If you are looking for the best day trips in Belgium according to a local, you have found your ultimate inspiration source! I am born, raised and still living in Belgium, so I have already explored quite a lot of pretty little Belgium. I love doing day trips in my home country!
Whether you are looking for old medieval towns like Bruges, romantic castles and parks, adventurous hikes in the woods or watching a car race at Michael Schumacher’s favorite race track… this selection covers it all!
Here are my favorite day trips in Belgium, which you can easily do from Brussels (or anywhere else in Belgium)!
The Best Day Trips in Belgium (by a local)
Belgium is a rather small country (30.688 km²). So a lot of places are within “day trip reach” from its capital, Brussels, but also from the other cities. Most people tend to stay in Brussels and don’t visit other places, which is a pitty because there are so many other gems to discover. Belgium has way more to offer than just Brussels’ “Grand Place”, “Manneke Pis” (Little Man Pee) and the Royal Palace. So grab your Belgian chocolates and beer and get ready for some fantastic Belgian locations and activities! Here are the best day trips in Belgium from Brussels!
CONTENT:
- Best day trips in Belgium: cities & smaller towns
- Bruges
- Ghent
- Antwerp
- Leuven
- Doel
- Best day trips in Belgium: castles & ruins
- The abbey of Villers-la-Ville
- Château de la Hulpe at Domaine Solvay
- Best day trips in Belgium: hikes
- High Fens
- Ninglinspo
- Voer-region
- Kalmthoutse Heide
- Hallerbos
- Best day trips in Belgium: adrenaline kicks
- Skydiving
- Spa-Francorchamps Race Track
Best day trips in Belgium: cities & smaller towns
Bruges
Bruges is the best preserved medieval town of Belgium. It is also known as the “Venice of the North”. Explore the narrow cobblestone streets along the canals and do a boat trip. Taste the local candy called “Babelutten” made of candy syrup and butter and just enjoy the small town vibe.
More detailed info: https://www.worldwanderista.com/category/europe/belgium/bruges/
Distance from Brussels: 100 km
How to get there: 1.5 hours by car, 1 hour by train (every 20 minutes)
Main sights:
- Grand Market
- Basilica of the Holy Grail
- Church of Our Lady
- Bonifacius bridge
- Belfry Tower
- Rozenhoedkaai
- Blinde Ezelstraat
- Minnewater Park
- Beguinage
Ghent
Ghent is known as Bruges little trendy sister. It also has the cute cobblestone streets and canals, but has a more modern feel as well. Make sure to visit the Castle of the Counts and buy a bag (or two) of the local delicacy “cuberdons”, locally known as “neuzekes” (little noses).
More detailed info: https://www.worldwanderista.com/category/europe/belgium/ghent/
Distance from Brussels: 58 km
How to get there: 1 hour by car, 36 minutes by train (every 15 minutes)
Main sights:
- St Jacob’s church
- Vrijdagmarkt
- Kraanlei
- Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts)
- Korenlei/Graslei
- St Michielshelling
- Werregarenstraat
- St Bavo’s cathedral
- Belfort
- St Nicholas’ church
- St Michael’s church
Antwerp
Antwerp is the diamond capital since 1447. So if you are interested in diamonds and other shiny things, you should visit DIVA (Antwerp House of Diamonds).
The Antwerp Six put Antwerp on the fashion map and since their success the city has filled with magnificent flagship stores such as the Dries Van Noten store at the Nationalestraat.
The old town center is fun to explore, but being a true Antwerpian, I am a little ashamed of the fact they destroyed so many original buildings. At the moment they are renovating “Het Steen”, meaning they are going to add an ugly modern structure to one of the oldest original buildings of the city. Which really breaks my heart. Still I think my home town has a lot to offer. You can find one of the most beautiful train stations here and our cathedral is also a true gem! Local delicacies are “Antwerpse Handjes” (cookies) and the herbal liqueur “Elixir d’Anvers”.
If you want to see more of the old Antwerp you can visit Bokrijk, an open air museum in Limburg. There they rebuilt a part of the old town. (I shall add more about this after I visited Bokrijk myself.)
More detailed info: https://www.worldwanderista.com/category/europe/belgium/antwerp/
Distance from Brussels: 50 km
How to get there: 1 hour by car, 40 minutes by train (every 20 minutes)
Main sights:
- Cathedral of Our Lady
- Rubens House
- Het Steen
- Het Vleeshuis (Butcher’s Hall)
- Grand Market
- Handschoenmarkt
- Hendrik Conscience Square & Carolus Borromeus church
- Vlaeykensgang
- Beguinage
- Central Station
- MoMu fashion museum
- MAS / ‘t Eilandje
- Red Star Line Museum
Leuven
The true student city of Belgium! It has a beautiful charming center with the Grand Market and the Gothic City Hall with its 236 statues as its most prominent features. You can visit the brewery of Stella Artois or taste some of the Belgian beers (we have over 800 varieties) at “the longest bar in Europe”, better known as the “Oude Markt”.
Distance from Brussels: 30 km
How to get there: 35 minutes by car, 32 minutes by train (every 30 minutes)
Main sights:
- Great Beguinage
- Small Beguinage
- Grand Market / City Hall
- Ladeuzeplein
- Oude Markt (Old Market)
- St Peter’s church
- Dijlepark
- Park Abbey
Doel
If you are looking for something completely different, that you probably haven’t experiences before; then a visit to Doel could be interesting. Doel is a 400 years old abandoned town by the river Scheldt situated next to a nuclear power plant. Due to plans of future expansion of the Port of Antwerp, many people had to sell their homes to the development corporation and left town. But there are still a few houses that are inhabited.
In Doel you can find the oldest stone windmill of Belgium (1611), wich is also the only windmill built on a sea wall! Most buildings are decorated with graffiti so street art lovers will love to visit this little town! You can combine this with a trip to Antwerp or Ghent!
Distance from Brussels: 76,5 km
How to get there: 1 hour 5 minutes by car
Best day trips in Belgium: castles and ruins
The abbey of Villers-la-Ville
The abbey of Villers was built in the 13th century and for ages it knew its ups & downs. But it wasn’t until 1796 that the French revolutionary administration abolished the abbey. The ruins became a romantic attraction in the 19th century and restaurations started in 1893. They’re still not finished. It’s incredible to walk between the ancient walls. You can visit the church, which is the most remarkable building and explore places like the kitchens, the dormitories, the guesthouse, the pharmacy with its incredible herb garden and there’s even a vineyard!
More detailed info: https://www.worldwanderista.com/tag/villers-la-ville/
Distance from Brussels: 50 km
How to get there: 50 minutes by car, 1 hour by public transport
Château de la Hulpe at Domaine Solvay
Domaine Solvay is a huge park where you can walk and bike. It has woods, beautiful lawns to picnic and lakes filled with huge fish and cute turtles. As if the park itself isn’t dreamy enough, there is also a castle with a garden that looks like a fairytale! I felt like Alice in Wonderland here, but instead of a rabbit I found a chipmunk running around!
This is the ideal place if you want to escape the crowds and enjoy the sun on a warm sunny day.
Distance from Brussels: 20 km
How to get there: 45 minutes by car, 1 hour 10 minutes by public transport
Best day trips in Belgium: hiking
High Fens
The High Fens are an upland area in the province of Liège where you can do some nice hikes! My two favorites are the Cascade du Bayehon in Longfaye and a walk in the Warche valley along the Reinhardstein castle and the lake of Robertville.
More detailed info: https://www.worldwanderista.com/category/europe/belgium/high-fens/
Distance from Brussels: 142 km
How to get there: 1 hour 45 minutes by car
Ninglinspo
My absolute favorite in Belgium must be the Ninglinspo hike! It is sometimes a little tricky and adventurous, but the hike along the Ninglinspo river is absolutely beautiful! You’ll encounter some cute little waterfalls!
More detailed info: https://www.worldwanderista.com/?s=ninglinspo&submit=
Distance from Brussels: 128 km
How to get there: 1 hour 30 minutes by car
Voer-region
‘s Gravenvoeren at the Belgian-Dutch border in the province of Limburg is the perfect location to start your day of hiking or cycling. You can find countless trails here that take you through forests, fields, fruit orchards and small villages.
More detailed info: https://www.worldwanderista.com/tag/voer-region/
Distance from Brussels: 114 km
How to get there: 1 hour 20 minutes by car
Kalmthoutse Heide (Kalmthout Heath)
The Kalmthout Heath is one of the largest nature reserves in Flanders. Here you will feel as if you are in a different country. At certain parts it seems as if you are at the African savanna. The landscape is very varied with heather, fens, drifting dunes, meadows and forests.
Distance from Brussels: 85 km
How to get there: 1 hour 30 minutes by car
Hallerbos
The Hallerbos is the “Blue Forest” of Belgium. Around mid April the forest’s grounds are covered with bluebells! The sight of this blue carpet is simply magical! Please be aware to stay on the paths and don’t step on the flowers. It destroys the forest.
More detailed info: https://www.worldwanderista.com/tag/hallerbos/
Distance from Brussels: 20 km
How to get there: 35 minutes by car / 1 hour by public transport
Best day trips in Belgium: Adrenaline kicks
Skydiving
For those who are in for something more adventurous can go skydiving at Spa! The people at the skydive center are super professional and awesome and the view from the sky on the Spa-Francorchamps race track and the hills covered with woods is magnificent.
More detailed info: https://www.worldwanderista.com/?s=skydive&submit=
Distance from Brussels: 146 km
How to get there: 1 hour 40 minutes by car
Spa-Francorchamps Race Track
Did you know that Belgium is home to Michael Schumacher’s favorite race track? Spa-Francorchamps is one of the most beautiful race circuits in the world! Make sure to visit during one of the many race events they organize! I can recommend the Spa 24 hours or the Spa Classic!
More detailed info: https://www.worldwanderista.com/tag/spa-francorchamps/
Distance from Brussels: 156 km
How to get there: 1 hour 45 minutes by car
More Day Trips in Belgium
Since I am Belgian, I am planning to keep exploring my own country more. That way I will discover more hidden gems and I will keep adding them to this blog post! So keep coming back for more! 🙂
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Don’t hesitate to leave comments or questions down below!
As always a great write up and lovely pictures. You sure get to see a ton of great places!
Thanks! 😊
Joelle I myself love visiting Belgium.Since 2014 I have been to Bruges,Ghent St.Pieters & Ypres.I have visited those Cities on at least 10 occasions & loved every second.I am from Ireland & as soon as travel resumes I will visit Leuven!.I enjoyed re-living my happy trips to Belgium!
Thanks,
Sean.