Top Day Trips in Belgium

Brussels (moules-frites and lambic) ★ 4.7 · Antwerp

Brussels sits 45 minutes south of Antwerp by InterCity. Brasserie Cantillon for lambic in Anderlecht; Maison Antoine on Place Jourdan for frites.

Ghent ★ 4.7 · Brussels

Ghent is the closest food day-trip from Brussels: medieval city centre, the canal-side cuberdon vendors, Veggie Thursday-leading restaurants and a craft-beer scene that runs into Saint-Jacobs.

Bruges (Chocolate, Beer and Flemish Cuisine) ★ 4.7 · Ghent

Bruges is 25 min from Ghent by direct train: chocolate shops on the Steenstraat, De Halve Maan Brewery and canal-side moules-friet brasseries.

Tip: Avoid weekends in peak season when Bruges tourist numbers triple; the old-town restaurants are quieter on a Tuesday morning with the same food.

Ghent (waterzooi and cuberdon) ★ 4.6 · Antwerp

Ghent sits 60 minutes west of Antwerp by train. The city's signature waterzooi was born in the Korenlei guild kitchens; the cuberdon sweet on Groentenmarkt.

Antwerp ★ 4.6 · Brussels

Antwerp from Brussels is the design-and-fine-dining day. The Jane two-star, the natural-wine bars of Sint-Andries, the diamond-quarter Hasidic food map and the busy port-city brunch scene.

Antwerp (Diamond Quarter and New Nordic Scene) ★ 4.6 · Ghent

Antwerp is 50 min from Ghent: diamond-district lunch counters on Pelikaanstraat, bollekesbiefstuk brasseries near the cathedral and Michelin-starred rooms.

Tip: The diamond district on Pelikaanstraat serves excellent kosher and halal lunches; combine with Rubenshuis neighbourhood brasseries for dinner.

Bruges (chocolate, lace and Trappist) ★ 4.5 · Antwerp

Bruges sits 90 minutes west of Antwerp by train. The medieval centre is a UNESCO site; chocolate shops and Trappist bars cluster around the Markt.

Ghent (waterzooi and cuberdon) ★ 4.5 · Bruges

Ghent, half an hour east of Bruges, is the home of waterzooi, the creamy chicken-or-fish stew, and the purple cone-shaped cuberdon sweet sold from carts.

Bruges ★ 4.5 · Brussels

Bruges from Brussels is the medieval-day food trip: canal-side pubs, De Halve Maan brewery on Walplein, Flemish stew with chips at every brown cafe, and a chocolate map nearly as deep as the capital's.

Brussels (Grand Place and the Marolles) ★ 4.5 · Ghent

Brussels is 32 min from Ghent by fast train: moules-friet at Chez Leon near the Grand Place, Sablon waffles and the Marolles flea market lunch stalls.

Tip: Take the 08:00 departure and do the Sablon market first (Saturday and Sunday mornings only); the Grand Place restaurant strip is tourist-heavy after 12:00.

Zeeland (Mussel Beds and Oyster Farms) ★ 4.5 · Ghent

The Zeeland mussel and oyster beds at Yerseke are 75 min north of Ghent: harvest-fresh mussels at the waterfront restaurants and smoked eel from the stalls.

Tip: Visit from July to March when the harvest is active; the mussel-and-chip restaurants on the Yerseke waterfront are the freshest moules in this corner of Europe.

Mechelen (white asparagus) ★ 4.4 · Antwerp

Mechelen sits 20 minutes south of Antwerp by train. The town is known for white asparagus in April to June and the Mechelse koekoek heritage chicken breed.

Leuven ★ 4.4 · Brussels

Leuven from Brussels is the beer-hall day trip. Oude Markt's row of cafes is called the longest bar in Europe, Stella Artois is brewed in town and the city's medieval colleges run through the centre.

Oudenaarde (Oud Bruin and the Liefmans Brewery) ★ 4.4 · Ghent

Oudenaarde is 25 min from Ghent: Liefmans Brewery produces Goudenband oud bruin and cherry kriek at the original site with tours and a tasting room.

Tip: Brewery tours at Liefmans run by appointment; the tasting room takes walk-ins. Combine with a Grote Markt brasserie lunch for a half-day beer trip.

Ostend (North Sea fish) ★ 4.3 · Bruges

Ostend, a quarter-hour by train from Bruges, lands the North Sea catch at its open-air Vistrap quay market, where fishermen sell fish and grey shrimp.

Mechelen ★ 4.3 · Brussels

Mechelen from Brussels is the small-city day. The Mechelen cuckoo chicken is the protected local breed; modern Flemish bistros run around the cathedral square and the Dijle riverside.

Damme (canal village) ★ 4.2 · Bruges

Damme, 6km north of Bruges along the Damse Vaart, is a quiet canal village reached by boat or bike, with canal-side restaurants and a starred kitchen.

Brussels (chocolate and beer) ★ 4.2 · Bruges

Brussels, an hour from Bruges by train, is where Neuhaus invented the praline in 1912, and where grand beer cafes and Brussels waffles reward a day trip.

Tournai ★ 4.2 · Brussels

Tournai from Brussels is the Walloon farmhouse-cooking day. The Romanesque cathedral, the Grand Place brasseries, the Tournaisis goat-cheese tradition and the proximity to the French border.

Hoogstraten (strawberries) ★ 4.1 · Antwerp

Hoogstraten sits 45 minutes north of Antwerp by car. The town is Belgium's strawberry capital; growers stalls run from May into October.

East Flanders Gin Route (Wijnegem and Mater) ★ 4.1 · Ghent

East Flanders gin distilleries are within 40 min of Ghent: Copperhead near Wijnegem and the Stillery at Mater offer tours with Flemish grain-based spirits.

Tip: Book distillery tours in advance by email; the Stillery at Mater is the more artisan format with smaller batches and a longer tasting session.

Lier (bakeries and Lierse vlaaike) ★ 4.0 · Antwerp

Lier sits 15 minutes east of Antwerp by train. The town's Lierse vlaaike spice-and-honey tart is a regional speciality; beer cafes ring the Begijnhof.

Zeebrugge (the fishing port) ★ 4.0 · Bruges

Zeebrugge, the working sea port of Bruges, lands the grey shrimp and North Sea fish that fill the city's kitchens, with harbour seafood rooms nearby.

Aalst (Flemish Beer and Carnival Biscuits) ★ 4.0 · Ghent

Aalst is 30 min from Ghent by train: East Flemish town with vlaaien fruit tarts, fried oliebollen and local onion stew at the Grote Markt brasseries.

Tip: Visit on a Saturday when the Aalst market runs and the local bakeries are at their most stocked; the vlaaien fruit tart is best warm from the morning run.