2 Days in Belgium: Four Cities From a Base in Bruges
A 2-day Belgium itinerary covering Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp and Brussels from a single base — why four cities in two days genuinely works here, and why I skipped the Bruges canal cruise.
Four cities in two days sounds like the kind of itinerary that leaves you exhausted and having seen nothing properly. In Belgium it genuinely works, and I want to explain why honestly rather than pretend I found hidden depths in each one.
Why four cities in two days works here
Two reasons, and the second one is a matter of taste.
The distances are tiny. Belgium is small and the train network is dense and frequent. Ghent to Bruges, Antwerp to Brussels — these are short hops, not travel days. You lose very little time moving between them.
And, honestly: none of these cities needs a full day. I've been to a lot of European cities at this point, and none of them feel especially unique to me any more. Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp and Brussels are all beautiful, and for me there simply wasn't that much to do in each one beyond walking around and looking at it — which is a few hours' work, not a day's.
If you're earlier in your European travels than I am, you may well want longer in each. If you've already seen a lot of medieval squares and cathedral interiors, this pace will suit you exactly.
Base yourself in Bruges
I stayed in Bruges both nights and travelled out from there, which I'd recommend. It's the prettiest of the four by a clear margin, it's the nicest one to be in during the evening once the day-trippers have gone, and the trains make everything else easy to reach.
One base, no repacking, two days.
Day 1: Ghent and Bruges
Morning in Ghent. The medieval centre, Saint Bavo's Cathedral, and the Graslei waterfront, which is the view everyone photographs. A morning is enough for it.
A confession: I took photographs in Ghent and then managed not to save them, which is why there isn't one in this article. Learn from me and back up your camera roll.
Lunch by the water, with Belgian fries and mayonnaise, which is exactly as good as advertised.
Afternoon in Bruges. The Markt square, the Belfry, and the streets in between. Bruges is the one that genuinely lives up to its billing, and being based here means you get it in the evening too, which is when it's best.
On the canal cruise — I skipped it
Every Bruges itinerary includes the canal cruise. I didn't do it, deliberately.
My reasoning: I'd already done canal cruises in Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Venice, and this is not meaningfully different from any of them. Sitting in a low boat looking up at old buildings from the water is a nice thing to do once, and I'd already done it three times.
If you haven't done one before, do it here — Bruges is a lovely setting for it. If you have, you can skip it with a clear conscience and spend the time walking instead.
Day 2: Antwerp and Brussels
Morning in Antwerp. The Cathedral of Our Lady, the diamond district, and the old town. Antwerp has a slightly harder, more commercial feel than the other three, which makes it a decent contrast.
Afternoon in Brussels. The Grand Place is genuinely spectacular and the main reason to come. Manneken Pis is a very small statue that a very large number of people photograph; adjust your expectations accordingly.
What to eat: try the hot chocolate with ginger and chilli
On food, my honest answer is the same as it was for Rome: anywhere is fine. Fries, waffles, mussels, chocolate — the standard is high across the board and I'm not going to send you across a city for a specific address.
One exception, and I'd genuinely seek this out: hot chocolate with ginger and chilli. It was one of the best things I ate or drank on the whole trip, and it's the thing I'd tell someone to order over any of the more obvious Belgian specialities. Chocolate shops and cafés in Bruges and Brussels do versions of it.
Worth knowing
- One base is enough. Bruges, and don't move.
- Point-to-point train tickets or a pass — work it out against your four journeys, but the trains are frequent enough that you don't need to plan around timetables.
- Comfortable shoes. All four centres are cobbled.
- Belgian beer is worth taking seriously alongside meals.
- Two days is right for four cities here. If you want to go deeper on one, make it Bruges.
Related reading
- 3 days in the Netherlands — the natural pairing, and easy by train
- 2 days in Paris
- 48 hours in Vienna