Day Trips to Bruges and Ghent from Brussels

Belgium is the perfect size for you to visit not only the capital, but also architectural gems such as Bruges and Ghent during your trip, even if you're on a tight schedule.

Fortunately, Bruges and Ghent are less than an hour away by train, bus or car, so take the opportunity to get to know Ghent.

The best option

Bruges and Ghent Day Trip from Brussels

Visit the two most important cities of the Flanders region in one tour.

Enjoy a full day tour with an expert historical guide. Tour Bruges and Ghent, and marvel at these fairytale-like destinations.

From £40 at Hellotickets

If you're travelling in Brussels, an excellent way to make the most of your Belgian stay is to visit Bruges and Ghent on a guided tour. These two cities are accessible, small and very picturesque, making them an ideal day trip.

You will travel in a comfortable bus with a professional guide to the first stop of the tour: Ghent. There you can visit landmarks such as St. Bavo's Cathedral, the 90-metre high Belfry and the Church of St. Nicholas, among others. You will then continue on to Bruges. In this medieval and charming city, you will visit the Bruges Cathedral, Burg Square and the mythical Lake of Love, ideal for taking a thousand and one photos.

Before returning to Brussels, you will have free time to enjoy at your leisure, buy gifts and why not, some delicious traditional chocolates from the region.

Recommended if... you have just enough time for sightseeing in Belgium and want to take advantage of the opportunity to visit two emblematic cities, without worrying about transfers and timetables.

The short distance between the two cities means that many trips to Bruges from Brussels also include a visit to the neighbouring city of Ghent in their itinerary.

This is certainly the most convenient way to visit both cities in one day, and you won't have to pay extra. On Hellotickets, for example, a day trip to Bruges and Ghent costs 45€ per person.

If you prefer to visit on your own, the budget you will need will be a bit higher. In this case, it is best to take the train, as it will allow you to make all the journeys in the shortest possible time, although you will have to allow for waiting times at the stations.

If you're in Bruges, you'll reach Ghent in less than an hour, whether by train or by road. With such a short distance, Ghent will be the finishing touch to a dream day in Bruges.

For more details on the Bruges and Ghent tour from Brussels, I recommend my article to help you organise your trip.

Yes, of course it is! If you only have a day to spare, don't be left wanting and join an excursion that will take you to see the best of both cities. Both cities are quite big enough to cover in a few hours and their historic centre and main attractions are concentrated in a few kilometres, which makes them easily "walkable" in one day.

If you only have one day, I recommend that you consider joining an organised tour, as it will allow you to save time and not have to worry about the logistics and waiting for public transport.

In addition, you will be accompanied by a guide who will make sure you don't miss the key places of each site, explain the local customs and culture and give you the recommendations you need to spend a perfect day discovering Ghent and Bruges.

If you have more time and can spend a couple of days touring both, you'll be able to relax on your tour and enjoy getting to know them at night, something that also makes them unique and special.

If you visit Ghent on your tour to Bruges and Ghent from Brussels, you should expect to spend about two to three hours in the city. This will be enough time to explore the historic centre, see the canals and get a good insight into the culture and way of life.

In addition, the guide will give you some explanations about the most important monuments, such as its imposing castle, and will also tell you about the history of the city.

Normally the stop in Bruges is usually longer, because it concentrates a greater number of points of interest and is usually the key visit in the excursion. Either way, you will still enjoy it.

If you prefer to visit Ghent on your own, you can decide how much time to spend there: if you only have one day for your trip, spend a few hours there in the afternoon on your way back from Bruges, but if you have more time, don't hesitate to spend a couple of days in Bruges and Ghent so you can spend the night in one of the two cities.

To get to Ghent from Bruges you have several options: you can travel by private bus if you have decided to join an organised tour, by train or by bus. If you prefer, you can also get there by car, if you have rented a car when you arrive in Brussels.

In any case, the journey from one city to the other takes no more than an hour. The roads are in perfect condition and very well signposted, and the frequency of trains and buses is quite high, with several every hour. Note that the service stops at midnight until 6am the next morning.

For more details, you can read my article on how to get from Brussels to Bruges, where I also tell you how to make the stop to visit Ghent.

• Ghent Cathedral: I recommend a brief visit inside. The inside is as impressive as the outside, if not more so. Spectacular!
• The Castle of the Counts of Flanders hides much of the history (and legends of the city). If you don't have time to see the inside, at least take a look around the outside. A real journey back in time.
• Very close to the castle is the Patershol district, which was once a popular working-class area and today is home to the city's trendiest restaurants and terraces.
• Vrijdagmarkt Square, one of the most central and popular squares in the city. If you are lucky, you might catch one of the street markets that are held there periodically.
• Explore the canals, on foot and by boat. Taking a cruise along Ghent's canals is a great idea. Boats usually leave from various points in the city and will allow you to discover its streets and façades from a different point of view (while you rest your legs and get your strength back).
• In general, enjoy the architecture. Ghent is a stately and majestic city, and the atmosphere of its streets is unique. Take a stroll through the area that most catches your eye and just discover the corners, façades and centuries-old buildings that you will find along the way.
• If you go on a Sunday, buy flowers at the Kouter Flower Market, a real treat.

• Joan Restaurant has one of the best value for money menus in town. The staff are super friendly, the menu is varied and all the ingredients are natural. You'll find mixed dishes and even some pasta dishes, which makes it the perfect choice whatever your taste. You can also order the house wine - you'll love it!
• If you're looking for one of the trendiest places in Ghent at the moment, you'll immediately find 'T Vosken. The place is super trendy and the food is very good and very reasonably priced. You'll find Belgian delicacies with a modern twist and a lot of flavour.
• If you're looking for something more exclusive, Lys D'Or is one of the best restaurants in town. Everything here is sophisticated: the décor, the menu and the dishes. Let yourself be guided by the staff's recommendations and enjoy this treat for the senses.
• As in Belgium you can never be without a recommendation where to eat good chocolate, I leave you with my favourite, the Chocolatier Deduytschaever. The quality of the chocolate is proportional to how difficult it is to pronounce its name. Delicious!