Day Trips to Bruges and Ghent from Brussels

Belgium is the ideal size for visiting not only its capital, but also architectural gems such as Bruges and Ghent, even if you have a fairly tight schedule.

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

The best option

Bruges and Ghent Day Trip from Brussels

Visit the two most important cities in the Flanders region on a single excursion.

Enjoy a full-day tour with an expert history guide. Explore Bruges and Ghent and marvel at these destinations that seem straight out of a fairy tale.

From £41 at Hellotickets

If you are travelling to Brussels, an excellent option to make the most of your stay in Belgium is to take a trip to Bruges and Ghent|element=pa-2908:::. These two cities are accessible, small and very picturesque, making them an ideal destination for a day trip.

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

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

Recommended if... you have limited time for sightseeing in Belgium and want to make the most of two iconic cities without worrying about transfers and timetables.

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

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

If you prefer to visit on your own, the budget will be a little higher. In that 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 take into account waiting times at stations.

If you are in Bruges, getting to Ghent will take less than an hour, whether you travel by train or by road. This proximity makes Ghent the perfect getaway to round off your day, as you can enjoy its monuments, canals and university atmosphere without having to travel far or rush around. Both cities share that charming medieval feel, but Ghent offers a slightly more dynamic pace, ideal for ending the day with a different perspective on the Flemish region.

The most convenient way to do this is with an organised excursion from Brussels that includes both cities. In just one day, you can discover the best of Bruges in the morning and, after a short bus ride, stroll through the historic centre of Ghent in the afternoon, accompanied by an expert guide. This way, you can make the most of your time without worrying about train schedules or transfers between cities.

Yes, of course! If you only have one day, don't miss out and join an excursion that will show you the best of both cities. Both cities are small enough to explore in a few hours, and their historic centres and main attractions are concentrated within a few kilometres, making them easy to visit in a day.

If you only have one day, I recommend joining an organised tour, as this will save you time and allow you to forget about logistics and waiting for public transport.

What's more, you'll be accompanied by a guide who will make sure you don't miss any of the key sights, explain the local customs and culture, and give you all 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 visiting both cities, you can take a more relaxed approach to your trip and enjoy seeing them at night, which is something that makes them unique and special.

If you visit Ghent during your excursion to Bruges and Ghent from Brussels, you should allow approximately two to three hours in the city. This will be enough time to explore the historic centre, see the canals and get a good feel for the culture and way of life.

In addition, the guide will explain the most important monuments, such as the imposing castle, and tell you about the history of the city.

The stop in Bruges is usually longer, as there are more places of interest and it is often the highlight of the trip. Either way, you'll enjoy it just the same.

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 getaway, 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.

There are several options for getting to Ghent from Bruges: 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 travel by car, if you have hired one on arrival in Brussels.

In any case, the journey between the two cities takes no more than an hour. The roads are in excellent condition and very well signposted, and trains and buses run frequently, with several departures every hour. Please note that the service is suspended from midnight until 6 a.m. the following day.

For more details, read my article on how to get from Brussels to Bruges, where I also explain how to stop off to visit Ghent.

• Ghent Cathedral: I recommend taking a quick look inside. The interior is just as impressive as the exterior, if not more so. Spectacular!
• The Castle of the Counts of Flanders hides much of the city's history (and legends). If you don't have time to see inside, at least take a look around the outside. It's a real journey back in time.
• Very close to the castle is the Patershol neighbourhood, which was once a popular working-class area and is now home to the city's most fashionable restaurants and terraces.
• Vrijdagmarkt Square is one of the most central and popular squares in the city. If you're lucky, you might catch one of the markets that are regularly held there.
• Explore the canals on foot and by boat. A cruise through the canals of Ghent is a great idea. Boats usually depart from various points in the city and allow you to discover its streets and façades from a different perspective (while resting your legs and recharging your batteries).
• In general, enjoy the architecture. Ghent is a stately and majestic city, and the atmosphere in its streets is unique. Take a stroll through the area that most appeals to you and simply discover its hidden corners, façades and centuries-old buildings as you go.
• If you go on a Sunday, buy flowers at the Kouter Flower Market, which is truly amazing.

• Joan Restaurant has one of the best value-for-money menus in the city. 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, making it the perfect choice whatever your taste. Take the opportunity to order the house wine too. You'll love it!
• If you're looking for one of the trendiest places in Ghent right now, you'll find 'T Vosken right away. The place is super modern and the food is delicious and very affordable. You'll find Belgian delicacies with a modern twist and lots of flavour.
• If you're looking for something more exclusive, Lys D'Or is one of the best restaurants in the city. 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 you can't visit Belgium without a recommendation for where to eat good chocolate, here's my favourite: Chocolatier Deduytschaever. The quality of the chocolate is proportional to how difficult it is to pronounce its name. Delicious!