The Ultimate Belgium Itinerary: One Perfect Week Visiting Belgium

If you are about to plan a trip to Belgium, you are lucky my friend! You have just found the best Belgium itinerary there is! I’ve obviously had my humble pie this morning, so let’s get on with it.

How long do you need in Belgium, you ask? Well, in my opinion, one week is the sweet spot. This one week in Belgium itinerary covers everything that’s worth seeing without rushing you around. At least, that's what worked for me—I was able to cover all the important stuff and still have some time to indulge in the occasional waffle without feeling overwhelmed. You’ll spend the first 3 nights based in Brussels before moving on to Bruges and Antwerp (with day trips in between). 

Belgium is home to amazing monuments, the best museums in the world, amazing comfort food, and premium-class beer! Already hooked on the idea of spending a lovely week in Belgium? Here’s the breakdown of your itinerary day-by-day:

 

Read more from my Belgium travel blog.

 

Belgium itinerary summary: your trip plan at a glance

The key stops of my 7-day Belgium itinerary

 

Day 1: Brussels—Historic center & royal stuff

• Stop 1: Grand Place + Brussels Town Hall & City Museum
• Stop 2: Manneken Pis 
• Stop 3: Mont des Arts
• Stop 4: Parc de Bruxelles + Royal Palace 
• Stop 5: Parlamentarium 

Day 2: Brussels—Famous landmarks

• Stop 1: Atomium 
• Stop 2: Mini-Europe 
• Stop 3: Sacre Coeur Basilica 

Day 3: Ghent day trip from Brussels

• Stop 1: St. Michael’s Bridge + Church
• Stop 2: Graslei riverfront
• Stop 3: Vrijdagmarkt (market square)
• Stop 4: Ghent Town Hall
• Stop 5: St. Bavo’s Cathedral, Belfry & St. Nicholas Church
• Bonus: Gravensteen Castle 

Day 4: Bruges—Historic center

• Stop 1: Grote Markt + Belfry Tower 
• Stop 2: Bruges City Hall
• Stop 3: Basilica of the Holy Blood 
• Stop 4: Bruges Beer Experience 

Day 5: Bruges—Unique experiences

• Stop 1: Morning canal boat tour
• Stop 2: Choco Story Museum
• Stop 3: Bruges Windmills 
• Stop 4: De Halve Maan Brewery tour 

Day 6: Antwerp, a super cool city

• Stop 1: Antwerp Centraal Station (yes, it's a tourist attraction)
• Stop 2: Grote Markt + Brabo Fountain + Cathedral of Our Lady
• Stop 3: Het Steen Fortress 
• Stop 4: MAS Museum 

Day 7: Leuven, a relaxing way to end your week in Belgium

• Stop 1: Leuven Town Hall + St. Peter’s Church
• Stop 2: M Leuven Museum 
• Stop 3: Groot Begijnhof (UNESCO)
• Stop 4: Arenberg Castle & Park (final walk before Brussels airport train)

 

 

Where to stay during your 7 days in Belgium: 

Days 1, 2, and 3: Radisson Red in Brussels

Days 4 and 5: Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce in Bruges

Day 6: Botanic Sanctuary in Antwerp

(You may need to spend another night in Brussels on day 7 depending on when your flight home is.)

 

Pro tip: Before you start frantically packing and searching for plane tickets to Belgium, take a deep breath and read my Belgium travel tips you need to know before you go. 

 

Why this Belgium itinerary works

• It balances major highlights with hidden gems (Leuven is often skipped in other guides and that’s a mistake).
• Efficient train connections make it stress-free—I’ll give you the exact travel times too.
• You don’t waste time switching hotels daily, but you also don’t miss key cities. You’ll sleep in Brussels, Bruges, and Antwerp.

I wrote this 1-week Brussels itinerary it from my own experience after multiple visits to Belgium. It’s what I’d wanted to find when my first time visiting Belgium—a strong plan, high-value travel advice, insider knowledge, and no loose ends.  

My name is Jan and I will be your Brussels tour guide today

 

Day 1 of Belgium Itinerary: Brussels highlights 

See the route of today’s itinerary on Google Maps
 

Main sites visited on day 1: Grand Place and Brussels Town Hall + City Museum, Manneken Pis, Mont des Arts, Parc de Bruxelles, Palais de Bruxelles, Parlamentarium
Restaurant tips: Nüetnigenough | Wolf Food Market | Le Rendez-Vous des Artistes
Hotel recommendations: Radisson Red
Further reading:  Interesting facts about Belgium | 7 Day Trips from Brussels | 1-day Brussels itinerary

Staying in Brussels first makes sense logistically—this Belgium itinerary by train keeps transfers simple and efficient, but you’ll obviously want to explore the capital first. 

 

 

Day 1—Brussels—stop 1: Grand Place, Brussels Town Hall, and City Museum

Grand Place in Brussels--the essential first stop on your Belgium itinerary

 

• Time spent here: 1.5 hours 

Visitor information (for the City Museum):

• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10 am–5 pm
• Tickets: €10Visiting the very grand Grand Place… 

Right off the bat, let's cross the top thing to see in Brussels off your list. Grand Place is the first major stop in this Belgium itinerary, and what a start it is.

I found the main square of Brussels Grote Markt (Grand Place) is simply overwhelming and gold! The buildings around the square are decorated with golden ornaments and the place just feels too fancy to be there!

The most eye-catching thing and the crown jewel of the square is of course the gothic Town Hall with its insanely detailed facade. The tower will get your attention already before you enter the square, because it's crazy high. And it made its own architect crazy!

…and notice this detail on the Town Hall

Fun fact: Once you're there, focus on the Town Hall's tower. After a while, you'll notice that the tower is not in the center as it probably should be. Legend says when the architect realized that, after it was already built of course, it made him insane, and he jumped from the top of the bloody tower. Well, I probably shouldn’t have called it fun fact... But you can see a little star on the ground, in the spot where he fell.
 

Me before entering the Brussels City Museum
 

Step inside Brussels City Museum 

After you've spent some time spinning around getting dizzy trying to see all the fancy-shmancy buildings on the main square, you can actually step inside one of them. 

At the Brussels City Museum, you can delve into the city's rich history, or just be astonished again and again by the building's architecture, this time from inside the neo-Gothic Maison du Roi.

Food tip: No Belgium itinerary is complete without SO MANY FRIES. Do you already fancy eating the most delicious Belgian fries in Brussels? They are just around the corner! You can get some of the best fries in the city in Fritland—the name, I know. Be ready to wait in line for them. But trust me, it'll be worth it. Don't forget to get andalouse sauce or mayo with your (Belgian, not French!) fries.

 

Day 1—Brussels—stop 2: “Admire” Manneken Pis

Well, there it is, Brussels’ pride and joy.

 

• Distance from last stop: 0.3 km/ 0.2 mi, a 4-minute walk
• Time spent here: 2 minutes is plenty
• Price: free

You can skip this stop, if you want. I know you probably won't, since you're already in Brussels and he’s like the most important dude in town, I'm just saying that Manneken Pis is a little

You can skip this stop, if you want. I know you probably won't, since you're already in Brussels and he’s like the most important dude in town that everybody visits on their Belgium itinerary… I'm just saying that Manneken Pis is a little underwhelming. 

Where to see the real Manneken Pis

It's probably the most famous stop in the city and I just don’t get it. IT'S A BOY WHO PEES, for Christ's sake! And it’s not even the original one. You can see the original in the Brussels City Museum at Grote Markt. And sometimes, like during holidays, you can see him wearing one of his costumes—he's quite the fashionista and gets gifted outfits from state visitors.
 

Here are some of his favorite costumes, all with a convenient pee-hole
 

What is so impressive about it? Maybe the fact that it survived all those hundreds of years there. The statue was first installed in 1620 and had a harsh life. It survived bombardments, repeated theft and getting broken into pieces and being re-welded. But that's all.

Did you know there’s also a peeing girl and dog?!

Equality rules the world, so you can see also a girl peeing!  Jaenneke Pis is a young lady just doing her thing in one of the small streets in Delirium Village—a place with few pubs, where you can stop for a nice pint of delicious Belgian beer. Or would you like to see a Zinneke Pis? A peeing dog? I mean, Belgians what is this kink about? For real!

 

Day 1—Brussels—stop 3: Walk up to Mont des Arts

The Mont des Arts (“hill of arts”) is pretty nice at sunset

 

• Distance from last stop: 0.65 km/ 0.4 mi, a 10-minute walk
• Time spent here: 20 minutes for a wander
• Price: free

Just a few minutes from the Manneken Pis is something more interesting than peeing kids and animals—Mont des Arts. The hill of arts (its literal translation) is a huge and beautiful garden bounded by even more beautiful buildings such as the Royal Library or the Congress Palace. There are also wonderful views of Brussels from here, so don’t miss it. 

Mont des Arts is an urban complex that used to connect the guys and gals from lower-class areas with sirs and madams of the upper-class areas. Perfect place to relax for a bit or watch a wonderful sunset if you come back here in the evening.

 

 

Day 1—Brussels—stop 4: Look at the Royal Palace (from the outside)

There’s royal business being discussed in there, psst!

 

• Distance from last stop: 0.6 km/ 0.3 mi, an 8-minute walk
• Time spent here: 20 minutes for a wander
• Price: free when available, closed for renovation in 2025

The Royal Palace is where the Belgian monarchy sits and where all royal business takes place. The monarchy does not live there (they reside at the Castle of Laeken out by the Atomium), but all the important royal people have their offices there.

Can you go inside in 2025?

The Royal Palace of Brussels is normally open to the public from late July to early September—with free 45-minute tours. However, if you’re spending your 7 days in Belgium in 2025, note it remains closed due to renovations. 

We visited at a rare time the Royal Palace was open, and guided ourselves down the organized path through different rooms (think Hall of Mirrors, Throne Room, Grand Staircase). As you can imagine, the interior’sfabulously elegant and regal in every manner. It’s like a fairytale castle but within an actual working kingdom. 

 

Parc de Bruxelles
 

Nowadays, you can walk around the exterior and enjoy a nice walk through the Parc de Bruxelles right next to it. You’ll be browsing down the cobblestone streets with your head up higher that the Belgium flag waving on the top of the Palace feeling like a true royalty.

 

Day 1—Brussels—stop 5: Don’t miss the Parlamentarium

European Parliament Visitors Center

 

• Distance from last stop: 1 km/ 0.6 mi, a 14-minute walk
• Time spent here: 1.5 hours

Visitor information:

• Opening hours: Mondays 1 pm–6 pm, Tuesday to Friday 9 am–6 pm, weekends 10 am–6 pm
• Price: free, but you need to book a time online beforehand

As probably everyone knows, the residency of the European Parliament is in Brussels. And when I stepped foot into the visitors’ center of the European Parliament, I was like a little kid in a candy store. Love it or hate it, the EU Parliament is essential for a Belgium itinerary since it’s right in the center of Brussels and gives you so much context.

What to expect inside the European Parliament Visitors Center

You learn all about the interesting history and milestones of the European Union in the most interesting and interactive exhibitions. I mean I loved the EU before this, but after this visit, I am head over heels. 
 

The visitors’ center at the European Parliament is called Parlamentarium. We loved it!
 

How to book your visit

You have to book your Parlamentarium visit time online, it’s quick and easy to do. There is no ticket desk or anything like that, the Parlamentarium is waiting there inviting you in with its arms wide opened. Make sure you have at least 1.5 hours to see it all. I dare you not to like it there. 

It's open daily, fully accessible, free of charge and the multimedia guides are available in all EU languages (including sign languages). Now that’s welcoming. Oh, and the staff are lovely. 

 

Hotel in Brussels: Where I stay

The cool and comfortable Radisson Red
 

Halfway between the Royal Palace and the Parc de Cinquantenaire is the hotel I stay at when in Brussels, the Radisson Red. This place is overall super cool and what's important for me, has delicious breakfast! I've enjoyed the food there very much. 

 

Day 2 of Belgium Itinerary: More of Brussels

See the route of today’s itinerary on Google Maps
 

Main sites visited on day 2: Atomium, Mini Europe, Sacre Coeur
Restaurant tips: Nüetnigenough | Wolf Food Market | Le Rendez-Vous des Artistes
Hotel recommendations: Radisson Red
Further reading: 19 Belgium Travel Tips |  7 Day Trips from Brussels | 19 Things to Do in Brussels

 

Day 2—Brussels—stop 1: Check out the Atomium

The escalator even has a light show going on. It’s like a trip to Space Mountain!

 

• Time spent here: 30–60 minutes

Visitor information:

• Opening hours: daily 10am–6pm
• Price: €16 online, combination ticket with Mini Europe €32.60

The Atomium is the weirdest and most futuristic stop on this 7 day Belgium itinerary. It is a notoriously known monument on the outskirts of Brussels. The famous giant steel atom became an iconic symbol of the city and from the temporary main pavilion for the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair it is now a permanent mark on the travel map.

What’s inside the Atomium?

You can visit the inside of the atom, but honestly, I think the outside is the main draw. Entrance is allowed into 5 of the 9 spheres containing exhibits, a restaurant, a gift shop and a light & sound display. 

The very top orb is a viewing platform 92 m (300 ft) above ground accessible by an elevator. There are escalators inside the bonds that move you around the structure, it's all so futuristic and sci-fi like! I've felt like Darth Vader wandering around Death Star.

To check it all out, half an hour should be enough.

 

I loved the Atomium!
 

But more than the interior the actual structure is the main attraction there. For me it was extraordinary as I was standing next to it, one of the top 5 modern structures in Europe for sure.

Get tickets in advance

Its popularity only means one thing—lines so long that you visibly age to the point young people start offering you their seat on the bus after standing there. Save your soul and buy your tickets online before you go. There’s also a combination ticket available that includes your next stop, Mini Europe, as well.​

 

Day 2—Brussels—stop 2: Travel around Mini Europe

Mini-Europe

 

• Distance from last stop: 0.7 km/ 0.4 mi, a 10-minute walk
• Time spent here: 3–4 hours

Visitor information:

• Opening hours: daily 9:30 am–6 pm (until 7 pm in July and August)
• Price: €20.40  or combination ticket with Atomium €32.60

Right next to the Atomium is an attraction I like even more--it was one of the highlights of my Belgium itinerary. Mini-Europe is exactly that, small version of Europe. Have you ever wanted to travel all across Europe? You can do that in a matter of hours!

What to expect in Mini-Europe

THIS is what you can expect in Mini-Europe

In Mini-Europe you can see miniature models of important monuments and popular places from European countries. Some more than others. My favorites were Nyhavn (Denmark), Dinant and the Grand Place (Belgium) and Dover Castle (UK). Speaking of which, yes, the UK is still represented, but nicely divided with a line showing that you are leaving the EU. Clever and sarcastic, my favorite way of telling people how dumb they are.

Mini-Europe works surprisingly well in a Belgium itinerary with or without kids. There are plenty of gardens, bridges and rivers you’ll discover on your walk feeling like a giant visitor to a regular-sized continent with all the little people there. It just can't get old! We visited without kids and spent 4 hours there.

Tip: If little worlds are your thing, get your behind over to Hamburg in Germany. Their Miniatur Wunderland was my favorite place in the entire, cool city! See photos and a description of my excitement in my Hamburg article.

The models are surprisingly expensive!

The models are true works of art. But be careful where you step! The miniatures are way more expensive than you would think—€70k+ per structure! Just Brussels Grand Place came to a total of €350k. You don’t want to stumble over one of the towers, that would turn your stay in an expensive vacation in a second.

 

Day 2—Brussels—stop 3: Get views at Sacre Coeur

Sacre Coeur

 

• Distance from last stop: 4.4 km/ 2.7 mi, a 1-hour walk or 30-minute subway ride
• Time spent here: 30 minutes

Visitor information:

• Opening hours: 9 am–5:30pm during the summer months (10 am–4:30 pm in winter)
• Price: free without panorama, €8 with panorama

The churches in Brussels are all beautiful. Unfortunately, they're also all pretty similar. At least to me, a church is a church. You can admire more of them on your walks through the city, but right now I want to show you this specific one.

The Sacre Coeur is the national basilica, a 1-hour walk or 30-minute subway ride from Mini-Europe (or, you know, taxi’s are a thing). It’s huge and absolutely overwhelming. There is a spacious park next to it with a Godiva Chocolate Outlet on the other end of it. Just sayin’.
 

Sacre Coeur Panorama view
 

You can pay €8 to enter the Panorama, a viewing platform located right under the dome. The Basilica’s panoramic view wraps up day two of this Belgium itinerary perfectly. You can look towards the center of Brussels down the green avenue of the basilica’s park and it’s pretty amazing. Without the Panorama, there is no entrance fee. 

 

 

Day 3 of Belgium Itinerary: Day trip to Ghent

See the route of today’s itinerary on Google Maps
 

Main sites visited on day 3: St Michael’s Bridge and Church, Graslei, Vridajmarkt, Ghent Town Hall, St. Nicholas Church
Restaurant tips: ‘t koningshuis | Chapeluur | Bridge
Hotel recommendations: Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof
Further reading: 12 Things to Do in Ghent | 7 Day Trips from Brussels 

Ghent is a perfectly-sized city for a one-day visit, making it the perfect day trip from Brussels. It’s a must-do during 7 days in Belgium, so don’t even try to skip it—I totally love this city.

In a few hours, you can see all the important and famous tourist attractions. As everywhere in Belgium, you can get there quickly, comfortably, and cheaply by train.

Getting to Ghent from Brussels

From Brussels to Ghent it’s a swift 30-minute train ride; you’ll arrive at Ghent Sint Peters train station. You can leave your luggage at the station, unless you decide to spend the night in one of the hotels around the city center. 

 

 

Day 3—Ghent—stop 1: Wander across St. Michael’s Bridge and into St. Michael’s Church

Interesting building of St. Michael's Church and me in front of St. Michael's Bridge

 

• Time spent here: 30 minutes
• Price: free 

Start your Ghent visit at St. Michael’s Bridge; this bridge is one of the best photo spots in the whole Belgium itinerary. The best thing to do in Ghent is strolling through the city with waffles in one hand and a phone or camera to take pictures with in the other, and the bridge is the perfect place to do just that. Just don’t confuse one hand with the other.

Ghent’s best views are from St. Michael’s Bridge

Behind me, you can see the mentioned St- Michale's bridge

 

It's a perfect spot to check out what is ahead of you today. You get a fantastic view and even better photos of the city from the bridge as you see Graslei, the old fish market, and St. Michael’s Church from it. In the distance, you’ll even catch a glimpse of Gravensteen. 

And it’s apparently the only spot from which you can take a photo with all three of Ghent’s towers in it.

A quick stop at St. Michael’s Church

Don't stare at the St Michael's Church only from the outside. Go in and check out a bunch of art in there. Entrance is free, so why not? A short visit in enough. 

 

Day 3—Ghent—stop 2: People-watch at Graslei (optional boat tour)

 

There’s nothing to do in Graslei but chill out by the river, and that’s fine by me

 

• Distance from last stop: 0.4 km/0.2 mi, a 5-minute walk
• Time spent here: 1 hour
• Price (for the optional boat tour): €10

The next stop on your Ghent day trip from Brussels is a whole area and not just one particular thing to see. Graslei (Grass Market) is a street running alongside the river. The perfectly preserved old port houses serve as restaurants or cafés. 

Ghent is a university city, so there is no doubt you'll see a bunch of young people just sitting there right on the pavement enjoying a nice talk with beers or something good from a local frituur. Feel free to do what the locals do!

Tip: Frituur Bij Filip serves the best fries with stew in town!

Try the Ghent boat tour

You really get to enjoy the city’s unique vibe during the boat tour

You cannot spend 7 days in Belgium and NOT go on a canal tour. This was my favorite place in Ghent for its atmosphere. I like to spend a moment just taking in the chill vibes, grabbing a coffee, and then hopping on a Ghent boat tour. You can check out the city from different perspectives on a 40-minute sightseeing cruise with beautiful views as bonus! This is optional because the one in Bruges is better, so if you’d rather only do one (they are similar), wait for Bruges. 

 

Day 3—Ghent—stop 3: Go to Vridajmarkt (preferably on Friday)

To the market!

 

• Distance from last stop: 0.5 km/0.3 mi, a 7-minute walk
• Time spent here: 10 minutes, longer if you’re shopping for souvenirs or are there on a Friday and want to wander the market

You can probably guess what Vridajmarkt means—just use your linguistic imagination a little bit. It's literally “the Friday Market”, and it has been taking place on the square since the 12^th century! If you happen to be there on a Friday, go ahead and check out (or buy) some cheese or even fresh fish… strange choice of souvenir but you do you. 

It used to be the center of the city for both joyous celebrations and dark executions. Don’t worry, you won’t see any chopped off heads there nowadays. You can buy yourself some nice souvenirs instead!

 

Day 3—Ghent—stop 4: Stare at Ghent Town Hall

Believe it or not, all of these photos are of the same building

 

• Distance from last stop: 0.4 km/0.2 mi, a 5-minute walk
• Time spent here: 5 minutes
• Price: free

Ghent’s schizophrenic Town Hall deserves its place in a one week Belgium itinerary just for the architecture alone. As you will travel through Belgium, you will notice that in every city, the most ostentatious and noble buildings are town halls. The one in Ghent is no different. However, there is something extraordinary about it.

I’ve never seen a more confused building than Ghent Town Hall on Botermarkt. It just can’t make up its mind! Is it Gothic, is it Renaissance? It's both! The two wings of the Town Hall are built in different architectural styles and different decades of the 16th century. But it sounds more dramatic if you pretend it’s just one building that can’t decide who it is.

You can visit the Town Hall as part of a guided tour, but on this itinerary, I recommend just taking a look from the outside.

 

Day 3—Ghent—stop 5: See Ghent’s three towers: St. Bavo’s Cathedral, the Belfry, and St. Nicholas Church

Saint Nicholas Church

 

• Distance from last stop: 0.3 km/ 0.1 mi, a 3-minute walk

This next stop is a 3-in-1 because they’re all right next to each other, and they make up the trio of Ghent’s three famous towers. 

St .Bavo’s Cathedral and the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb

Visitor information:

• Opening hours: Mon–Sat 8:30 am–5:30 pm, Sun 1pm–5pm
• Price: €12.50 standard, €16 with the AR tour
• Time spent here: 20 minutes–1.5 hours if doing the AR tour

The main reason to go inside St. Bavo’s Cathedral is the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, a famou 15^th-century altarpiece by the Van Eyck brothers. You can view it two ways: €12.50 for a straight 25-minute look, or €16 for the augmented reality tour that starts in the crypt, complete with historical figures popping up around you to tell the painting’s insane survival story. I went for the AR—it’s worth it! 

Climb up to the top of the Belfry

The Ghent Belfry should be a worthy contender for your Belgium itinerary

 

Visitor information:

• Opening hours: daily 10am–8pm
• Price: €11
• Time spent here: 30 minutes

Then, you can’t miss Ghent Belfry, the tallest of the city’s three towers (have you noticed that seeing a lot of towers is mandatory during your 7 days in Belgium itinerary?). Inside, you’ll pass a small exhibit on the tower’s dragon, the carillon, and even a legend about a man breastfed by his daughter to dodge starvation (medieval people had… creativity). 

The unofficial rule seemed to be elevator up, stairs down, so I did what everyone else was doing—expect traffic jams if you go on foot. Along the way, stop in a few rooms with historical bits and bobs before reaching the top, where you’ll get the best panoramic view of Ghent: rooftops, spires, and the Lys River all right there under you. Buy tickets online in advance or risk being turned away at peak times.

A quick stop in St. Nicholas Church

What an absolute beauty, one of the best things to see on a Belgium itinerary @ St. Nicholas Church

 

Visitor information:

• Opening hours: daily 10 am–4pm
• Price: free
• Time spent here: 10 minutes

Last and kind of least, Saint Nicholas Church is a quick stop after the previous two towers. It is built out of Tournai bluestone. If you try really hard and focus, you’ll maybe notice the slight blue tint of its façade.

When you get inside, the interior is beautiful and... churchy. Not much to keep you there for more than a few minutes. 

 

Day 3—Ghent—stop 6: Don’t miss a tour of Gravensteen

Look at that handsome castle

 

• Distance from last stop: 0.5 km/ 0.3 mi, a 6-minute walk
• Time spent here: 30–60 minutes

Visitor information:

• Opening hours: daily 10am–6pm
• Price: €13

If I could turn back time, the only thing I’d change about my visit to Ghent is buying tickets to Gravensteen Castle in advance. I was out of luck when I tried to get them the day before. Twice!

The castle is one of the few medieval fortresses left—without at least a short peak, no Belgium itinerary would be complete. Gravensteen even has a moat  and an almost intact defense system. For me as a history geek that was really cool to see. Too bad I couldn’t see it from the inside, too. 

What’s inside Gravensteen

If you manage to get tickets, you’ll see torture chambers (always a crowd-pleaser), creepy dungeons, and stone staircases—don’t expect a fairytale castle. From the towers, you get commanding views of Ghent that make you appreciate why this fortress was such a power flex back in the day. 

 

Then, it’s time to head back to Brussels for one last night. If you wanted to extend your stay in Ghent, I want to give you a tip for Hotel Van der Valk. I have stayed there multiple times now and am a very happy customer. 

 

Day 4 of Belgium Itinerary: Bruges

See the route of today’s itinerary on Google Maps
 

Main sites visited on day 4: Grote Markt, Bruges City Hall, Basilica of the Holy Blood, Bruges Beer Experience
Restaurant tips: De Gastro | Otto Waffle Atelier | Bistro Christophe
Hotel recommendations: Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce
Further reading: 9 Best Restaurants in Belgium | Best Food and Beer |  13 Best Places in Bruges

For me, Bruges is more famous, more crowded, and therefore slightly less appealing than Ghent. But you still need to see it. The canals flowing around the city center give the place a very romantic and movie-like atmosphere. And of course, very Instagram-friendly.

Getting to Bruges from Brussels

Since this is a Belgium itinerary by train, you’re once again expected to get to your next stop on the railway. The trip from Brussels to Bruges takes about an hour. 

Bruges’ train station, called simply “Brugge”, is located on the edge of the center that is bordered by a river ring. You can easily walk from the station to the city center (unless you’re hauling huge bags, in which case, maybe get a taxi)
 

Grote Markt delightfulness
 

Day 4—Bruges—stop 1: Get views from the Belfry + see the Town Hall

Bruges’ pretty bell tower
 

Kick off your day in Bruges on Market Square (Grote Markt). You’ll know right away why everyone flocks here—the buildings all around are spectacular. Focus on the tallest one: the Belfry.

Get tickets in advance for the Belfry

• Time spent here: 30 minutes

Visitor information:

• Opening hours: daily 9 am–8pm
• Price: €15

Bruges’ Belfry is a gorgeous medieval bell tower, a UNESCO Heritage Site. IF you get your tickets and time slot in time, you’ll be able to visit the treasury and the carillon room while walking up 366 steps. The carillonneur plays the 47 bells on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 am–12 pm.

 

 

The breathtaking Bruges City Hall

 

Next, see the Town Hall 

• Time spent here: 5 minutes for a peak, 1 hour if you go into the museum

Visitor information:

• Opening hours: daily 9:20 am–5 pm
• Price: €8

On the next square not far from Grote Markt—called De Burg—your first stop is the Bruges Town Hall. Another town hall? Yes. That’s Belgium itinerary rule #3: town halls everywhere—they really are incredible in Belgium, aren’t they? The Bruges City Hall with its impressive Gothic Hall is one of the oldest in the Benelux countries. 

You can admire its gothic-ness inside and out—there is a museum in the City Hall with original artifacts and paintings depicting the administrative history of Bruges.

 

Day 4—Bruges—stop 2: See what the fuss is about in the Basilica of the Holy Blood

The outside of the basilica is more interesting than the inside. I’m not even going to mention the stained cloth that is supposedly holy.
 

• Distance from last stop: basically next door
• Time spent here: 20 minutes

Visitor information:

• Opening hours: daily 2 pm–4 pm and Fridays 10:15 am–11 am if you want to see the vial with the blood-stained cloth; the basilica is open daily 10 am–5:15 pm
• Price: €5

Did you think you’re going to see a holy relic during a week in Belgium itinerary? Well, you are! Basilica of the Holy Blood is a small but pretty awesome church with a “real” bit of Jesus’ blood-stained cloth. I’ll be honest, just reading the stories and the attempts to prove if it's real or fake was quite amusing.

I’d like to thank the Catholic Church for letting us admire some nice church architecture for free. They never disappoint. Make sure to notice the vaulted ceiling. 

What to do if you want to see Jesus’ blood

If you want to see the Holy Blood-stained cloth, time your visit between 2 pm–4 pm. On Fridays, there’s another veneration between 10:15 am and 11 am. You’ll have to line up, stay quiet, and not take photos. 

 

Day 4—Bruges—stop 3: Don’t skip this stop! Bruges Beer Experience

What you should know about Bruges is that they know their beer! I’m a huge beer enthusiast, as I should be, coming from Czechia. When I learned about Bruges Beer Experience there was no doubt, I was doing that!

The Bruges Beer Experience was surprisingly interactive and so fun. You get a tablet and headphones and can be on your way. It tells you all the stories of various types of beers, their history and how they are made. There’s even a kid’s version available!
 

Left: Smell some hops and become a beer expert! Right: Taste some beer and become a beer expert! @ Bruges Beer Experience
 

• Distance from last stop: 100 m / 0.06 miles a 1-minute walk
• Time spent here: 2 hours

Visitor information:

• Opening hours: daily 10 pm–6 pm (last entry at 5 pm), bar and shop close at 6:30 pm
• Price: €14, or €20 with beer tasting at the end

What you should know about Bruges is that they know their beer! I’m a huge beer enthusiast, as I should be, coming from Czechia. But this interactive experience is a must-do for anyone, I promise. 

What to expect on the Bruges Beer Experience

The Bruges Beer Experience was super interesting and so fun. You get a tablet and headphones and can be on your way. It tells you all the stories of various types of beers, their history, and how they are made. There’s even a kid’s version available!

I personally was blown away learning about what beer is supposed to taste like when you’re not just focused on lagers all the time. 

At the end of the tour, you get a tasting of 3 (strong!) beers, which, if you hadn’t been in a good mood before, will solidify your good experience of the Beer Experience.

Some practical notes

It’ll all take about 3 hours. Get your tickets online in advance. Lockers are available. You can visit the tasting room even if you don’t take the tour. 

 

Hotel in Bruges: The most romantic place to stay 

This one sits right on the calas of Bruges @ Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce
 

Rooms at Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce are decorated with the owner’s art collection and antiques, and they can be on the cozier side (read: small), but at this hotel, it all just feels enchanting. You’ll have breakfast overlooking one of Bruges’ canals and can sit by the fireplace in the dining room with your afternoon tea (read: beer). 

 

Day 5 of Belgium Itinerary: Fun experiences in Bruges

See the route of today’s itinerary on Google Maps
 

Main sites visited on day 5: Boat tour, Choco Story Museum, Sint-Janhuismolen, De Halve Maan brewery
Restaurant tips: De Gastro | Otto Waffle Atelier | Bistro Christophe
Hotel recommendations: Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce
Further reading:  13 Best Places in Bruges | 7 Day Trips from Brussels | 12 Best Places in Belgium

You can visit Bruges as a day trip from Brussels (see my packed 1-day itinerary for Bruges), but in order to experience Bruges without day trippers, I recommend you stay overnight. You have 7 days in Belgium, so you have the time for it. 

 

Day 5—Bruges—stop 1: Enjoy a Bruges canal tour

And here on the left, the cholera door

 

• Time spent here: 35 minutes

Visitor information:

• Opening hours: daily 10 am–6 pm
• Price: €15

Want to see Bruges being woken up by the rising sun? Hop on board and take a boat tour through the city! There’s no way you would not take a canal tour on your Belgium itinerary, it’s basically mandatory (and if you want two, do the one in Ghent, too).

A little boat takes you through the canals of Bruges and the multi-language guide tells you all about the history and interesting stories of Bruges. Like cholera door in St. John's hospital. You see, they used to throw dead bodies in canals... People who died from disease like cholera. Were thrown into the river flowing through the city... Never mind.

The boat tour will take you about 35 minutes. Every company does the same route, so don’t overthink it and just get on any one you happen to like the departure time of. 

 

Day 5—Bruges—stop 2: Eat and learn Choco Story Museum

You pour the chocolate here and then shake a little like so…

 

Now a stop that’s a little yummier than a cholera door, are you ready? Chocolate museums are the second mandatory entries in any Belgium travel itinerary.

We visited Choco Story Museum in Brussels, and we LOVED it. So why not again in Bruges? There is never enough chocolate! Your life can't be that sweet.

What the Choco Story Museum is like

The Choco Story Museum in Bruges proves the Belgians take chocolate as seriously as religion. Inside, you’ll use an audio guide to trace cocoa’s journey from bitter Mayan drink to the pralines you probably have in your bag by now. 

Interactive displays keep it from feeling like a dull food lecture, and you get to taste along the way. 

 

Overall, Bruges is an absolute hotspot for delicious sweet treats
 

Buying tickets

You can buy your ticket in advance, but beware it is not a fast pass. You still have to stand in line with the ticket-less folks since you all need an audio guide anyway. You just save time for paying for your tickets. I noticed that this got a few people a little frustrated, especially since the lines do tend to get long, especially over the weekends. So, buy them or don’t, it makes not that much of a difference.

There’s a one-way trail through the museum that’ll take you about 1.5 hours to complete. 

 

Day 5—Bruges—stop 3: Walk among Bruges windmills

Sint-Janshuismill

 

• Distance from last stop: 1.2 km/ 0.7 mi, a 16-minute walk
• Time spent here: 45 minutes

The wooden windmills of Bruges are all located between the Dampoort and the Kruispoort, which is a roughly 1 km (0.6 mile) stretch along the ramparts in the north east “corner” of the Bruges town circle. They are a unique thing on your Belgium itinerary because you won’t normally see these inside city centers anymore. 

But only one of the four windmills is in its original spot—Sint-Janshuismill, and only one is a cute pink color with a parrot on its roof—Nieuwe Papegaai. And only one, again the Sint-Janshuismill is accessible inside as well and serves as a museum. Oh, and one more! Only one of the mills is still used to grind flour. Yep, you guessed it, it’s Sint-Janshuismill. 

The windmills are tiny, so if you are up for a little walk, accept them as a welcome anomaly that you don’t see in your everyday life. Nothing more, nothing less. 

 

Day 5—Bruges—stop 4: De Halve Maan brewery tour

The unfiltered Brugse Zot, the beer pipe and part of the brewery tour

 

• Distance from last stop: 2.1 km/ 1.3 mi, a 29-minute walk
• Time spent here: 1.5 hours

Visitor information:

• Opening hours: Tours in English run 4x a day between 12 pm and 4:30 pm (time the last tour starts)
• Price: €16 for the 45-minute tour

Another day on your Belgium itinerary for 1 week coming to an end... let's end it pleasantly again, alright? In a nice historical building with historical building smells, narrow winding staircases and old production secrets waiting to be told.

You can take a 45-minute tour through the brewery to learn some of them. Most importantly though, you’ll learn about the history of this family business, and see a beer pipeline! Only in Belgium, am I right?

We enjoyed the tour so much. Our guide was entertaining and informative at the same time. The tour ends on the brewery roof where you get not only a free beer, but a fantastic view of Bruges.

 

Bruges is a sight to behold

 

Day 6 of Belgium Itinerary: Antwerp

See the route of today’s itinerary on Google Maps
 

Main sites visited on day 6: Antwerp Centraal, Grote Markt, Het Steen, MAS
Restaurant tips: The Jane | Sir Anthony Van Dijck
Hotel recommendations: Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp
Further reading: 19 Belgium Travel Tips | How to spend a in Antwerp

 

 

Getting to Antwerp from Bruges

Today, you’ll pack your bags and take a 1.5-hour train ride from Bruges to Antwerpen-Centraal. Beware most connections require to change trains in Ghent, but once every hour there is a direct train.

I recommend staying the night in Antwerp (you have a day trip from Antwerp tomorrow before returning back to Brussels). 

 

 

Day 6—Antwerp—stop 1: Pause at Antwerp Centraal

Antwerp Centraal Train Station is a destination in itself!

 

• Time spent here: 15 minutes

The Antwerp train station is one of the most beautiful train stations in the world, at least from what I've seen! So, make sure to pause when you get there, because yes, even the train station deserves a slot on your Belgium itinerary. 

When you step out of a train, you will be astonished by the golden details, huge clock and a big, weird silver thing. At first, I thought it was a dove, but then I realized it was a hand! Once you know that the hand is a symbol of legend of how Antwerp was founded, you will see it everywhere. 

Antwerp Centraal is right in the city center, so you can just walk out and start sightseeing when you’re done taking too many photos of the domed ceilings.

 

 

Day 6—Antwerp—stop 2: City center highlights and Grote Markt

 

• Distance from last stop: 1.7 km/ 1 mi, a 23-minute walk
• Time spent here: 2 hours

Antwerp is a super-rich city, which you will pick up on during your walk seeing all the houses in all the squares covered in gold.

For example, you get to Grote Markt after 20 minutes of walking from the station. The City Hall—here we go again—with its elaborate façade and beautiful decorations once again star of the show. But this time, something else tries to steal the spotlight.

Meet Brabo

Brabo throwing the hand is kinda trippy not going to lie

 

Legends and statues are unavoidable in a one week Belgium itinerary, and Antwerp doubles down. Brabo's Monument in the middle of the Grote Markt is iconic fountain/statue which made think for a while and then ask myself a question “What the hell is that?!” It's the legend again! Brabo—the naked jacked fella—is throwing a hand, it took me a while. Maybe because of the three beers I had in one of the cafés while staring at the fountain. Who knows...

See the fantastic Church of Our Lady

Cathedral of Our Lady 
 

Right around the corner is the Cathedral of Our Lady. It’s a church with a spectacular white interior, that tower you can see from all over the city, and Rubens’ works on display. That’s because Antwerp is also where famed artist Peter Paul Rubens lived and created. 

 

Day 6—Antwerp—stop 3: Explore Het Steen fortress

 

• Distance from last stop: 0.5 km/ 0.3 mi, a 6-minute walk
• Time spent here: 1 hour

Visitor information:

• Opening hours: daily 10 am–6 pm (the terrace 10 am–10 pm)
• Price: €7 for the museum, the panoramic terrace for free

Het Steen, a centuries-old fortress, is one of the oldest monuments in Antwerp. Nowadays, it serves as a museum and visitor center. You can also get one of the best views of Antwerp from its panoramic terrace. It can be visited for free, so don’t hesitate to climb it up and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

 

Day 6—Antwerp—stop 4: Visit the MAS (Museum aan de Stroom)

 

• Distance from last stop: 1.1 km/0.7 mi, 13-minute walk
• Time spent here: 1.5 hours

Visitor information:

• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10 am–5 pm  
• Price: €10 can be bought online bought online

Museum aan de Stroom, better known simply as MAS, is a museum in an iconic building that opened its doors in 2011–a must-see on your Belgium itinerary. Compared to other monuments in Antwerp, it's definitely one of the newer sights, but it ain't no underdog! It swiftly became one of the most visited and known places in the city.

MAS offers exhibitions, both permanent and temporary, with diverse collections. You can see Belgian art, learn about history and different cultures.

Visit the building even if you skip the exhibits

The windows are unique as well
 

In case the exhibitions are not exactly your pint of beer—you see what I did there—you should visit MAS anyways. You can explore the 10 floors of the museum for free, comparing the views of the city on every one of them. You need a ticket only to enter the exhibitions.

Just wait until you get to the roof—you can see all of Antwerp from there! But don’t just stare out into the distance and focus on the ground in front of MAS—look for the hidden artwork in the shape of a skull. Cool right?  

 

Hotel in Antwerp: Where to stay?

One look at the photos of Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp and I'm immediately in zen again.
 

If you can stay at the 5-star Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp, you’ll be doing yourself a favor. The word ‘sanctuary’ in its name is there for a reason! Not only that—it has not one but several Michelin-recognized facilities and chefs on site.  

 

Day 7 of Belgium Itinerary: Day trip from Antwerp to Leuven

See the route of today’s itinerary on Google Maps
 

Main sites visited on day 7: Stadhuis, St Peter's church, M Leuven, Groot Begijnhof, Arenberg Castle & Park
Restaurant tips: Taste | dewerf
Further reading: 19 Belgium Travel Tips

After a busy week in Belgium, the last day trip won't be as exhausting as the previous ones might have been. 

 

 

Getting from Antwerp to Leuven

To get to Leuven, just hop on a train in Antwerp and in 1 hour, you're in Leuven. 

Leave your luggage at the train station’s left luggage facilities and you’re as free as a bird!

 

Day 7—Leuven—stop 1: Admire the architecture in the city center

Leuven townhall—incredible, right?

 

The most iconic building in Leuven is once again its town hall. It's the finest work of gothic art with very detailed façade and stonework with turrets. The dominant of Leuven Grote Markt is historical Stadhuis (aka town hall) with more than 230 statues all over the facade. The inside of the Town Hall is no less astonishing. 

You can visit it on a guided tour or just look at it from the outside, depending on how much energy you have left after a week in Belgium. 

Go inside St. Peter’s Church

If the outside is this beautiful, imagine how stunning it must be on the inside–visit St. Peter’s Church and find out for yourself

 

• Opening hours: Mon–Sat 10 am–4:30 pm, Sundays 11 am–4:30 pm
• Price: free

Just a few steps from Stadhuis another fancy gothic building decided to rise in front of you—St. Peter's Church is there to mesmerize you, show off its art collection, and leave a mark. Feel free to drop your jaw both outside and inside of the church.

 

Day 7—Leuven—stop 2: Find your inner art geek at M Leuven

M in Leuven

 

• Distance from last stop: 0.4 km/ 0.2 mi, a 5-minute walk
• Time spent here: 1.5 hours

Visitor information:

• Opening hours: Mon–Sat 10 am–4:30 pm, Sun 11 am–4:30 pm
• Price: €12

I'm not sure if I stressed this fact enough in this Belgium itinerary, but the best museums I've ever been to are basically all in Belgium. We museum–ed the hell out of this country, so now we are smarter than ever—didn't even know that was possible. Even though I'm mostly a history museum geek, the M art museum in Leuven deserved my attention.

The museum's collection is diverse and includes old pieces of art as well as a few contemporary art exhibits. On top of this art experience that will appease the desires of your inner snob, you get panoramic views of the city from its freely accessible rooftop.

 

Day 7—Leuven—stop 3: Get some peace and quiet at Groot Begijnhof

The Groot Begijnhof district

 

• Distance from last stop: 1.2 km/ 0.7 mi, a 17-minute walk
• Time spent here: 30 minutes
• Price: free

Once upon a time there was this little district of the town, where only nuns and other women devoted to God lived. You won't probably come across any of them today in Groot Begijnhof, you still can feel the calm and divine atmosphere as you walk around and wonder if the time has stopped in the old streets.

The cobblestone lanes, red-brick houses, and little bridges over the Dijle River make it ridiculously peaceful compared to the rest of the city. 

The area of Groot Begijnhof is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, and you can visit the premises for free. I strongly encourage you to, it's only 15 minutes from the M, but you will feel like you have walked into a different century.

 

Day 7—Leuven—stop 4: Explore Arenberg Castle & Park

Arenbergkasteel

 

• Distance from last stop: 1.8 km/ 1.1 mi, a 24-minute walk
• Time spent here: 1 hour

Visitor information:

• Opening hours: the park is open non-stop, guided tours are available on Saturday and Sunday mornings 
• Price: free for the garden, €15 for guided tour of the castle

Take a 20-minute walk and visit a 14^th century renaissance castle. Nowadays, it serves Leuven university as a Science and Technology Campus, so it's mostly classrooms and offices inside. But I think it's more suitable for a nice walk around and admiring it from the outside.

A huge park surrounds the castle, that makes it a perfect spot to enjoy a nice sunny afternoon and to relax for a bit after walking around the city, perhaps thinking about all the good times you’ve had during your week in Belgium itinerary. It's not far from the center, so go there and take some stunning photos. Success on Instagram guaranteed!

Taking the train back to Brussels

After your Leuven visit you can take a direct train to Brussels. To Brussels Airport, the direct train only takes 19 minutes. To Brussels city center, it’s just a few minutes extra.  

 

Is 7 days enough for Belgium?

Yes. A 7-day Belgium itinerary gives you time for Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, and Leuven without feeling rushed. Less than a week means you’ll be cutting cities; more than a week means you’ll start repeating museums and beer tours.

Do I need a car for this Belgium itinerary?

No. Trains are cheap, frequent, and fast—Brussels to Bruges in about an hour, Antwerp to Leuven in 30 minutes. I usually rent a car everywhere I travel to, but Belgium is a rare exception. 

 

When is the best time to follow this Belgium itinerary?

Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September) is Belgium at its best: pleasant weather, long days, and fewer crowds. July and August are peak tourist chaos, and winters are cold, wet, and best only if you’re chasing Christmas markets.

 

What’s the most overrated thing in Belgium?

Manneken Pis in Brussels. It’s literally a 60 cm statue of a boy peeing. 

 

What should I eat and drink in Belgium?

Fries with mayo, waffles (Liege are better than Brussels-style), mussels, and as many different types of beer as you can responsibly manage. Belgian chocolate is a given. 

 

 

Which city is better: Bruges or Ghent?

Bruges wins on fairytale charm, but for me personally Ghent wins on atmosphere and fewer tourists. That’s why this Belgium itinerary includes both—you don’t need to choose. 

 

You could also be interested in reading:

• 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
• ​7 Best Day Trips from Brussels (Includes Train Details)

 

 

 

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