Brussels is home to an abundance of day trip options given the small size of the country it sits in, and its close proximity to many other northern European countries. Almost every city in Belgium is reachable from Brussels and worthy of a day trip, and some of the most popular cities in Europe too. This guide to the best day trips from Brussels will take you through all the most beautiful, culturally enriching, and day-trip-worthy cities around Belgium, with the top things to do in each city, and a full travel guide linked for each one.
All of the day trips in this post are public transport friendly and can be reached in two hours or less by train when travelling from Brussels. Most of these spots are in Belgium but given how easy it is to reach some other capital cities from Brussels, you’ll see some places from other countries too.
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How to Plan your Day Trips from Brussels
When relying on public transport, it’s good practice to plan ahead. All train times and prices for day trips from Brussels within Belgium can be found on the SNCB website. Tickets are easily purchased from machines at the stations.
Top Tip: The SNCB offer 50% off tickets at the weekends, and those under 26 can get reductions on all journeys.
For day trips from Brussels outside of Belgium, I recommend using Trainline to research times and prices, and to book your tickets. Times and prices can vary, and these tickets can get quite expensive, so it’s best to look in advance to find the best deal before your day trip.
Other than researching your transport, day trips from Brussels are straightforward and easy! Most of the cities included in this guide are easily walkable, and any specific tips or things to know will be included in the detailed guide linked for each destination.
Bruges
Bruges is Belgium’s most picturesque city and the most popular day trip from Brussels. It’s the largest city in Flanders, the northern region of Belgium, and the cobbled streets, charming traditional Flemish terraces, gothic architecture, and overall fairytale vibe rarely disappoint the millions of tourists that flock to Bruges year on year.
Since Bruges is such a popular city, be prepared for crowds. You may find that Bruges even feels busier than Brussels, given how small the city is. If you’re really trying to avoid crowds, you might prefer one of the other day trips from Brussels included in this guide but, personally, I think it’s worth braving it – the fairytale beauty of Bruges is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that everyone should have!
Top Things to Do in Bruges:
- Dive deep into Bruges’ rich history with a walking and boat tour around the canals.
- Discover Belgium’s food with a visit to the Choco-story Museum or the Fries Museum.
- Climb the Bruges Belfry for incredible views over the city.
- Try a beer flight at the amazing 2be Bruges Bar.
- Take the most amazing photos with this Instagrammable Guide to Bruges.
Trains from Brussels to Bruges are direct and take one hour. Services run roughly every 20-30 minutes.
Dinant
Most tourists in Belgium focus on the cities in the northern Flemish region, but there are some great spots in the south. Dinant is one of the best hidden gems in Belgium, and certainly one of the most unique day trips from Brussels.
Often an unfortunate martyr throughout history due to its strategic position on the river Meuse, Dinant is symbolised by the dominant citadel that sits proudly atop a rockface overlooking the city. And for such a small city, Dinant certainly has some quirks. It’s the birthplace of the inventor of the saxophone, Adolphe Sax, the home of Leffe beer, as well as Europe’s hardest biscuit, and is twinned with Disneyland Paris!
Top Things to Do in Dinant:
- Ride a cable car up to the Dinant Citadel (or tackle the 400 stairs!) for incredible views over Dinant and the River Meuse.
- Visit the Adolphe Sax museum to learn about the invention of the saxophone.
- Try traditional Couques de Dinant at Patisserie Jacobs.
- Take a tour of the Leffe Abbey museum and taste some great Belgian beer.
- Embark on a kayak tour along the river Meuse to see the spectacular Walzin Castle.
Dinant is reachable by direct train from Brussels, which takes roughly an hour and a half, with trains running around every 30 minutes.
Ghent
The best way I can describe Ghent is like Bruges, but people could actually live there. It keeps a lot of Bruges’ old-fashioned charm but has modern elements mixed in, which overall makes for a very interesting city and day trip destination.
Despite being some 40km inland, Ghent is a port city and was once one of the richest cities in Northern Europe. These days, Ghent is known for its medieval castle, cuberdons, and its amazing veggie scene – to name just a few things.
Top Things to Do in Ghent:
- Relax at Graslei, a popular spot by the river.
- Visit St Peter’s Abbey and discover the secret hidden garden.
- Discover Ghent’s medieval history at Gravensteen castle.
- Taste the local delicacy of Cuberdons from the stalls at Groentenmarkt.
- Take a boat tour to see Ghent from a different perspective.
Ghent is one of the quickest day trips from Brussels as the journey by train takes only 30 minutes, with trains departing every 20-30 minutes.
Find things to do in Brussels during your trip!
Ostende (The Belgian Coast)
Despite being such a small country, Belgium has 65km of coastline along the North Sea. Spanning from De Panne to Knokke-Heist, the coast is easily accessible thanks to the longest tramline in the world, the Belgian Coast tram, which covers the entire coast and has 67 stops. Due to this accessibility, there are countless spots to discover along the Belgian Coast. I recommend starting in Ostende, the largest city along the coastline, as this is most easily reached by train from Brussels.
After reaching Ostende, there are countless ways to spend your day. You may choose to ride the entire length of the coastal tram, as the views along the route are beautiful enough in themselves. Or, you could jump on the tram and choose another town or two to explore. I recommend De Haan for its unique charm.
Top Things to Do Along the Belgian Coast:
- Ride the coastal tram to discover Belgium’s expansive coastline.
- Relax on the beach at Ostende or one of the many other spots along the coast.
- Discover Ostende’s wartime history at Fort Napoleon and the Atlantikwall.
- Explore the quirks of the Belle Époque village of De Haan.
- Visit the gothic style Sint-Petrus-En-Sint-Paulus Church in Ostende.
Trains to Ostende take just over an hour from Brussels. There are services departing every 30 minutes, but if you want the direct train (avoiding a change in Ghent) they are hourly.
Antwerp
Antwerp is Belgium’s second city and is effortlessly chic. Not missing any of the unique history or beautiful architecture characteristic of all Belgian cities, Antwerp is best for a laid-back day trip where you can visit beautiful museums, find hidden gems, and enjoy a few Belgian beers in the square.
Although often overshadowed by the capital, Antwerp is an incredibly important city in northern Europe. It has one of the largest ports in Europe (second only to Rotterdam port) and plays a leading role in the world’s diamond trade. These are just two of a wide array of things to discover about this city, and with such a short amount of time to spend in Antwerp on a day trip, booking a walking tour with an Antwerp local can be a great way to dive deeper.
Top Things to Do in Antwerp:
- Wander the Antwerp docks and visit the MAS Museum to discover more about Antwerp.
- Cross the Sint-Annatunnel and ride the wooden escalators.
- Relax in the peaceful courtyard of the Plantin-Moretus Museum.
- Hunt for some hidden gems, like Nello and Patrasche, Vlaaikensgang, or the House of Five Continents.
- Grab a beer and soak up the atmosphere of Grote Markt.
Services to Antwerp take between 45 minutes and one hour, with trains departing roughly every 15-30 minutes. When you arrive into Antwerp Centraal make sure you take some time to explore here – this train station is regarded as one of the most beautiful in Europe.
Leuven
Next on the list of day trips from Brussels is Leuven, a university city just outside of Brussels. This is a great option if you don’t want to travel too far from Brussels but still want to experience the Flemish charm.
This city is perfect for budget travellers as most of the best things to do in Leuven are free! Leuven is a city of a few records as well – KU Leuven, the main university in Leuven, is one of the oldest in Europe, and the city is also home to the ‘longest bar in the world’ and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Top Things to Do in Leuven:
- Join the crowds for a beer at Oude Markt, known as the world’s longest bar.
- See the UNESCO World Heritage Leuven Begijnhofs and learn about this unique piece of history.
- Wander around Kruidtuin, Leuven’s beautiful botanical garden.
- Venture out of the city centre to see the Park Abbey.
- Explore the M Museum, where old meets new with historic and contemporary art.
The closest of the day trips from Brussels, trains to Leuven take just shy of 30 minutes, and there are services every 10-15 minutes during the day.
Rotterdam
Belgium is a central hub of countries in Northern Europe and it’s very easy to take day trips from Brussels across the border. There are a few cities reachable from Brussels in less than two hours, and Rotterdam is the first of them in this guide.
Rotterdam is a city in the Netherlands. Overshadowed somewhat by the capital, the city is massively underrated and a hub of vibrant culture, with amazing museums, unique architecture, fun sculptures, and delicious food. Rotterdam is the perfect choice for a day trip from Brussels if you’re looking to discover somewhere completely new that’s not too packed with tourists.
Top Things to Do in Rotterdam:
- Visit the incredible Cube Houses and see how people live in these crazy spaces.
- Go sculpture hunting to see the likes of ‘Santa Claus’, ‘Anita’, and ‘Nieuwe Delftse Poort’.
- Discover Rotterdam’s foodie scene with Dutch and world foods from Markthal.
- Cimb the Euromast tower to see Rotterdam from above.
- Explore Museumplein with Rotterdam’s many museums, including the newly renovated Boijmans Van Beuningen museum.
Journeys to Rotterdam vary between one and two hours, and the cheaper tickets (as low as €17) tend to be for the longer journeys. Services are frequent but do vary, and it’s best to check for times and prices beforehand.
Discover more things to do in Rotterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, and one of the most popular cities in Europe. Known for its museums, canals, tulips, and bikes, Amsterdam is laidback yet lively, and a culturally invigorating place to visit.
Although I’d personally choose to spend a couple of days in Amsterdam, it’s definitely achievable for a day trip from Brussels. You’ll want to plan a strict itinerary to make it around everything, but luckily I have a packed guide to Amsterdam linked below.
Top Things to Do in Amsterdam:
- Go museum-hopping – to the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Anne Frank House, and even the Amsterdam Tulip Museum (top tip: check out this full guide to the best museums in Amsterdam).
- Grab an Instagrammable stroopwafel from Van Wonderen Stroopwafels.
- Book a canal cruise to discover Amsterdam’s incredible canal network.
- See the Dancing Houses at Damrak.
- Visit the world’s only floating flower market, Bloemenmarkt.
The quickest trains to Amsterdam from Brussels take around 1 hour 45 minutes. Prices for these trains can be as low as £25, but you’ll need to book a good few weeks in advance – I recommend a month if you know your travel plans. Otherwise, you can expect to pay £40+ for a single ticket. Fast trains depart roughly every hour from Brussels.
Try one of these fun Amsterdam activities!
Paris
The city of love needs no introduction. Like Amsterdam, I’d recommend spending more than just a day in Paris, but it can make for the perfect flying romantic visit. I have a full weekend guide to Paris linked below, and you can pick all the best bits for your day trip.
Paris is known for its incredible monuments, delicious food (nothing compares to a freshly baked croissant in the morning), the Haussman architecture, and luxurious vibes. With so much to do, it’s great for the budget and luxury travellers alike, and you can have a true Parisian experience either way.
Top Things to Do in Paris:
- See the iconic Eiffel Tower (and watch it sparkle at night for a truly magical experience).
- Take a cruise along the River Seine to see many landmarks from the water.
- Visit a museum – I recommend the iconic Louvre Museum or the Musée d’Orsay.
- Explore Montmartre to see the Sacre-Coeur and beautiful views over Paris.
- Wander the Champs-Élysées and get a macaron (or five) from Ladurée.
Trains to Paris from Brussels take just shy of 1.5 hours. You can get tickets for around £30 if booked in advance, but normally you can expect to pay £50+ each way. Services are frequent, with trains departing roughly every 30 minutes.
See more things to do in Paris before your day trip
Well, after an introduction to nine of the best day trips from Brussels, you now have the difficult job – deciding where to go! Every city in this guide has a unique attraction, and budget, experiences, crowds, and distance can help you make up your mind. On a longer trip to Brussels, you could even fit in several of these day trips – if not, you’ll just have to come back another time to tick more off the list!
For your time in Brussels, I have some great guides for you. Firstly, check out the best things to do in Brussels, as well as The Best Places to Eat in Brussels and 10 Fun and Unique Things to Do in Brussels.
This was very helpful – thank you! If you have time, I was also curious about the scenery along the train ride from Brussels to Dinant. Is it a scenic ride?
Thanks, glad you enjoyed! I don’t remember a huge amount about the train ride, but I do remember there being a lot of nature and greenery out the windows 🙂