Weekend & Day Trips from Brussels, Belgium

1. Amsterdam

Famous for its’ narrow 17th century buildings which balance precariously over picturesque canals, Amsterdam has a host of wonderful attractions for day trippers. Many visitors begin their exploration in the famous Museum Quarter where you can visit the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the new and exciting MOCO Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.

Taking a Canal Tour is a great way to see the city from a different perspective, or you can rent a bicycle and explore like a local. City highlights include the Anne Frank House Museum and learning about Amsterdam’s diamond history on a tour of GASSAN Diamonds. You can reach Amsterdam in less than three hours by road or rail from Brussels.

Amsterdam, Holland

2. Bruges

Fabulous Bruges welcomes thousands of visitors on a daily basis, offering a great mix of historic sites and great shopping, as well as a unique atmosphere. Everywhere you look you will find beautiful historic buildings like the Belfort (Belfry and Carillon), the Provincial Palace, the Kruispoort Gate (1297-1304) and the beautiful City Hall. Taking a sight-seeing boat trip under the many low bridges is an essential part of any visit to Bruges, as is visiting a plethora of Belgian chocolate shops, eating crisp Belgian Waffles or feasting on fresh mussels and frites. Sipping a great Belgian beer at one of the pavement cafes on the main square is a wonderful way to soak up the atmosphere.

Bruges, Belgium

3. Charleroi

Located just 36km from Brussels, Charleroi is an often-overlooked city which has several attractions for day-trippers. The city was established by the Spanish as far back as 1666 and is named after King Charles II of Spain. The city boasts a few interesting Museums including the Glass Museum and the Museum of Industry (which are housed in a former coal mine), the Museum of Fine Art (located in the art-deco Town Hall) and the Photography Museum. You can also visit the beautiful 17th century Cartier Castle and St. Christopher’s Church. For a change of pace you can do some shopping at the Rive Gauche Mall in Charleroi.

Charleroi, Belgium

4. Cologne

Located across the border in Germany, Cologne can be reached in less than two hours from Brussels and offers many attractions for day visitors. The city is delightful to explore on foot – you can join a guided walking tour or explore at your own pace – just stop by the ServiceCenter, which is located right by the famous Cologne Cathedral, for maps and info. Highlights of your visit should include walking through the historic Old Town, taking a scenic boat trip on the Rhine and visiting some of the city’s interesting museums. To soak up some atmosphere you can enjoy some great German food and beer at one of the many pavement cafes.

Cologne, Germany

5. Dinant

Located in the southern Wallonia region of Belgium, the small town of Dinant is a wonderful destination for a day trip. Compact and very picturesque, the town lies along the banks of the River Meuse and can easily be explored on foot or by taking a leisurely river cruise. The foremost city landmark is the imposing 13th century Collegiate Church of Our Lady, which is topped by a 16th century pear-shaped bell tower. Other highlights of your visit should include the Citadelle de Dinant fortress (which you can reach via a scenic cable car) and the colorful Charles de Gaulle Bridge which features several saxophone statues honoring Adolf Sax (who founded the saxophone),who was born in Dinant.

Dinant, Belgium

6. Ghent

Offering a perfect destination for a fun day out, Ghent is a bustling city which boasts a good mix of culture, art, history and modern living. Ghent offers avid shoppers a wide variety of great shopping areas including the car-free Ghent Central and trendy Dok Nord. If you want to explore the cultural side of the city you can visit STAM-Ghent City Museum, the imposing Castle of the Counts (which showcases an impressive collection of macabre torture instruments), Museum of Fine Arts Ghent and the fascinating Dr. Guislain Museum of Psychiatry. Foodies love Ghent - enjoy a great Belgian beer at a river-side cafe, visit one of the city’s trendy food markets or partake in a gastronomic feast in a gourmet restaurant.

Ghent, Belgium

7. Hasselt

Hasselt is located just one hour east of Brussels and has all the right ingredients for a great family day trip. A visit to the beautiful Japanese Garden is a must for all nature lovers, while visitors with children can spend a few hours at Plopsa Indoor, a huge indoor amusement park with rides and lots of fun activities for little visitors. You can explore the city on foot along the Historic City Walk or the popular Taste Route. Highlights for art lovers include the Street Art Walking or Cycling Route, the eclectic Villa Verbeelding and the Z33 House for Contemporary Art. Hasselt also offers excellent shopping and dining as well as several outdoor activities including Hot Air Ballooning, Rope Courses and cycling.

Hasselt , Belgium

8. Leuven

Leuven is located just 30min east of Brussels, where it offers a fun day out. The town is famous for its breweries and one of the best known, Stella Artois, offers very popular tours and tastings. You can also join a variety of beer tours on foot or by bicycle. Leuven is also famous for its’ many impressive historic buildings which include the Town Hall, St. Peter’s Church and Park Abbey. History lovers will enjoy visiting Groot Begijnhof, a collection of about twelve streets of beautifully restored historic buildings. The M-Museum Leuven boasts an impressive collection of art and the beautiful Oude Markt is the perfect place to soak up some atmosphere.

Leuven , Belgium

9. Liege

Liege was once famous for being an important industrial hub during the early 19th century but has slowly evolved into a modern and bustling cultural center. You can reach Liege from Brussels in about an hour on the high-speed ICE train and spend a day exploring the city on foot or by bicycle. Architecture enthusiasts can admire a good mix of building styles including medieval, Victorian, art-nouveau and art-deco along with some 1960’s brutalist examples. City attractions include the Archeoforum (an archeological site showcases a succession of ruins), BAL (Museum of Walloon Art), the 17th century Curtius Palace and the Public Transport Museum. Families should not miss the Aquarium, Science Museum and Zoo, all of which are conveniently housed in the same building.

Liege , Belgium