How To Spend 3 Days In Belgium: The Ultimate Itinerary

By Catalina | January 15, 2019

I have to be honest, when I first booked my flight to visit Belgium, three things came to mind: Belgian beer, Belgian waffles, and Belgian chocolate. While you are sure to encounter plenty of these local specialties during your visit to Belgium, the country is so much more than the culinary delights for which it is so well-known.

Belgium is an excellent choice for a quick weekend getaway and also makes a great addition to any European holiday. Not only is it extremely well-connected to other major cities such as London, Paris, and Amsterdam, but public transportation within Belgium makes it easy to cover a lot of ground in just a few days.

I visited solo during the wintertime and had an incredible weekend exploring Brussels, Ghent, and Bruges. See for yourself what Belgium has to offer with this ultimate 3-day itinerary.

Chuckle at Brussels‘ famous peeing boy statue and marvel at the ornate Grand Place, discover the most stolen artwork of all time during a day enjoying Ghent’s canals, and fall in love with romantic Bruges, Belgium’s so-called “Venice of the North.” There really is something for everyone?

Have you booked your ticket to Belgium yet? Then what are we waiting for, let’s get to it!

3 Day Itinerary-Brussels, Ghent, and Bruges

About this itinerary…

To follow the map, simply follow the pins in rainbow order, beginning with red! Grey pins are museum suggestions and black pins are additional points of interest you may be interested in squeezing in, time permitting.

As always, this itinerary is merely a suggestion-feel free to add, subtract, or rearrange it based on your own personal interests and schedule.

Day 1: Brussels

Begin an epic weekend in Belgium by starting your trip off in Brussels, the country’s capital city. Brussels is only 2-3 hours from other major European cities such as Paris, Amsterdam, and London, making it an easy add on to any itinerary, or an excellent location for a city break. Discover the city’s Grand Place, see the iconic peeing boy, be sure to try some of the best beer and chocolate that Belgium has to offer, and more on this busy day in Brussels!

Without further ado, here are some of my favorite things to see and do if you have 1 day in Brussels!

1 Day Brussels Itinerary:

  • Grand Place-ornate central square, famous for its elaborately decorated guild houses.
  • Comic Book Route-street art and comic book lovers are sure to spot at least one of the city’s famous comic book murals. There are over 55 murals sprinkled throughout the city!
  • Manneken Pis, Zinneke Pis, Jeanneke Pis-the most famous statue in all of Brussels is, of course, the peeing boy, Manneken Pis. Be sure to include a visit to Zinneke Pis (Brussels’ bronze peeing dog) and Jeanneke Pis (the city’s bronze peeing girl) on your Brussels itinerary to complete the statue trifecta!
  • Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert-this 19th century shopping gallery is perfect for a quick stop to admire the architecture and chocolate shops within.
  • St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral-a visit to any European city wouldn’t be complete without a stop at a church or two. This towering 13th century Gothic Cathedral is completely stunning and worth a visit!
  • Mont des Arts-enjoy a view of the city from this point before popping over to the royal palace.
  • Royal Palace of Brussels-while visitors are only allowed in the summer, you can still take a peek at the Royal Palace and enjoy the stately building from the outside.
  • Beer and Chocolate tour with The Brussels Journey-after a long day touring the city, consider heading on a Beer and Chocolate tour with The Brussels Journey. Read more about my experience on the tour here! (Special thanks to The Brussels Journey for hosting me on the tour. As always, my opinions are 100% my own, and I would never recommend a tour I didn’t love!)
  • Delirium Café-enjoy a beer (or two!) at the world famous Delirium Café-you’re bound to find at least one you’ll love, as there are over 2,000 beers available!

For a more detailed 1 day Brussels itinerary, click here! You’ll find additional information, visiting tips, and suggestions for museums and other points of interest in Brussels.

Day 2: Ghent

Just a 30-minute train ride away from Brussels, you’ll discover Ghent, an easily walkable Belgian city perfect for spending a day (or even just a morning if you are pressed for time.) Here you’ll discover 12th-century castles, gorgeous and historic canals, and the world-famous Ghent Altarpiece, the world’s most stolen artwork of all time.

1 Day Ghent Itinerary:

  • Gravensteen-medieval “Castle of the Counts” that dates back to the 12th century.
  • Great Butcher’s Hall-historic butcher’s hall that now features locally made Belgian products.
  • Ghent Boat Tour-discover Ghent from the water and learn about the city’s history on a boat tour.
  • Leie Riverfront: Graslei and Korenlei-discover the most beautiful and historic portion’s of Ghent’s riverfront.
  • St. Michael’s Church and St. Michael’s Bridge-the best photo spot in the city! You’ll be able to capture 3 of Ghent’s famous viewpoints in one shot!
  • Saint Nicholas’ Church-perhaps the city’s most famous landmark, this gorgeous church is worth stepping inside. You’ll get a great view of the church from our next stop, the…
  • Ghent Belfry-if city views are your thing (they are mine!), then be sure to climb the Ghent Belfry.
  • Saint Bavo’s Cathedral-Here you’ll find the world famous Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, the most stolen artwork of all time! A must see when visiting Ghent!
  • Duivelsteen– 13th-century fortress named after “Geeraard the Devil”.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bri3IUnBwm2/

Follow my adventures on Instagram @missadventuresabroad for more of my favorite shots of Belgium and beyond!

Be sure to check out my complete 1 day Ghent itinerary before your visit for more information on the city and recommendations for additional things to do!

Day 3: Bruges

I must confess, Bruges was my favorite city that I visited during my weekend in Belgium! This utterly romantic, UNESCO World Heritage city is also known as the “Venice of the North.” After 1 year of living in Italy, it’s no wonder I fell in love with this charming, quaint city. Bruges is rather small and is totally walkable, so if you are low on time you can combine it with a visit to Ghent or spend the remainder of your day in Brussels. For the romantics out there, you may want to look into spending more than one day in this cute city! I was flying solo, so a day was perfect for just me.

1 Day Bruges Itinerary:

  • St. John’s Hospital-medieval hospital and art collection.
  • Church of Our Lady in Bruges-13th-century church home to a Michelangelo sculpture of the Madonna and Child.
  • St. Salvator’s Cathedral-this historic 12th-century church is the oldest in Bruges.
  • Oyya Waffles-if you haven’t tried a Belgian waffle yet, be sure to pop in here and grab one! They are so delicious and have tons of toppings to choose from.
  • Market Square-large and beautiful main square dating back to 958.
  • Belfry of Bruges-find the best view in town from the top of the Bruges Belfry.
  • Basilica of the Holy Blood-this basilica is said to house a relic containing the blood of Jesus Christ.
  • Take a Canal Tour-Bruges is famous for its canals, and what better way to tour the city than from a boat?
  • Groeninge Museum-museum containing an excellent collection of Flemish and Belgian artworks.
  • Legends of Bruges Nighttime Walking Tour-if you are staying in the city overnight, hop on a Legends of Bruges walking tour to learn about the lesser-known tales, landmarks, and legends of Bruges.

Get to planning your love-ly day in romantic Bruges by heading over to my 1 Day Bruges itinerary!

Other Itinerary Suggestions…

There are many ways to divide your time in Belgium! Here are some other suggestions for those who have more or less time in town. Brussels will require the most time as it is a capital city and there is so much to see and do. Ghent and Bruges are both quite compact and have a more limited number of points of interest, so, if you are in a hurry (or want more time in Brussels), you could combine these two cities into one day.

  • 1 day in Belgium: Stick to Brussels if you prefer busier capital cities, or visit Bruges if you prefer quaint and romantic places.
  • 2 days in Belgium: Spend 1 day in Brussels, spend day two in Ghent & Bruges.
  • 3 days in Belgium: Follow this itinerary! If you’d like, spend 1/2 day in Ghent and see more of Brussels in the evening.
  • 4 days in Belgium: Spend 2 days in Brussels, 1 day in Bruges, 1 day in Ghent. You could also follow this itinerary and consider adding a final day in Antwerp!

What are you most excited to do in Belgium? Let me know what’s at the top of your Belgium bucket list in the comments below!

For more great Belgium resources, click here! You might also enjoy:

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Related posts:

Best of Belgium: How to Spend 1 Day in Brussels Best of Belgium: The Brussels Journey Beer and Chocolate Tour How to Spend 3 Days in Stockholm: The Ultimate Itinerary Best of Belgium: The Ultimate 1 Day Bruges Itinerary
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