Beautiful Day Trips from Brussels

Brussels's convenient location makes it a good starting point for day trips to other beautiful Belgian towns. Because of their proximity to the European Union's capital, the three day trips featured in this article were chosen.

Antwerp

Antwerp, a bustling city, can be reached from the center of Brussels in a little over half an hour by rail. Staying in Brussels for more than a day? Spend at least one day here, where you can browse unique boutiques and dine at a variety of reasonably priced eateries. If you plan on staying the night, you'll be pleased to know that there are many nice, reasonably priced hotels to choose from—especially when compared to the prices in Brussels. The tourist information center is a convenient place to make hotel reservations in Grote Markt.

Antwerp's Grote Markt square is the city's equal to New Orleans' Grand Place. If you just have a short amount of time in Antwerp, here are some of the highlights you shouldn't miss:

Stop by the 15th-century Onze Lieve Vrouwekathedraal after exploring Grote Markt; it is one of the most spectacular medieval churches in all of Belgium.

The Maritime Museum, the Rockoxhuis Museum, the Museum of Applied Arts (Momo), the Museum of the History of Science (Plantin-Moretus), and the Museum of Fine Arts (Museum voor Schone Kunsten) are all excellent options (art).

While Antwerp's restaurants and cafes are plentiful, they are far more reasonably priced than those in Brussels.

Bruges

Although Bruges is farther from Brussels than Antwerp, it is still within reasonable driving distance. Bruges is a beautiful medieval city that can be reached in approximately an hour by train and is definitely worth the trip. This means that if you want to spend the night in Bruges during the high season, you should probably reserve a room in advance. Because of its status as a major tourist destination, eating out in Bruges can be more expensive than in other parts of Belgium, and restaurants here prefer to serve food that is tailored to the city's many visitors.

Walking through the center of Bruges, it's easy to see why it's one of the most popular tourist destinations in Belgium; the city is brimming with magnificent medieval charm, from its historic architecture to its quaint alleyways and canals.

Take a cruise around the city's picturesque canals and pretend you're a couple. A ticket will cost you less than six euros.

The Markt and the Burg are two distinct parts of Bruges' central square. The latter is home to several of Bruges' most famous landmarks, including the Stadhuis, Heilig Bloed Basiliek, and the Upper and Lower Chapels (town hall).

There are several excellent museums to choose from in Bruges, including the Groeninge (displaying a fine collection of Flemish art from as early as the 14th century). The Gruuthuse Museum, located in a magnificent medieval mansion, is another great option for museum-goers. The Gruuthuse Museum houses a beautiful collection of artwork and tapestries.

The Gothic St. Salvatorskathedraal Cathedral in Amsterdam was built in the 13th century.

This massive church of Our Lady, Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk, was begun in the thirteenth century and took over two hundred years to complete.

Bruges is home to some of Europe's most impressive architecture, including the Stadhuis (perhaps the largest town hall in Belgium, initially completed in 1376) and the Belfort (also dating back to the 13th century), which majestically overlooks the Markt. The town charter is archived in this building.

The Markt is one of Bruges' two main squares, and it has served as a public market since the ninth century.

Even if you didn't stock up on chocolate in Brussels, there are plenty of Belgian chocolate stores in Bruges to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Ghent

Ghent's tourist potential is grossly underrated. It's easy to see why a day trip there might be appealing: the historic district is full of small canals, cobbled alleyways, and a beautiful castle and cathedral. Getting there from Brussels takes only half an hour by train.

If you just have time for a few Ghent attractions, here are the ones you shouldn't miss:

The core of modern Ghent was constructed between the 13th and 14th centuries. Ghent, like Brussels, has an efficient and convenient public transportation network that makes getting around the city a breeze. Stadhius (the largest town hall in Belgium) dates back to the early 15th century and should be your first stop. The Belfort, constructed nearby in the 14th century, has breathtaking views of the city below.

St. Baafskathedraal, Ghent's most prolific and oldest cathedral, took almost 600 years to create. Its gothic masterpiece has roots that may be traced back to the twelfth century.

From St. Michielsbrug to St. Baafskathedral, you may see several of Ghent's beautiful listed structures (many of which are over a thousand years old).

Built in the eleventh century, Gravensteen Castle is one of Ghent's most recognizable symbols. The fish market and Museum voor Sierkunst en Vormgeving (which features exhibits on the history of fish in Ghent) are both conveniently located nearby (Vishmarkt). Museum voor Schone Kunsten has a substantial collection of art from the 14th century, and the Bijlolemuseum is housed in a structure that dates back to the 13th century, so there are other options for museums to visit.

Take a stroll around Vrijdagmarkt, a charming market and restaurant district filled with unique shops and cozy pubs.

Take a stroll along the banks of the Leie for one of the most relaxing strolls in all of Belgium.

There is a wide variety of dining and drinking options in Ghent, from dives frequented by students to high-end establishments. You'll find a younger crowd in the south of the city due to the large student population there. A variety of cuisines, from classic Belgian fare to Thai, Italian, and Asian, can be found across the city.

You should be able to find suitable accommodations if you intend to spend the night here. A place to stay is usually not hard to find (except for July, when the town hosts Gentse Feesten). Find a simple room for as little as 25 euros, or splurge for 400 euros on a luxurious pad.

If you'll be spending a week or more in Brussels, you should definitely plan to visit at least one of these great Belgian cities for a day.