Best Day Trips from Antwerp

Ghent wears its history with pride, but refuses to get stuck in the past. You’ll find a harmonious collision of medieval spires and avant-garde energy, where student life pulses through centuries-old streets. The imposing Gravensteen Castle watches over the city like a stone sentinel, offering panoramic views and an unexpected torture museum that adds a dash of macabre intrigue. Inside the stately St. Bavo’s Cathedral, the famed Adoration of the Mystic Lamb glows with detail and reverence—it’s an unmissable masterpiece of Early Netherlandish art.

But Ghent isn’t all solemn beauty. Duck into Werregarenstraatje, an alley that acts as an ever-changing canvas for street artists. This legal graffiti zone feels like a living organism—return a month later, and it’s transformed. For something truly offbeat, catch a show at the House of Mysteries, where sleight-of-hand is performed so close you’ll swear it’s real magic.

• Local tip: Swap the busy squares for Koffeine, a snug café with ethically sourced beans and a serious espresso game.
• Travel time: ~1 hour by train

Few cities can rival Bruges when it comes to storybook scenery. This UNESCO-listed gem is almost absurdly photogenic—cobbled lanes twist past swan-filled canals, gothic towers pierce the skyline, and chocolate shops seem to appear on every corner. Begin in the Markt, the city’s pulsating square, where the Belfry invites the brave to climb its 366 steps for commanding views. A canal boat ride is essential—glide under stone bridges and past pastel-hued houses for the best perspective of Bruges’ enchanting geometry.

The real magic lies just off the beaten path. Minnewaterpark, or the Lake of Love, offers a peaceful break from the crowds and a romantic setting ideal for couples or quiet contemplation. Want something quirky? The Frietmuseum (yes, a museum dedicated to fries) dives deep into Belgium’s national obsession—complete with tastings.

• Local tip: Don’t leave without trying fresh-fried frites with andalouse sauce from a street vendor—you’ll never look at chips the same way again.
• Travel time: ~1.5 hours by train

Brussels often plays second fiddle to flashier capitals, but its contradictions are what make it sing. Grand Place, the city’s ornate central square, practically glitters with gilded façades—especially magical when lit up at night. Just beyond the historic core, futuristic forms dominate: the Atomium, built for the 1958 World Expo, offers a sci-fi-esque journey through spheres and skywalks. Art lovers will be drawn to the Magritte Museum, which offers a surreal (and often humorous) dive into the psyche of Belgium’s most enigmatic artist.

For those looking to sidestep the usual stops, La Tour de Villers—a little-known medieval tower near the Marolles district—offers a quiet moment of reflection amid the city buzz. If whimsy is your thing, go on a mission to find all three of the city’s peeing statues: the famous Manneken Pis, his lesser-known sister Jeanneke, and their canine counterpart Zinneke.

• Local tip: Hop into a classic estaminet like A La Mort Subite for a tart beer and Art Nouveau ambiance.
• Travel time: ~45 minutes by train

Nestled between Antwerp and Brussels, Mechelen is often skipped—and that’s part of its charm. Here, history feels tangible but never overbearing. The skyline is dominated by St. Rumbold’s Tower, which rewards those who conquer its 538 steps with views stretching across Flanders. The Grote Markt, framed by pastel-hued guildhouses, buzzes with life, especially on market days when locals spill into cafés with croissants and coffee.

Kids (and nostalgic adults) will adore the Toy Museum, one of the largest of its kind in Europe. Yet Mechelen’s soul lies in its beguinages, those tranquil, maze-like communities of cobbled alleys and whitewashed walls. The city’s small size invites wandering and discovery.

• Local tip: Start your day with brunch at Coffice, then cap it off with a Gouden Carolus at Het Anker, the brewery that’s put Mechelen on the beer lover’s map.
• Travel time: ~25 minutes by train

Leuven brims with youthful energy, thanks to its centuries-old university and vibrant student population. Architectural showstoppers abound, but none more striking than the Town Hall—an ornate lacework of stone featuring over 200 statues of saints, scholars, and civic figures. The aptly named Old Market Square lives up to its nickname, “the longest bar in the world,” with rows of cafés that stretch the full block and beyond.

Need a break from beer and bustle? Stroll through the 18th-century Botanical Garden, where greenhouses shelter exotic orchids and pathways wind past lilies and lilies-of-the-valley. Tucked away on a side street, Bite offers fluffy pancakes and homemade cakes in a cozy, plant-filled space.

• Local tip: Visit during spring exams for quieter streets, or time your trip for summer’s Beleuvenissen music festival.
• Travel time: ~50 minutes by train

If you crave a slower pace, Lier delivers with postcard-perfect canals, charming alleyways, and an intimate feel that makes it ideal for a relaxed day out. Its standout attraction is the Zimmer Tower, home to the Jubilee Clock—a dazzling display of timekeeping that tracks lunar cycles, tides, and even the zodiac. Nearby, the St. Gummarus Church offers a condensed dose of Flemish Gothic, complete with a soaring nave and intricate stained glass.

The real delight, though, is in Lier’s atmosphere. The UNESCO-listed Begijnhof offers silent courtyards and 17th-century charm, while the Vesten—a former defensive ring—makes for a scenic walk or cycle in any season.

• Local tip: Sample the town’s signature spiced tart, Liers Vlaaike, best enjoyed with coffee from café Mokkakapot.
• Travel time: ~20 minutes by train

Sometimes you just need to swap cobblestones for crunching pine needles underfoot. Kalmthoutse Heide straddles the Dutch border, offering one of Belgium’s most beautiful natural escapes. Vast heathlands change color with the seasons—vibrant purple in late summer, golden and misty in autumn. Trails range from lazy loops to longer hikes, all punctuated by silent ponds and birdwatching spots.

The fire tower (Brandtoren) rewards climbers with wide-angle views of the park’s diverse landscape. For botany lovers, the nearby Arboretum Kalmthout is a marvel, particularly in spring when magnolias and cherry blossoms burst into bloom.

• Local tip: Bring a thermos and settle in at one of the wooden benches as the sun dips—sunset here feels like the world pausing.
• Travel time: ~1 hour by train and bus