When I visited Belgium, I knew I would base myself in Brussels and want to make a few daytrips out. Since I spent one day going to Antwerp, I was running out of time to see everything and everywhere I wanted to see in this part of the country. So I decided to chance it and try to see both Bruges and Ghent on a daytrip from Brussels!

Unfortunately, Belgian trains very nearly had another idea. I got up super early to get an early train (7:45am) to Bruges—the train was delayed over an hour, doubling my journey time. The good thing was that I got a free waffle and a free bottle of water because of the delay!

You can visit both Bruges and Ghent on one train ticket from Brussels. I went on a weekend, and my return train ticket was only €12.80. The ticket will allow you to get on any train between Brussels and Bruges, in either direction. The train from Brussels to Bruges took about an hour (much more because of my delay). The train from Bruges to Ghent took about 30 minutes, and the train from Ghent to Brussels took 30 minutes as well. There were no empty seats, and the aisles were completely full on the train back to Brussels—so it might be better to wait an hour or two in Ghent before heading back.

What to See in Bruges

Bruges is a charming, pretty town that makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Unfortunately, most other people visiting Belgium will have the same thought, and the crowds do put a damper on visiting the city! I really struggled with the sheer amount of people here.

With such short time, it’s important to hit the ground running. Your first stop in Bruges should be the Markt, the pretty medieval-style main square. You can head up to the top of the Belfry for views over the top!

Right around the corner is the Burg, the other main square. This is home to the town hall!

One of the best ways to see Bruges is to ditch the map and wander around the beautiful canals. The city is famous for them, and they really are everywhere! Canal boat tours are meant to be the best way to see them—the lines were insane, and I didn’t feel like paying that much when I was short on time anyway.

Definitely head out to Jan van Eyckplein, another pretty little square. The canals around there were some of my favorites.

When in Bruges, I also recommend following the canals out to see the windmills on the eastern side of the city!

Bruges is also home to some beautiful churches. The Church of Our Lady is one of the most famous, but I really liked seeing St. Salvator Cathedral as well—which is free to visit!

Behind the Church of Our Lady, don’t miss Hof Arents, a pretty little park with a tiny bridge over the canal. And while you’re there, stop by the Godshuizen, or almshouses, to admire the pretty little buildings!

One church I saw just on the outside was Jeruzalemkerk, close to the Jan van Eyck square. It’s known for its interior macabre decoration, and I really wish I had made time to go!

Bruges is home to loads of museums, particularly art museums. With such a short amount of time, I wasn’t bothered to see all of them, and so skipped them!

What to See in Ghent

Like Bruges, a lot of Ghent’s city center is focused on the canals. And like Bruges, Ghent is hopelessly pretty. While there were a lot of tourists in Ghent as well as Bruges, it wasn’t quite as suffocating in Ghent—so I think I liked the city a bit more! Ghent is a big university town, and has a great “happening” atmosphere. Of all my daytrips in Belgium, if I had to stay the night anywhere, I’d stay in Ghent.

When you arrive at Ghent St. Peters train station, take the tram into the city center. It’s at least a 30-minute walk, and you don’t want to lose any precious time on such a busy day!

Arguably the best views of the city are from the Belfry, built in the 14^th-century.

The belfry gives you perfect views of two of Ghent’s main churches: St. Baafskathedraal, the city’s main cathedral, and St. Niklaaskerk. Both churches are free to visit!

You can’t miss the main square outside the Town Hall in Ghent. This is where most of the action is—just keep an eye out for trams!

Ghent’s other main attraction is Gravensteen, the castle of the Counts of Flanders. The castle was closed by the time I got there, so make sure to do this right when you arrive in Ghent! The castle is meant to have wonderful views of the city as well.

Right by the castle is the Patershol area, which you should definitely visit for a wander! This former neighborhood for leather tradesmen is full of winding, cobbled streets, and pretty houses. I loved exploring this bit, and some of the buildings were just gorgeous.

I also loved exploring all the small alleys and passageways around the river. Grasburg is the famous bridge, and where you can get the best photos. There are loads of bars where you can have a drink as you people watch on the riverfront! Ghent also does canal cruises, so if you didn’t have time or didn’t want to wait in line in Bruges, you can do it in Ghent as well.

There are loads of things to do outside the Ghent’s city center—lots of museums, more churches, and just plenty to keep you busy. I really liked my time in Ghent, and wish I had had more time there.

I flew to Belgium from the UK, and booked my flights through Skyscanner. You can also travel by rail on the Eurostar from London to Brussels too! I always book rail tickets in advance through Trainline. Whether you stay in Brussels like I did, or want to stay in Antwerp, you can search for hostels on Hostelworld, or hotels on Booking.com. You can also sign up to and search for accommodation on Airbnb here! Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

It is definitely possible to see both Bruges and Ghent as a busy daytrip from Brussels. My best advice would be to start early, eat on the go, and only see the things you really want to see. If you love museums but don’t care about churches, prioritize things your way! But both cities definitely deserve a visit when in Belgium.

You might like my other posts:

11 Practical Tips For Visiting Brussels

How Much Does It Cost To Spend 4 Days In Belgium?

8 Unique Places To Visit In Brussels

A Daytrip To Antwerp

To Brussels On The Eurostar

Have you visited Bruges or Ghent, or done a daytrip from Brussels? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments!

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