7 Day Trips from Brussels You Can Actually Do (By Train, No Car Needed)

If you're only in Belgium for a weekend, don't even bother leaving Brussels. You’ll need several days to explore the underrated capital. But if you’re in town longer—and smart enough to base yourself in Brussels—you can cram in a bunch of other fantastic destinations, including day trips from Brussels to other countries like France and Luxembourg.

In this guide, I break down the best day trips from Brussels by train—the ones I’ve actually done myself and consider them worth your time. 

What you’ll get: Practical info like train travel times, one-way ticket prices, station details, and exactly what’s worth seeing at each destination. 

Whether you’re after medieval castles in Ghent, canal-side charm in Bruges, big-name cities like Paris and Antwerp, or nature reserves like Zwin on Belgium’s coast, my list covers both the obvious day trips from Brussels and the underrated picks—all possible without renting a car. At the end, I’ll give you a few pointers on train travel in Belgium, like how to save money if you’re traveling as a pair. 

Read more from my Belgium travel blog.

 

Map of the best day trips from Brussels by train

 

 

Quick summary: The best day trips from Brussels I actually recommend:

1. Ghent—A compact city with canals, medieval streets, churches, and a well-preserved castle right in the center.
2. Bruges—A popular destination with historic buildings, canals, cobbled streets, and some of the best waffles in Belgium.
3. Antwerp—A mix of old and new, known for its cathedral, art by Rubens, diamond district, and modern architecture.
4. Charleroi—An industrial city with excellent museums, including one of Europe’s best photography collections.
5. Zwin Nature Park—A nature reserve near the Belgian coast where you can walk or bike through dunes and watch migratory birds.
6. Paris (France)—A long day trip from Brussels, but possible with a high-speed train. See major sights like the Eiffel Tower and Montmartre.
7. Luxembourg City (Luxembourg)—A small, clean capital with scenic viewpoints, historic fortifications, and free public transport.

 

 

Day trip from Brussels to Ghent: castles, canals, and cool vibes

People-watching in Graslei is considered one of the top activities in Ghent
 

• Travel time from Brussels to Ghent: 30 mins 

• Destination station: Gent Sint Pieters Station 

• Ticket price: EUR 10.50

• Hotel recommendation in Ghent: Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof

• Further reading: Top things to do in Ghent + one-day itinerary

 

Things to do on a day trip from Brussels to Ghent

Canals and castles = Ghent
 

Ghent checks every “charming European town” box—canals, cobbled streets, spires—and a 10th-century castle I didn’t get into because I was smart enough not to book tickets in advance. Learn from my mistakes.  Everything worth seeing in Ghent fits into one tight square kilometer (0.6 sq. mi). 

Start at Graslei, a sort of promenade by the river lined by gorgeous houses and tons of restaurants and people people-watching.

Get the mandatory photo with St. Michael’s Bridge, then you can see the Belfry, which actually gives you the best view of St. Nicholas’s Church, and right after that, my personal favorite, St. Bavo’s Cathedral.

Moving to the north, you’ll hit Ghent’s town hall(see it lit up at night if you can) and then walk through Grafitti Street to one of Ghent’s most prominent plazas, Vrijdagmarkt. 

FInally, my favorite spot in Ghent is Gravensteen—a 10th century castle surrounded by a moat.

 

 

Getting from Ghent train station to the city

Click through the map to our Google Maps list of highlights in Ghent
 

A quick 30-minute ride is all it takes to get from Brussels to Ghent—a perfectly sized city with a medieval core made for wandering. Trains from Brussels to Ghent leave up to 6 times an hour, so it’s probably easier getting there than your daily commute to work.  

Ghent Sint-Pieters Station is 20 minutes from the city center on foot, or just hop on tram no. 1. 

You can leave your luggage in the automatic left luggage facility at the train station.  

 

Day trip from Brussels to Bruges: canals, crowds, and undeniable charm

Bruges city center
 

• Train travel time from Brussels to Bruges: 1 hour 

• Destination station: Brugge  

• Ticket price: EUR 12 

• Hotel recommendation: Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce

• Further reading: One day in Bruges: step-by-step itinerary

 

Things to do on a day trip from Brussels to Bruges

Waffles make life—and day trips—better @ Bruges
 

Bruges is stunning—and it knows it. It’s one of the most touristy spots in Belgium for a reason: the old town is wrapped in water, full of romantic canals, and loaded with UNESCO architecture. Make sure to hop on a Bruges canal tour. Yes, it’s touristy, but it’s a must-do. Start in Market Square (Grote Markt) and nearby Burg Square. Climb the Belfry if you booked ahead (I didn’t and weeped). See the Bruges City Hall, peek inside the Basilica of the Holy Blood, and take a look at a “real” bit of Jesus’ blood. It’s not always on display, so plan accordingly.    

There are several very tall towers that loom over the city, including that of the Church of Our Lady Bruges, which is also home to the only original Michelangelo statue outside of Italy. 
 

My idea of interior decorating @ Bruges Beer Experience
 

If you know anything about Belgian food and drinks, you’ll know to expect lots of beer and waffles. Get yours at the divine Otto Waffle Atelier, and whatever you do, don’t skip Bruges’ beer museums: 

De Halve Maan brewery is the only one still brewing in the city center, complete with an underground beer pipeline. The Bruges Beer Experience was my favorite stop in the city, and even non-beer drinkers will appreciate it—do not miss this on your Bruges day trip!    

 

 

Getting from the Bruges train station to the city

Click through the map to our Google Maps list of highlights in Bruges
 

Trains from Brussels to Bruges run every 15–30 minutes, and the ride takes just under an hour—smooth and painless. The Brugge train station sits just outside the city’s circular moat (the historical center is basically a fortified donut). 

You can walk to the center in 15–20 minutes, or start right at Lovers’ Bridge across the water and work your way north on foot—that’s what I did. Taxis and buses exist, but honestly, just walk.  

There are automated left luggage facilities directly at the train station.
 

Day trip from Bruges to Antwerp: diamonds, Rubens, and alien architecture

Move along, just getting abducted by aliens, nothing to see here @ Antwerp Port House
 

• Train travel time from Brusssels to Antwerp: 1.5 hours 

• Destination station: Antwerpen Centraal  

• Ticket price: EUR 12

• Hotel recommendation: Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp

• Further reading: Top places to visit in Antwerp

 

Things to do on a day trip from Brussels to Antwerp

Antwerp Centraal Train Station is a destination in itself!
 

Antwerp’s Central Station is in the city center and a tourist attraction in its own right, so you can just walk out and start sightseeing when you’re done taking too many photos of the domed ceilings. 

Antwerp is the world’s diamond trading hub—84% of all rough diamonds pass through. The Diamond District is right by the train station, so you can get blinded early if that’s your thing. 

If you're doing one of the smarter day trips from Brussels by train, start at Antwerpen Centraal. It’s one of the most beautiful train stations in the world, and you’ll barely have to leave it to start sightseeing.

Antwerp historic center is compact and walkable, starting with the golden facades of Grote Markt and the nearby Cathedral of Our Lady, where Rubens left a few masterpieces behind. If you want more Rubens, go to Rubens House, where the man lived and painted.

Then hit up Het Steen, Antwerp’s oldest building, a compact medieval castle on the riverfront.

The MAS Museum is right nearby. Its exhibitions are hit or miss, but the rooftop panorama is fantastic. Next door, the Red Star Line Museum tells the story of millions of Europeans who left through Antwerp for the New World.

Antwerp is one of the most rewarding train trips from Brussels if you like cities that mix old beauty with new energy. 

 

 

Getting from the Antwerp train station to the city

Click through the map to our Google Maps list of highlights in Antwerpen
 

Trains from Brussels to Antwerp run frequently throughout the day. The 1.5-hour ride drops you at the impressive Antwerpen Centraal train station. This is where day trips from Brussels to Antwerp should start.

There are lockers at the station, and they’re known to fill up during the day, so book ahead if you don’t want to babysit your backpack all afternoon.

The mighty Cathedral of Our Lady towering above Antwerp

 

Day trip from Brussels to Charleroi

Mixing the old with the new @ Photography Museum, Contemporary Art Center of the French Community 

• Train travel time from Brussels to Charleroi: 1 hour 

• Destination station: Charleroi Sud 

• Ticket price: EUR 12

• Hotel recommendation: Don’t stay overnight in Charleroi. Head back to Radisson Red in Brussels, trust me.

 

Things to do on a day trip from Brussels to Charleroi: come for the museums, not the looks

It’s not all ugly @ on a day trip from Brussels to Charleroi 

 

Charleroi is the largest city in Wallonia and has long been labeled Belgium’s ugliest city. While that’s not entirely fair anymore, you still shouldn’t expect anything postcard-worthy. What you can expect are a few solid museums and a city trying to reinvent itself.

Many budget airlines land at Charleroi Airport, so if you’re flying in or out, it’s an easy stop to add to your Belgium itinerary. This is one of the more unusual day trips from Brussels by train, and definitely not for the castle-and-canal crowd. 

The Photography Museum, housed in a former convent with a modern extension, is the highlight. It’s one of the best photography collections in Europe—unexpected, huh?

Across the river from the train station (which is also a tourist attraction), you’ll find the newer part of town with modern shopping areas like Rive Gauche and a few restored historic buildings like Le Passage de la Bourse. 

Charleroi’s industrial past is best explored at Bois du Cazier, a former coal mine turned heritage site and the site of a tragic 1956 mining disaster. I thought both the Industry Museum and Glass Museum on-site were well done.

If you’re into comics, you’ll appreciate that Charleroi is the birthplace of Spirou magazine, and you can spot murals and sculptures around the city tied to Belgian comic culture.

Charleroi isn’t pretty, but it’s more interesting than expected. If you’ve already done the obvious places to visit from Brussels, this is a decent wildcard.

Back to Charleroi’s roots: The former coal mine turned museum @ Boiz du Cazier

Getting from the Charleroi train station to the city

Click through the map to our Google Maps list of highlights in Charleroi
 

Trains from Brussels to Charleroi Sud station take about an hour, with two departures per hour. Charleroi Sud is across the river from the city center, so you can walk straight in. If you’re heading to the museums in the south of the city, grab a taxi—it’ll save you time.

There are lockers at the train station, but they fill up fast. Book in advance if you’re hauling bags.

 

Day trip from Brussels to Zwin Nature Park

You’ll start off along the beach and end up below the birds
 

• Train travel time from Brussels to Zwin Nature Park: 1.5 hours 

• Destination station: Knokke 

• Ticket price: EUR 12

• Hotel recommendation: Hotel La Réserve Resort

• Further reading: The best places to visit in Belgium

 

How to see Zwin Nature Park on a day trip from Brussels

You’ll be walking on a lot of wooden paths and making viewpoint stops @ Zwin Natuur Park
 

Zwin Nature Park is all about trails, wooden boardwalks, and birdwatching. The trails are short, probably an hour’s walk, maximum, but how long you actually take depends entirely on how many birds you want to stare at. There’s also an education center that is interactive and fun (typical for Belgian museums),  

an observation tower, a viewing platform, and several huts that allow you to stay hidden from the birds to give you a better chance to see them.  

The nature park is located near Knokke, a nice enough beach town on the Belgian coast.  

We rented bikes in Knokke and rode along the beach area and through the dunes, which was much better than dodging traffic. It’s around 6–7 km (3.7–4.3 miles) depending on your exact route.

Pro tip: If you decide to walk, you follow a similar but separate route from the bikes, so nobody is getting run over by anybody.

July is peak season, and advance tickets are required. They limit visitor numbers for obvious reasons: the birds aren’t as interested in seeing humans as humans are in seeing birds.

It’s not for everyone, but if you want a break from tourist-packed cobblestones, Zwin is one of the more peaceful places to visit from Brussels.

Expect wooden paths through parts of the park
 

Getting from the Knokke train station to Zwin Nature Park: dunes, biking, and birdwatching

Click through the map to our Google Maps list of points of interest around Zwin Nature Park
 

There are direct trains from Brussels to Knokke (and some with a connection in Bruges). Both options end up taking 1.5 hours in total. Trains depart 1-3x per hour.  The direct trains get full fast, especially in the summer. 

 

Day trips from Brussels to other countries

 

Day trip from Brussels to Paris: fast train, long day, no regrets

Get your running shoes on, you’re going to attempt to see Paris in a day!
 

• Train travel time from Brussels to Paris: 1.5 hours 

• Starting station: Brussels Zuid West/Brussels Midi (different names for the same place) 

• Destination station: Paris Nord (Gare du Nord) 

• Ticket price: EUR 100 

• Hotel recommendation: J.K. Place Paris

 

Things to do on a day trip from Brussels to Paris

 

Yes, you can do Paris in a day from Brussels. Just barely. Admittedly, it's bat shit crazy turning Paris into a day trip from Brussels, but hey, if you wanna, you coulda! Get in early and leave late if you want to have the best chance to see it “all”.

You’re not going inside the Louvre or Musée d'Orsay today. Use the time to walk the streets, hit the major sights from the outside, and soak it in.

Start with Notre Dame, then walk west along the Seine. You’ll pass the Pantheon, Sorbonne, Grand Palais, and Eiffel Tower. Checking off those Paris highlights like a pro!

From the Eiffel Tower, consider hoping in a taxi, asking to be taken through the Arc de Triomphe up to the hilltop neighborhood of Montmartre, which will give you stunning views of the city. Stop at Moulin Rouge, the Montmartre Cemetery to see some famous dead people, and finish your day at the spectacular, white domed Sacré Coeur, looking out over the city you just ran through. Breathe. 

The silver lining is that Montmartre is conveniently located right next to the Gare du Nord area, so you won’t spend too much time getting back to the Paris Nord train station for your ride back to Brussels.  

Pro tip: If you’re not up for all the speed-walking, a hop-on hop-off bus (or even the boat) is a decent Plan B. 

It’s exhausting but possible—and definitely one of the wildest day trips from Brussels to other countries.

Start here: The Notre Dame
 

This trip will be a lot of walking*: The St. Michel station, where the train or possibly your taxi from Paris Nord will drop you off, is near the Notre Dame. This will be the eastern-most point of your day trip. If you continue on foot along the Seine, the Eiffel Tower will be your western-most point at 5 km (3 miles) away.  

Between these two points, you can see the aforementioned museums and the Grand Palais, as well as a ton of other beautiful, old, important buildings (like the Pantheon or the Sorbonne University). Sometimes you’ll need to cross the river to pass every place of interest. But maybe don’t try to see every point of interest, because you just don’t have the time.
 

You might enjoy Paris all you like, but should be honest with yourself and admit that Paris will never feed you the way Brussels will

 

Getting from Paris Nord station to the city

Click through the map to our Google Maps list of things to do in Paris in a day
 

One high-speed train (TGV) per hour (roughly) can get you on your whirlwind of a day trip from Brussels to Paris. 

You’ll be departing from Brussels Midi/Zuid—same station, two names. It’s a dump. Expect a bad smell, overflowing trash bins, and a healthy chance of getting something stolen. Great start to your Paris day trip from Brussels.

The journey takes 1.5 hours and drops you at Paris Gare du Nord, another chaotic station that’s somehow even less user-friendly. Literally no one speaks English and signs are totally useless.

Leave your bags at the left luggage facility (ground floor of Gare du Nord) or at one of the private options nearby. Book in advance if it’s summer—everyone and their cousin is doing the same.

Important note: TGV trains are reservation-based. Your ticket is for a specific train, not just a route. The closer to your travel date you book, the more expensive the train tickets are. 

 

Once in Paris, grab a LeCab/Taxify or hop on train line 4 to St. Michel/Notre Dame station—the best central base to start your day trip in Paris. Walking from the train station is a waste of time—there’s nothing nice on the way.

Paris Nord train station

 

Day trip from Brussels to Luxembourg: surprisingly worth the 3 hours one way

Adolphe Bridge trying to lure you into coming to Luxembourg as a day trip from Brussels
 

• Train travel time from Brussels to Luxembourg: 3 hours 
• Starting station: Brussels Luxembourg  

• Destination station: Luxembourg (Gare de Luxembourg) 
• Ticket price: EUR 30–40 (depending on if you’re travelling first class)
• Hotel recommendation: Hotel Le Place d'Armes

Hey look, it’s a welcoming train station and a tram you can ride for free! We must be in Luxembourg! 

 

Things to do on a day trip from Brussels to Luxembourg

Looking down from the city walls into the Grund area of the city
 

Luxembourg is one of the few day trips from Brussels to other countries that won’t leave you dead on your feet. It’s small, clean, and I actually enjoyed having a slower-paced day after hopping through cities like Ghent and Bruges.

I left Brussels early on a direct train and got into Luxembourg just after 10 am. That gave me more than enough time to see everything worth seeing.

Luxembourg City, one of the EUs three capitals (with Brussels and Strasbourg) and one of the wealthiest countries in the world, is a small place and is very easily walkable. There are elevators that will help you get to the different levels—the old part of town is on the lower level (actually two), the newer is higher.  

I started in the Upper Town (Ville Haute), where most of the government buildings and squares are. Place d’Armes and Place Guillaume II are central and easy to explore. In summer, I managed to tour the Palace of the Grand Duke, which only opens for a short season. The Notre Dame Cathedral is nearby and worth a quick visit.

 

Luxembourg Notre Dame

Then I headed south toward Constitution Square, where you get some of the best views over the valley and into the Grund below. I skipped the Pétrusse Casemates because I’ve done enough tunnels for a lifetime—but they’re right there if you want them.

I took the Corniche path along the city walls (the one they call “the most beautiful balcony in Europe,”), and then walked down into the Grund, the most photogenic area of town. The contrast between the old stone buildings and the surrounding cliffs is actually pretty striking.

Next, I took the elevator back up to Ville Haute. Free, of course. With panoramic views. Everything is perfect in Luxembourg.  

On the higher level of New Town is where you’ll find yourself surrounded by suddenly wider streets and many more cars. It’s also where the big guys of the EU Parliament, Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Investment Bank sit. Not far from those is the European Convention Center and the futuristic Philharmonie Luxembourg.  

Luxembourg was never on my must-see list, but it turned out to be one of the most relaxed train trips from Brussels. Highly recommended! 

 

One of the buildings of the EU Parliament in the new part of Luxembourg City

 

Getting from the Luxembourg train station to the city

Click through the map to our Google Maps list of things to do in Luxembourg
 

Direct trains from Brussels to Luxembourg leave every 1–2 hours, departing from Brussels Luxembourg Station, next to the European Parliament. Some routes connect through Liège—avoid those if you want to save time.

The ride takes 3 hours and drops you at Gare de Luxembourg, which is about 2 km (1.2 miles) from the city center.

From the station, walk across the Passerelle Bridge or take the tram to Hamilius, right in the heart of town.

All public transportation in Luxembourg is completely free, so just hop on and off as you wish. Cool, huh? Even the trains within the country are free. Why does that sound so futuristic and satisfyingly civilized?!  

 

Train travel in Belgium: final tips before you go

Most of your day trips from Brussels will start here

 

Belgium is one of the rare places where I say this: skip the car, take the train.

Traveling by train is the coolest, fastest, most comfortable, and most affordable option.

A fantastic incentive from SNBC, the National Railway Company of Belgium, is the so-called duo ticket, which allows two people to travel on one ticket (for the price of a single ticket).  

Here’s what you need to know for day trips from Brussels by train:

• Tickets are flexible—valid for any train that day on your route. Miss one? Catch the next.

• Duo ticket = big win: Two adults travel for the price of one. Just select it when booking.

• Kids under 12 ride free with an adult. 

• First class isn’t worth it. Second class is already comfortable. 

• Buy tickets at SNCB.be or directly at the station. The machines speak English.

• Got luggage? Book lockers in advance, especially in cities like Ghent and Antwerp where they fill up by mid-morning. 

 

 

You might also be interested in reading:

• Belgium Itinerary: 7 Days in the Heart of Europe!
• Belgium Travel Tips: 19 Things That Will Make Your Trip Easier
• The Top 15 Museums in Belgium: From Comics to Beer
• Our 9 Top Restaurants in Belgium

 

 

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