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Looking for the best day trips from Brussels? From Bruges to Dinant: here are 12 must-see excursions, all less than 2 hours from the capital.
I have a real soft spot for Brussels. There’s something about the mix of big squares, waffle stands on every corner and that slightly chaotic, multilingual energy that makes it one of my favorite European capitals to just stroll around. The Grand Place fascinates me every time I enter it, no matter how many visits I receive.
But here’s the thing about Brussels: it’s also one of Europe’s best-located cities for exploring further afield. Belgium is tiny, superbly connected, and full of medieval towns, riverside towns, and even a swath of northern France, all just about two hours from the capital. I spent a lot of time using Brussels as a base and hopping on trains to see what else the country (and its neighbors) had to offer, and honestly, some of my fondest memories of Belgium occurred entirely outside of Brussels.
So if you’re planning a trip and wondering what to do outside of the city itself, here are my 12 favorite day trips from Brussels, all doable there and back in a single day.
Of course, if you’re based in Brussels, be sure to check out my guide to the best things to do, where to stay, and where to eat during your stay!
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If you’re just doing a day trip from Brussels, choose Bruges. I know, I know, everyone says that, but there’s a reason for it. The entire medieval center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and walking along the canals, past the stepped gabled roofs, really feels like walking through a postcard.
Climb the Belfry if you don’t mind the 366 narrow steps. The view over the rooftops is worth every shake. Grab a bag of real Belgian chips from a deep fryer and don’t leave without trying a few different beers. Bruges takes its brewing heritage seriously. It’s touristy, but worth it. If you’re short on time, a fantastic way to explore the city is to take a tour. This is basically a highlights tour in 2 hours, so perfect for a day trip.
By public transport: About 1 hour by direct IC train from Brussels-Midi or Brussels-Central to Bruges.
By car: About 1 hour and 15 minutes via the E40.
Ghent
Ghent is the day trip I always recommend to people who tell me they love Bruges but wish it felt a little less like an amusement park. There are the same canals and the same medieval architecture, but with a working city all around, students, locals and a really great food scene.
Climb Gravensteen Castle, a real medieval fortress that you can actually walk through, then get lost in the Patershol district for dinner. The Graslei waterfront at golden hour is one of my favorite places in the entire country. Here you can hop on a boat for a fun way to explore the city.
By public transport: About 35-40 minutes by direct IC train from Brussels-Midi.
By car: About 50 minutes via the E40.
Antwerp
Antwerp feels different than any other place on this list, more of a fashion capital than a fairytale city. The Diamond District is just a few minutes from the train station and the Cathedral of Our Lady is home to some really impressive Rubens paintings if you like art.
I spent an afternoon simply strolling across the roof of the MAS Museum to take in the view over the harbor, then ate my entire body weight in a Flemish stew nearby. It’s a brilliant contrast to Bruges and Ghent if you want a day that feels more like a proper city break than a fairytale detour.
By public transport: About 45 minutes by direct IC train from Brussels center.
By car: About 50 minutes via the A12/E19.
Waterloo
History buffs, this is for you. The Battle of Waterloo took place just outside Brussels in 1815 and the entire battlefield was transformed into a real visitor experience. Climb the 226 steps of Lion Hill for a view of the entire battlefield, then head into the underground visitor center and its immersive 4D film to gain context about what actually happened here.
It’s a truly moving way to spend a few hours, and logistically one of the easiest day trips on this list, as it’s barely outside of the city.
By public transport: About 30 minutes by train to Braine-l’Alleud, plus a short bus ride to the site.
By car: About 30 minutes via the N5.
Lions
Leuven is criminally underrated, and I say that as someone who almost skipped it entirely. This is a proper university town, home to one of the oldest universities in Europe, and the town hall here is possibly the most ornate carved building I have seen in Belgium. It makes the Grand Place of Brussels seem inconspicuous.
Grab a beer at the Oude Markt, reputedly the longest bar in Europe, and you’ll understand why Leuven has such a lively, youthful energy despite being just a fraction of the size of Brussels or Antwerp. I always came to Rock Werchter in Leuven, one of the best music festivals in Europe. I still have so many fond memories of strolling around the city after the festival!
By public transport: About 25 minutes by direct IC train from Brussels center.
By car: About 30 minutes via the E40.
Mechelen
Located almost exactly between Brussels and Antwerp, Mechelen is a place that most people skip entirely, and that’s exactly why I loved it. St. Rumbold’s Tower dominates the skyline and you can climb it for one of the best panoramic views in the country on a clear day. The entire Old Town feels quiet and leisurely compared to its larger neighbors, and it’s an easy half-day if you want to combine it with another spot on this list.
By public transport: About 25 minutes by direct IC train from Brussels center.
By car: About 30 minutes via the A1/E19.
Liège
Liège has a rougher, more industrial feel than most cities on this list, and I mean that as a compliment. It’s built into steep slopes along the Meuse and the Montagne de Bueren Staircase, which leads 374 steps straight up the slope, will get your legs burning before you’re rewarded with magnificent views over the city. The Sunday market along the river is one of the best in Belgium if your visit fits in. It’s less elegant than Bruges or Ghent, and I found that refreshing.
By public transport: About 1 hour by direct IC train from Brussels center.
By car: About 1 hour and 10 minutes via the E40.
Namur
Namur lies at the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre rivers, and the citadel above the city is truly one of the most impressive fortresses I have visited in Belgium: huge, sprawling and large parts of it can be explored on foot. The old town below is a veritable labyrinth of narrow streets and squares and an ideal base if you want to combine it with Dinant later on this list, as the two towns are just a stone’s throw from each other by train.
By public transport: About 1 hour by direct IC train from Brussels-Centre or Brussels-Luxembourg.
By car: About 1 hour via the E411.
Dinant
Dinant might be my favorite entry on this entire list. The town is dramatically sandwiched between the Meuse and a sheer cliff face, with a citadel right at the top and one of the most striking church towers I’ve ever seen in Europe.
It is also the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone, of which the city is rightly proud. Take the cable car up to the citadel, then walk along the riverbank for the best photos. It’s smaller and quieter than Bruges, but just as photogenic.
By public transport: Approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes by direct IC train from Brussels (change in Namur on some connections).
By car: Approximately 1 hour 25 minutes via the E411.
Tournai
Tournai is one of the oldest cities in Belgium, and it feels like it. The five-towered Notre-Dame Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the bell tower next to it is the oldest in Belgium. At the top you can climb it to get a proper reward. It’s a much quieter day trip than Bruges or Ghent, with a lot less crowds, and I liked that it felt like a real slice of Belgian life rather than a stop built just for tourists.
By public transport: About 1 hour by direct IC train from Brussels-Midi.
By car: About 1 hour and 10 minutes via the E429/A8.
Lille, France
Technically you’re leaving Belgium entirely for this trip, but Lille is so close that it hardly counts as a real border crossing. The Vieux Lille district is full of Flemish-influenced architecture, making it feel like a bridge between Belgium and France, and the Braderie de Lille is one of Europe’s largest flea markets, if your visit fits in. It’s also just a really great city when it comes to food, after all, the city is in the north of France.
By public transport: About 38 minutes by direct high-speed train from Brussels-Midi.
By car: About 1 hour and 10 minutes via the E19/A27.
Ostend
If you fancy a proper seaside day trip, Ostend is the easiest option from Brussels. It’s Belgium’s largest coastal town with a long sandy beach, a busy promenade and some seriously great seafood if you know where to look.
James Ensor, one of Belgium’s most important painters, lived here most of his life and his old house is now a small museum. It won’t compete with the south of France, but as a change from all the medieval cities on this list it works great.
By public transport: About 1 hour and 15 minutes by direct IC train from Brussels-Midi.
By car: About 1 hour 20 minutes via the E40.
Are you traveling through Europe? Then take a look at my city guides for Athens, Berlin, Graz, Prague and Rome.
I really hope this post helps you plan your day trips from Brussels! If there is anything I can help with, let me know in the comments below.
