Belgium is a hidden gem that deserves far more attention. While waffles, beer, and chocolate can be found on nearly every corner, the country offers rich history, stunning architecture, and enchanting cities sprinkled with hidden gems and landscapes that will leave you questioning if what you are seeing is real.

When to Visit

My mom and I took a mother-daughter trip in April and I loved visiting at that time of year. It was chilly yet sunny and not over crowded. Many of the shop owners we talked to said we came at a great time before the busy season picks up. Be sure to bring warm sweaters and coats if visiting in late April and the temperature drops at night and the daily high was around 50-55 Fahrenheit. April is not considered shoulder season (typically shoulder season is May and September) though April was a good time as flights and hotels were more affordable compared to peak season during the summer months. 

Where to Stay in Brussels

We had a lovely stay at Pillows Hotel Brussels. The location was great as it was a quick walk to the train station and only a 5 minute walk to the main square and shops. It was quiet at night too, as it isn’t right in the main square, which was something I was looking for. The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming and provided great options for things to see, day trips, and restaurants. I wish we had more time to visit all the places we were recommended. 

BOOK PILLOWS HOTEL BRUSSELS HERE

Where to Stay in Bruges

I highly recommend Hotel Dukes’ Palace. Duke’s is truly a piece of history. The property dates back to the 1400s while the current structure goes back to the 1700s. I loved this hotel due to the location and the history of the hotel. Upon check in, the front desk associate upgraded our room which gave us a stunning view of the Belfry of Bruges! The rooms are beautiful and ornate, the staircase shows the history and detailing of the time period, and the decor and ambiance are welcoming and relaxing. The hotel has a highly rated restaurant if you do not wish to venture out into the city. 

BOOK HOTEL DUKE’S PALACE HERE

Getting to Belgium 

Brussels is likely where you will fly in and out of if you choose to fly. Direct flights to Belgium are hard to come by but do exist. Main hubs include London, Paris, and Amsterdam, Milan, and Frankfurt. The Eurostar provides direct trains from London, Amsterdam, and Paris. For us, it was cheaper to fly into London and take the Eurostar to Brussels. 

What to See: 5 days in Belgium 

Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, and Brussels are the four big cities and should definitely be on your list. I would suggest visiting Dame (outside of Bruges) or Mechelen (outside of Brussels) to see a smaller city for a more local experience. 

Day 1: BRUSSELS

We arrived at London Heathrow around 10:30 am on a Sunday via a red eye, took the tube to St Pancras International station where the Eurostar departs from, and took the Eurostar to Brussels. From there, we took a 5 min train ride into the city center, arriving around 6:00 pm. Brussels is a large city with lots to see. We had less than 24 hours and made the most of our limited time there. 

We stayed at Pillows Hotel Brussels and I highly recommend it. See my review above. We navigated ourselves to Grand Place, strolled around the cobblestone streets and wandered into a couple chocolate shops. I really enjoyed the truffles, my first Belgium chocolate, at Elisabeth Chocolatier, grabbed a couple snacks at a grocery store for dinner, and went to sleep as we were so exhausted from the red eye. 

Day 2: BRUSSELS and BRuges

Up early in the morning due to jet lag, we made our way to Manneken Pis, Jeanneke-Pis, and Het Zinneke.

We enjoyed taking out time and walking each street in between. I noticed the architecture in Brussels was mixed, as some neighborhoods were more quaint, charming, and french influenced, while others felt more modern and reminded me of Rotterdam. 

We wanted to try a Liege waffle at Maison Dandoy right at opening as I read the line gets long. This is very true, as there was already a line formed thirty minutes before opening. I ordered the Liege waffle with whipped cream and powdered sugar and it was delicious. I thought Maison Dandoy would be overhyped and disappointing but I found it to be one of my favorite spots. I highly recommend visiting Maison Dandoy for a Liege waffle. There are two types of waffles: Liege and Belgian. The Liege waffle is thicker and sweeter with sugar pearls folded in the dough. The Belgian waddle is thinner and less sweet, though still delicious. 

*Tip: arrive right at opening as the line gets rather long!

After our waffle we made our way to see a piece of the Berlin Wall. A piece of the Berlin wall is on display near the European Parliament, The Google Maps address is: Rue Wiertz 60, 1047 Bruxelles, Belgium. This is a bit of a walk from the city center but worth it as you can get a sense of the city as you walk along the streets.

We stopped by Parc de Bruxelles and Royal Palace of Brussels where we saw a police escort enter the palace! I have no idea who was in the car, only that they were important enough to require a police escort. 

Parc de Bruxelles

Royal Palace of Brussels

I also wanted to try french fries and we stumbled upon Friterie Tabora. These fries were good for a quick on-the-go snack and I would recommend trying. I learned that most French Fries in Belgium are harder usually due to the thick cut and double fry. It was time to head back to the hotel to check out and catch our train to Bruges.

On the way, we stopped by the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, which is right around the corner from the hotel! 

A place that I wanted to visit was the Wolf Sharing Food Market. Full of food stalls offering a large variety of options makes it a great option if you can’t decide on where to eat. If you stop by, leave a comment sharing your experience there!

We took the train to Bruges and made the walk into town which was about 20 minutes. This was slightly difficult as the streets are cobblestone and luggage doesn’t roll easily on that type of surface. 

BRUGES

Once you arrive in Bruges, take the escalators or elevators down to the main floor and walk towards the bus stops. It isn’t a bad walk with luggage but do keep in mind the uneven terrain at times. There is a little shuttle called Centrum Shuttle Bus, maybe 10 people maximum, that will drive you around the city with various drop off spots if you don’t want to walk or take a cab.

More information on the shuttle bus can be found here. 

I highly recommend staying at Hotel Dukes’ Palace. The location was great though the main reason we chose this hotel was the history of the building. See my review above. 

There is no better way to see a city than a canal tour! After dropping the luggage off in the hotel room, we wandered into the city and found a canal tour. There are many companies around the city all offering similar, if not the same, routes and will highlight sights like seeing sights like Saint John’s Hospital. 

Saint John’s Hospital

STOP ALONG THE CANAL

CANAL TOUR HIGHLIGHT

After the canal tour we climbed the Belfry tower. Tickets can be bought the same day though that can change during peak season. 

VIew from the top of the Belfry

The stairs up to the top are very steep, and with one staircase, it is a bit tight.

We strolled over to the Nepomucenus Bridge around 7:00 pm which was great as it was empty. This bridge is the most photographed bridge in Bruges according to some locals, and for good reason. Come early in the morning or late at night when crowds are less likely as it does get busy. We came back a couple more times throughout the week and it was busier as the week went on. 

We walked over to the Begijnhof which was so serene. Bruges is already much smaller and quiet than Brussels, and stepping into the Begijnhof felt like a new world. The Begijnhof is open most days but please do respect the visiting rules as people do live there.

From there, take a look across the lake at Minnewaterpark.

Walk to Lovers’ Bridge (Minnewaterbrug) and admire the lake from a distance. perspective. You can walk through the adjacent park as it will take you back in the direction of the city center. This is one of the most picturesque photos as it doesn’t even look real!

Walking back to the hotel was magical.

Day 3: Day trip to Ghent

It was time to see a new city and it was off to Ghent! We took the train from Bruges to Ghent and took a bus into the city.  You can buy the bus ticket outside the Ghent train station. I highly recommended using either Google Maps or Citymapper as both provided up to date times and directions. 

We went straight to St Michael’s Bridge and walked along Korenlei street, Grasbrug bridge, and ended up at Gravensteen for our tour.

Next was the tour of Gravesteen Castle. We bought tickets about two weeks in advance. Tickets are about $30 and completely worth the visit. Through an audio tour, you learn so much about the rich history of Ghent and the various people who lived in the castle. The castle’s architecture has held up surprisingly well and its details have been well preserved. I advise going to the castle first thing in the morning, or as early as you can, as it does get busy and school groups do visits there. 

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

One stop is the top of the castle that overlooks the city, providing incredible views.

Next stop in Ghent was walking around the Patershol neighborhood and making our way to Graffiti Street.

GRAFFITI STREET

I wanted to visit a few more food spots but due to limited time, wasn’t able to get to everything. If you have more time I suggest the following:

We enjoyed walking around the city with no set destination and stumbled upon a cafe and took croissants to this grassy area for a snack.

We walked back towards the train station, stopped for tacos at Holy Guacamoly St. Pieters Gent, and ended the night back in Bruges at Gelateria Da Vinci eating gelato while walking the quiet streets of Bruges.

Seeing Bruges at night is a completely different prescriptive experience. I highly recommended saving time in the evening to walk around the city as the city comes to life. Be sure to stop by Grote market and the Belfry at night as the buildings illuminate and provide a mystical touch. 

Bruges at Night

Belfry at Night

Day 4: A day in Damme

Breakfast first at Balthasar Bruges is a must. This breakfast spot is less than a 5 minute walk from Duke’s Hotel. We went there twice as this place was incredible and I am still thinking about the breakfast I had: the yogurt parfait and avocado toast with scrambled eggs on the side.

We decided to use this day to explore Bruges more and take a day trip to Damme.

We started by walking to the Grote Markt which is open every Wednesday at the time of visiting (April 2024). Various vendors from meats, produce, flowers, and pastries are for sale. 

We made our way over to King’s Bridge, Flemings’ Bridge, Augustine Bridge, and just wandered through the streets of Bruges. 

Take a stop at Boniface Bridge and Rosary Quay. Afterwards, stop by the Basilica of the Holy Blood. 

We stopped by a couple chocolate stores, Chocolatier Dumon, The Chocolate Line, and The Old Chocolate House. All had a variety of options and I brought back something from each. Highly recommend visiting as many as you can as each one is slightly different. 

We made our way over to the bike rental shop so we could bike to Damme! It was roughly half an hour by bike on a path that takes you through the beautiful countryside.

I recommend renting from Ben’s Bike with the website here. If you don’t feel comfortable biking to Damme, I highly recommend a day trip either by car or bus. Damme isn’t a large town but we spent about two hours strolling through the city and enjoying some pastries at this charming cafe called Ma ‘Damme Annick. The desserts here were incredible.

Town Hall in Damme

Cute Building in Damme

Ma ‘Damme Annick

BIKE RIDE BACK TO DAMME

We made our way back to Bruges, rested in the room for a while, then made our way to dinner at La Trattoria, Premium Pizza & Italian Wine. The pizza and lasagne were delicious.

This spot felt like a hidden gem that locals frequent as it isn’t right in the city center. The restaurant usually takes reservations but keeps a table or two open for walk-ins. We arrived right when they opened and took one of two open tables.

After dinner, we walked around the city again, stopping by the Nepomucenus Bridge again, as it was usually less crowded at night and it was fun to see it in a different light. 

We ended the night at Gelateria Da Vinci as we did every night we were in Bruges.  

Day 5: Adventures in Antwerp

Take a morning train leaving Bruges for Antwerp.

When you leave Station Antwerpen-Centraal be sure to turn around and admire the historic architecture of the train station. It is about a fifteen minute walk into the city center though there are many shops and cafes along the way. 

Visiting Begijnhof was the first thing I saw in Antwerp. Please keep in mind many people do live in the homes and to be respectful of those in residence. 

While in Belgium, it is a must to at least once try traditional flemish stew. I highly recommend the traditional Flemish stew at De Arme Duivel. Reservations are required. I am not a big fan of stews though this one was delicious and perfect for the cloudy, chilly April day when we visited. The restaurant was small yet charming and felt it had been around for many, many years.

De Arme Duivel Flemmish Stew

After lunch walk around the Plantentuin, a beautiful botanical garden offering green space in the city.

Next walk to Grote Markt and stop by to see is Cathedral of Our Lady. Grote Markt is a large market full of shopping, restaurants, souvenir, and chocolate shops

Walk to the medial fortress, Het Steen, on the water. 

If you have time and enjoy zoos, check out the Antwerp Zoo as it ranks as one of the best in the world. 

Stop by Philip’s Biscuits for a delicious afternoon treat- these biscuits were so good I bought a tin of them to take back home. 

The best chocolate I had was at a little store called G Bastin. It is a family run shop with locally sourced chocolate. The shop itself exuded charm and the staff was very friendly. I took some chocolates to go which made for a great snack on the train ride back to Bruges.  

There are many museums to visit in Antwerp whether it is art, chocolate, or more interactive museums. We didn’t make it to any museums as we were going off the train schedules and didn’t want to be rushed in the museums so decided to walk around the charming streets instead. 

Museums to Visit:

• Museum Plantin-Moretus: https://museumplantinmoretus.be/nl
• Chocolate Nation: https://www.chocolatenation.be/nl
• illusion Antwerpen: https://illusionantwerpen.be/
• Rubenshuis: https://www.rubenshuis.be/nl

After an afternoon filled with chocolates and historic landmarks we did some window shopping on the walk back to the train station to head back for our last night in Bruges.

Our night wouldn’t have been complete without one last gelato.

Day 6: Saying Goodbye

This was our last morning in Bruges before we headed to London for the evening. Of course we had to stop by for one last breakfast at Balthazar. I can’t wait to go back! 

Breakfast at Balthazar consisted of two eggs on avocado toast with a side of yogurt.

I loved the interior of Balthazar, how cozy and inviting the space was.

Since The Old Chocolate House was closed on Wednesday we decided to come back first thing Friday morning. I would recommend getting here early or just after opening if you can as the place got busy and there are limited seating options. The menu is extensive as you can choose from a variety of chocolate types, where they are from, and the percentage. 

The Old Chocolate House

The Liege waffle, in addition to the hot chocolate, was delicious. You can go next door and buy hot chocolate packs, chocolates, and more in the store.

Afterwards we went into this charming home store called Dille & Kamille where I fell in love with the store. I had a basket full of items I wanted to buy but had to be realistic as I didn’t have room for everything. I left with a vase, a bag, and a dish towel though I inquired about shipping a few more items.

After exploring a few more streets we went back to the hotel to check out and heeded on the walk back to the train station, luggage in tow. 

We took the train from Bruges to Brussels where we boarded the Eruostar back to London.

That was our 5 day itinerary in Belgium! We consumed copious amounts of chocolate, waffles, and explored castles on cobblestone streets. Belgium is such a beautiful and underrated country that more people should add to their list. Bruges will hold a special place in my heart and I can’t wait to come back.