10 Awesome Day Trips from Brussels (to 5 different countries!)
The first thing you need to know here is that amazing day trips from Brussels are in no short supply. Brussels is a fantastic place to base yourself if you’d like to visit many different areas but don’t want to switch hotels every night. In fact, taking only day trips from here, you can visit five different countries!
Check out this list of incredible day trip destinations that includes some fantastic historical, culinary, and cultural getaways from Belgium’s capital. Enjoy!
How to take these day trips from Brussels
The first thing you need to know about taking day trips from Brussels is that how you plan to travel will determine what destinations you can visit. For example, some destinations are much easier to get to by train than car, and vice versa. I’ll let you know which destinations favor which modes of transportation in each option.
For when you’re ready to plan your trips, keep this list of helpful transportation resources in mind:
- Rental cars: I always book through rentalcars.com and have always had great experiences.
- Trains: Here in Belgium, you’ll want to use the SNCB website for official train info. Note that you may need to use the local spelling for the cities sometimes. (Included in the sections below.) And Brussels is locally spelled Bruxelles.
- Buses: Flixbus is my go-to company for (super affordable) bus travel around Europe.
- Itineraries: Don’t miss our guide to planning better day trips here.
Day trips from Brussels: Map
The map below contains all the day trip destinations mentioned in this post so you can get an idea of what is where. To save this map, click on the star ⭑ next to the map’s title. To use it, open Google Maps on your phone, click “Saved,” then click “Maps.”
The best day trips from Brussels
The first time I visited Belgium, I based myself in Brussels and did nothing but day trips. Brussels sits right in the middle of so many great destinations and there are multiple transportation options for each. Here are some of the best day trips to take:
1. Bruges, Belgium
Bruges, Belgium has been a tourism darling for well over a decade now, and when you get here, you’ll see why. This wonderfully preserved medieval town is full of fairytale scenery, delicious food, and super chill vibes.
Bruges day trip from Brussels
- How to get here: Car / train / bus / organized tour
- Distance from Brussels: 1 – 1.5 hours
- Local spelling: Brugge
While in Bruges, take your time just walking the streets and checking out all the beautiful architecture, canals, churches, and more. Climb up to the top of the Belfry for the best views, and be sure to take one of the fun canal boat tours. (They last just about an hour and are super cheap.) Check out the city’s most famous brewery—De Halve Maan—and then sit down at one of the many beer bars along the canals and watch the boats go by.
You can pop into the Church of Our Lady to see the famous Bruges Madonna (a sculpture by Michelangelo), then head over to the Chocolate Museum or one of the city’s amazing chocolate shops. Definitely book one of the informative walking tours here to learn more about this cool city.
How to get to Bruges from Brussels
Bruges is definitely the most popular of all the great day trips from Brussels, so there are tons of ways to get here.
By car: Driving from Brussels to Bruges takes about 1.5 hours and is pretty much a straight shot. See this page for Bruges parking info and rent your car here if you need one.
By train: Taking the train from Brussels to Bruges is going to be the fastest and easiest method. The ride takes about 1 hour and leaves Brussels every 20 minutes or so. Check train schedules and rates here.
By bus: The Flixbus offers rides between Brussels and Bruges several times a day and the ride takes about 1.5 hours. (And costs somewhere around $10.) Check out bus schedules and rates here.
By organized tour: If you don’t want to deal with any of that, check out these guided tours that take you from Brussels to Bruges (and back), and include an expert guide to show you around:
- Bruges Full-Day Trip by Train from Brussels
- Bruges Day Trip from Brussels with roundtrip Transportation
- From Brussels: Ghent and Bruges Day Tour
- Bruges Day Trip from Brussels with a Local Guide: Private & Personalized
There are way more options though. You can see all available Bruges day trips here on Viator and here on Get Your Guide.
2. Ghent, Belgium
Ghent is my favorite city in all of Belgium. This place has such a laidback vibe and some of the best beer and coolest bars around. Like Bruges, Ghent is a historically rich city that’s been perfectly preserved throughout time.
Ghent day trip from Brussels
- How to get here: Car / train / bus / organized tour
- Distance from Brussels: 30 min – 1 hour
- Local spelling: Gent
While in Ghent, you should take a canal cruise to see all the highlights of this cool city from the water. You can also check out the Ghent Altarpiece inside St. Bavo’s Cathedral (long believed to be one of the most significant works of art in history). You can also tour the 12th-century Gravensteen Castle, climb the belfry for amazing views, and check out one of the many cozy beer bars like Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant or Trollekelder.
How to get to Ghent from Brussels
By car: From Brussels, Ghent is just an easy 1-hour drive. There are tons of car parks when you get here. You can rent a car here if you need to.
By train: The train from Brussels to Ghent takes just 1 hour and 10 minutes. (Make sure to get on one of the direct trains so you don’t have to make all the extra stops! I learned that the hard way.) See train schedules here.
By bus: Flixbus also offers direct, 1-hour trips between the two cities, multiple times per day.
By tour: If you don’t want to deal with any of that, check out these guided tours that take you from Brussels to Ghent (and back), and include an expert guide to show you around:
- From Brussels: Ghent and Bruges Day Tour – Two cities for the price of one!
- Also available on Viator
Once here, take advantage of one (or some) of the awesome Ghent tours and activities available on Viator and Get Your Guide.
3. Amsterdam, Netherlands
If you’ll be visiting in the spring or summer, definitely consider a day trip to Amsterdam from Brussels. There’s so much to do in Amsterdam and tulip season will ensure you have the most colorful day trip possible.
Amsterdam day trip from Brussels
- How to get here: Car / train / bus / organized tour
- Distance from Brussels: 2 – 2.5 hours
On a day trip to Amsterdam, you can visit places like the Anne Frank House or even the Keukenhof Flower Gardens. There are also great museums like the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum. And for something a little different, check out the Heineken Experience.
How to get here from Brussels
Amsterdam is about the same distance whether you drive yourself or take public transportation, so it’s all up to you!
By car: Amsterdam is about a 2 hour and 20 minute-drive from Brussels. Check this page for parking info and rent your car here.
By train: The train from Brussels to Amsterdam is just slightly faster than driving, around 2 hours. Check SNCB for current schedules and rates.
By bus: Flixbus offers tons of connections between Brussels and Amsterdam each day.
By tour: Of course, there are several organized day tour options too in case you don’t want to deal with the logistics yourself. Check them out here:
Once here, take advantage of one (or some) of the awesome Amsterdam tours and activities available on Viator and Get Your Guide.
4. Dinant, Belgium
The city of Dinant feels like it was made to be a day trip from Brussels. It’s the perfect size, with just the right amount to do in a single day. (And it’s so pretty and unique too!)
Dinant day trip from Brussels
- How to get here: Car / train / organized tour
- Distance from Brussels: 1.25 – 2 hours
While in Dinant, you can visit the Collegiate Church of Our lady with the onion dome, explore the historical citadel high above the city, and take a river cruise. You can also take the “Sax and the City” tour which stops at important spots related to Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone and Dinant’s most famous resident. The Leffe brewery also offers a great tour and great views of the city.
How to get here from Brussels
Dinant is a smaller city that’s more of a hidden gem, but it’s still quite easy to get to. (Unfortunately, the Flixbus doesn’t travel to Dinant.)
By car: The drive from Brussels to Dinant will take about an hour and 15 minutes. Once here, the Parking Centre at Rue Grande 107 is going to be your best bet. You can rent a car here.
By train: There are no direct trains to Dinant, but you can still take the train here (with 1 connection) is less than two hours. See SNCB for details.
By tour: If you want to visit Dinant on a tour, chances are you’ll have to book one of the options that first visits Luxembourg. This is actually how I first visited and it was great, but there’s not a whole lot of time in Dinant. Still, you can check out these options if you’d like to visit both destinations in one day:
5. Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Of all the day trips from Brussels you can take, this one might be the most unique. Luxembourg is one of the smallest countries in the world (only about the size of Rhode Island) so not that many people ever make it here. Be the exception!
Luxembourg day trip from Brussels
- How to get here: Car / bus / organized tour
- Distance from Brussels: 2.5 hours
- More information: Here’s everything you can do on a day trip to Luxembourg
While in Luxembourg, you’ll be able to walk around the Old Town of Luxembourg City, the country’s capital. (I highly recommend a guided walking tour.) You can also check out several interesting museums, see some incredible views and historical casemates, do some shopping, and eat some delicious food.
How to get here from Brussels
Taking the road from Brussels to Luxembourg is really the only way to go. Technically you can take the train, but the journey is going to be well over 5 hours each way. No thank you.
By car: The drive from Brussels to Luxembourg City takes about 2.5 hours. Parking is easy. Rent a car here if you need one.
By bus: Flixbus offers several routes each day between these two cities. The drives are direct and under three hours.
By tour: This is how I first visited Luxembourg and it was a delightful experience. Check out these organized day tour options:
6. Dunkirk, France
If you’re a history geek (like me), you’ll probably enjoy a day trip from Brussels to Dunkirk, France. It was here, in 1940, where the famous Dunkirk Evacuation took place at the beginning of World War II.
Dunkirk day trip from Brussels
- How to get here: Car
- Distance from Brussels: 1.75 hours
- Local spelling: Dunkerque
- More information: Check out my Dunkirk day trip itinerary here.
Yes, you can visit the famous beaches of Dunkirk as well as the Dynamo Museum, see several monuments and memorials, and even have dinner on a historical ship from WWII that was also used in the 2017 movie Dunkirk! Check out my full list of what to do in Dunkirk here.
How to get here from Brussels
Once again, driving here is going to be the easiest and most efficient method. The train takes nearly five hours, and the bus takes about 3.5 hours each way (not really ideal for a day trip).
By car: Driving from Brussels to Dunkirk will take you around 1 hour 45 minutes. There are several parking garages in the city center as well as street and business parking. Rent your car here.
7. Cologne, Germany
If you’re visiting Belgium because you’re a beer lover, then you’ll also love this day trip to Cologne, Germany–birthplace and home to Kölsch beer.
Cologne day trip from Brussels
- How to get here: Car / train
- Distance from Brussels: 2 – 2.5 hours
- Local spelling: Köln
In Cologne, you can spend your day exploring this old city including the famous Cologne Cathedral (the second tallest church in the world). Other popular sites include the Lindt Chocolate Museum and Museum Ludwig (with one of the largest Picasso collections in Europe). You can also take a guided walking tour of the Old Town.
Or you can just do like me and spend the whole day hopping from brewhouse to brewhouse to try all the Kölsch beer you can squeeze in. (This is only if you come by train!)
For all the best places to go for that, see my post on where to drink Kölsch in Cologne.
How to get here from Brussels
Though there aren’t any organized tours you can take, you can still get here on your own via car or train.
By car: The drive from Brussels to Cologne takes about 2.5 hours each way. Once here, there are several parking areas around the city center, and even one underneath the cathedral. (But if you do drive here, please don’t drink beer all day and then try to drive back to Brussels!)
By train: You can take the train from Brussels to Cologne in just under 2 hours (including one change). Trains leave around once per hour. Check out SNCB International here for schedules and rates.
By bus: The Flixbus does offer several trips per day between the two cities, but the trips take around 4 hours each way. This isn’t ideal for a day trip, but isn’t bad if you plan to spend a night in Cologne or are not planning to return to Brussels.
8. Paris, France
While I’d certainly recommending spending more time in Paris if you can, it’s also possible to take a day trip from Brussels to Paris. This trip is so quick that you’ll have plenty of time to visit some great museums, see the Eiffel Tower and much more.
Paris day trip from Brussels
- How to get here: Train
- Distance from Brussels: 1.5 hours
There is so much to do in Paris, but you can definitely see the highlights on a day trip if you plan accordingly. You can visit museums like the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay (my favorite), pop into the freshly reopened Notre Dame Cathedral, have a picnic under the Eiffel Tower and more.
You can take a Seine river cruise, climb up to Sacré Cœur in Montmartre, spend a day at Disneyland Paris, or maybe even visit the Palace of Versailles if that’s been on your bucket list. There really are so many options.
How to get here from Brussels
Driving from Brussels to Paris takes over 4 hours, but you can take the non-stop Eurostar train and get here in just an hour and a half! See SNCB International for the schedule and rates.
Take a look at the many great ways you can spend your day in Paris here on Viator and here on Get Your Guide.
9. Antwerp, Belgium
Another great Belgian city that’s super close to Brussels is Antwerp, Belgium’s 2nd largest city. Antwerp is full of medieval architecture and ancient history but also delicious classic Belgian treats like chocolate and waffles.
Antwerp day trip from Brussels
- How to get here: Car / train / bus / organized tour
- Distance from Brussels: 45 min – 1.25 hours
- Local spelling: Antwerpen
While in Antwerp, you should definitely check out the city’s famous Central Station, often called the most beautiful train station in the world. Otherwise, also stop by the architecturally-stunning Grote Markt and the 13th-century Het Steen castle. There are also several world-class museums, including the Red Star Line Museum dedicated to those who immigrated to the US.
How to get here from Brussels
Because Antwerp is so close to Brussels, you can get here several different ways.
By car: The drive from Brussels to Antwerp takes just 1 hour and 15 minutes. Use this page to find easy parking. Rent a car here.
By train: You can take the train to Antwerp in just 45 minutes. Trains leave multiple times per hour. See SNCB for schedules and rates.
By bus: Likewise, buses from Brussels to Antwerp leave multiple times per hour and cost under $10. See Flixbus for all the schedules.
By tour: There are also several organized tours you can book if you want to visit Antwerp on a day trip or combine it with another city. Check these out:
- From Brussels: Guided Antwerp City Tour
- Antwerp & Cologne Full Day Tour from Brussels
- Antwerp and Ghent Day Trip from Brussels
- Or see all Antwerp tours here on Viator and Get Your Guide
10. Düsseldorf, Germany
Düsseldorf is another beautiful German city you can visit on a day trip from Brussels. Known as the “fashion capital of Germany,” this is a chic place to spend a relaxing day along the Rhine River (that also has its own beer style).
Düsseldorf day trip from Brussels
- How to get here: Car / train
- Distance from Brussels: 2.5 hours
While here, you can take a walking tour and explore the Old Town, visit the Kunstpalast fine art museum, check out some of the seriously interesting architecture in the MedienHafen, and even see some Roman ruins. And don’t miss a Rhine river sightseeing cruise if you have time.
Düsseldorf is also the birthplace and home of Altbier, so you can also take tours that include brewery visits and tastings.
How to get here from Brussels
Whether you decide to drive or take the train from Brussels to Düsseldorf, the trip is going to take 2.5 hours each way. You can find parking here, and check SNCB International for train schedules.
More resources for your day trips
- Looking to stay overnight somewhere? Find great places to stay at any of these destinations here on Booking.com. (Hotels.com and Expedia are worth checking too.) And VRBO is best for apartment rentals.
- Rental cars: Check out the best local rental car deals here.
- Tours & activities: Check out the best local options here on Viator and Get Your Guide.
- Travel planning: Check out Culture Smart guidebooks here. (A must-have!)
Like this post? Have more questions about taking day trips from Brussels? Let us know in the comments below. Have fun in Belgium!
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