TravPa

Belgium

Admire the Grand-Place and Magritte in Brussels, climb the Belfry above Bruges' canals, see the Ghent Altarpiece and Rubens in Antwerp, all linked by short train rides.

Best timeMay to SepMoneyEuro (EUR)Plugs[plug types and voltage]Main airportBrussels (BRU)
Approved by TravPa Editors, Nov 7, 2026
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Overview

Most first trips start with two days in Brussels and a day trip to Antwerp, then head west to Ghent and Bruges. Trains from Brussels-South reach Bruges in about 1 hour, and Brussels Airport has direct trains to Brussels-Central in about 18 min, to Ghent in about 55 min and to Bruges in about 1 hour 25 min, so the whole loop works without a car.

Late spring to early autumn is the most pleasant time to walk the old towns, and canal boats in Bruges run every day from March to October. Winter days are short and cool, but Brussels and Bruges light up with Christmas markets from late November. Many museums close on Mondays.

When to go

BestGo with a plan
janColdfebColdmarMildaprMildmayBestjunBestjulBusyaugBusysepBestoctMildnovColddecCold

Brussels' Winter Wonders Christmas market runs from 27 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027, and Bruges' Winter Glow, with its Christmas market and ice rink, from 20 Nov 2026 to 31 Jan 2027.

Every month in detail: weather and recent fares

Itineraries

[Photo: Bruges]
Bruges in 2 daysBelfry, Basilica of the Holy Blood, Rozenhoedkaai, De Halve Maan, Church of Our Lady, Groeningemuseum, Ghent Altarpiece, Castle of the CountsPacked pace
[Photo: Brussels]
Brussels in 3 daysGrand-Place, Manneken Pis, Magritte Museum, Atomium, European Quarter, Cinquantenaire, Antwerp Cathedral, MASBalanced pace
[Photo: Belgium]
Belgium in 7 daysGrand-Place, Magritte Museum, Atomium, Antwerp, Ghent Altarpiece, Castle of the Counts, Belfry of Bruges, Groeningemuseum, BeguinageBalanced pace

Where to stay

BrugesAround the Markt and the Burg for first-timers; near the Church of Our Lady and the Beguinage for quiet lanes close to the station; the Hanseatic quarter around Jan van Eyck Square for calm canals.Best areas to stay in BrugesHotels in Bruges
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BrusselsThe old center around the Grand-Place and Brussels-Central for first-timers on foot; Sainte-Catherine and Dansaert for seafood and bars; the Sablon for an upmarket feel near the museums; the European Quarter for parks and EU sights.Best areas to stay in BrusselsHotels in Brussels
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Getting around

  • Trains: Three trains an hour run from Brussels-South to Bruges, taking about 1 hour, and Ghent's main station has trains from every Belgian city.
  • Brussels Airport: The station is under the terminal: six direct trains an hour reach Brussels-Central in about 18 min, and direct trains run to Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges.
  • In Ghent: Trams 1 and 3 run from Gent-Sint-Pieters station to the center every 10 min, and the station has luggage lockers.
  • In Bruges: Get off at 'Brugge' station, within walking distance of the old center; the Markt is about a 20-minute walk away.

Before you go

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Phone dataMobile data keeps Belfry time slots, MAS bookings and train departures between Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges at hand.How a travel eSIM works
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