Highlights,
- Taste waffles and fries during a classic Belgian food tour in Antwerp
- Board an old-fashioned steamer for a canal trip to the town of Damme
- Explore the underground dungeons of Ghent's medieval Gravensteen Castle
- Learn the history of chocolate (and taste a few samples) in enchanting Bruges
- Hop between some of Brussels' 49 world-class museums
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Brussels, Train to Antwerp, Ascend to MAS Viewpoint | Antwerp |
| Day 2 | Guided City Walking Tour, Visit Chocolate Nation Antwerp | Antwerp |
| Day 3 | Antwerp Food Tour, Visit the Museum Mayer van den Bergh | Antwerp |
| Day 4 | Train to Bruges, Guided Walking Tour, Afternoon Canal Cruise | Bruges |
| Day 5 | Day Trip to Damme via Paddle Steamer | Bruges |
| Day 6 | Day Trip to Ghent: Churches, Castles & Canals | Bruges |
| Day 7 | Visit Choco-Story Museum, Free Afternoon in Bruges | Bruges |
| Day 8 | Train to Brussels, Free Time to Explore | Brussels |
| Day 9 | Experience the Best of Brussels' Museums | Brussels |
| Day 10 | Depart Brussels |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Brussels, Train to Antwerp, Ascend to MAS Viewpoint
Welcome to Belgium! On arrival at Brussels Airport, you'll catch a 30-minute direct train to Antwerpen-Centraal, Antwerp's grand central railway station. From here, you can either walk or take a taxi to your hotel.
Once you've settled in, you'll have free time to explore Antwerp's compact city center, where architectural gems from the Renaissance and Art Nouveau periods rub shoulders with striking modern buildings. Wander to the Grote Markt, the city's largest and most important square, and on to the enormous Cathedral of Our Lady, first constructed in 1352. You'll find many paintings by the famous Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens within its interior.
After you've seen a little bit of old Antwerp, there's still time on your first day to discover the city's modern side. With its geometric glass and red sandstone design, the contemporary MAS (Museum aan de Stroom) is a landmark near the Scheldt riverfront. Its rooftop terrace, called the Panorama, offers splendid views of the city and the mighty Port of Antwerp. Access to the Panorama is free, or you can buy a ticket to MAS and enjoy its interactive exhibits that explore Antwerp's place in history and the modern world.
Day 2: Guided City Walking Tour, Visit Chocolate Nation Antwerp
Today you'll dive deeper into Antwerp with a private guided walking tour, the best way to explore the city's historic heart in a short amount of time. Discover the central Grote Markt, home to the extravagant city hall and numerous guildhalls, many of which were reconstructed in the 19th century to resemble Flemish artists' paintings of the old square. Go past the Vleeshuis (Butcher's Hall, or literally "Meat House"), now a museum, and walk through the picturesque Vlaeykensgang Alley, which dates back to 1591 and was once home to the shoemakers and the poorest in the city.
Explore the central shopping street of Meir, a grand avenue dotted with international fashion brands, and venture into the surrounding neighborhood to sample some classic Antwerp food specialties. End the day on a sweet note with an afternoon tour of Chocolate Nation, Belgium's largest chocolate museum. Learn about cocoa's journey from the cacao plantations of the equator to the world's largest cocoa storage port in Antwerp, and taste creamy delights as you hear about the history and innovations that have built Belgium's reputation for the world's best chocolate.Day 3: Antwerp Food Tour, Visit the Museum Mayer van den Bergh
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
After breakfast and a leisurely morning, it's time to indulge in Antwerp's moreish delicacies on a private gastronomy tour through the city. No food tour here would be complete without a stop at a classic Belgian bakery, where you'll try the famous Belgian frieten (french fries), chocolate, and waffles. As Antwerp is a harbor city, the local cuisine is not only Belgian but also has international influences. The tour ends near one of the city's foodie hotspots, so you can continue to taste on your own if you're not too full already.
Later, visit one of Antwerp's major highlights, the Mayer van den Bergh Museum. Fritz Mayer van den Bergh single-handedly accumulated an incredible array of art in the late 19th century, becoming Antwerp's leading art collector of the era. This intimate and informal museum shows off the best of it. The star is the painting "Dulle Griet," also known as "Mad Meg," a character in Flemish folklore depicted by Brueghel the Elder in 1563. Mayer van den Bergh died before he realized his dream of a museum for his collection, so his mother opened this one in his honor.
Day 4: Train to Bruges, Guided Walking Tour, Afternoon Canal Cruise
Say goodbye to Antwerp and zip over to Belgium's most romantic city, Bruges, with a 90-minute journey by train. Best explored on foot, Bruges' cobbled streets link countless charming squares, and the best views to take it all in are from the 272-foot (83 m) medieval bell tower and city emblem, the Belfry of Bruges, on the Grote Markt (Market Square).
After settling in, join a private guide for a tour of the UNESCO-listed city's most charming attractions. Bruges' historic heart is compact, and you'll encounter historic monuments and architectural highlights every few minutes as you stroll along enchanting canals, reach the beautiful Sint-Salvatorskathedraal, and pop in to see a Michelangelo sculpture at Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk (Church of Our Lady)—all the while gazing up at the marvelous facades of Gothic and 19th-century buildings.
Later on, stop at one of the chocolatiers that have become an icon of the city, or see if you can snag a table on one of the historic squares to try local Belgian beers, such as the coveted Brugse Zot. Or, see the city from a different perspective with a boat tour along its atmospheric canals. You can embark at one of the five landing stages in the heart of Bruges for a 30-minute cruise between Jan van Eyck Square and the Beguinage.
Day 5: Day Trip to Damme via Paddle Steamer
Take a day trip out of Bruges today to explore the charming town of Damme, commonly known as "Little Bruges." To get there, board the historic paddle steamer, the Lamme Goedzak, for a leisurely 35-minute river cruise along the Damme Canal through the tranquil countryside. As you head toward the picturesque hamlet, you'll spot several traditional windmills.
Once you arrive, you'll have free time to discover the historic town at your own pace. Wander the moat, which once helped protect the town from invasion and is now a peaceful tree tunnel, and visit the Gothic Stadhuis (Town Hall), which has been standing there since the 15th century (built on the ruins of its predecessor, dating back to 1241). Stop at one of the charming cafés for lunch, then climb the iconic flat-towered Church of Our Lady (circa 1225) for views of the 17th-century city wall and the bucolic countryside.
Visit the Uilenspiegel Museum, dedicated to the famous northern European folk character considered a practical joker to the Flemish and a villain to the neighboring Germans. At the end of the day, return to Bruges on the paddleboat, appreciating the sunset views over the canal.
Day 6: Day Trip to Ghent: Castles, Churches & Canals
Hop on a 45-minute train this morning for another self-guided day trip—this time to the fairytale-like Ghent. A great place to start is at Sint-Michielsbridge (Saint Michael's Bridge) and the Graslei Boulevard that runs alongside it. Wander between landmarks, such as the city hall, cathedrals, and elegant squares like Groentemarkt and Korenmarkt, and discover the magnificent interior of Saint Bavo's Cathedral, where you can admire the "Ghent Altarpiece," a famous set of monumental paintings from 1432 by Renaissance painters Hubert and Jan van Eyck.
Make sure to save plenty of time to explore Gravensteen Castle, an impressive 12th-century medieval fortress located in Ghent's historic center. Take a lively audio tour (narrated by Flemish comedian Wouter Deprez) and step back in time through the castle's stormy history, intertwined with the social and political history of Ghent, from Viking battles to knights in shining armor to underground dungeons. Don't miss a unique collection of torture equipment in an executioner's cabinet housed in a former pantry.
When you're ready for a break, head to the Grasbrug bridge and board a boat for a leisurely tour of the canals of medieval Ghent. Afterward, you'll be dropped off at the same spot, from which you can set out to find some authentic local cuisine. Mussels, oysters, and eels in the green sauce are Ghent specialties, and of course, you'll find waffles and frites. For locally made jenever (the Dutch version of gin), duck into 't Dreupelkot, close to Gravensteen Castle, where you can sample hundreds of flavors in a tiny café overlooking the canal. You'll return to Bruges via train later in the evening.
Day 7: Visit Choco-Story Museum, Free Afternoon in Bruges
Chocolate lovers will be in heaven with this morning's immersive visit to Bruges' Choco-Story museum. This interactive experience celebrates the 4,000-year-old history of chocolate—you'll learn about growing cacao beans, taste and smell ingredients, and watch a chocolatier make luxurious pralines (of course, you get to taste them too).
You'll have the rest of the day free to explore more of Bruges at your own pace or catch up on some rest back at the hotel. As evening falls, you might want to make your way to the neo-Gothic Historium building and settle into their cozy bar. Get a primer on Belgian beer with their tasting menu, and enjoy a great view of the Grote Markt from the panoramic terrace as you sip Duvel and other Belgian brews.
Day 8: Train to Brussels, Free Time to Explore
Bid Bruges farewell today and catch a one-hour train to Brussels, the Belgian capital and the last stop of your trip. Brussels has no shortage of remarkable historic and architectural highlights to discover, and you'll have the rest of the day free to do just that. Start with iconic sites like the Louis XVI-style Royal Palace, the medieval Cathedral of Sint-Michel and Sint-Goedele, and the futuristic Atomium building. Curiously enough, a tiny statue of a peeing boy, Manneken Pis, is also a famous landmark, so swing by for a classic Brussels photo op.
If castles and royalty are more your cup of tea, you'll want to pay a visit to the Castle of Laeken, one of the royal residences in Belgium built in the Louis XVI style. It's surrounded by a 296-acre (120 ha) park containing the Royal Greenhouses. Beer lovers will enjoy a visit to the Gueuze Museum in the Cantillon Brewery for a tour and tasting of typical Belgian beers, including lambics (sour ale) like kriek (cherry) and framboise (raspberry).
Day 9: Experience the Best of Brussels' Museums
Your second day in Brussels is devoted to its world-class museums, and you can take your pick of them with the help of a Brussels Card, which grants you free entrance to 49 museums celebrating everything from art history (try the Design Museum, Old Masters Museum, or the Fine Arts Museum) to comic books and cars (head to the Comics Museum or Autoworld). History fanatics should drop by the City Museum, Military Museum, or Jewish Museum.
Be sure to visit the Magritte Museum, where you'll find an exceptional ensemble of works by the Belgian surrealist René Magritte. With more than 200 pieces, it's home to the most extensive Magritte collection in the world. As you hop between museums, don't forget to look for boutiques selling handmade lace, another craft that makes Belgium famous, and grab a warm waffle from one of the many stalls for a quick pick-me-up along the way.
In the evening, conduct your own Belgium beer-tasting event by stopping at some of the city's beer hotspots and places popular with locals. Try a range of beers, from witbiers ("white beers" or a Belgian-style wheat ale) to dubbels ("doubles" or strong dark beers), then settle in for a dinner of classic Brussels comfort foods like moules-frites (mussels and fries) or waterzooi (a stew with fish or chicken.
Day 10: Depart Brussels
Today, it's time to load up on chocolate and bid farewell to Belgium. Take any train heading to the Brussels Airport (located in the municipality of Zaventem), or a taxi can be arranged upon request. Safe travels!
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