I recently returned from a wonderful weekend in Belgium. We were only there 2 days, but I was surprised by how much we managed to squeeze in! Three cities, tons of sightseeing, great food, a few too many waffles and of course plenty of beer!
We spent our first full day in Brussels and took a day trip to Bruges and Ghent on day two. Whether you’re touring through Europe or just have a few free days, here’s how to spend a weekend in Belgium:
BRUSSELS
I recommend making Brussels your home base. It’s the capital city, home to the city’s international airport and full of things to see and do!
Visit Brussels’ famous statues – Brussels is home to a few famous statues that you should stop by. The first is Everard ‘T Serclaes, a statue of the famous citizen who saved Brussels from the Flemings. Don’t forget to rub his arm for good luck!
Next up the peeing boy or Manneken-Pis. I find it a little ridiculous that a tiny statue of a little boy peeing has become the symbol of an entire city, but it has and it draws crazy crowds!
Boys don’t get to have all the fun, there’s is also a statue of a girl peeing Jeanneke-Pjs. She sits safely behind an enclosure on the same alley as all the famous bars.
And the newest member of the peeing family, and probably my favorite, is the peeing dog, Zinneke-Pis. He’s a bit farther away, and draws less of a crowd, but is definitely worth a visit!
Shop at the Royal Gallery – You’ll find lots of boutiques, perfumeries, chocolatie shops and cute cafes in Brussels’ famous Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert. The all glass ceiling is also a sight to behold!
Indulge in a Belgian waffle (or two!) – The Belgian waffle originated in, you guessed it, Belgium! No visit is complete without indulging in the sweet treat. Keep it simple with a dash of powdered sugar, or go all in with strawberries, chocolate and cream (my personal fav)! However you choose to enjoy them, I bet you can’t eat just one!
Grab a beer on Impasse de la Fidélité – In addition to its world famous waffles, Belgium is also known for beer. It’s readily available all over the Brussels, but I recommend grabbing a cold one along Impasse de la Fidélité. This alley is lined with many famous bars and is quiet by day. But in the evenings, it is bustling with nightlife and is full of energy and is a fun place to sample several of Belgium’s finest pours.
Check out my post on how to spend 24 hours in Brussels for more ideas on what to see and do.
BRUGES
Bruges is an adorable little city located just over an hour outside of Brussels. The easiest way to get there is by train. We visited back in December to take part in all the holiday festivities, but it was also fun to see it in the spring.
Take a canal ride – A canal ride through Bruges is one of the prettiest ways to see the city. For €10 you can enjoy a leisurely tour past many of Bruges’ famous landmarks.
Visit the top of the Belfry bell tower – For a bird’s eye view of the city, head to the top of the Belfry bell tower located in the city’s main square. Open daily from x to x and costs €12 . There are a lot of stairs (366 to be exact), but the views are worth it!
Eat mussels – Bruges is home to several Michelin Star restaurants. You’ll find several right next to Rozenhoedkaai (one of the most picturesque sights in the city). Brasserie Mozarthuys, Gouden Karpel and De Visscherie are great options offering a variety of menu items. But give yourself a treat and order a pot of mussels! Add a side of frites and a cold beer and you have yourself a perfect meal!
Try the Bruges beer experience – For a fun evening activity, I suggest trying the Bruges Beer Experience. For just €10 you get 5 (full pour) samples of local Belgian beer.
For more ideas on what to see and do in Bruges, check out my post here.
GHENT
The port city of Ghent is located in between Brussels and Bruges. We stopped to explore and have dinner on our way back from Brussels, but I would have loved to have had a bit more time there. Here are just a few fun things to do in Ghent.
Eat! – One thing you can look forward to in Ghent is eating well. There are a ton of great dining options including the most vegetarian restaurants in the world! Oudburg Street is where you’ll find several shops, bars and eateries. We stopped by a casual Turkish spot Ornek and indulged in a sprawling platter of kebobs, seafood, hummus, dolma and of course cold beer!
Sample the local candy – Cuberdon is the famous cone shaped gummy fruit flavored candies that are considered a local delicacy in Ghent. There are two main vendors in the Groentenmarkt.
Travel Tip: Be warned, the gentleman selling these candies was recently sued for racist rants he made against his competition. It was quite a scandal, causing the locals to completely boycott his stand. Avoid this jerk and instead get your candies from the ladies selling nearby.
Visit the Gravensteen Castle – This medieval castle built in 1180 was home to the Counts of Flounders and later became a prison. It now serves as a museum and is one of Ghent’s main tourist attractions.
Rent a kayak – If the weather is nice, I recommend renting some kayaks and take a ride along the canal. For €13, you and a friend can rent a two person kayak for up to three hours. It’s a fun way to see the city!
There you have it! Just a few of the many fun things to see and do in these three great cities! Have you visited Belgium before? What else would you add to the list? If you haven’t been yet, which city appeals to you most?
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