Brussels is Europe’s beating bureaucratic heart, but beyond the stiff shirts and secondary legislation, the Belgian capital is a heady mix of strong beer, artistic expression, and medieval architecture. Moreover, it’s a geographical boon with fairytale castles, cool cities, and cross-border curios all within easy reach. Here are the best day trips from Brussels.
Try out Antwerp’s cafe culture
It may be Belgium’s second city, but Antwerp certainly steals the crown as the country’s coolest. This beguiling medieval giant, once one of Europe’s most important cities in the mid-16th century, still glimmers with diamond dealers and fashionable boutiques. Consequently, there’s plenty to keep you occupied during a day trip from Brussels.
Home of the baroque superstar painter Peter Paul Rubens, as museums like the eponymous Rubenshuis will regularly remind you, the city boasts cafe-filled cobbled lanes, a riverside castle, and Belgium’s finest Gothic church, the Cathedral of Our Lady.
How to get to Antwerp: Trains from Bruxelles-Midi to Antwerpen-Centraal take 46–60 minutes. The journey is around 50 minutes by car, but it’s important to note that Antwerp is a Low Emission Zone, so check your vehicle’s accessibility via the Low Emission Zone website.
Explore the architecture of Ghent
As one of Belgium’s oldest cities, there exists a wealth of medieval and classical architecture in Ghent. A tour of its best-known sights—the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb altarpiece, the 14th-century Belfort belfry, and Gravensteen, a 12th-century stone castle—is easily accomplished in a day. However, the city also offers vibrant neighborhoods away from the big attractions.
Korenmarkt, a popular waterfront square, features dazzling centuries-old buildings, while the Graslei area along the River Leie is where locals dine and enjoy the surroundings. A stroll along the beautiful canals can keep you engaged for a morning, but leave time to appreciate the works of Belgian artists like Magritte, Emile Claus, and Pieter Brueghel the Younger in the MSK art gallery.
How to get to Ghent: Trains run twice an hour, taking just 36 minutes from Brussels to Ghent. The journey lasts 75 minutes by car.
Take a canal boat tour of Bruges
This fairy-tale medieval city is one of Europe’s best-preserved: picturesque cobbled lanes and dreamy canals lead to grand market squares lined with soaring towers, historical churches, and whitewashed almshouses. An easy trip from Brussels, Bruges is frequently dominated by day-trippers during the warmer months.
Overlooked by the 13th-century Belfort belfry, the Markt serves as the city’s focal point: a medieval square where horse-drawn carts still circle past classical and neo-Gothic facades. Venture south to see the spectacular Groeningemuseum, showcasing masterworks by Flemish painter Hans Memling, but don’t miss viewing Bruges from the water. Canal boat tours are available from the Rozenhoedkaai and Dijver jetties.
How to get to Bruges: Twice-hourly trains operate between Brussels and Bruges, with a travel time of around 90 minutes by car.
Learn about Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo Battlefield
Tourists have been visiting Waterloo in Wallonia since Napoleon’s 1815 defeat, with sightseers arriving as early as the morning after the seminal battle. Consequently, it still attracts thousands of visitors today.
The Waterloo Battlefield is best visited as a day trip from Brussels. A new high-tech underground museum enhances the site’s significance and helps visitors understand the vast patchwork of gently undulating cropland dotted with memorials and historically significant buildings. The main battlefield at Hameau du Lion (Lion Hamlet) lies about 3 miles (5km) south of central Waterloo town.
How to get to Waterloo: The TEC bus W runs every 30 minutes from Ave Fonsny at Brussels-Midi to Braine-l’Alleud train station. By train, disembark at Braine-l’Alleud (45 minutes) rather than Waterloo station, then switch to bus W to reach the battlefield. This journey from Brussels to Waterloo takes around 45 minutes by car.
Visit the mighty citadel in Namur
Strategically positioned at the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre Rivers, Namur is dominated by a vast citadel once regarded as one of Europe’s mightiest fortresses. In addition to offering terrific views, the compelling Citadelle de Namur features extensive ramparts, intricate tunnels, and grey walls that stretch across the hilltop.
Beneath, Namur’s gently picturesque old town presents numerous attractions, including the Église St-Loup, a baroque church Baudelaire described as a “sinister and gallant marvel,” and several charming museums. The cafes, bookstores, and vintage shops nestled in its cobblestone lanes provide plenty of opportunities for leisurely exploration.
How to get to Namur: Trains from Brussels to Namur take approximately 65 minutes, with a similar travel duration by car.
Lille is a cultural and commercial hub
France’s most underrated city, Lille, is located less than two hours from Brussels. Recent decades have seen Lille transform from an industrial center into a vibrant cultural and commercial hub. The enchanting old town is filled with magnificent French and Flemish architecture, while renowned art museums like the Palais des Beaux Arts and an array of excellent restaurants make it well worth a visit.
Don’t miss La Piscine Musée d’Art et d’Industrie, located 7 miles (12km) northeast of Gare Lille-Europe in Roubaix. This former art deco municipal swimming pool has been converted into a cutting-edge museum of fine art, where the pool remains filled, reflecting sculptures in its tranquil waters.
How to get to Lille: The train ride from Brussels to Lille takes around 50 minutes, while the car journey takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.
See Tournai’s remarkable five-spired cathedral
Tournai’s stunning triangular main square is surrounded by cafes housed in fine gable-fronted guild houses displaying vibrant guild banners. Many visitors journey from Brussels just to marvel at the five spires of Cathédrale Notre Dame, which dominate the skyline.
This remarkable cathedral, one of Belgium’s finest, managed to survive World War II bombings, though a freak tornado compromised its structural integrity in 1999. Despite its scaffolding, the interior showcases a fascinating blend of architectural styles, from the splendid Romanesque nave through a distinctive bridging transept into an early-Gothic choir.
How to get to Tournai: Trains from Brussels to Tournai take around 70 minutes, while a car journey lasts approximately 90 minutes.
Leuven is a must-visit for beer lovers
Lively Leuven is an ancient capital, Flanders’ oldest university town, and a prominent brewing center—famous for Stella Artois, but brewing has existed since the 13th century. It’s only 25 minutes back to Brussels, so if you’re visiting for the day, consider staying until early evening to witness the nightlife at Oude Markt, often referred to as “Europe’s longest bar.”
Much of Leuven’s historic charm was devastated during the World Wars; however, a few striking baroque churches remain, including the St-Michelskerk and OLV-Ter-Koorts. The city’s gem is the stunning 15th-century Stadhuis, characterized by its elaborate late-Gothic architecture filled with terraced turrets and intricate stonework.
How to get to Leuven: Direct trains from Brussels to Leuven take approximately 22 minutes. The same journey by car typically takes around 50 minutes.
Hasselt is Belgium’s unofficial gin capital
Hasselt is renowned as Belgium’s unofficial jenever (gin) capital, brimming with cafes and quality restaurants. To fully experience a day in Hasselt, consider renting a bicycle near the old town hall and exploring the Bokrijk country parks, where the exceptional open-air Bokrijk Openluchtmuseum provides a nostalgic glimpse into Flanders’ past.
While here, prepare your camera as you cycle across the FDHW, a half-sunken concrete gully cycle path that creates the illusion of parting the water in the lake.
How to get to Hasselt: Trains from Brussels to Hasselt typically take around one hour, while traveling by car usually lasts about 80 minutes.
Dinant
Dinant features a striking setting, nestled along a riverbank beneath impressive cliffs. This charming village makes a delightful day trip from Brussels, highlighted by visits to its clifftop citadel and leisurely cruises along the Meuse river.
As the birthplace of the renowned Leffe abbey ale, Dinant is also known for its excellent beer. Additionally, the city honors Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone, with sculptures scattered throughout the city center celebrating this musical legacy.
How to get to Dinant: The journey from Brussels to Dinant takes approximately 90 minutes by car, and the same trip via train and bus lasts around 2 hours and 15 minutes.
This article was first published Feb 18, 2021, and updated Dec 20, 2021.
