Highlights
- Explore cobbled medieval streets and Renaissance buildings
- Experience multimedia chocolate and beer tours in Antwerp
- Visit one of Europe's most beautiful caves in riverside Dinant
- Immerse yourself in classical and modern art in the museums of Brussels
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Brussels, Transfer to Antwerp, Rubens House | Antwerp |
| Day 2 | Chocolate Nation Antwerp, De Koninck Beer Brewery Visit | Antwerp |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Dinant, Tour the Grotte la Merveilleuse | Dinant |
| Day 4 | Explore Dinant, Church Collégiale Notre-Dame de Dinant | Dinant |
| Day 5 | Train to Brussels | Brussels |
| Day 6 | Discover Brussels' Museums | Brussels |
| Day 7 | Depart Brussels |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Brussels, Transfer to Antwerp, Rubens House
Welcome to Belgium! After arriving at Brussels Airport, you'll catch a direct train to Antwerp's main railway station. Upon arrival, you'll find yourself in the middle of the first major landmark and the finest example of railway architecture in Belgium. Built in 1905, the city's main railway station has magnificent interiors and an impressive facade.
After checking in and dropping your bags, you will have free time to navigate this compact and historic city on foot. The many narrow, cobbled medieval streets will take you past countless amazing Renaissance buildings. Fill your day with a cold Belgian beer on one of the many cozy terraces, or head to one of the city's river beaches at Sint Anneke or Sint Annastrand on the other side of the Scheldt River. Before ending your day, you'll visit Rubens House, the home of 17th-century painter Peter Paul Rubens. Rubens is considered the most influential artist of the Flemish Baroque tradition.
Day 2: Chocolate Nation Antwerp, De Koninck Beer Brewery Visit
Today's itinerary involves all things culinary. Start at Chocolate Nation, Belgium's largest chocolate museum, created for chocolate fans. The tour starts in the cocoa plantations of the equator and follows the cocoa bean to the world's largest cocoa storage port, right here in Antwerp. During your tour, you will taste creamy delights and learn about the history and innovations that have built Belgium's reputation for the world's best chocolate.
After satisfying your sweet tooth, the next tour is all about Belgian beer. The beers of De Koninck, including its famed Bolleke, have been brewed here for centuries. In 2015, the De Koninck City Brewery opened an experience center allowing visitors to hear, see and, of course, taste the brewery's story.
Day 3: Transfer to Dinant, Tour the Grotte la Merveilleuse
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Explore Dinant, Church Collégiale Notre-Dame de Dinant
Today you have a full day to relax and explore Dinant on your own. Choose to climb the 308 steps (or take the cable car) to marvel at the citadel, which rises commandingly over land and water. Later, visit the Church Collégiale Notre-Dame de Dinant. This 13th-century Gothic landmark is recognizable from afar by its spherical bell tower. Inside, you will find work by Belgian artists such as Ladon and Antoine Wiertz, including one of the largest stained glass windows in Europe.
In the afternoon, you can opt for an action-packed adventure full of climbing and zip lining through the forests of Dinant. Harness up at Belgium's unique Via Vita, part via ferrata and part piste vita. The course also includes adrenaline fuelling zip lines and aerial bridges.
Day 5: Train to Brussels
Today you will take the train from Dinant to Brussels for your final city on your Belgium highlights tour. Brussels, Belgium's capital and the seat of the European Union, has many significant historical and architectural sights to discover.
Highlights, such as the Louis-XVI-style Royal Palace, the medieval Cathedral of Sint-Michel and Sint-Goedele, and the futuristic Atomium building constructed for the 1958 Brussels World's Fair, are not to be missed. Curiously enough, a tiny statue of a peeing boy, Manneken Pis, is also a massively popular landmark. You can explore all this on your own at your own pace or request a guided tour.
Day 6: Discover Brussels' Museums
Your final day in Belgium gives you time to explore Brussels at your own pace. You'll be given a Brussels Card, which grants you free entrance to 49 museums and unlimited public transport. For those in pursuit of art, there's the Fine Arts Museum, Design Museum, Old Masters Museum, and the Magritte Museum. History fanatics should head to the City Museum, Military Museum, or Jewish Museum. For some special-interest spots, go for the Comics Museum or Autoworld.
In the evening, head out for dinner to try one of Brussels' many local comfort foods, such as the classic moules-frites, waterzooi (a stew with fish or chicken), or stoemp (mashed potatoes mixed with root vegetables).
Day 7: Depart Brussels
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