15 Best Day Trips From Brussels By Train Or Bus

1. Day trip to Leuven

Leuven is a University town located about 30km from Brussels,making it one of the best towns to visit near Brussels by train

Some of the best things to do in Leuven in one day include visiting one of the most beautiful Town Halls in Belgium, Groot and Klein Begijnhof. 

One of the most unique spots in Leuven is the Groot Begijnhof, a medieval, well-preserved beguinage.

Today, it is completely restored and home to University staff and students. It is one of the largest remaining beguinages, and walking around will make you feel like you’ve been transported in time.

You can end your visit with a drink in the world’s longest bar. The Oude Markt is a square lined with over 30 bars! 

How to get to Leuven from Brussels?

Since Leuven is so close to Brussels, you can either take a train or a local bus. The train will take approximately 20 minutes, while the bus will take around 50 minutes. 

To go to Leuven from Brussels by bus, you can take bus 358. You can check the bus schedule on the DeLijn website. 

The bus trip is longer, but cheaper than a train.

2. Day trip to Bruges

Bruges is, without a doubt, the most whimsical town in Belgium and one of the most popular Brussels day trips by train. 

Start your day in Bruges from the Market Square and walk towards the Town Hall and Basilica of Holly Blood. Both are very intricate architectural masterpieces.

Afterward, wander through the maze of cobblestone streets and canals—Bruges is full of beauty at every turn!

Since Bruges is the most popular place to visit on a day trip from Brussels, it gets very busy during the day. Try arriving as early as possible to avoid the midday crowds.

Bruges is a must-visit if you are backpacking Europe in winter, as it has one of the most charming Christmas Markets!

How to get to Bruges from Brussels?

To reach Bruges from Brussels, you will take a train. A train journey takes roughly an hour, and there are frequent daily departures.

3. Day Trip to Ghent

Ghent is famous for its unique cultural significance and stunning architecture. It is a city full of history, and you will certainly enjoy just strolling around.

On a day trip to Ghent, you will come across a remarkable medieval town hall, St. Bavo’s Cathedral, Belfry, and St. Nicholas’ Church.

Be sure not to miss St. Michael’s bridge. It is my favorite viewpoint in the city. Wherever you look from the bridge, you see the well-preserved medieval buildings.

Also, is a perfect spot to grab a drink and sit on the river banks with the local students!

Ghent has one of the best Christmas Markets in Europe, so make sure to add it to your Christmas Market Itinerary.

How to get to Ghent from Brussels?

From Brussels, you can take a train to Ghent. There are multiple hourly connections between the cities.

A train journey from Brussels to Ghent will take around 30 minutes.

4. Day trip to Oostende to Knokke-Heist

OK, we can all agree that Belgium is not a beach destination, but if you’re backpacking Europe in summer, you might want to escape the heat!

Luckily, the northern coast of Belgium is lined with long sandy beaches along the North Sea.

It will take roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach the closest beach from Brussels and you can take swimming in the North Sea off your Europe bucket list.

You can choose to spend a day on a beach anywhere along the coast from Oostende to Knokke-Heist.

The best way to discover the beaches you like is to hop on the Belgian Coastal Tram. 

The Belgian coastal tram line at 67 km is the world’s longest tram line in service. The tram connects Oostende and Knokke-Heist and stops in all the coastal towns along the way.

You can check the tram schedule and stops on the Belgian coast website. 

It is one of the best things to do in Belgium in summer!

How to get to the beach from Brussels?

The best way to plan this day trip from Brussels is by train. You will take a train from Brussels to either Knokke-Heist or Oostende.

The trip takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes, and you can check the train schedule on the SNCB website.

Alternatively, you could take a Flixbus to Oostend. However, the trip will be an hour longer, so it might not be worth it for a day trip.

5. Day Drip to Ypres

Ypres is well worth the visit, even though it might seem far from Brussels.

It is a city with a long and rich history, as it was once a medieval trading center. Nowadays, it is predominantly known for its role in the First World War.

To learn more about the devastating historical events that occurred in the region, head to the In Flanders Fields Museum and Tyne Cot Cemetery.

The entrance to the cemetery memorial is free, but be sure to check the opening hours. 

How to get to Ypres from Brussels?

The best way to get to Ypres from Brussels is by train. The direct train is not very frequent, so you will have to transfer in Gent or Kortrijk, depending on the train.

The train journey from Brussels to Ypres takes around 2 hours. 

6. Day Trip to Antwerp

Antwerp is the second-largest city in Belgium and one of the best train trips from Brussels.

The city has a long history as the world’s capital of diamonds and the world’s fifth-largest port. Today it is a lively city popular among young professionals.

You will be mesmerized by Antwerp as soon as you reach the train station. The Central Station of Antwerp is said to be one of the most beautiful train stations in the world.

From there, you can explore the city on foot. 

The city center of Antwerp is a mix of the historic center and the modern shopping streets.

Walk around and discover the impressive Cathedral of Our Lady, Groenplaats lined with cafes and restaurants, Groot Markt, and Het Steen Castle.

A day trip to Antwerp is enough time to see all the main tourist attractions.

You can choose whether you want to take a train or a bus to Antwerp. 

There are frequent hourly departures from Brussels to Antwerp, and the train journey takes just under an hour.

Unlike other cities in Flanders, Antwerp is well connected to Brussels by long-distance busses.

There are more than 10 daily Flixbus departures from Brussels Gare du Nord, and if you book in advance, the bus will be cheaper than the train. It will take the same time to travel by bus as the train.

7. Day trip to Mechelen

Mechelen is a small city located between Brussels and Antwerp.

The most famous landmark is The St. Rumbold Tower. You can climb the tower and enjoy a view of Mechelen, and on a nice day, you can even see Brussels and Antwerp! 

The historic center of Mechelen features typical Flemish architecture, with a central Grote Markt square lined with bars and cafes.

Spend a day exploring the cobblestone streets, old Begunage, and lovely canals. 

How to get to Mechelen from Brussels?

You can easily reach Mechelen from Brussels by train. There are many daily departures, and the train journey takes around 20 minutes.

8. Day trip to Villers La Ville

Villers La Ville is a small town in Wallonia and is famous for being the home of the Villers La Ville Abbey. This impressive Abbey was built in 1146. It is one of the most well-preserved in the whole of Europe. 

Once you reach Villers La Ville, you will have to walk to the site, since the Abbey is 2km from the train station.

For up-to-date information about the opening hours and tickets, check the official Abbey website.

How to get to Villers La Ville from Brussels?

The best way to get to Villers La Ville Abbey is to take a train from Brussels to Villers La Ville.

There is no direct train, so you will have to change trains in Ottignies. 

9. Day trip to Liege

Liege is situated in the eastern part of Belgium, close to the Dutch and German borders. It will impress you as soon as you reach the train station, as it was elected as one of the most beautiful train stations in the world.

For the best view of the city and the surrounding region, climb up the Montagne de Bueren stairs and its 374 steps with an incline that reaches 30%. 

To learn more about the industrial history of the region, you can visit Blegny-Mine.

It is one of the 4 authentic coal mines in Europe whose underground galleries are accessible to visitors via the original shaft, and it is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

How to get to Liege from Brussels?

The best way to get to Liege from Brussels is by train. You could also take a Flixbus from Brussels since it is cheaper than the train, but there is no suitable return option so you will have to go back by train. 

The train journey takes between 1 and 2 hours, so make sure you take a direct train. 

10. Day trip to Namur

Namur is the capital of the French-speaking region of Wallonia and home to the Parliament and the Government of Wallonia. 

Overlooking the city stands the Citadel of Namur and a giant golden turtle statue. Nowadays, the Citadel is a museum and is open to the public.

You have to pay an entrance fee to get inside the Citadel, but it is free to walk around. Check out the prices and opening hours on the official website. 

The city center is walkable and as charming as other Belgian towns. 

How to get to Namur from Brussels?

The easiest way to get to Namur from Brussels is to take a train.

The journey takes less than an hour, and the train departs frequently throughout the day. 

11. Day trip to Dinant

Dinant is a small town embedded between the Meuse River and steep mountain cliffs. Above the city stands a centuries-old fortified Citadel that was first built in the 11th century.

Another landmark is the Collegiate Church of Notre Dame de Dinant.

A fun fact about Dinant is that it is also known as the birthplace of the saxophone inventor, so you’ll see a large saxophone model!

Since you can walk the whole city within an hour, it is best to visit combined with Namur.

How to get to Dinant from Brussels?

You can easily reach Dinant from Brussels by train. The journey takes about 90 minutes. 

12. Day trip to Mons

Mons is a small city with many interesting traditions. Plan your visit on Trinity Sunday to see The Doudou, Mons’ Ducasse Rituelle.

It was recognized as a UNESCO “masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity” in 2005.

It is hard to describe it, so you’ll have to see it for yourself!

If you visit some other time, take a stroll through the city center and admire the Town Hall, Belfry, and the Grand Place lined with cafes and historic buildings. 

How to get to Mons from Brussels?

The best way to get to Mons from Brussels is to take a train. The journey takes just under an hour, and the trains depart frequently during the day.

13. Day trip to Durbuy

In Wallonia, you can visit Durbuy, a town that claims to be the smallest city in the world.

While it is actually not even the smallest city in Belgium, it is a charming medieval town to explore and spend a day.

How to get to Durbuy from Brussels?

To get to Durbuy from Brussels, you will take a train to Barvaux, with a transfer in Liege.

There is no direct train to Durbuy. Therefore, from Barvaux, you will take a shuttle bus to Durbuy.

Check the bus schedule on the Durbuy tourism website.  

14. Day trip to Ottignies and Louvain-la-Neuve

The story of this University city is interesting.

Louvain-la-Nueve was built to house the Université Catholique de Louvain, which owns its entire territory, following the linguistic quarrels that took place in Belgium during the 1960s and the division of KU Leuven.

How to get to Ottignies and Louvain-la-Neuve from Brussels?

The best way to get to Ottignies and Louvain-la-Neuve from Brussels is to take a train.

A train journey takes around 50 minutes, depending on how many stops there are on the way. There are frequent departures from Brussels. 

15. Day trip to Charleroi

Charleroi is best known for its airport. Also, it was once voted the ugliest city.

You must be wondering why am I recommending it then.

Because it is not nearly as bad!

After a 2010 article proclaimed it the ugliest city, tourists began coming to see what was that all about, so now it is a popular stop on Belgium’s itinerary.

I spent a day in Charleroi recently as I had a “stop-over” at Charleroi Airport, and I found quite a few picturesque corners in this industrial city.

How to get to Charleroi from Brussels?

The easiest way to get to Charleroi from Brussels is by train.

The journey takes an hour, and there are multiple daily departures.

Public transport in Belgium 

Firstly, let’s quickly talk about public transport in Belgium. The country has an excellent public transport system. For all of the day trips listed, you can either take a train or a bus.

Considering a place easily accessible by public transport had to fulfill a couple of conditions. 

• Firstly, there should be an outbound train or a bus in the morning, preferably after 8 am, and a return option in the late afternoon. 
• Secondly, the trip should take no more than 3 hours in one direction. I think 6 hours of transportation is a healthy maximum for a day trip, especially if you know that there may be delays. 
• Finally, the price should be under 30€ for a return ticket. The price can easily be under 30€ regardless of the regular one-way ticket if you follow my advice in the section about traveling by train in Belgium. 

Generally, I use this website to compare the prices and departure times for trains and buses to make sure I pick the best option!

Getting Around Belgium By Train

Trains are the most popular mode of public transport in Belgium.

If you are wondering where to go from Brussels by train, the answer is everywhere! You can reach virtually any destination in Belgium by train. 

If you travel during the weekend, your return ticket will be half off. Your weekend train trip has to be a return ticket departing from Friday after 19:00 and returning by Sunday. 

If you are under 26 years old, you are eligible for significant discounts.

Getting Around Belgium By Bus

Taking a bus is another option. Generally, the bus will be cheaper, but the trip will be longer. 

Some day trips will be accessible by local bus, DeLijn or TEC.

For longer distances, the most popular long-distance bus operator is Flixbus, but you can check the prices and times of the Blabla bus as well. 

Final Thoughts: Best Day Trips From Brussels By Train

And there you have it! The best Brussels day trips by train or bus you should to your 2 or 3 day Brussels itinerary.

As you can see, Belgium is a diverse country full of culture and history with stunning nature.

And we didn’t even have time to cover all the best nature escapes in Belgium in this article!

Now that you know all the best day trips in Belgium, plan the best route to visit all of these amazing cities with my complete Belgium without a car itinerary!

If you enjoyed this list of the best day trips from Brussels in Belgium, pin it for later and share it with your friends who should discover Belgium.