Belgium rewards the curious. In one compact week you’ll stand in the theatrical glow of Brussels’ UNESCO-listed Grand Place, trace surrealism at the Magritte Museum, and ride out to the Atomium’s gleaming spheres. Then it’s off to Bruges, where carillons ring above cobbles, swans ply mirror-calm canals, and the Belfry keeps watch as it has for seven centuries.

Belgium is built for travelers: trains are frequent and fast, languages are many (Dutch/Flemish, French, German—plus excellent English), and menus run on butter, beer, and chocolate. Expect crisp frites with tangy sauces, hearty stews (carbonnade), delicate waffles, and a beer list long enough to warrant a bookmark.

Practical notes: Museums in Belgium often close on Mondays, contactless payment is widely accepted, and tipping is modest (round up or add 5–10% for great service). Keep an eye on your bag in crowded areas and check for any rail timetable changes before you go. This itinerary assumes you arrive on Day 1 afternoon and depart on Day 7 afternoon.

Brussels

Europe’s unofficial capital is equal parts stately and playful. The Grand Place stages a daily drama of light on gold-trimmed guildhalls; a short stroll away, comic-strip murals wink from alley walls. In the Sablon, antique shops cozy up to master chocolatiers; in Sainte-Catherine, seafood bistros spill onto cobbles. The Atomium, a 1958 World’s Fair relic turned icon, keeps watch from Laeken.

Top sights: Grand Place, Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, Magritte Museum and the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, the EU quarter and Parc du Cinquantenaire, the Atomium and Mini-Europe, Cantillon Brewery (a working “lambic” museum), and the Belgian Comic Strip Center.

• Where to stay (Brussels): For five-star polish steps from Grand Place, consider Hotel Amigo. Families love the pool and central location at Novotel Brussels City Centre. Budget-friendly, creative vibe? MEININGER Hotel Brussels City Center sits by the canal in a converted factory. Browse more stays on Hotels.com Brussels or apartments on VRBO Brussels.
• Getting there: Fly into Brussels (BRU). Compare flights on Omio (flights in/out of Europe) or, if coming from outside Europe, on Trip.com. Airport train to Brussels Central takes ~20–25 minutes (about €9).

Day 1: Arrival and the Glow of Grand Place

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Stretch your legs through the Galeries Royales Saint‑Hubert, Europe’s oldest shopping arcade, then step onto the Grand Place as the late light gilds its façades. Pop by Poechenellekelder for a first Belgian pour or savor a buttery Liege waffle at Maison Dandoy.

Evening: Dinner near Sainte‑Catherine: try Noordzee – Mer du Nord for stand‑up seafood plates and crisp white wine, or settle into Vismet for refined North Sea classics (book ahead). Nightcap at Moeder Lambic Fontainas—staff happily steer you through Trappists and wild ales.

Late: Join a sociable bar‑hopping circuit to meet fellow travelers.

Brussels Pub Crawl Tour — Unleash the magic of Brussels nightlife with a guide who knows the best bars and hidden corners.

Day 2: Art, Chocolate, and the Sablon

Morning: Coffee at Café Capitale or Mok, then dive into the Magritte Museum and the Royal Museums of Fine Arts to span Bruegel to surrealism (allow 2–3 hours). Stroll via Mont des Arts gardens for city views.

Afternoon: Eat your way through Brussels on a guided tasting—pralines, waffles, and beer wrapped inside a history walk.

Hungry Mary's Famous Beer and Chocolate Tour in Brussels — Top‑rated tastings plus landmarks like the Royal Galleries and Grand Place.

Evening: Dinner in the Sablon: Au Vieux Saint Martin plates Belgian standards (try vol‑au‑vent or shrimp croquettes). For something cozy and beer‑friendly, Nüetnigenough serves slow‑cooked mains built for malty ales. Digest with a stroll past antique dealers and chocolatier windows (Pierre Marcolini, Wittamer).

Day 3: Atomium, Comics, and Classic Brasseries

Morning: Hop the metro to Atomium (allow ~90 minutes; adult tickets around €17). If you’re traveling with kids, Mini‑Europe is next door. Coffee and viennoiserie afterward at Aksum Coffee House by the Grand Place.

Afternoon: Choose your theme: the Belgian Comic Strip Center in an Art Nouveau showpiece, or Cantillon Brewery for a working lambic brewery museum and tasting (about €11). Snack on frites at Maison Antoine—try andalouse or samurai sauce.

Evening: Mussels and stoemp at time‑honored Chez Léon, then jazz in a 1937 Art Deco time capsule at L’Archiduc, or explore the encyclopedic beer cellars of Delirium near the Jeanneke Pis statue.

Bruges

Bruges is a preserved medieval jewel box—spires and crow‑stepped gables reflecting in canals, swans cruising past stone bridges, and the Belfry chiming the hour. Beyond the picture‑postcard core lie windmills and quiet lanes, perfect for golden‑hour rambles and late‑night legends.

Top sights: Markt square and the Belfry (366 steps, stellar city views), the Burg with the Basilica of the Holy Blood, canal boat tours, the Groeningemuseum (Flemish Primitives), St. John’s Hospital Museum, and the De Halve Maan brewery. Chocolate standouts include The Chocolate Line and Dumon.

• Where to stay (Bruges): Treat yourself at the former ducal residence Hotel Dukes' Palace Bruges. For a central mid‑range pick with Belfry views, Martin’s Brugge. Reliable comfort close to the Burg: Crowne Plaza Brugge. Great-value dorms and private rooms at St. Christopher’s Inn Hostel. See more on Hotels.com Bruges or browse apartments on VRBO Bruges.
• Getting from Brussels to Bruges: Direct IC trains run ~every 20 minutes; journey 58–70 minutes, ~€17–19 one‑way second‑class. Compare and book on Omio (trains in Europe).

Day 4: Brussels to Bruges + First Canals

Morning: Depart Brussels after breakfast; grab seats on the left side for glimpses of Flanders’ fields. Expect about 1 hour to Bruges. Taxi or a 15–20 minute walk brings you to the historic center for check‑in.

Afternoon: Start at the Markt: climb the Belfry (€15; time-slot tickets recommended) for rooftops and ribbons of canal. Cross to the Burg to admire Bruges’ oldest town hall and the intimate Basilica of the Holy Blood.

Evening: Settle in for a storytelling stroll that pulls back the curtain on Bruges after dark.

Bruges at Night: Murder, Mystery & Dark Stories Small Group Walk — Real tales, hidden corners, fewer crowds.

Dinner: Book Réliva for hyper‑seasonal Flemish plates or De Stove for seafood and cozy service. Cap the night with a candlelit beer in Le Trappiste, housed in a 13th‑century cellar.

Day 5: Museums, Brewery, and Chocolate Craft

Morning: Brunch at That’s Toast (savory stacks, good coffee) or Sanseveria (bagels & espresso). Art fix at the Groeningemuseum—van Eyck, Memling, and the evolution of Flemish detail—then wander to St. John’s Hospital to see medical history meet medieval art.

Afternoon: Tour De Halve Maan brewery (about €16) to learn about Bruges’ underground beer pipeline, then join a hands‑on chocolate session to take home your own pralines.

Belgian Chocolate Workshop in Bruges — Make and taste chocolates; everything provided.

Evening: Gastro‑pub atmosphere at ’t Zwart Huis with occasional live music, or go classic at Bistro Den Huzaar (excellent carbonnade flamande). Beer lovers shouldn’t miss ’t Brugs Beertje—a benchmark for Belgian beer lists with deeply knowledgeable staff.

Day 6: Ghent Day Trip (Castles, Altarpieces, and Rivers)

Morning: Train Bruges → Ghent‑St‑Pieters (~25–30 minutes, ~€9–12; book on Omio). Tram or 25‑minute walk to the center. Explore the moated Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts) for crenelated views and a brisk medieval primer.

Afternoon: Visit St. Bavo’s Cathedral to marvel at the Ghent Altarpiece (reserve or time your slot; about €12). Linger along the Graslei and Korenlei quays for lunch—try a bowl of creamy Waterzooi or a waffle dusted in sugar. Wander the Patershol quarter’s lanes for indie boutiques.

Evening: Return to Bruges for dinner. Casual and local: Gran Kaffee De Passage (old‑world tiles, stoofvlees), then a last round at De Garre, tucked in a narrow alley, famous for its house tripel (mind the strength!).

Day 7: Windmills, Last Bites, and Departure

Morning: Coffee at Li O Lait or Vero Caffè. Stroll the Kruisvest windmills (St‑Janshuismolen & Koeleweimolen) for serene canal‑side views and swan‑spotted photographs. Pick up final chocolates at The Chocolate Line or Dumon; lace shops around Steenstraat are good for traditional souvenirs.

Afternoon departure: Train Bruges → Brussels Airport typically takes ~1h30 with an easy change in Brussels‑Midi or ‑Nord; expect ~€23–27 second‑class. Check schedules and reserve on Omio. If you still need flights, compare on Omio (flights) or Trip.com.

Optional Add‑Ons If You Have Extra Time

• Antwerp (40 min by train from Brussels; ~€8–12): See the KMSKA (Rubens to modern masters), panoramic MAS, and taste at De Koninck brewery. Fashion and diamonds add sparkle.
• Belgian coast: From Bruges, the coastal tram links Blankenberge and De Haan for sea‑air walks and shrimp croquettes.

At‑a‑Glance Dining and Drink Favorites

• Brussels breakfast/coffee: Peck 47 (brunchy plates), Hinterland (healthy bowls), Café Capitale (espresso).
• Brussels lunch: Noordzee – Mer du Nord (seafood counter), Frites at Maison Antoine, Tonton Garby (sandwich maestro).
• Brussels dinner: Vismet (seafood), Nüetnigenough (Belgian comfort), Fin de Siècle (generous plates).
• Brussels beer/chocolate: Moeder Lambic, Delirium, Cantillon Brewery; chocolates at Pierre Marcolini, Mary, Neuhaus.
• Bruges breakfast/coffee: That’s Toast, Sanseveria, Li O Lait.
• Bruges lunch: Soup (simple, good), Chez Albert (waffles to‑go), Markt frites stands.
• Bruges dinner: Réliva, De Stove, Bistro Den Huzaar.
• Bruges beer/chocolate: ’t Brugs Beertje, Le Trappiste, De Halve Maan; chocolates at The Chocolate Line, Dumon.

One More Guided Highlight (Optional)

If you’d like a private deep‑dive of Bruges, including a canal ride, this is a great addition:

Experience the best of Bruges on a Private Tour with Boat Ride — A customizable walk through the Old Town capped by a classic canal cruise.

In seven days you’ll taste Belgium’s famous beers and pralines, climb old towers, drift along canals, and master the rail network like a local. Brussels supplies the big‑city sparkle; Bruges gives you the medieval dream. Together, they’re a timeless European city break—easy to navigate, impossible to forget.