Bruges is small, and many visitors find that two or three days cover the old town comfortably. Belgium is also small and has excellent trains, so a day trip is easy and often the best way to see a different side of the country. This guide ranks the options by how easy they are, what they show and who they suit, with approximate travel times so that you can plan around them. Check current train times and ticket options before you travel.
Ghent: the easiest and the best second city
Ghent is a short direct train ride from Bruges, well under an hour, and it is the natural companion to Bruges. It has the same medieval grandeur, with the Gravensteen castle of the counts of Flanders, three towers in a row and the guild houses along the Graslei and Korenlei quays, but it is a working university city with a livelier mood and more everyday life. The star sight is the Ghent Altarpiece, the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb by Hubert and Jan van Eyck, in St Bavo’s Cathedral, which makes a perfect pair with the Van Eycks in Bruges. A forty-minute guided boat tour along the canals is a great way to get your bearings. Ghent is a particularly good choice on a Monday, when most Bruges museums are closed. Allow a full day and stay for the evening, when the quays are lit.
Damme: the gentle half-day
Damme is a small town beside the canal, once the outer port of Bruges when the sea reached further inland. It has a town hall, a leaning church tower and a quiet main street of cafes, and the traditional way to reach it is by bicycle along a straight canal lined with poplars. The ride is flat and takes a few hours at an easy pace. A guided bike tour from Bruges station takes about four hours, including time in the village, and suits couples and active families. You can also reach Damme by canal boat or bus if you prefer.
Ypres and Flanders Fields: the most moving trip
West Flanders was the front line of the First World War, and the area around Ypres has cemeteries, trenches, museums and memorials that make a powerful and sobering day. A guided tour from Bruges takes about ten and a half hours and visits sites such as the German cemetery at Vladslo, the trench lines near Diksmuide, Ypres with the Flanders Fields Museum, Passchendaele and the Menin Gate, where buglers sound the Last Post every evening. It is the best option for history lovers and for families tracing relatives who served, but it is long and serious, so it is best for teenagers and adults.
Brussels: the capital, an hour away
Direct trains link Bruges and Brussels in about an hour, and the capital offers the Grand-Place, the Atomium, museums, comic-strip murals and a very different, cosmopolitan feel. It is worth a day if you have not seen it and are not planning to stay there, though it is much larger than Bruges, so choose two or three sights rather than trying to cover the city. We cover Brussels in its own guide.
Antwerp: fashion, diamonds and Rubens
Antwerp is a little farther, typically around an hour and a quarter by train, sometimes with a change. Its great railway station is a sight in itself, and the city has Rubens, a vast cathedral, shopping and the world’s leading diamond trade. It is a good choice for travellers who like design and art, but it is a longer day than Ghent.
The coast: Ostend, Blankenberge and Knokke
The Belgian coast is just a short train ride away, with beaches, promenades and fish restaurants. Ostend is about a quarter of an hour by train, and the coastal tram runs along the whole shoreline. It is best in summer, and it is a good choice for families who want sand after the cobbles.
How to choose
If you only have one day, choose Ghent. If you love cycling and fresh air, choose Damme. If history matters most, choose Flanders Fields. If you want a big city, choose Brussels or Antwerp. If the weather is good in summer, choose the coast. Leave early, carry a rain layer and book the long guided tours well in advance.
Practical tips
Belgian trains are frequent, but buy tickets before boarding and keep them until you leave the station. Weekend and holiday trains can be busy, and strikes occasionally disrupt services, so allow a margin if you have a flight to catch. Return to Bruges for the evening if you can, because the city is at its best once the day-trippers have gone.
