Belgium rewards the curious. Roman roads gave way to medieval guilds; today, Art Nouveau, shimmering Grand Place guildhouses, and canal-laced towns turn everyday strolls into time travel. Expect painterly squares, fragrant chocolateries, golden ales, and a compact rail network that makes day trips effortless.

Brussels blends EU heft with quirky heart—museums for Magritte and comics, cafes where frites and mussels still reign, and breweries reviving centuries-old lambics. Bruges is your fairytale set piece: cobbles, gabled houses, swans under stone bridges, and bell towers ringing across time.

Practical notes: Belgium uses the euro; tipping is modest (round up or 5–10% for great service). French and Dutch are official; English is widely understood in cities. Pickpockets target busy zones—keep valuables zipped. For trains and buses, compare on Omio; for flights to/from Europe see Omio Flights, and if you’re pricing routes from beyond Europe, compare on Trip.com and Kiwi.com.

Brussels

Brussels is equal parts grand and playful. The Grand Place—UNESCO-listed—glitters with 17th‑century guild houses; around the corner, Manneken Pis keeps the city’s wink intact. Dip into Art Nouveau with Horta’s curves, taste lambics at heritage breweries, and browse comic murals and vintage record shops in the Marolles.

Top sights include the Grand Place, Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, Atomium, Magritte Museum, and Parc du Cinquantenaire. Food-wise, this is the land of moules-frites, stoofvlees (beef stew), waffles, pralines, and Trappist and lambic beers that inspire pilgrimages.

• Where to stay: Design-forward classic at Hotel Amigo or Hotel Amigo, a Rocco Forte Hotel; great value and social vibe at MEININGER Hotel Brussels City Center; central comfort at Novotel Brussels City Centre. Browse apartments on VRBO Brussels or more hotels on Hotels.com Brussels.
• Getting in: Fly into BRU or CRL; compare fares on Omio Flights. From the airport, trains to Bruxelles-Central take ~20 minutes.
• Local flavor: Coffee at Mok or Kaffabar; frites at Frit Flagey; seafood standing-up at Noordzee—order shrimp croquettes and a glass of white.

Day 1: Arrival and the Glittering Heart of Brussels

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Start at the Grand Place—step back to admire gables and gilding. Duck into Galeries Royales Saint‑Hubert for belle‑époque glass roofing and a first praline at Pierre Marcolini or Neuhaus.

Evening: Dinner at Nüetnigenough (small, cozy; carbonnade flamande, rabbit with geuze, and a stellar Belgian beer list). Post-dinner, compare lambics at Moeder Lambic Fontainas or wander to Delirium’s alley of bars for a playful nightcap.

Day 2: Art, Parks, and Beer & Chocolate Tour

Morning: Coffee and eggs at Peck 47, then the Magritte Museum (surrealist daydreams) and stroll through the Sablon’s antiques and chocolatiers—grab a macaron or hot chocolate at Wittamer.

Afternoon: Metro to Parc du Cinquantenaire for triumphal arches and the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces or Autoworld. If the weather’s bright, hop out to the Atomium for 1958 Expo futurism and panoramic views.

Evening: Join this beloved tasting walk: Hungry Mary's Famous Beer and Chocolate Tour in Brussels—city highlights plus top-tier pralines and curated beer stops.

Pair it with a late bite at Les Brigittines (art nouveau brasserie; white asparagus in spring, choucroute in winter).

Day 3: Sablon Chocolates, Workshop, and Lambic Heritage

Morning: Start at Place du Grand Sablon—pop between Patrick Roger, Marcolini, and Laurent Gerbaud to taste different chocolate styles. If you’re into decorative arts, detour to the Magritte-inspired murals nearby or the Royal Museums of Fine Arts for Bruegel and Rubens.

Afternoon: Hands-on cocoa time at Belgian Chocolate Making Class and Tasting in Brussels—learn tempering basics and craft pralines to take home.

Refuel at Noordzee – Mer du Nord (order shrimp croquettes, fish soup, and a glass of Muscadet at the counter).

Evening: Toast tradition at Cantillon Brewery (Brasserie Cantillon; living museum of lambic—gueuze and kriek brewed the old way). Dinner at Fin de Siècle (no reservations; chalkboard classics like sausage‑stoemp and guinea fowl), or book Comme Chez Soi for a splurge tasting menu.

Day 4: Day Trip to Antwerp (Diamonds, Design, and De Koninck)

Morning: Take the train Brussels‑Central to Antwerpen‑Centraal (~40 min, ~€10–12; check times on Omio Trains). Start at the Cathedral of Our Lady (Rubens altarpieces), then stroll the Meir and old town lanes to the Plantin‑Moretus Museum (UNESCO-listed printing presses, a time capsule of the printing revolution).

Afternoon: Head to the Museum aan de Stroom (MAS) for panoramic rooftop views and exhibits on Antwerp’s maritime soul. Lunch at Frites Atelier (chef Sergio Herman’s polished frites) or hearty classics at De Pottekijker.

Evening: Brewery tour and cheese pairings at De Koninck (Bolleke amber is the local hero). Dinner back near the cathedral at Graanmarkt 13 (seasonal, elegant) or keep it casual with mussels at Elfde Gebod. Return to Brussels by train.

Bruges

Bruges is Belgium’s medieval postcard come to life—gingerbread gables, market bells, stone bridges, and mirror-still canals. By day, climb the belfry; by dusk, watch lanterns reflect in the water as swans glide past. It’s also a food town: shrimp croquettes, beer cafés with encyclopedic lists, and chocolate ateliers on nearly every block.

Must‑sees include the Belfry of Bruges, Markt, Burg Square, the Groeningemuseum (Flemish Primitives), and the windmills along the ramparts. Don’t miss brewery De Halve Maan, where a beer pipeline literally runs beneath the streets.

• Where to stay: Classic elegance at Hotel Dukes' Palace Bruges or Hotel Dukes' Palace Bruges (alt); prime location at Martin's Brugge or Crowne Plaza Brugge; value at Novotel Brugge Centrum or the social St. Christopher's Inn Hostel (alt link). Browse apartments on VRBO Bruges or more hotels on Hotels.com Bruges.
• Getting there from Brussels: Morning InterCity trains run ~every 15 min; 1h05–1h15, ~€17–22 one way. Check and book via Omio Trains.
• Local flavor: Breakfast at That’s Toast or Sanseveria (bagels, excellent coffee). Chocolate fix at The Old Chocolate House. Beer tasting at Café De Garre down a hidden alley.

Day 5: Brussels → Bruges, Belfry Bells and Canal Curves

Morning: Train to Bruges (~1h; book on Omio). Drop bags and grab a light lunch—try Le Pain Quotidien for tartines or a quick cone at Chez Vincent if you’re already craving frites.

Afternoon: Orient on the Markt, then climb the Belfry (366 steps; the views repay the climb). Cross to the Burg to see the Basilica of the Holy Blood and Gothic Town Hall, then amble to the photogenic Rozenhoedkaai.

Evening: Dinner at De Stove (intimate; North Sea fish done right) or Bistro t’ Zwart Huis (live music some nights, wood‑fired grill). Nightcap at Café ’t Brugs Beertje—a beer list to get lost in.

Day 6: Ghent Day Trip from Bruges (Altarpieces and Castles)

Morning: Train Bruges → Gent‑Sint‑Pieters (~25–30 min, ~€9–12; check Omio). Tram or walk to the old town. Visit St. Bavo’s Cathedral to see the restored Adoration of the Mystic Lamb by the Van Eycks—reserve a viewing slot if possible.

Afternoon: Walk the Graslei/Korenlei quays, then tour the Gravensteen, a moated 12th‑century castle with city views. Lunch on Gentse waterzooi at ’t Klokhuys or try Balls & Glory for giant stuffed meatballs and mash.

Evening: Return to Bruges. Golden-hour stroll to the Begijnhof and along the Minnewater (Lake of Love). Dinner at Cambrinus (book ahead; encyclopedic beer pairings) or seasonal tasting menus at Den Gouden Harynck.

Day 7: Chocolate Workshop, Windmills, and Departure

Morning: Hands-on sweets at Belgian Chocolate Workshop in Bruges—craft mendiants and pralines to take home.

Alternatively, do the family-friendly Chocolate Workshop at Choco-Story Brugge plus a self-guided museum visit.

Afternoon: Quick walk or bike to the windmills (Sint‑Janshuysmolen, Koeleweimolen) along the green ramparts for final photos, then pick up a picnic of cheese and bread at a local deli. Depart for Brussels or the airport; compare rail and flight options on Omio Trains and Omio Flights. If flying long‑haul, also price on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Dining & Coffee Shortlist (Both Cities)

• Waffles: Brussels—Maison Dandoy (liege vs. brussels styles explained at the counter). Bruges—The Old Chocolate House for decadent hot chocolate plus a waffle.
• Frites: Brussels—Frit Flagey (sauces galore: andalouse, samurai). Bruges—Chez Vincent by the Markt.
• Seafood: Brussels—Noordzee (standing bar), La Belle Maraîchère at Sainte‑Catherine for sit‑down classics. Bruges—De Stove for North Sea catches.
• Beer Bars: Brussels—Moeder Lambic, Poechenellekelder. Bruges—Cambrinus, Café De Garre (house tripel).
• Breakfast/Coffee: Brussels—Peck 47, Kaffabar, Mok. Bruges—That’s Toast, Sanseveria.

Logistics at a Glance

• Trains: Brussels ↔ Bruges ~1h; Brussels ↔ Antwerp ~40 min; Bruges ↔ Ghent ~25–30 min. Book or compare on Omio. Expect €9–22 per leg depending on route and timing.
• Local transit: Brussels STIB single fares ~€2.10; contactless works on buses/trams/metro. Bruges and Ghent are best on foot or bike.
• Museum timing: Many museums close on Mondays; check opening hours if planning Horta/Magritte visits.

Alternative Day Tours from Brussels (if you want to swap a day)

• Brussels All In Tour: Belgian food, chocolate, beer, sightseeing

  

  Ideal if you’d like a guided deep-dive into Belgian cuisine in half a day.

Seven days in Belgium lets you savor world-class chocolate and beer, medieval towers and modern design, and day-trip ease by rail. With Brussels’ urban energy and Bruges’ canal romance, you’ll leave with a camera full of spires—and a suitcase that mysteriously smells like cocoa.