in and out of Paris from USA and I have 14 days total and I was thinking of doing Paris to Belgium to Switzerland in October. Do you know what is the best way to do this meaning should I first do Paris to Switzerland and come back to Paris and go to Belgium? Thanks so much.

    Reply

    1. Hi Radha, there are countless of ways to do that. You could fly to/from Switzerland from either Paris or Brussels depending on what works best for you. A train might also be an option depending on where you are traveling.
       I wouldn’t do any backtracking though. There’s really no reason to return to Paris when you can go straight to Switzerland.
       Good luck with the planning.

       Reply

12. Hello. Im visiting Belgium in October. I will travel from Paris to Belgium and I have 5-6 days. I am traveling with my husband and 2 teenage girls. My question is that I am not sure where to stay, which city and should I do day trips or try to stay in 2 or 3 locations in Belgium. Thanks for your help.

    Reply

    1. Hi Radha, where to stay really depends on your preference and if you want to change hotels or rather stay in one place.
       Belgium isn’t big and train connections between the main towns are very good, so it’s possible to just stay e.g. in Brussels and do day trips from there. Or you can stay in Bruges for a few nights too, especially if you would want to go to the coast or see the WWI sites in Ypres.
       My best tip is to first figure out which places you want to visit and then it will be easier to decide based on that. If it’s just Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges, it’s all doable as day trips from any of these towns, but Brussels would be the most logical base since you’ll probably arrive there by train from Paris, and there’s a lot to see and do in the city so you could easily fill a few days there.
       You may want to take a look at our guide to the best places to stay in Brussels for a bit more info on what to expect.
       Have a great trip!

       Reply

    2. @Jurga, Thanks so much. Please advice on what are the train station names from Paris to Brussels and which train station to stay near in Brussels to see other places easily. Brussels Centraal Station or Brussels Mid/Zuid station? Im confused on which station I need to stay near in order to see Belgium for day trips and which station is from Paris to Brussels? Thanks for your help.

       Reply

       1. Hi Radha, it is a bit confusing, but in reality – very simple.
          In Paris, you leave from Gare du North (North station).
          Brussels Mid/Zuid station (South) is the one where the fast Thalys trains from Paris arrive.
          Brussels Central station is the one that’s best for sightseeing and also for day trips.
          So once you arrive in Brussels from Paris, take a metro from the South station to the Central one and then stay in that area. The two stations are really close to each other and you could even walk, but with luggage, the metro will be easier.
          It’s also all explained in our article on where to stay in Brussels in more detail. Plus, you’ll find some hotel recommendations in that article.

          Reply

13. Hi,it’s very good to know about ghent,Brussels and bruges. I visited through Brussels to mol and explored Antwerp too.it was very nice experience and will love visit the rest of the cities come. From Ghana, thanks and have a good day.

    Reply

    1. Hope you get to visit Belgium again one day and see the nicest cities in Flanders as well, Prosper. Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp – these are really a must in Belgium.
       Happy travels!

       Reply

14. Hi there. Really cool, informative post. I’ve thrown in the towel on a visit in 2021. Looking forward to 2022 and possibly getting over. How difficult is it to score a Westvleteren 12 in Brussels or Antwerp? I don’t mind making the drive to the Sixtus monastery but…since I can’t just drive up to the monastery and pick up a six pack, I was hoping that it’s possible to walk into a pub or store and acquire a few bottle there. Thanks in advance.

    Reply

    1. Hi Marc, I’m not sure where you are from, but traveling to/within Belgium is actually quite simple at the moment. From today on, we don’t even need face masks at the restaurants and shops anymore here in Flanders, and everything is now open as usual.
       Anyway, Westvleteren beer is really hard to get unless, indeed, at the abbey itself and you have to reserve it in advance (see their website for all the info). They normally only sell to individuals and nowadays you can also order one crate to get it delivered at home in Belgium. But as a foreigner, you would have to reserve in advance and drive there to pick it up yourself (really hard to time this, not to mention that they also need your car number plate in advance – not easy if you have a rental..).
       Furthermore, it’s a really far trip from any bigger city. But if you go in that direction, you could visit Ypres and the WWI sites nearby. From what I understand, there is also one (just 1) café that is officially allowed to sell Westvleteren beer and that’s café ‘In de Vrede’, which is also located just near the abbey. So either way, you have to go really far for this beer.

       In all honesty, I just don’t understand all the fuss around it. 🙂 There are so many other similar beers (also made by Trappist monks of other abbeys all over Belgium) that you can easily get in shops and bars, and they are just as special. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of different beers in Belgium and even my husband who’s a big fan of Trappist beers has long stopped buying Vestvleteren beer because it’s just become so complicated. It would never occur to us to drive 2-3 hours one way just for a few crates of beer. 🙂
       But, of course, you have to figure out for yourself if it’s worth it just for the experience to say that you’ve tasted it… Good luck!

       Reply

    2. @Jurga, Thanks! I really appreciate the detailed reply. I’m from the U.S. by the way and I’ll have to check but I believe the U.S. is no longer on the EU’s “safe countries” list. Regarding Westvletren…it’s one of those “holy grail” beers…at least to geeks over here in North America. And you’re right…St. Bernardus, Chimay and Westmalle are all awesome beers and easy to find in the U.S. But hey, if I’m gonna be in Belgium, I figured why not see if I grab a Westy and knock it off the bucket list.

       Thanks again!

       Reply

       1. Hi Marc, that ‘safe’ list changes all the time indeed, and also each country in Europe might decide to deviate from it, so the only way to travel now is to research really well each specific destination you are planning to visit. Let’s hope it gets better by 2022.
          I understand you about the beer – if it’s such a bucket list item, then you just do what it takes. 🙂 You can always ask at one or another bar in Antwerp or Brussels, and otherwise make a trip to West Flanders.

          PS When I did all the research for you for Westvleteren, I decided to give their online sales a try (everything for science :)). They seem to have a few moments a month when you can order the beer online (delivery in Belgium only) and yesterday was one of the sale moments. I had to create an account, and then be there at 8pm. First, there was a virtual queue (or so they told me), and then a few minutes later, I could indeed order the beer. I think I waited less than 5 minutes in total. It’s very expensive though – a crate of 24 bottles with the delivery cost me 72.10 EUR and you can only buy that one type of beer (Westvleteren 12) and just one crate. That’s about twice the price of the most expensive beers at the supermarket here. But the order process was really easy and straightforward and they say they deliver within 7 working days.

          So if you have someone that you know in Belgium, maybe they could try and order the beer for you a few weeks before you arrive… It’s just not very clear when these ‘sales’ moments are (or if they’ll continue this initiative now that covid measures here are practically lifted). At the moment, they seem to only show sales moments a few weeks upfront, so it’s also hard to plan. But if they still organize these online sales moments, it’s so much easier than driving to the abbey…
          Good luck!

          Reply

15. Hi Jurga, do you know if it’s possible to visit Belgium and other countries around it in spring this year?

    Reply

    1. Hi Leo, it’s really hard to say how the situation will evolve. So much depends on the numbers (which are not good in Europe at the moment). But it’s even more important when exactly and where you are coming from. If you are traveling from other European countries, then I think the chances are high that it will be possible in late spring. If, however, you are coming from outside of Europe, I wouldn’t count on it yet.
       At the moment (January 2021), restaurants are closed in Belgium and there is a curfew (hours depend on the region). Most museums and shops are open now, but tourism isn’t encouraged and there are also restrictions for people who arrive from abroad (obligatory forms to fill in before arrival, tests and quarantine, depending on where you are coming from). We are all hopeful that life gets back to somewhat normal by late spring, but nobody really knows how it will turn out to be.

       Reply

16. Hello, Jurga, I loved your tips! I was in Brussels once but unfortunately, l didn’t see Atomium. So thank you for the short guide. Hopefully, next time l will be able to visit all the beautiful places there. By the way, the first time it was a challenge to reach the city from the airport, so maybe if someone will be struggling with a choice: bus or taxi, I wanna recommend … company.
    Anyway, thank you again for the article!!

    Reply

    1. Hi Darina, it seems that your comment was meant to promote a company and we don’t allow this on our blog, so I deleted the name.
       Btw, Brussels is extremely easy to reach from the airport by train! It’s both cheap and convenient with frequent train rides right to the heart of the city in 17 minutes.
       Taking a taxi is also ok, depending on where you have to be, but it costs multiple times more than a train and usually takes much longer because of all the traffic jams.
       As for the bus, there are lots of buses from Brussels Airport to various places. It’s not the best way to get to the city as it takes a long time, so I’d only recommend it if your hotel is close to the airport.

       Reply

17. Hi Jurga!
    I’ve enjoyed many of your trip recommendations and reviews and am especially excited about this one. My husband and I are going to Belgium for our 40th anniversary in August 2020! We are spending the first 5 nights in Bruges, and the last 2 in Brussels and will have a car. We will make day trips to Ghent, Ypres, and maybe Dunkirk. I have a few questions: Should we see Antwerp as a day trip from Bruges or on our return to Brussels? Any other day trips? And can you recommend a restaurant in Bruges for our anniversary? Thanks so much and happy travels!

    Reply

    1. Hi Patti, I really have little time now, so just a quick answer.
       Antwerp is a place where you should best spend the whole day. If you visit it just for a few hours and by car, you’ll spend more time getting there and trying to park than sightseeing.
       Also, traffic in Belgium is really busy, especially around the biggest towns in Flanders so it’s much better to visit cities by train. If you have a car, better visit smaller towns and other places that aren’t easy to get to by train.
       As for a restaurant in Bruges, best ask at your hotel. They’ll know the best spots. Alternatively, check here on the Visit Bruges website – they have quite some suggestions for really special restaurants.
       Enjoy your trip!

       Reply

18. Hello

    thank you for the travel itinerary. it was very useful.

    Reply

    1. Glad to hear that. Have a great time in Belgium!

       Reply

    2. Thanks for the wonderful itinerary and tips. I and my wife plan a 6 day visit to Belgium in April 2020 and plan to stay 3 days each in Antwerp and Ghent (or Brugge) to cover Brugge, Ghent and Antwerp leisurely and enjoy. We had been to Brussels in 1999 (our first European trip) and had spent two days there.
       Would you advise a stay in Ghent or Brugge. We decided on Ghent as we will be going to Paris via Brussels.

       Reply

       1. Hi Anant, I’m sure you’ll enjoy staying in Ghent. Both towns are good, but from Ghent, you’ll be somewhat faster in the other towns than from Bruges.
          Enjoy your trip!

          Reply

19. Hello Jurga! Thanks for this article. 🙂 my husband and I plan to go to Paris and Amsterdam on April 2020 and were thinking of going to Brussels in between; is one day enough to go around the city and will it be worth it? Thanks so much!

    Reply

    1. Hi Monica, yes, you can see all the main highlights of Brussels in one day (see the above article for suggestions). You can also just see the main landmarks in the center in a couple of hours. If you’ve never been before, it’s well worth it, I think. Very different from Paris or Amsterdam.
       If you could take two days for Belgium (so at least one night), I highly recommend to also visit Bruges. It’s just such a beautiful town! It’s just a bit over an hour from Brussels by train and you can see the town in half a day.
       Enjoy your trip!

       Reply

20. Hi Jurga,
    Enjoy your website, I am planning a trip with my sister to Normandy and then Belgium. We were looking at staying in Bruges. We enjoy a city where we can walk for dinner and shopping. Would Bruges be a good option to use as our “home base” for 4 days visit? Or would Brussels be a better option? Thanks for any help!
    Best,
    Laurel

    Reply

    1. Hi Laurel, Bruges is a bit of a special place in terms that it’s crowded during the day and deserted at night. So if you like that, yes, it’s a great place to base yourselves as you can enjoy the town without the crowds when the day tourists leave. The shops are also open every day and there are some nice restaurants. If you stay in the center, everything is very walkable indeed.
       Brussels is very different and it will be much busier in the evenings too. It’s a good place to stay if you like to have the buzz around you all the time. Depending on where you stay, you may need to take a metro, but if you stay close to the Central Station (see my suggestions in the article), it’s also very walkable.
       If it was my personal choice, I’d go for Bruges because I just love it at night when it’s like walking in a fairytale.
       Have a great trip!

       Reply

    2. Hi Jurga,

       Thank you so much, I have heard so many nice things about Bruges, and that’s we will base ourself for a few days. I will check out your recommendations for hotels. Look forward to seeing your newsletters!

       Reply

       1. I think it’s a great choice. Enjoy your trip!

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21. Hello Jurga, I love your itinerary suggestions; so helpful ! I’ll be travelling with my two teen daughters to Europe from Canada in August 2020. We will be first in London, then Amsterdam then Belgium and finally end in Paris (5 -7 days in each city). Our Belgium visit will be about five days only and we will use Brussels as our base city, likely staying at one of the central station hotels that you suggest. We wish to visit Brussels’ fine arts museum, musical instruments museum, Grand Place, and see at least one of Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp or Michelin by train day trips. I’m not sure if visiting Ypres will be possible with our limited schedule but will try. Coincidentally, we will be in Brussels for the Grand Place carpet of flowers weekend and possibly the Brussels Summer Festival the following week. What advice can you give us for visiting Brussels during these two events? I imagine that it will be busy in Brussels then and that we should book our hotel soon. Should we prebook tickets for the City Hall viewing of the Flower Carpet, or can we buy upon arrival? What kind of entertainment (music, theatre?) is offered for the Brussels Summer Festival? My teens may like this event but I think it might be too busy for us. Thank you for your advice. Maria

    Reply

    1. Hi Maria, if you are planning to be in Brussels during the weekend when the flower carpet is held (13-16 August 2020), then yes, make sure to book your hotels asap (we have some suggestions in the article). If you want to visit the balcony and can prebook the City Hall entrance, do that as well because it does sell out. It’s indeed very busy, but if you are staying nearby, you can see the flower carpet early in the morning or late in the evening when the crowds are smaller (especially early morning). The flower carpet is at its nicest on the first days – if it’s really hot, the flowers won’t look as nice towards the end, even though they usually do their best to keep it as beautiful as possible during the entire weekend.
       As for the Brussels Summer Festival, it only starts on August 19th, so depending on when you’ll be visiting, you might be missing it. If you are still in Brussels and absolutely want to attend, then make sure to book your tickets in advance as well. You can find more info on the official website, but they don’t have the line-up announced yet, so keep an eye on it to see if there’s something that will interest you.
       And yes, it will be busy everywhere you go. My best tip for any place you really want to enjoy without the crowds is to get up really early and go there first thing in the morning. European cities are amazing at sunrise and really busy from 10 AM onwards.

       Reply

    2. Hi Jurga, I honestly didn’t know how much there is to see and do in Belgium until we planned to see Amsterdam and Paris this summer, and wondered what we would in between these two great cities. Belgium of course! Belgium seems to offer at least as much as these two great cities; so many great possibilities and your itineraries help show us that.

       Thx again for the information and suggestions … we love your blog!

       Take care
       Maria

       Reply

       1. Oh, there is SO MUCH more to see in Belgium than mentioned here. If you have the time, take a look at Villers-la-Ville, Waterloo, and Hergé Museum (all close to Brussels, but not very easy to get to without a car)… In Brussels, you can visit Parc du Cinquantenaire with its many museums, Park van Tervuren with its Royal Museum for Central Africa… Etc etc.
          I just visited a great museum in Antwerp last week that I think is well worth a trip in its own – Plantin-Moretus Museum.
          I could go on and on, but I’m sure you’ll have your itinerary packed as it is. 🙂
          Enjoy your trip!

          Reply

          1. Hi Jurga,

             Yes we’ll stay in Bruges (Decided to base here instead of Brussels after all) and will day trip to Brussels. Also we’ll visit Ghent and Antwerp too so we will try to visit all the places you’ve suggested. We’re very excited!

             Thanks again for your great suggestions and we’ll keep checking your blog for more ideas.

             Take care,
             Maria

             Reply

22. Hi Jurga,

    I’m taking a trip first time to Belgium. I will be one week in London then making my way there. I’m a solo traveler and I would like to have some tips on where to go and how safe is walking in the evenings for a woman. Also since I will be spending New Year there what city do you recommend me to go for New Year. I will have 4 to 5 days to explore. It is better to take a flight or take the train?

    Reply

    1. Hi Alex, the easiest way to get from London to Brussels is by taking the Eurostar train. There are flights too, but train is so much easier and I think faster in the end.
       As for what to do in Belgium, you can find most suggestions in this article. In this period, you can also visit Belgian Christmas markets (most of them are open till the first weekend in January). Here you can find more info about the Brussels Christmas market and Antwerp Christmas market.
       For New Year, the best firework displays are usually those in Brussels or the ones in Antwerp. It’s crazy busy in both places though.
       As for where to go/not go, just use your common sense. In general, I’d say avoid the areas around the North and the South stations in Brussels in the evenings and try not to walk around alone late at night at places where there are little people around. Just general precautions, really, like in any other big city in the world.
       Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!
       P.S. If you need any info for London, we have several articles here.

       Reply

    2. Hello Jurga and happy new year as well!

       Thank you for your helpful information. We will stay near Grand Place so can hopefully visit there and Carpet of Flowers perhaps both morning and evening for different atmospheres.

       One more question if I may? My daughter wishes very much to see WW1 battlefields, cemeteries and In Flanders Fields Museum as do I (we’re Canadian so this area has special significance for us).

       As we will now stay in Brussels for a short stay of five days only, I looked into visiting Ypres from Brussels to see some of the many WW1 sites. It looks like we could take a train to Gent-St Peter then transfer to another to see Ypres, within two hours by train, is this accurate? Once in Ypres, it appears from the Ypres website that there are short afternoon tours to visit battlefields and cemeteries on some days. Or we could at least visit Menin gate and In Flanders Fields museum in Ypres ourselves without a tour, if I’m correct? I don’t think that we will have time to take a full day (13 hour) tour from Brussels, but would like to find a way to see some significant WW1 sites during our visit to Brussels. Not a complete appreciation of these important places I know, but at least a brief moment of respect. We will not have a car so I appreciate any suggestions for a shorter excursion or tour to these sites using train only.

       Thank you and kind regards,
       Maria

       Reply

       1. Hi Maria, it does indeed take almost 2hrs to get to Ypres from Brussels by train and you have to change trains in Ghent Sint Pieters station. Once you get to Ypres, you can visit the Flanders Fields museum, see the Menin Gate (and maybe even hear the Last Post – although that’s late in the evening), and walk around on the city walls close to Menin Gate. You can also visit the Cathedral. You will not be easily able to visit any of the cemeteries using public transport, however.
          There are basically two day tour options – one from Bruges (starts at the train station in Bruges and is the most popular option) and one from Brussels. Either way, it will indeed take you the whole day. If you just take a train on your own and visit only Ypres, you’ll also be gone a big part of the day, so the difference is just a few hours.
          I am not aware of any tours from Ypres itself, but if the official website says there are tours, I’m sure they will be running as advertised.
          Hope this helps a bit, although I’m just repeating what your research is already telling you. 🙂

          Reply

          1. Hello Jurga,

             Thanks again for your help.

             I found that some WW1 tours from Ypres exist. I’ve included the website address here in case you or others are interested in it (my apologies if including this link is inappropriate and of course delete if it is; I just thought it might be of interest).

             This particular shorter tour runs in afternoons (1:00pm – 5:00 pm) so it’s possible to do as a day trip from Brussels if leaving from Brussels in the morning. But I agree that by the time we train to and from Brussels it will be a full day and the tour options that you’ve suggested are better overall. I also wouldn’t stay for the Last Post if traveling back to Brussels by ourselves whereas taking an organized tour would be easier for experiencing that (it’s a personal decision to not travel later at night on our own, but others who are more comfortable with evening rail travel might be okay with it).

             Thanks again for your great advice and take care,
             Maria

             Reply

             1. Indeed, when you take all the travel times into account, plus the train tickets, I think that an organized tour from Brussels is still the best way to visit Ypres/WWI battlefields for you.
                Whatever you decide, I hope you have a wonderful time in Belgium!

23. Hi,
    Great article especially the way it is written just like a flowing river.

    I am planning to cover luxembourg, Belgium and Netherland during 21 Dec, 2019 to 29 Dec, 2019.

    Based on my research, the proposed itinerary is:-

    Fly to Brussels—21. 12.2019-Morning-Check in to hotel and then proceed to luxembourg

    22.12.2019–Brussels to Antwerp- day trip

    23.12.2019–Checkcourt from bruseels—Checkin at Ghent-(wife loves river side hotels)-ghent day trip

    24.12.2019–Day trip to Brugges.

    25.12.2019–Checkout from Ghent–Check-in at Amsterdam–(already visited in 2017) spent the day in Amsterday being xmas everything is going to be closed.

    26.12.2019-Amsterdam to zaanse Schans (windmills) –Day trip

    27.12.2019–Day trip from amsterdam to Keufenhouf (Tulips)

    28 and 29— Confused.

    What is your opinion about the above itinerary–

    I cannot decide about my netherland itinerary—Any suggestions are welcome pls.

    Reply

    1. Hello, at first sight, your itinerary looks ok, except a few things:
       1. There are no tulips in December. Keukenhof gardens are also closed this time of the year. Here you can find more information about Keukenhof and tulip fields.
       So instead of that, take another tour, also for the other days. You can find all the best suggestions here: day trips from Amsterdam.
       2. Also, you say you are planning to cover Luxembourg, but it’s going to be very rushed to do it in one day from Brussels, taking into account that you are just arriving that day. The train ride takes about 3-3,5 hrs one way. And you also have to take into account the train schedule… If I were you, I would stay there for one night rather than staying in Brussels.
       Hope this helps.

       Reply

    2. Hello V. singhal ,My name is Sneha and I am travelling too on the dates on which you are travelling . Are you travelling with your family or friends ? You are from India right ? If you can drop your number would like to discuss something with you .

       thanks 🙂

       Reply

       1. Hi Sneha, this is not a public forum and I don’t think the chance is big that the other person will see your message. Furthermore, we would never allow displaying sensitive personal information publically on our site, so even if someone would leave their email or phone number, we would have to delete it…
          I hope that you find enough useful information for visiting Belgium on our website.
          Happy travels!

          Reply

24. Hello Jurga,
    My husband and I were thinking of going to Belgium for a week. We were looking at going in a few days, if possible, during this week of November 4th, 2019, travelling from Toronto in Canada. Any suggestions on an itinerary, hotel and best way to travel in Belgium?
    Thanks in advance for your help.
    Jennifer

    Reply

    1. Hi Jennifer, I have lots of suggestions in this article, as well as itinerary and places to stay. If you have a week, you probably best stay in Brussels, somewhere close to Central Station and the main town square Grand Place. I recommend Hilton Grand Place, Hotel Agora at the Grand Place or you can just click on this map and see what other hotels are nearby.
       For day trips, make sure to visit Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, and take a tour to Ypres. Other nice places to visit are the towns of Leuven and Mechelen – both just +-20min ride by train from Brussels and both can be done in just a few hours, so you can probably visit the two in one day. Another nice place near Brussels is Waterloo that you can probably best visit with a guide (not easy to get there without a car).
       In Brussels itself you can probably easy fill two days if you visit some museums as well. My personal favorites are Musical Instruments Museum and Magritte Museum.
       Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip and bring an umbrella – it’s quite rainy here at the moment.

       Reply

       1. Thank you for your prompt reply….appreciate it. This is very helpful. Take care.

          Reply

    2. Hello! I am traveling on my own in july 2020 and would need some advise. Could you help?

       Reply

       1. Hi Rina, unfortunately, I have no time to help each of our readers individually. I do my best to answer all the questions left on the website, so if you read through the other comments, you might find some helpful info for your trip, in addition to what’s already in the articles.
          If you have any specific questions that are not addressed, please post them under the related articles and I’ll do my best to help.
          If this question was addressed to another reader who commented before, I’m afraid the chance of them seeing and answering this is even lower…

          Reply

25. Jurga
    My wife and I will be in Belgium in February – we can plan 4-5 days – i have read your suggested itinerary and i am wondering whether we need a car as we arrive in each city or location – we will be based in brussels.
    joel
    toronto

    Reply

    1. Hi Joel, no, you really don’t need a car in Belgium if you just want to visit the biggest towns. It’s so much easier to just travel by train and it’s also cheaper too (parking costs in big cities are high, not to mention car rental).
       The cities are very walkable. In Brussels, you may want to take hop-on hop-off bus for sights that are a bit further away, like e.g. Atomium. In Antwerp, it’s really nice to do a bike tour – it shows you all the main highlights in just a few hours and then you can spend the rest of the day exploring the Old Town a bit more in detail.
       In Ghent or Bruges, you can just walk everywhere that’s worth visiting.
       Enjoy your trip!

       Reply

       1. ithanks for this — day 4 at ypres i assume requires a car or perhaps a day tour?
          joel

          Reply

          1. Hi Joel, yes, it’s best to take a tour. I wouldn’t recommend renting a car just for this because it’s really far and there are many different locations to visit – not that easy if you don’t know where to go exactly.
             The most popular tour to Ypres runs from Bruges (starting at the train station, so you could easily do it by taking a train from Brussels to Bruges first). There is also a similar tour from Brussels, if that’s easier for you.

             Reply

             1. many thanks for your immediate responses –weather in belgium later in february?

             2. That’s really impossible to predict. It can be nice or it can be rainy. Normally, it shouldn’t be freezing and we hardly ever get snow, but you really never know. Just check the weather forecast a week before you travel and you’ll have a much better idea of what to expect.

26. Hi Jurga
    We are driving from Copenhagen >Cologne>Amsterdam (many stops in between-taking 2 weeks) Then to Belgium. We went to Bruges Ypres & Ghent last year. This time we want to see The Hague, Delft, Antwerp, Ghent ( we missed the castle) and Brussels. We will then be taking the Eurostar from Brussels to London.
    Our problem is knowing where to drop off the car…After reading your blog I’m starting to think we should drop it off in Amsterdam then train the rest of the way. Maybe going straight to Brussels for 4 or 5 nights and doing day trips. Being a local your thoughts would be appreciated. We love Belgium and are looking forward to returning.

    Reply

    1. Hi, I guess it really depends on what you want to see along the way. In the Netherlands, it might be easier to visit some places by car. I really recommend Kinderdijk if you haven’t been – it could be a nice stop on your way towards Belgium.
       If you go to The Hague and Delft, you can either do it by train or by car. The advantage of doing this by car is that it makes it easier to see several places in a short time and not have to worry about the luggage. Unless you base yourself in Amsterdam and do day trips (more inspiration: Best Day Trips from Amsterdam). Also, if you have a car, you can stay outside of busy and expensive places like Amsterdam. In Amsterdam, I’d definitely not want to have a car – parking fees will cost you a fortune.
       So it also depends on whether you’ll actually be staying in the city there or not…
       Otherwise, you can also drop the car off in Antwerp or Brussels too. In Belgium, distances are even smaller than in the Netherlands and traffic jams even worse, so here I’d definitely opt for train travel.
       So, to summarize, try to figure out what are your ‘must-see’ places in the Netherlands and then it will become easier to decide. It’s easy to take a train from Amsterdam to Belgium, and a regular train (not the fast one, which is actually just half an hour faster) costs about 40 EUR (depends a bit on where you start and where you finish).

       Reply

27. Hi, Great article and all I read so many of the comment I wanted to ask you , do I need to get train ticket in advance to find better deal.
    Which cities you are thinking we should just visit for a day?
    We are traveling on Nov 28-Dec 4th so we can visit some of Christmas markets.
    Thanks

    Reply

    1. Hi Nilou, if you buy train tickets online or at the station, you’ll pay less than on the train. If you have to buy them on the train, you also have to make sure to find the conductor before getting on the train or you risk getting a fine. So yes, best get them in advance (doesn’t matter how long in advance – prices are the same here in Belgium).
       You can visit any of these cities for just a day, for some (Leuven, Mechelen, Ghent, also Bruges) even half a day might be enough. So it depends on where you’re staying. If you like to stay just in one place, then Brussels is probably the most obvious choice. Antwerp is also a good base. From there, all the other towns are just 30-60 min by train.
       Enjoy your trip!

       Reply

28. Hi Jurga
    We will be visiting Belgium on a second trip next year. I read through all your suggestions but see no recomendation on visiting the Belgium coast with the Kusttram. This is something I always wanted to do and are investigating the best way to do so from Gent or Brugge.

    Reply

    1. Hi Hilda, I think the easiest way is to take a train to Oostende and then take the coastal tram from there in whatever direction you choose. You can find more information about the Coastal Tram here.

       Reply

29. Hello, Thanks for your informative review of Belgium, it has been a great help.. Just wanting your opinion as I’ve gone back and forth about this numerous times and we cannot decide. My Husband , Myself and our 13 year old Daughter will be travelling from Amsterdam to Belgium and then onto Paris in June 2020 , we have scheduled in 5 days in Belgium , however we are stuck on deciding where to base ourselves Brussels or Bruges (like so many others after reading many opinions on the matter) . We are leaning towards Bruges however have been told 5 nights would be too long even with day trips. We would love your opinion on best place to stay with teenager so we can finally lock something in!
    Thanks for your time.

    Reply

    1. Hi Rachael, indeed, 5 days in Bruges is too much, but if you want to do day trips, I’m sure you can fill them. Also because it’s close to the coast, so if the weather is nice, you can just hop on the train and go to the seaside for a day as well.
       Alternatively, you could split your stay between a few days in Brussels or Antwerp and a few in Bruges, but I know that some people just rather stay in one place instead of changing hotels. I think you’ll be fine either way, just try to look for a hotel that is not too far from the railways station – it will be easier when doing many day trips.

       Reply

30. Hello! My wife and I will be in Brussels for 5 days and plan to go to Moscow from there. My question, Has anyone taken a train to Moscow from Brussels. We leave in 4 weeks (Sep 3), any feedback or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!!

    Reply

    1. Hi Michael, this sounds like a very long trip to me. Hopefully, you get off the trains and get to see some of Europe along the way as well. Enjoy it!

       Reply

31. I am going to Antwerp 17th -22nd August for hockey Europeans.Much of our day will be at hockey but I hope to see 1 or 2 attractions. Which would b the best. Also some restaurants for dining would help please. Thank you.
    Sandra

    Reply

    1. Hi Sandra, here you can find our guide to the best things to do in Antwerp. If your time is short, I’d just walk around the Old Town: Groenplaats, Grote Markt, the Cathedral, maybe walk to the river and see the Steen Castle. That’s also the area where you’ll find many restaurants. If you are looking for something a bit fancier, I recommend Sir Anthony Van Dijck – the place is really nice and the food is good as well, but it’s a bit pricey. Otherwise just walk around and find one that doesn’t look too touristy. We usually use Google Maps to see what restaurants are nearby and what the reviews are.
       In my Antwerp article, you’ll also find a mention of a very special bar. It’s just behind the Cathedral and definitely worth taking a look even if you have no time for drinks.
       Enjoy your trip!

       Reply

32. Hi

    I am travelling to brussels in the next couple of weeks for 4 days and one the checklist is to visit Gent and Bruges, what is the best form of transport to getting there and how long would it take from Brussels?

    Thanks

    Reply

    1. The best way to travel in Belgium is by train. Most train rides between these cities will take 1-1,5hrs.

       Reply

33. Hi! I would love your advice. We are coming to Belgium for 5 days from Amsterdam and are trying to see Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp and Bruges. We are thinking we would like to do 2 nights in 2 cities and then do day trips to see the other two cities. I am not sure which two cities you would suggest we stay in and travel from? Also where do you think we should start so we end up closest to Amsterdam for ease of finishing up? Appreciate your advice, Thanks so much, Marianne

    Reply

    1. Hi Marianne, you could stay in Antwerp or in Brussels or both of them if you prefer two different places. There is a direct train to both these towns from Amsterdam. Antwerp is somewhat closer.
       If you stay not too far from the railway station (you can find our suggestions for hotels in the article), you can easily take a train to the other towns for day trips, so no need to pack your bags every day.
       Alternatively, you could stay two nights in Antwerp and two in Bruges. This option is especially nice if you want to see Bruges without the crowds and also if you want to take a day trip to Ypres and WWI sites.
       Enjoy your trip.

       Reply

34. Great Itinerary and I will follow it on my next trip to Belgium. Some questions. Is it worthy to rent a car to do all these day trips to Antwerp/Brugges etc on second/third day or the train will be ok for us? What other city would you include in your itinerary instead of Ypres? Dinant or what else? We have 3 and a half days in Belgium and Brussels for our accommodation and I will try to see as much as possible from the Belgium.

    Reply

    1. Hi, as already mentioned many times on my blog, I don’t recommend renting a car for Belgian cities. The train is so much easier and costs much less, not even to mention the traffic jams and parking costs…
       If you have 3,5 days, follow our 3-day itinerary. In addition, you can visit either Mechelen or Leuven on that half day. They are both just +-20 minutes train ride from Brussels and both are nice towns. For tourists, I guess Mechelen has a bit more to offer – you can see the old town, climb the Cathedral tower, and take a boat ride… There is also a brewery that you could visit if that’s your thing.
       Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!

       Reply

35. Hi Jurga,

    Ill be visiitng Belgium from June 1-June 4 and will do your itinerary. Few questions I have, I need your help on this. When I take the train from Bruges to Antwerp, which station should in Bruges and in Antwerp.
    what about in Bruges?

    Reply

    1. I was really sleepy when I typed my comment last time. Let me make myself clear with all the questions I got. sorry to confuse you.

       BRUSSELS TO ANTWERP- Train station in Brussels and in Antwerp-where should I get off.
       GHENT TO BRUGES- train station in Bruges I should get off

       Reply

       1. Hi Anna, in Brussels and in Antwerp it’s best to take Central Station.
          In Bruges – it’s just called Bruges/ Brugge (see the map).
          In Ghent you have two stations and they are both a bit of a walk from the city center, so it doesn’t realy matter much. We ourselves usually take Gand-Dampoort / Gent-Dampoort station, but Gent-Sint-Pieters is also ok. Ghent is the only big town in Belgium that doesn’t have a train station right in the center.
          Hope this helps. You can use Google Maps to see where all these stations are located.

          Reply

36. Hi Jurga! I will be in Belgium from June 12-June 18. I have been reading all of the things you’ve posted and trying to figure out my ‘plan of attack’. I want to visit all of the places you’ve suggested. I am unsure of which city I’d like to stay in, firstly. And second, I know that sometimes in certain European countries most shops are closed on Sundays. Are there things like that I should be aware of as I’m planning for Belgium? For instance, a few months ago I was passing through Oslo and wanted to pick up a souvenir for my nephew and nothing was opened except restaurants on a Sunday.

    Reply

    1. Hi Michelle, you can easily stay in one city in Belgium and just take a train to the other towns for a day trip – no need to drag your luggage and change hotels every night. The longest train ride will be about an hour, maybe 1,5hrs, so it’s easily doable. In Brussels or Antwerp, you have plenty of nice hotels within a walking distance to the Central Station, so I think I’d go for one of these towns. I have some suggestions for hotels in the article.
       As for Sundays, yes, most shops in Belgium are closed on Sundays, with a few exceptions in the tourist places. In Bruges, they are usually always open, in Antwerp – only on the first Sunday of the month (more info here), but there is a nice market on Sundays. In Ghent – some Sundays only (more info here). In Brussels, most souvenir shops will usually be open every day, but other stores will usually be closed on Sunday, except first Sunday of the month when most shops are also open.
       Enjoy your trip!

       Reply

37. This is perfect! Planning our visit this summer with our three very young kids. My husband really wants to visit Ypres but I’m dead set against renting a car (I don’t want to bring all 3 car seats) and plan to rely on public transportation. The 13 hr day trip/guided tour to Ypres seems great but way to tough on our toddlers. I’m planning 3 nights Brussels and 3 nights Ghent. If we take the train there from Ghent for a day trip, can we get around enough to satisfy my husband and keep the kids happy?

    Reply

    1. Hi Amanda, you can take a train from Ghent to Ypres (it takes just an hour), but it will not bring you to the WWI cemeteries. That being said, Ypres itself is a nice town and you can visit In Flanders Fields museum which is all dedicated to the WWI.
       From Ypres, it’s a short drive to the main cemeteries and I assume there are local buses going there, but it would be quite a hassle with kids, so maybe just stick to town.
       Here you can read more about visiting Ypres.

       Reply

       1. Hi Jurga! I love your suggestions and reading all the information provided.
          My hubby and I are seniors. We are flying into Brussels and are planning to stay in Brugge for 5 days at the end of October. We think basing ourselves in one location will be the least stressful. We expect to take a few daytrips from there to Antwerp and ? Not sure where else., suggestions? Definitely taking the train as I hear there are amazing senior rates. Are there any organized tours starting off in Brugge and going elsewhere? We prefer budget hotels, location being important. Any recommendations?

          Reply

          1. Hi Valerie, if you are staying in Bruges, then I definitely recommend this tour to Ypres and WWI sites.
             The rest, you should be able to do by train – Antwerp is a nice day trip, also Brussels, and Ghent.
             In Bruges, you can also rent a bike and drive to a small town Damme – it’s a very nice ride along the canal and something we often do when we are in Bruges. You can see the map here.
             As for hotels, Ibis Budget Centrum Station is very close to the station and is a budget hotel. Somewhat nicer budget hotel options are Hotel Salvators or Hotel Goezeput – similar price and much better ratings. I don’t know when exactly your trip is, but e.g. Hotel Het Gheestelic Hof is also showing me very good rates in October as well.
             Hope this helps.
             Enjoy your trip!

             Reply

             1. This is awesome and very helpful. We decided to book in Brugge for 4 days. We arrive on a Sunday at about 2 pm at the airport. We are thinking of staying in Brussels overnight and seeing it before heading to Brugge. Is it complicated to get to central Brussels from the airport? Will most tourist spots be closed on a Sunday at the end of October? Where do you recommend we stay in Brussels? “Budget” is our middle name and location would be important, close to everything and the train station.

             2. Hi Valerie, there are lots of trains from the airport to the Central Station in Brussels. The ride is about 20min if I recall well and you can buy the tickets at the station in the airport.
                As for hotels, please check my suggestions in the article.
                And most tourist places in Brussels are actually outdoors and always open. Souvenir shops and restaurants will also be open.

38. Hello Jurga,

    Just a quick note to thank you for your website and all the mentioned resources, guides and maps.

    It has all been instrumental in the planning of my upcoming trip to Belgium! ?

    Reply

    1. Glad to hear that, Anne-Marie. Enjoy your trip to Belgium!

       Reply

39. Greetings Jurga; I loved your itinerary and all the good info you have on your site it is very informative and it has been of great help in my planning stages for my upcoming trip to Brussels.
    I am in the middle of planning my trip but a bit confused as to where to stay to make make this
    3-4 day itinerary less stressful. Can you kindly give me some advise?

    I arrive in the afternoon via train from Heidelberg on April 28 and will depart on May 2 to Lisbon.
    My plan is to visit Bruges and Ghent – as you suggested on one day. If I stay in Bruges will is be difficult to travel to the BRU airport for a flight that leaves @13:00? Or should I stay 2 nights in Bruges and then
    transfer to Brussels for the other nights? I am totally confused about how to set my itinerary.

    PS this is my first Solo trip… I live in San Francisco. I am in my late 60’s but active and like to walk etc…
    Thank you so much for your reply.

    PPS Your suggestion to base oneself in Antwerp is a good one. I see it is less expensive to stay there.
    Can I still do a one day trip to Bruge and Ghent ? Then base myself in Brussels for 1.5 days before
    going to the airport for my flight to Lisbon? I am just concerned about the logistics etc.

    Reply

    1. Hi Lilia, yes, you can easily stay in Antwerp and even go to the airport from there if you rather not change hotels too often. Train connections are good and you can visit all – Bruges, Ghent, and also Brussels and Mechelen from Antwerp.
       I have some suggestions on where to stay in Antwerp in my post about best things to do in Antwerp. Enjoy your trip!

       Reply

40. I’ll be traveling from Paris to Belgium end of May and I plan to spend at least 3 or 4 days, then Amsterdam. I want to sleep on Brugge to appreciate the town after the crowds. I feel like if make my base in Brussels I will be part of a crowd when I visit Brugge and Antwerp but also I don’t like moving hotels too often. Im considering staying in Brugge for 3 days /2 nights. Travel to Antwerp 2nd day, then transfer to Brussels the 3rd day.
    Does this sound like a good plan?

    Reply

    1. Hi Fernando, Belgium is so small and train connections between the main towns are really good, so where you decide to stay is really a personal preference. You can base yourself in any major town and easily make day trips to the others.
       If you do that, I recommend staying close to a train station.
       Enjoy your trip!

       Reply

41. Hi! Your Belgium travel itineraries are very helpful to me. Besides travel to Belgium, I do plan to visit Netherlands & Germany. It’s my first time to visit these few countries & im from Singapore. Can please give me an idea or advise of which country to start with until I fly back Singapore. Your help is much appreciated. Thank you!

    Reply

    1. Hi Emily, there are so many ways to visit any country and especially Germany is huge, so there is so much to choose from… It’s hard for me to give you any specific advice not knowing where you are going and how much time you have. And honestly, I really have no time to help people with their specific itineraries. We have over 250,000 readers/month – as you can imagine it’s really not feasible.
       I don’t have anything about Germany on the blog, but I do have quite some info for the Netherlands. Check it out for some ideas where to go and what to see.
       Have a great trip!

       Reply

42. Hi Jurga,
    Thanks for your post….it is very much appreciated.. My wife and I will stopping at Zeebruck to see Bruges on May 4 on a transatlantic cruise ( Nieuw Statendam ) out of Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
    We disembark the next day in Amsterdam where we will spend 2 nights……we will then take the Flixbus to Antwerp for 2 days and then the train to Ghent for one day and then the train or bus to Brussels for 2 days before leaving on May 12 for Paris for 4 days….so a total of 5 days in Belgium……We are also staying at the Park Inn hotel right near Brussels midi Station….I know that is not the best area but that is where we arrive from Ghent and it where we depart for Paris.. Please comment on our Belgium journey.
    Thank you,
    John
    Thanks, John

    Reply

    1. Hi John, not sure what I can comment – you seem to have it all figured out and it looks ok and quite logical to me. Unless you want to change hotels less often – in that case, skip staying in Ghent and add one night in Brussels – you can easily visit Ghent from there. Enjoy your trip!

       Reply

43. I appreciate your tips to visit Belgium. My wife is a disabled chocolatier. I am looking for accessible tips for someone in a mobility scooter that loves chocolate. When we were in Italy last year, we found many shops that had one or two steps into the shop.and no handicap ramp. Although in their defense they are not required to be accessible, like in the states. Can we get around successfully in Belgium?

    I want to come to Belgium and take a train to Copenhagen for a Baltic cruise. Are the trains in that part of Europe accessible?

    Reply

    1. Hi Jon, I have to tell you that accessibility isn’t as it should be, anywhere in Europe. You’ll always find shops, restaurants, and hotels that are better at this than others, but to expect that everything is accessible – that’s impossible. Expect cobbled streets, sidewalks with high curbs, etc. So yes, you should be able to find some shops that are accessible, but especially in the old town in Brussels, that might be an issue as there are often a few stairs to negotiate indeed.
       As for the trains, yes, most trains in Belgium are especially equipped and accessible. You may need to get to the station a bit earlier to locate elevators to get to the platform that you need though. I assume international trains are accessible as well, but you can always call the railway company that you’d be traveling with.
       Hope this helps.

       Reply

44. Hi Jurga,
    I’m planning a mother/daughter trip for my daughter’s 30th birthday. We will arrive in Brussels on Friday, 5/2, at noon and depart on Tuesday, 5/7, at 2pm. I am getting ready to book our hotel and wasn’t sure which direction to go in. We were going to stay in Brussels for our entire stay and visit Bruges on a day trip, however, the hotel is so much more expensive on Monday evening in Brussels that we are considering staying in Bruges for Monday or possibly Sunday and Monday evening. What do you recommend is the best way to split our time. Also, if we stay in Bruges on Monday evening would we have any difficulty getting to the airport by 11 AM on Tuesday? (We are from the US and our commuter traffic into New York can be difficult so I always worry about that in an unfamiliar area.)
    Thanks so much!

    Reply

    1. Hi Donna, there are trains usually from around 5.30-6AM in the morning, so there should be no problem to get to the airport by 11AM unless there is some unforeseen circumstance. You can find the train schedule here.
       Splitting your time between Bruges and Brussels is fine. The distances here in Belgium aren’t big anyway and you can easily visit all the major towns no matter where you are staying.
       Enjoy your trip!

       Reply

45. Thank you for this blog – really helpful in planning out my stay. As you said, most tourists (including myself) was planning on doing Bruges and Ghent on separate days. If I go with your suggestion in making them in one day (to make time for Antwerp), will getting back to Brussels late from Ghent be a problem? Which city would you suggest I stay in for my stay? I am planning to come up from Luxembourg (or maybe just take a day trip as well there) from Switzerland, then will be heading to Netherlands after the Belgium leg of my trip.

    Thank you!

    Reply

    1. Hi Karen, it’s hard to advise since I don’t know if you’ll be driving or taking a train.
       Luxembourg – Brussels is a slow train line, 3-4 hours depending on which train you take. So you know.
       It’s not really a problem to drive or take trains between the major cities in Belgium late in the evening. The last trains are usually going a bit past 11pm. The only issue is that both train stations in Ghent are quite far from the centre, so you need to be prepared to walk or take the tram. I think that it would be better to go to Ghent first and then to Bruges – it’s amazing in the evening when tourists leave.
       If you are traveling by public transport, then it’s probably better to base yourself in one place and not have to carry your bags with you. In that case, Brussels is most logical if you are coming from Luxembourg. Alternatively, if you travel by car, then I would do one night in Brussels, one in Bruges, and one in Antwerp on your way to the Netherlands. In that case, make sure you book hotels with parking.
       Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!

       Reply

       1. I guess that’s one thing I forgot to mention – I will be going by train only. Thank you so much, Jurga! I will definitely be taking these to consideration when I finalize my plans in the coming months. As of now, I’m leaning towards what you said and just settle in Brussels. Again, thank you!

          Reply

46. . Loved your detailed itinerary for Belgium. Extremely helpful. We are planning our trip 1st week of Feb, As suggested by you, we would base in Antrewp and then move on to Brussels one day and Ghent,,, Bruges the next day. Would like to add the small town of Leuven or/and Mechelen . Should i leave this for the 3rd day or can we visit these towns on the same day as Brussels. WWWi site is also on our list. We would be traveling by train . For travel to Leuven and Mechelen would it be advisable by bus or train from Antrewp?

    Reply

    1. Hi Yamini, yes, train is definitely the easiest way to visit all these towns in Belgium.
       As for itinerary, I guess it depends on how you travel, but I’d never advise to visit Brussels, Mechelen, and Leuven in one day. It’s really too much. Mechelen might be doable, because the train from Antwerp to Brussels passes there anyway, but even then I think you should count at least 2 hours for it. Climb the cathedral tower and – if available in February – do a canal boat tour.
       Leuven is also doable from Antwerp, but it takes about an hour I think, so you can do Leuven and Mechelen in one day, or Leuven and Brussels, or Mechelen and Brussels, but not all three of them.
       Ghent and Bruges will definitely require a full day.
       If you also want to visit the WWI sites and don’t have a car, then you should look into booking a tour. I know there are tours from Brussels and from Bruges, but I don’t know if there are any from Antwerp… Otherwise you could opt to spend one or two nights in Bruges, that would make many things easier. Please check this blog post for more information about visiting Ypres and WWI cemeteries.
       Overall if you have a week and want to see all these places and don’t want to change hotels, then you may probably better base yourself in Brussels. From there there are direct trains to all the towns including Leuven, and day trips to Ypres. If you are ok changing hotels, then you could do 2 nights in Brussels, 2 in Antwerp, and 2 in Bruges. It’s not a must, however, and really pretty much everything works as Belgium is such a small country.
       Hope this helps rather than confuses you 🙂

       Reply

47. Hello Jurga, love your photos, love your website!

    Thought I might ask about safety around Belgium and vicinity. We’re two females in our early 60’s traveling, Is it safe to walk around at night? Your picture shows the beautiful scenery at night–we might want to see it for ourselves if it’s safe being on the streets and traveling by public transportation back to our hotel

    Thank you for all you do!

    Reply

    1. Hi Jay,
       I think I already answered your question in your other comment, please see here. Yes, in general it’s really safe in Belgium, don’t worry. Just use common sense as you’d do anywhere else in the world.

       Reply

48. Hi Jurga
    One more concerne is that we are 4 of us and all are 28-29 yrs old Will it be economical by staying at one or two places and visiting all other places from there as it will be costly to pay for transportation for 4 rather shall we stay at different locations every day in Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and Brussels
    As of now I had chosen ostend as my base to visit Bruges and Ghent as I m getting a good air bnb and also I can visit the beach from there then later I m staying in Brussels and travel to Antwerp from there only

    Reply

49. 1. Hi Jurga this is my fist Europe trip to France , Belgium , Netherlands and Norway and your article has helped me in my planning.I am sharing the details of the plan made as of now to ask further queries
    2. 27th April New Delhi to Paris
    28th -30th Paris where we are staying with a friend at his place
    ( Is it better to hire a car as we are 4 of us and roam around France or use some transport card , hiring of a car also includes the issue of parking fee as well as returning it at the same place from where it is hired)
    3. 1-3rd May morning staying near Cassel in France in an air bnb accommodation .
    4. 3rd May traveling from Cassel to ostend (Belgium) where we are staying in an air bnb accommodation and traveling Bruges on 4th May and Ghent 5th May from there only .
    5. On 6th may traveling to Brussels and staying in an air bnb accommodation 7th may visit Antwerp from there
    What means of transportation we should use for traveling in Belgium as there is no pass for the entire country I suppose.
    6. 8th of May traveling to Amsterdam still looking for air bnb options please suggest something or some other place near Amsterdam which may be considered to live in and then travelling from there
    7. Staying at the same place roaming around Amsterdam on 8th and 9th and 10th traveling to Rotterdam .
    8. Then on 10th itself traveling from Amsterdam to Oslo there we are staying with our realtives 4 days stay in Oslo and near by places and back to India on 15th .
    What transportation we should use in Norway and pass available ???
    Thanking in advance ??

    Reply

    1. Hi Diksha, I’m sorry, but I really have no time to give you a thorough request about your itinerary and all these places. I don’t offer travel planning services.

       In Belgium you can easily travel by train and since the traffic and parking isn’t easy, it’s definitely the best option for visiting cities. Also, travel times by train aren’t that long, so you don’t have to change hotels too often if you don’t want to.

       Why would you first go to Amsterdam, then a few days later to Rotterdam, and then again back to Amsterdam? After leaving Belgium, visit Rotterdam first, and then move up to Amsterdam. Traveling by train is also a good option in the Netherlands since traffic and parking aren’t easy, just as in Belgium. However, renting a small car might be a cheaper option, but then you still need to park it and that can be pricey.

       In France I’d only rent a car if you need it outside of Paris and often you can easily rent a car at one place and return it somewhere else, just not sure if it works for different countries.
       Hope this helps a bit. Enjoy your trip!

       Reply

50. Dear Jurga
    thanks for the tips for a trip to Brussels. A friend and I are visiting from December 30th to January 4th. We don’t know which city to select to be in New Year’s eve> Bruges, Ghent or Antwerp. What do you recommend?
    We were thinking Bruges and then moving to Ghent the rest of the days so that we can visit there and Antewerp.
    thanks

    Reply

    1. Hi Lina, it seems that you and your friend asked similar same question on two different articles at the same time 🙂
       I’m not really sure what to recommend as it depends on what you like – more crowds or quieter places. All big cities should have fireworks at New Year’s Eve, but obviously celebrations will be bigger in Antwerp than in Ghent or Bruges. If you like watching fireworks, then Antwerp is probably the best choice because it uses the river as the location for the firework show – more open space, bigger spectacle. 🙂 Brussels also has nice fireworks, but is much much busier than the other towns and not my personal favourite due to the crowds.
       If you are planning to go for nice dinner that evening, best book a restaurant in advance – Belgians love to celebrate that evening with their friends.
       PS You can also visit all three cities just by staying in one of them – there are good train connections between all three and it’s just a short ride. I’d stay in the one where you want to celebrate New Year’s so that you don’t have to look for a train in the middle of the night.

       Reply

       1. thanks! I think we would prefer less crowds, nice dinner and then people watching 🙂 We thought Bruges because it seems pretty nice, but we are concerned than on Jan 1st everything will be closed because it is smaller. Our other option is Ghent which seems like a nice compromise and it is in the middle of the plces we want to visit in such a short period of time. Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated it.

          Reply

          1. I’m afraid everything be closed in all cities on January 1. It’s a really quiet day… So I wouldn’t base your decision on that.
             If you like less crowds, then I think Bruges is an excellent choice and it’s nice enough to walk around the next day, especially because there are no people and you can have it all to yourselves. 😉
             Check this out for all that is happening in Bruges this winter, maybe you’ll find something nice to do on January 1.

             Reply

51. Dear Jurga

    Thank you very much for your clear explanation.

    Have a nice day.

    Flo

    Reply

52. Dear Jurga

    Thank you very much for your prompt reply.
    Is it easy to buy train tickets at the station on day of travel from Bruges to Paris ? Do I need to buy the tickets in advance ? Will the train tickets be more expensive if I buy them on the day of travel ?

    Thank you again for your enthusiasm to introduce your country to others.

    Flo

    Reply

    1. Hi Flo, yes, you can easily buy tickets at the station. There are tickets machines and bigger stations also have cashiers, although they tend to be quite busy.
       We usually buy our train tickets online. For local rides, you just need to indicate the date on which you’ll travel and then you can take any train that day. So buying online can be a simpler option if you already know which day you go where.
       As far as I know, prices are the same online or at the station, it’s only if you buy it on a train itself that it’s much more expensive. In that case you also need to go and find the conductor before he finds you, or you’ll get a fine for riding without a ticket.

       Reply

53. Dear Jurga

    Thank you very much for your invaluable suggestions and insider tips for foreign visitors. Your blog is really helpful, and your photographs are so professional!

    We plan to visit Belgium for 4 days in mid-February. Although it is cold and may be windy and rainy, we have to choose that time because of limitation of our holidays.

    We plan to take the train from Paris and arrive to Brussels in the evening..
    On day 2 we will spend a day in Brussels to visit some of the place you have suggested plus the Musées royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique.
    We will visit Ghent and Bruges on day 3, and
    WWI battlefields near Ypres on day 4 (taking a day trip from Burges).
    On day 5 we have to go back to Paris to take our international flight.

    Please advise:
    1. is our itinerary too tight?
    2. Is it possible to squeeze Antwerp in my itinerary?

    Thank you very much.

    Reply

    1. Dear Flo, your itinerary looks very good and perfect for the time that you have. I wouldn’t try to squeeze Antwerp in it, because you’ll just run from one place to the other, whereas now you can really enjoy each town and explore at a more leisurely pace. Sometimes less is more 😉
       Enjoy your trip!

       Reply

54. Hi, this is Linda.

    Greetings from Singapore. I am thinking of visiting Belgium with my son (22 years old) from the Wednesday, 26th December to Friday, 28th December 2018. That would be 3 full days but only 2 nights. We can stretch it to 4 days and 3 nights. What kind of itinerary would you suggest us to go to? Moreover, is there some kind of an economical train pass that we can use it for The Netherlands, Praque, and Belgium?

    Thank you so much.

    Reply

    1. Hi Linda, my suggested itinerary for 3 or 4 days in Belgium is already in this post – just choose the places that interest you the most.
       In winter, I would definitely visit Christmas markets – every big town in Belgium has one, and almost all of them stay open during the holiday season. Here you can find more information about Christmas markets in Belgium.
       As for the train pass, I can’t help you with that. Here in Belgium we have a 10-ride pass for young people under 26 (it’s called Go Pass), that is quite economical, but for the rest I can’t really help you with this. In general, train travel here in Belgium isn’t very expensive, not like in the UK for example.
       Hope this helps. Have a great trip!

       Reply

55. Such a good read. Could you advise me what the best options would be for me. I arrive in Brussels Friday 11th Jan and flight back is Monday evening. Would you suggest staying in Brussels the whole time and do day trips or maybe just 2 nights Brussels and 1 night Bruge and get our flight home from there or do this the other way around?

    Thank you.

    Reply

    1. Hi Lynnette, if you don’t want to travel up and down all the time, then yes, staying in Brussels is a good option. You can easily take a train to Bruges, Antwerp, or Ghent. The big advantage of staying in one place is that you can decide which day you go where, depending on the weather. I’d go to Bruges on the day when there is least chance for rain, as you mostly spend your time outdoors there. Whereas in Brussels you can easily hide inside a museum or a shop if it’s really cold and wet.
       PS if it’s of any difference, in Bruges the shops are usually open on Sundays, whereas in Brussels they are normally closed, unless there would be any special sales events that weekend.

       Reply

56. Hi! I loved reading your blog on Brussels. My fiance and I are doing little “minimoon” in Brussels / Brugge dec 21-26. We are spending the whole time in Brussels but one night we will spend in Brugge. Can you help me by suggesting which night you think you be best? We are thinking Dec 23 or 24th? Also I know many things are not open around Christmas. Do you you have a list of nice restaurants you think might be open on Christmas? We’d like to make Christmas reservations.
    Thank you so much!

    Reply

    1. Hi Daniela, sounds very romantic. Also, 5 days is quite a lot for Brussels, so if you feel like exploring more I really recommend Antwerp, also Ghent, and smaller towns like Mechelen and Leuven (all very easy to reach by train). There will be Christmas markets everywhere.
       It’s hard to say which day is best for Bruges. 24/12 is in general very quiet everywhere in the evening (just as 25/12) as Belgians celebrate Christmas Eve/ Christmas day with their families. I’d look for a hotel with a nice restaurant for that evening, so that you don’t have to wander around the city looking for a place to have dinner, as many places might be closed. If you are looking for something really special, check Duke’s Palace hotel.
       I don’t really have a list of restaurants, no, I’m afraid you’ll have to check them one by one and just contact to see if they are open. It’s best to make dinner reservations in that period indeed, especially if you are interested in any specific restaurants. Why don’t you try looking on Google Maps for ideas and then just give them a call to confirm?
       Hope this helps

       Reply

57. Dear Jurga,

    Your blog is amazing and very helpful. Thank you so much for all the information you are sharing. We’ll be visiting Belgium next week (on the beginning of November) and we need to decide where to go on Sunday. Bruges or Antwerp? Would be shops open on Sunday? We will visit Ghent on Monday and trying to decide which place on Sunday and Tuesday between Bruges and Antwerp.. Thanks. 🙂

    Reply

    1. Hi Maria, sorry for a late reply. I think the shops are open in Bruges every Sunday, and on November 4 they are also open in Antwerp (more info here), so I think both towns will be lively enough to enjoy them. Also, this week is school holiday in Belgium, so lots of people everywhere. Next Monday and Tuesday will be quieter, but also much more traffic jams and commuters. Not sure if it helps you much to decide where to go when, but in general Antwerp will be easier to get to on the weekend than on a weekday (especially if you are driving, as there are major works in the city and the traffic is terrible), so if I were you I’d probably go to Antwerp on Sunday and to Bruges on Tuesday.

       Reply

    2. Jurga,

       Such great information on your blog. I have a couple of questions however. I will be arriving in Brussels the morning of June 28th and staying 3 nights in Brussels. Of course I would like to visit Ghent and Bruges and since my grandparents were born in Lotenhulle and Ruiselade I was hoping to visit these smaller towns too. Any suggestions on how to move around between the cities would be greatly appreciated.

       Reply

       1. You can easily travel in Belgium by train. There are regular trains in between all major towns and also many smaller towns and villages as well. Most trains like Brussels to Antwerp or Ghent take about an hour.
          For train schedules, tickets, and prices, please visit the Belgian Rail website.

          Reply

58. Thank you for the post. My wife and I will be taking a short trip to Belgium at the end of November. We have never visited before and have a couple of days planned around Bruges and Ghent. Afterwards we are meeting friends from Bonn and were hoping to find a nice small town in eastern Belgium to “meet in the middle”. Do you have any destinations you would suggest. A beautiful small town with a couple of excellent breweries and a good local restaurant is all we are looking for.

    Thanks

    Reply

    1. Hi Keb, I’m not really sure what to suggest as I don’t know what exactly you’re looking for. Somewhat in the middle between Bruges and Bonne you have the place where three countries meet with several nice towns. For example, Hasselt in Belgium, Aachen in Germany, or Maastricht in the Netherlands. My personal favourite from these three is probably Maastricht, but I have no idea about breweries and similar. Hasselt has lots of boutique shopping and dining options as well. But these are all rather small towns that can easily be seen in half a day, so it depends how much time you have.
       If your friends don’t mind coming further into Belgium, I’d recommend to try Antwerp, close to where we live. It’s a beautiful town and has everything: shops, museums, breweries, restaurants, etc. You can read more about it here: Best things to do in Antwerp.
       Hope this helps.

       Reply

59. Hi Jurga, Good evening. Thanks for this very informative post. We used to chat in Instagram. Me and wife are planning to visit Belgium from 2nd November to 5th November. Will it be a nice time? Thanks for yor advice..
    Madhu menon
    Instagram: mdhkmr

    Reply

    1. Hi Madhu, nice to see you here on the blog as well ;). I can’t say that November is the best time to visit Belgium, not at all because it can be rainy and grey. But we had years when August was worse… 🙂 So you never know – sometimes beginning of November can be really beautiful and sunny… In any case it will be a warm jacket weather and do pack an umbrella.
       I wouldn’t worry about the weather too much though – there are so many restaurants, museums, and shopping centres – plenty of opportunities to escape bad weather if need be.

       Reply

60. Hello Jurga!

    Your post about Belgium was very helpful! I am currently planning a trip to visit Belgium during Christmas (12/23 – 12/27). We are planning to stay in Brussels for approx 3-4 days and intending to make day trips to Antwerp and Bruges. We plan to be in Brussels on Christmas Day and perhaps travel to Antwerp or Bruges on Christmas Eve. I will be traveling with my husband and 15 month old daughter. Do you have any recommendations/tips for visiting these three towns during Christmas? Also, is there anything we should consider since we will be traveling with a baby?

    Your feedback would be much appreciated! Thank you!

    Reply

    1. Hi Florence, in general many places will be closed early in the afternoon on the 24th and the whole day on Christmas day. You’ll probably find that even some restaurants and Christmas markets will be closed at that time. So just to be on the safe side, maybe make dinner reservations (at your hotel or some restaurant) for those two evenings in advance. For the rest, the cities are always nicely lit, there is usually an ongoing music and light show at the Grand Place in Brussels every evening. Also, the Christmas markets are in general still open even after Christmas.
       As for the baby, you might find it difficult to navigate the busy streets and Christmas markets with a stroller. Many people do that, we did several times as well, just beware that it will be busy. You may also want to pack a rain cover for the stroller and a warm blanket for her.

       Reply

    2. Hi Jurga,

       My boyfriend has 5 days of work in Eindhoven, Netherlands and since we’ve been there several times, we elected to fly into of Brussels a week in advance (Sept 30th-Oct 6) and see as much of Belgium as possible before he heads to work and I head home. We have 6 full days to spend in Belgium together and all of the towns sound so wonderful, but I don’t want to lug my suitcase to too many hotels. Is it possible to sleep in Brussels each night and do day trips to Bruges, Ghent, Ypres and Antwerp or do you recommend staying overnight in at least one of these towns?

       We also seem to like odd or quirky things, such as a ghost tour to hear the history instead of a traditional day-tour, so any suggestions there would be appreciated. I’m having a hard time putting our itinerary together and wonder if 6 days is too much time to be in Belgium or if it’s just right and will allow us to take it easy as we take in the country.

       Thank you in advance,
       Amanda & Wes

       p.s. I liked your Iceland blog as well, it made me want to go back!

       Reply

       1. Hi Amanda, yes, you can easily stay in Brussels and take a train to the other towns. Just in Ypres you can’t see everything if you don’t have a car, because many cemeteries are outside the town. Here you can read more about visiting Ypres and WWI Battlefields. You can also take a tour from Bruges.
          Brussels is also a good place for taking tours, many more options than anywhere else. In addition to ‘regular’ tours, there are tours for beer tasting, waffle baking, etc.
          Nice places to see are the smaller towns like Leuven or Mechelen (both very close to Brussels).
          If you like ghost towns, Doel near Antwerp is an interesting place, but I think you can only get there by car. A really nice place is also Villers La Ville Abbey, also easiest to reach by car.
          Hope this helps. Enjoy your time in Belgium.

          Reply

61. Hi Jurga,

    Thanks for posting such great information. Can you tell me what to expect, weather-wise, in October?

    Reply

    1. It’s very difficult to say, Maria. A lot depends on the year and obviously beginning of October is very different than the end of the month. Last year we had beautiful autumn weather with lots of sunshine and up to15-18°C even mid October. But often it can be much colder and rainy. Just check the weather forecast the week before your trip and you’ll have a good idea of what to expect.

       Reply

62. Hello!! I am going to Belgium next month and your post was really helpfull!
    I have (only) almost 3 days to spend in Belgium and I want to see evereyting!!!
    So, I’ll left here what I am planning for my trip and I want your advice, if possible…

    First day:
    Arriving at Charleroi at lunch; go by train to Leuven and then go to Antwerp.
    At night, go to Brussels

    Second day:
    Brussels all day
    At night: go to Ghent

    Third Day:
    Morning: Ghent
    Afternoon: Bruges
    at night, go to charleroi by train

    What do you think?
    Thank you

    Reply

    1. Hi Catarina, honestly I think this is a bit stretched, also because you need to take into account the traveling times between the towns, your flights times, etc.
       1st day – I’d skip Leuven and go straight to Antwerp. There is a much better train connection from Charleroi if you go directly and half a day won’t be too much in Antwerp. I’d also advice to spend the night there. If you really really want to see one more town, then hop off the train in Mechelen. It has a nice centre that can be visited in a short time and it’s on the same train line making it very easy and quick to get to Antwerp afterwards.
       2nd day – Go to Brussels for a day and then go to Bruges in the evening. Spend the night there. Why? Bruges is a typical town where people come for a day, so it’s crowded. But in the evening everyone is gone and you can enjoy the beautiful surroundings without the crowds. If you feel that you didn’t have enough time to see all you wanted, see the rest in the morning of the next day.
       3rd day – See Bruges and go to Ghent. Make sure you get to Charleroi on time – trains can get cancelled, there might be delays, so don’t leave it for the last minute.
       These are just my suggestions, of course. Enjoy your trip!

       Reply

       1. First of all, thank you so much for you help 🙂
          We are now planning our deslocations between towns, and we realize that we can go by train or bus (flibco/flixbus), the last is the cheapest. Initially we planned to rent a car but after reading your post, we changed our minds.
          What’s the best option in your opinion?

          Thank you

          Reply

          1. Hi again, I’d always suggest a train over a bus or a car for visiting cities in Belgium. There are such easy connections between all the main cities, it’s definitely the best option for traveling around in Belgium. Trains don’t stand in traffic jams ;).
             Not sure how old you are, but if you’re under 26, you can get a Go-Pass. It allows you to ride 10 times for just 52 EUR and can be used for several people at the same time. So one journey costs just 5,2 EUR. If you are older, it’s more expensive, but still very affordable and so much easier than a car or a bus.
             I also recommend to stay close to a railway station, so you don’t have to walk around with your bags too far. So for example following the itinerary that I suggested to you, spend 1 night at a hotel Park Inn by Radisson in Antwerp (or check the map on the booking website for alternative hotels nearby). And then 1 night in Bruges. There aren’t many hotels close to the station there, the only one is ibis budget Brugge Centrum Station. But if you don’t have much luggage and don’t mind walking a bit, there are many more options in the centre.
             Hope this helps.

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63. Great review and you have helped me decide on a few places and thrown more into the mix. We are coming second week of September (for 1 week) and bringing our van (which we will sleep in) do you have any recommendations to base ourselves or should we move around to each destination and try and find a new place to stay? Any Aires or campsites you can recommend would be appreciated. Cheers.

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    1. Hi Chris, I’m sorry, but I really know nothing about campsites in Belgium. One thing I know is that traffic is really busy here and parking a big van in the cities will give you headaches. Ideally you should leave it somewhere at a railway station outside any of the big towns and take a train for day trips to any of the towns in Flanders; it will be so much easier.
       It might be nice to base yourself at the coast. Oostende, Blankenberge, Knokke, or De Panne have quite good railway connections and I’m sure there are campsites there.
       Hope this helps a bit.

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64. Hi! I was contemplating coming to Belgium and after reading your post, it’s now a definite yes! Thank you so much for your detailed version of what to do and when best to do things to get the most out of the experience!
    Also, any chance you do couchsurfing!?

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    1. Hi Kirra, glad you found inspiration for your visit to Belgium. Unfortunately no, we don’t do couch-surfing (we live outside of town so it really wouldn’t make sense for anyone), but I’m sure there are many people who do that in the cities.

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    2. The Belgium portion of our trip this summer will only be 3 days one of which will fall on a Sunday (not the first Sunday). Is there a city that you would recommend over another for just walking/biking around and seeing fabulous architecture and landscaping? Or do you have other suggestions on ways to entertain ourselves on a Sunday. Our inclination is to visit Ghent and Antwerp.

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       1. Hi Clementine, if your choice is between Ghent or Antwerp on a Sunday, then I’d go for Antwerp. It will be livelier. On the other hand, if your trip is in summer, there is always lots going on in both cities, so you may want to check websites of tourism boards to see if there are any special events on the weekend when you are visiting.
          Otherwise, I would suggest Bruges for a Sunday – everything is usually open there every day. You can rent a bike and bike next to the canals to a nearby small town Damme – it’s a very short but fun excursion that we love to do from Bruges.
          Also, most tourist attractions, museum, and main landmarks are open on Sundays as well, everywhere in Belgium.
          Enjoy your trip!

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65. This is a very well explained itinerary it was very helpful
    I am playing to go there on 1st week of October for 6 days and would be staying in Antwerp n would be doing day trip from there
    Had few questions likes
    Is it advisable to go on a day trip to Paris from antwerp or do you suggest to stay in Paris for a night?

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    1. Hi Prishi, glad you found this itinerary helpful. You’ll love Belgium! And yes, Antwerp is a good place to stay as you can easily do day trips.
       As for Paris, I really don’t know what to tell you. There is a direct Thalys train from Antwerp to Paris and in the best case it will take you 2hrs (has to be booked in advance), so it’s possible to go there for a day. On the other hand, Paris is a big city and there is so much to see, so one (not full) day isn’t really enough. If you just want to see the Eiffel Tower and maybe one or two other places, it’s doable, but I think that indeed you’ll enjoy it more if you spend at least one night in Paris. That being said, we sometimes take a car to Paris (which takes much longer than 2 hrs) for just a day and come back late at night, so who am I to tell you that it can’t be done… 🙂

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66. Jurga,

    your Itinery is very helpful

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67. Planning a 4 day trip to Belgium in August. This posts is great help, I’m very inspired!

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    1. Glad to hear that, Brooke. Enjoy your trip to Belgium and don’t forget to try some of our famous fries with mayo!

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68. Now I have a better idea of what I am expecting from Belgium. I probably plan a trip for the end of August 2018 as a gift to myself for my master program completion.

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    1. Good to hear you found this useful for planning your trip to Belgium. Enjoy it and congratulations on your diploma!

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69. Dear Jurga,

    Love your article -very practical and indeed I could relate in the sense that I have 3 children myself! And yes, am starting to deeply fall in love with Belgium!

    Btw, we would be visiting Begium, for the first time, next week. Kindly recommend what and where to eat popular/traditional Belgian Food. Where to buy popular/traditional chocolates and which brand, but of course wont cost our kidneys :). What/where to buy Belgian items that i could bring back home as a keepsake and to give my friends, too. Fridge magnets, accessories. But those which are not bulky and not pricey, too?

    Thank you and looking forward to your advise..

    Liz xxx

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    1. Hi Lizette, just a short answer as I have to run. You can find Belgian food everywhere. In Brussels one of our favourites for Belgian food is ‘t Kelderke.
       Make sure to try some Belgian fries with mayo when in Belgium – you’ll find little ‘kiosks’ (we call them ‘fritkot’) selling them in every town.
       As for chocolates, you’ll find them everywhere as well. If you like pralines, try Leonidas, Neuhaus, or Godiva – just google it at any location where you are and you’ll see the closest shops. Our kids’ favourite chocolate is Cote d’Or that can be found in any supermarket. They have many flavours, try anything praliné.
       Souvenirs are widely available in all main towns, plenty of choice. Belgium is mostly known for the beer, chocolates, waffles – all make great gifts.
       Have a wonderful time here!

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    2. Dear Jurga,

       Spot on! Most helpful, indeed…

       Would definitely follow your itinerary and advise by the dot.

       Thank you and getting ecstatic at this very moment :-0

       Love,Love, Love,
       Lizxxx

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70. Thank you Jurga. Thats so helpful. I’m going to give more consideration to Antwerp and the other places you mention. I have 5 days to fill and basing myself at the Radisson Blu in Brussels to be close to station and go to all these other lovely places seems like a good start.

    I read that Antwerp is great for children so i want to come back and do more trips to these parts. I haven’t been to the region since 2001! Time to start discovering…

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71. Thank you for this insight. I am planning a 40th birthday trip to Belgium at the end of October for 5 days. I am unsure if i should stay in Brussels or Bruges. I plan to day trip to Ghent.

    I am definitely going to the fine art gallery in Brussels. I want to see a classical music concert which I thought Brussels would be best for. I also like the idea of having the benefit of seeing beautiful Bruges in the evenings when its quiet. Im not keen on places stuffed with tourists. Food is another priority and i thought Brussels might be cheaper with more cosmopolitan options. I have been told to stay in Bruges and day trip elsewhere. Would I be best staying in Brussels instead? Thanks if you can reply, you seem pretty clued up!

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    1. At the end of October I think I’d go for Brussels or Antwerp as a base for day trips in Belgium. Many more options in terms of things to do, places to eat, also hotels in all price ranges, etc. Bruges will not be overly busy that time of the year in fact it might feel really deserted. I think in that period I’d suggest to just go there for a day (can even be combined with Ghent in the same day). If you want to stay longer, you can easily do that – there are trains running quite late in the evenings too.
       Antwerp is my personal favourite of the Belgian cities, not just because we live nearby, but because it has better atmosphere and just feels like a better place to hang out. But if you are looking for concerts, Brussels will probably have more options.
       If you have more time, consider a short half day trip to Leuven and/or Mechelen. Both are just 20 min from Brussels by train, less known, but really nice towns with great atmosphere.

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72. Jurga – thank you for these tips. My husband and I are planning a trip for 6 days in November. I know, not the best weather. I’m Thinking Brussels first day we get there, To Bruges in morning, stay there, Ghent the next day, stay there, to Antwerp, stay there and 1 more day in Brussels. All by train. Belgium looks so beautiful. Which is the best city to see bands?

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    1. Hi Mara, yes November isn’t usually the best time to come to Belgium, but you never know… Bring your umbrella, a sweater and a rain coat and you should be fine. There are many museums and other nice places where you can hide from the rain…
       Your itinerary sounds good if you don’t mind changing hotels every night. Alternative would be to stay in just one or two places and do the rest as day trips, but it’s all easily doable either way, so it really depends on your preference.
       I’m not sure if November is such a good time to see the bands. Now in summer we have music festivals all over Belgium. Many cities have street music festivals, etc. You won’t find that much in November I’m afraid. So you’d have to do some more research as to where you can find performances indoors. I’m sure there are always options, but it’s not something I am very familiar with.
       One of the best places to start is probably by checking the websites of official tourism boards of Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges and check the events calendar.
       Enjoy your trip!

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73. Hello I am travelling with my family in July. Please suggest for moving around in Brussels and seeing places is rent a car better. We just have 2 days there.
    We want to see brussles,antwerp, breges.

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    1. Hi Rabia, renting a car for visiting the cities is really not such a good option in Belgium. Traffic here can be really bad, parking is limited and expensive. It is somewhat better in July because it’s holiday, but still, there are many road works planned around Brussels this summer…
       It’s really easy to travel between Brussels, Antwerp, and Bruges by train. I can’t really help you with itinerary, it depends on where you stay, how much time you have exactly (two full days/ three nights or less). I think that Antwerp and Brussels deserve a day. If you still rather go to Bruges, then maybe just Brussels city centre in the morning and then go to Bruges in the late afternoon. Then take the whole day for Antwerp. You can find some suggestions on the best things to see in Antwerp here. I don’t have blog posts published about Bruges or Brussels, but any guidebook will have the main highlights mentioned.

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74. Hello Jurga.
    Being a single active woman (mid-age) can sometimes require a bit of different planning for safety reasons etc- besides the added costs of single supplements. Do you have any thoughts on this?
    My planned trip to Belgium is short since I am adding it on to a Baltic cruise and my itinerary will include Brussels, Bruge&Ghent, Ypres with travel days before and after. Much appreciated Cheryl.

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    1. Hi Cheryl, are you asking me if it’s safe to visit Belgium alone? Of course it is! We live here and it really is a very safe country. I wouldn’t walk around at night in Brussels alone as a woman though, unless in main tourist areas. But even then, it’s not really dangerous, but you may encounter some men with loose tongues. Bruges, Ghent, and Ypres are definitely ok even late at night. Just use regular precautions like you would anywhere else.
       You will love it here and the biggest danger is that you will add a few pounds from all that chocolate and waffles 😉

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75. Thank you for your excellent review of Brussels and the major tourist cities in Flanders. Many English visitors to Belgium do not realise that three languages are spoken there, Flemish in the east and north, French in the south and German in the east, mainly around the towns of Eupen and Malmedy, close to the German border. If you ask for moules marinieres or omelette au jambon avec frites, you get a rude look from the waiter although he knows damn fine that what you want is mosselen or omelet. I found that driving across Brussels, the only way one could tell which language area you were in was to look at the petrol stations, station ouverte meant French and open meant Flemish ( Vlaams). You make no mention of beer which the Belgians exce at brewing. My favourite is Chimay brewed by the local monastery. Regards Keith.

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    1. Thanks for your insights, Keith. Yes, indeed, Belgium is a bit complicated that way. But I can assure you that as a tourist you’ll have less trouble with the different languages than a local. 🙂 Sadly enough it’s often easier to find an English speaking person in Brussels than one who speaks Dutch, let alone German..
       As for the beer, we have so many beers here that it would require quite a few several articles to cover them all… Same with chocolate, tens of kinds of waffles, etc. You can read more about these things here: Fun Belgium Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

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76. Belgium is a simply picturesque country which is definitely worth exploring, Jurga. These are all great suggestions and your post can serve as an ultimate guide for there. When’s the best time fo the year to explore Belgium?

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    1. As I said in my post, any time of the year is good for Belgium. Unfortunately, you can have rain any time too… April-June and September-mid October are my favourite months. It’s usually nice weather and not as many tourists as in summer. Christmas holiday season is always great too because of all the decorations, light shows and Christmas markets… There’s always something happening in the cities here, so I think people will enjoy Belgium in any season, Agness.

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77. I am wrapping up a week in Belgium now and did similar things to this post. Most people didn’t have nice things to say about Brussels, but I love the city. I don’t always do normal tourist stuff, sometimes just like to sit with my laptop in a cafe, or just wander the streets. I loved Antwerp as well, and would love to return and just stay there a few days.

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    1. Thanks for sharing your experience, Leigh. Glad to hear you visited Antwerp as well. As I said, it’s my favourite town in Belgium. Hope you come back to explore more…

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78. Belgium does have so much to offer! My family and I really enjoyed our time there and hope to go back. The people are friendly, helpful, and English is widely spoken. We flew in/out of Brussels, and traveled around Belgium by car and train, both of which were very easy to do. Jurga is right… the distances between various cities and sites are not that far, which is another advantange when traveling with children as we are. Thanks for all your tips, Jurga. We hope to use more of them on a return trip to Belgium. 🙂

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    1. Good to hear that you enjoyed Belgium so much. There’s so much more to see and do here than these few highlights, so if you come back for a repeat visit, let me know and I might give you some more off the beaten path tips.

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79. Hasselt heeft je lijst niet gehaald, Jurga? ? Is onze thuisstad en eigenlijk wel een beetje een off the beaten path bestemming in België hé? ? Wij moeten er dringend ook eens werk maken om ons eigen landje eens fatsoenlijk te ontdekken en te promoten op onze blog!

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    1. I’ll answer in English just in case our readers think we have something to hide, Birthe 🙂 Yes, indeed Hasselt (and also Leuven, Mechelen, etc.) didn’t make my list. All beautiful towns, but as much as I like them all, I honestly don’t think they are the best that Belgium has to offer for the first-time international visitors. Sadly, but most people I meet abroad never even spend 4 days in Belgium and most only know Brussels and Bruges, sometimes Ghent. Even Antwerp is still very much under the radar and most tourists here come from the Netherlands and Germany… Let’s hope that the fact that it’s been selected as one of the Lonely Planet’s Best Cities to visit in 2018 will make people realise that Belgium has so much more to offer.
       That’s also the purpose of this itinerary – to show travellers from all over the world that Belgium deserves more than just one or two days. And once they come and see what an amazing country it is, I am sure they will want to stay longer and come back to visit the hidden gems such as Hasselt. 😉

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