• Peering through a see-through church in Borgloon. From some angles it looks solid, from others you can see straight through it - this chapel/art installation is a hidden treasure in Belgium.
• Biking through Belgium's expansive Sonian Forest, where flat routes weave in and out of huge beech and oak trees - there are not only maps at the ranger station, but local microbrews!
• Making music at the Musical Instrument Museum, one of the most interesting museums in Brussels - you’ll be just as impressed by the art nouveau architecture as by the instrument collection from all over the world.
• Visiting the Hallerbos (or Blue Forest) in springtime, when the 1,360-acre forest is complemented by a carpet of blooming bluebells - a favorite Belgium outdoor experience.
• Strolling through the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken on the grounds of the Palace of Laeken, a must-see for nature lovers in Belgium.
• Exploring the best castles in Belgium, the fairytale Gravensteen in Ghent and the Bouillon Castle in the Ardennes, one of the oldest castles in Belgium.
• Climbing around in the Brussels World’s Fair 1958 Atomium - all but three of its nine gigantic spheres are available to enter and explore.
• Visiting the site of the Battle of Waterloo near Brussels, with its famous farmhouses, huge panoramic painting, Lion’s Mound and interesting visitors center.
• Going back in time at the Flanders Field WWI battlefield sites, the In Flanders Field Museum at Ypers, the many cemeteries and the somber memorials.
• Visiting the world’s largest brewery in the buzzing college town of Leuven (also home to the world’s oldest Catholic university).

Quick Tour - Bruges, Belgium in 2 Days

Bruges is known as the “Venice of the North,” and with good reason. The capital city of Belgium’s West Flanders region, Bruges is brimming with history and culture along its winding canals. If you’re pressed for time, a two-day stay in Bruges is a fabulous introductory tour to Belgium.

Day 1, Bruges: Start with a heart-pounding climb to the top of the Belfry of Bruges - it’s 366 but worth every step when you gaze out over the city from way up here. Later, when you’re back down at street level, listen carefully you’ll hear the 47 bells in the tower chiming over the city. Belgian history comes to life at the Market Square and its Cloth Hall, Cranenburg House and 14th-century war hero statues.

Day 2, Bruges: Don’t miss the Historium, where you’ll travel back in time to medieval Bruges, via virtual reality. Make sure to include the soaring Church of Our Lady on your Bruges two-day tour - it’s where Michelangelo’s famous Madonna and Child sculpture is housed, as well as a fantastic art collection and the tombs of Mary of Burgundy and Charles the Bold. Stop by the Groeninge Museum, in a building that was once Eekhout Abbey - look for 18th- and 19th-century works by Jan van Eyck and Hugo van der Goes.

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Belgium in 4 Days

If you have a long weekend in Belgium, spend it Bruges, Brussels and Ghent - that’s more than enough time to soak up the charm and culture of this compact country.

Day 1, Bruges: Start with a heart-pounding climb to the top of the Belfry of Bruges - it’s 366 but worth every step when you gaze out over the city from way up here. Later, when you’re back down at street level, listen carefully you’ll hear the 47 bells in the tower chiming over the city. Belgian history comes to life at the Market Square and its Cloth Hall, Cranenburg House and 14th-century war hero statues.

Day 2, Bruges: Don’t miss the Historium, where you’ll travel back in time to medieval Bruges, via virtual reality. Make sure to include the soaring Church of Our Lady on your Bruges two-day tour - it’s where Michelangelo’s famous Madonna and Child sculpture is housed, as well as a fantastic art collection and the tombs of Mary of Burgundy and Charles the Bold. Stop by the Groeninge Museum, in a building that was once Eekhout Abbey - look for 18th- and 19th-century works by Jan van Eyck and Hugo van der Goes

Day 3, Brussels: Move on to Brussels, where your first order of business should be to try a tasty Belgian waffle. Then, fortified, fill your day in Brussels with visit to Grand-Place, the Museum of Musical Instruments, the Horta Museum, Cantillon Brewery, the Atomium, and, yes, the “peeing boy” statue, or Manneken Pis.

Day 4, Ghent: Your full day tour in Ghent should include an iconic photo of St. Michael’s Bridge, the epitome of the city’s cozy canal atmosphere, a stroll along the Grass Quay and Corn Quay with their striking medieval architecture, Gravensteen Castle, the Vrijdagmarkt (Friday Market), one of the oldest squares in Ghent, and a climb up to the best view of Ghent at the top of the Ghent Belfry - this UNESCO World Heritage Site is Belgium’s tallest belfry.

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Belgium in 7 Days

A week-long Belgium guided tour is plenty of time to hit all the highlights. Start in Bruges, the “Venice of the North,” then move on to Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp and Flanders Field.

Day 1, Bruges: Start with a heart-pounding climb to the top of the Belfry of Bruges - it’s 366 but worth every step when you gaze out over the city from way up here. Later, when you’re back down at street level, listen carefully you’ll hear the 47 bells in the tower chiming over the city. Belgian history comes to life at the Market Square and its Cloth Hall, Cranenburg House and 14th-century war hero statues.

Day 2, Bruges: Don’t miss the Historium, where you’ll travel back in time to medieval Bruges, via virtual reality. Make sure to include the soaring Church of Our Lady on your Bruges two-day tour - it’s where Michelangelo’s famous Madonna and Child sculpture is housed, as well as a fantastic art collection and the tombs of Mary of Burgundy and Charles the Bold. Stop by the Groeninge Museum, in a building that was once Eekhout Abbey - look for 18th- and 19th-century works by Jan van Eyck and Hugo van der Goes.

Day 3, Brussels: Move on to Brussels, where your first order of business should be to try a tasty Belgian waffle. Then, fortified, fill your day in Brussels with visit to Grand-Place, the Museum of Musical Instruments, the Horta Museum, Cantillon Brewery, the Atomium, and, yes, the “peeing boy” statue, or Manneken Pis.

Day 4, Ghent: Your full day tour in Ghent should include an iconic photo of St. Michael’s Bridge, the epitome of the city’s cozy canal atmosphere, a stroll along the Grass Quay and Corn Quay with their striking medieval architecture, Gravensteen Castle, the Vrijdagmarkt (Friday Market), one of the oldest squares in Ghent, and a climb up to the best view of Ghent at the top of the Ghent Belfry - this UNESCO World Heritage Site is Belgium’s tallest belfry.

Day 6-7, Flanders Field: The sobering Flanders Field site is a must-see for World War I buffs visiting Belgium. Take 48 hours for a Flanders Field tour and see the highlights, including the Memorial Museum Passchendaele, military cemeteries, the Flanders Field Museum, the Yser Tower, the Menin Gate and more.

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