7 best day trips from Brussels

Day trips compared

The day trips

95 km · About 1 hour by direct train

1.Bruges

A medieval city of canals, brick gables and cobbled squares, with the Belfry, the Basilica of the Holy Blood and Flemish Primitive paintings in the Groeningemuseum. It is busy with day-trippers, so arrive early or stay later into the evening.

Getting there

SNCB train from any of the three central stations

Best for

First-timers, Couples, Culture

55 km · About 30–35 minutes by train

2.Ghent

A lively university city with the Van Eyck brothers' Ghent Altarpiece in St Bavo's Cathedral, the Gravensteen castle and the medieval quays of the Graslei and Korenlei. It is less crowded than Bruges and good for an evening out.

Getting there

SNCB train to Gent-Sint-Pieters, then tram

Best for

Culture, Couples, Food lovers

45 km · About 40–50 minutes by train

3.Antwerp

Belgium's port city has Rubens altarpieces in the Cathedral of Our Lady, the MAS museum's rooftop views, a renowned fashion scene and one of the world's grandest railway stations. Its diamond district sits next to Centraal station.

Getting there

SNCB train to Antwerpen-Centraal

Best for

Culture, Shopping, Food lovers

25 km · About 20–30 minutes by train

4.Leuven

Home to one of Europe's oldest universities, Leuven has an extraordinarily ornate Gothic town hall, the University Library tower and the Oude Markt, a square lined almost entirely with student bars. The Stella Artois brewery is based here.

Getting there

SNCB train to Leuven

Best for

Culture, Budget, Solo travellers

25 km · About 20 minutes by train

5.Mechelen

A compact historic city with St Rumbold's Cathedral tower, which you can climb for wide views over Flanders, a canal-side boardwalk and the Kazerne Dossin memorial museum. It is a quiet, uncrowded alternative to Bruges.

Getting there

SNCB train to Mechelen

Best for

Culture, Quiet stays, Families

20 km · About 40 minutes by bus or train

6.Waterloo

The battlefield where Napoleon was defeated in 1815, with the Memorial 1815 museum, the Lion's Mound viewpoint, which you can climb for a view over the fields, and the restored Hougoumont farm. Re-enactments are held in some summers.

Getting there

TEC bus or train to Braine-l'Alleud, then bus

Best for

Culture, Families

95 km · About 1 hour 45 minutes by train

7.Dinant

A small town on the River Meuse beneath limestone cliffs, with an onion-domed collegiate church, a cliff-top citadel reached by cable car and kayak trips on the Lesse. Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, was born here.

Getting there

SNCB train via Namur

Best for

Families, Quiet stays, Couples

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• STIB buses fill gaps in the tram and metro network, and express bus lines link Brussels Airport with the European Quarter.
• SNCB trains link Brussels-Nord, Brussels-Central and Brussels-Midi in a few minutes, and run to Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Leuven and the airport. Eurostar and international high-speed trains use Brussels-Midi.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask