Luxembourg, one of the smallest countries in Europe, is an easy day trip from Brussels. Places to visit: Be inspired at the Art Nouveau Horta Museum. Your email address will not be published. Take the E40 heading northwest out of Brussels; after 40 minutes, turn off onto the E17 and follow signs to the city center. Get off in Mechelen (not Mechelen Nekkerspoel) and walk 10 minutes from the station to heart of Mechelen. Simply hop on a train and within the hour you can be in the Netherlands, Germany or France. So without further ado here are the best places to visit from Brussels. Practical details for visiting Durbuy:There is no direct public transportation from Brussels to Durbuy. Relevant article: 10 Castle hotels in Belgium for a romantic getaway, Can be combine with: Walzin Castle, Dinant, Furfoos National Park, Fondry des ChiensLocation: 100 kilometers from BrusselsCan you visit inside: Yes. Whether you visit the turquoise waters of the Caribbean or the sunny beaches of Africa, these resorts will help you reach ultimate relaxation. Get in touch with the past at Anne Frank House, learn about art at the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh and Rembrandt House museums, and enjoy the famous Heineken Experience. However, you can still get a good glimpse at this massive palace from outside. Walking through the halls, travelers will be able to see works fromRubens, Rodin, Gauguin, Magritte and many more. Others enjoyed sampling the unique taste of lambic beer. Other parts are slowly being reclaimed by nature which adds to the overall allure of the abbey.The kids will love exploring the grounds, duking in and out of the ruins, while adults might be interested in learning about the history of the abbey through their interactive app (simply scan the QR codes hung around the site). Brussels with kids: what to expect. After an hour, turn off onto the N97 and follow it the last short stretch until you reach the town center. To help you navigate the various different day trips around Brussels I plotted them on a map for you. The charming town is surrounded by the Ypres Salient battlefields, giving visitors the chance to go back in time while visiting the war museums, memorials, as well as cemeteries and discovering the horrors of war, its heroes, and villains. The most popular tourist attraction in Brussels, the Atomium is a depiction of an iron crystal magnified more than 100 billion times that was originally built for the 1958 Worlds Fair in Brussels. Along both sides of this river youll find gorgeous traditional buildings and river boats gently drifting past. 10 Things to do in Charleroi before flying out of Charleroi Airport, A weekend in Antwerp: The comprehensive 2-days in Antwerp guide (including map), City trip Mechelen: Locals guide to things to do in Mechelen. Practical details for visiting Vves Castle:Entrance fee: Self-guided tours 8 for adults; Guided tours 65Duration of visit: Self-guided ~ 45 minutes; Guided ~ 1h15, Can be combined with: Vves Castle, Dinant, Furfoos National Park, Fondry des ChiensLocation: 91 km from BrusselsCan you visit inside: No The grounds can be visited in the summer weekly on Thursday at 10 AM. Required fields are marked *. Just hop on a train to Liege from Brussels; once there, take a half hour train to Maastricht. Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is now one of the most interesting destinations in Europe. For those interested in military history, this museum makes for a great afternoon. Bruges is a charming city of elegant swans and medieval streets, but there's much more here to do than just bird-watch and walk. 6. Past visitors said they loved the interactive exhibits and that their kids did not want to leave. What can I see at the Galeries Saint-Hubert? This will take you to the border with Luxembourg, where the road turns into the A6, which will take you to straight to Luxembourg City. If you are looking for a more adventurous way to explore the park, you might want to check out the kayak options offered in Dinant. Decidedly one of the most famous castles of Belgium, Walzin is somewhat of a mythical castle perched up high on a cliff, overlooking the Lesse river. Admission is 7, and you can also climb the battlements for a view. A lovely and elevated point in Brussels that overlooks manicured gardens, the huge spire of the Town Hall and if you're lucky you'll be even able to see Koekelberg Basilica and Atomium in the distance on a clear day. Located only 55 kilometres far from Belgiums capital, the city makes a perfect destination for a day trip. For the best views of the city head to the Chemin de la Corniche promenade where you see the citys medieval fortifications which run by the Alzette River. Getting there: You can reach Amsterdam from Brussels by intercity train, with the journey taking under 2 hours. . Medieval Ypres was the epicenter of a flourishing textile industry, resulting in large sums of money exchanging hands and lustrous merchant homes being built in the city. Some warned that no cash is accepted and advised allotting several hours to spend in the museum. Brussels is an easy city to visit with kids in tow. Factually you are right, this one however is located in a lush forested area. This 12th-century Abbey is extraordinarily well preserved, at least part of it. As it is just 45 minutes away by train, Antwerp is very easy to get to by public transport. In addition, beer enthusiasts must visit Maison Leffe, an inviting beer museum. Dont leave without checking out the Memorial 1815, a compelling underground centre illustrating the battles historic significance. Kasteel van Ordingen is a boutique castle hotel with spa facilities and a breakfast spread befitting of royalty. As you walk, aim for the Anne Frank House which is more than just a commemoration of a young life lost, but a moving memorial to all that the Holocaust destroyed. Youll find works of art by Peter Paul Rubens inside the cathedral, as well as inside the historic Rubens House where the artist lived. The museum depicts rural life across Flanders over the previous centuries. Antwerp is a delightful port city on Belgiums Scheldt River. Brussels can be a bit of a maze when it comes to figuring out where to stay. While you can find fries in almost every restaurant, there are also many friteries that specialize in the art of fries. Flemish city of Ghent 3. Take in the beauty of the citys Town Hall and Tafelrond before heading into the equally impressive St Pieters Church. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. By taking a day trip, you can turn your Brussels trip into something much more. Another curiosity in town is the Maison Adolphe Sax, home to the man who invented the saxophone. And if you've got kids in tow, admire the fossils on display at theMuseum of Natural Sciences and the ancient locomotives housed within Train World. Gone was the fort-like appearance of the castle and in came the turrets. As you walk through, keep your eyes open for Horta's influences, from the wing-like skylights to the winding banisters to the overhead lights stemming down from the ceiling like vines. Today, ithouses multiple exhibitions, a panoramic view over the city and a restaurant with excellent views, and is considered to be a symbol of both Brussels and Belgium. Relevant article: Things to do in Charleroi, Can be combined with: De Schorre, Antwerpen, Borrekens CastleLocation: 23 km from BrusselsThe city of Mechelen is a great 1 day trip from Brussels for both kids and foodies. Many past visitors agreed that Mini-Europe is a great place to bring children. Enjoy a long walk around the city and stop at the statue of Dirk Martens, the first printer in the Netherlands. The Cistercian Abbey of Orval was founded in the 11th century and started brewing beer almost around the same time although the official establishment of the brewery stems from 1931.The Orval Abbey is one of the few abbeys visitors can enter and look around. Get in touch with history at the Bokrijk, an interesting park and museum complex and have some fun at Plopsa Indoor Hasselt, an amazing theme park with Indoor rides and attractions, as well as a great outdoor zone. And finally, dont leave Antwerp without seeing the high-tech Museum aan de Stroom or the new Port Authority building nearby. Around 6 million visitors come to the Galeries every year to enjoy stores selling everything from clothing to chocolate to diamonds. As far as short trips from Brussels go, this one will require a slightly longer commute taking around 1h45 on the train or 1h15 in the car. Set aside plenty of time to spend at this museum, which will delight the science and dinosaur lovers of all ages. The journey takes about 90 mintues, and the train station is located right next to the center of Dinant. Best Views & Location ($$) Cocoon Boutique Hotel, The Cocoon Boutique Hotel is situated just a few feet from the Grand Place in Brussels. With multiple direct trains running hourly between Brussels and Antwerp, I would recommend taking public transportation (50 min train ride). Architecture fans should visit Musee Horta, home of Belgian master architect Victor Horta. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Keep in mind that tickets to Anne Frank House sell out fast and can only be purchased online on the official website. Meaning "50th anniversary," Cinquantenaire Park was built in 1880 in honor of the 50th anniversary celebration of the independence of Belgium. Adventurous travellers can rent a bike and explore the streets, historic landmarks, and main pubs of Amsterdam. Moving through the citys historic center, youll pass the elegant Ghent Belfry and the unusual City Pavilion to find Ghents Town Hall. Leuven is a small town, with only about 95,00 residents and can be easily explored on foot. The impressive Vves Castle combined with Dinant and the Furfooz National Park make for an action-packed day trip from Brussels, showing you some of the best sights the province of Namur has to offer. Though the original statue dates back to the 17th century, the statue on display is actually a replica. Once youve wandered around the Old Town a little, visit the University Library for its magnificent reading hall, informative museum, and superb tower views. Turn off at exit 34; from there, its just a short distance to the center of Tournai. Learn more. As you can see there are many things to see in Belgium outside of Brussels. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. As direct trains run to Tournai every hour, it is very simple to get there by public transport; you can take a train from any one of the citys main stations, which are Brussels Midi, Brussels Central, and Brussels North. The home, which was built between 1898 and 1901 features murals, stained glass and mosaics that are largely intact from its original construction. Standing by the riverfront on the Charles de Gaulle Bridge its hard to miss the immense Citadel of Dinant sitting on the cliffs over the river. Nearby youll find the magnificent Palace of the Grand Duke, the official residence of Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Known for being one of Belgiums medieval treasures, Ghent is also a cultural city defined by music, theatre, film and visual arts. Expect basic amenities like free Wi-Fi, coffee/tea makers, and TVs. Visiting this port city, youll want to begin in Antwerps main square, looking up at the City Hall and Brabo Fountain. Few destinations in Belgium are so focused on one period of the countrys history like the city of Ypres. Practical details for visiting Gaasbeek Castle: Castle itself is closed for renovations until 2023 The domain around the castle remains open (free)Visiting the castle can easily be done via public transportation though will require a combination of train and bus (journey time 48 minutes each way). Recent visitors were impressed with the variety of instruments inside the museum, as well as with the building itself. Depending on your interest in Brussels' history and the time you arrive, you could pop into the museum. To get there, you want to head south out of Brussels on the E19 before taking the E429 west. Due to its proximity to Bruges, you could always drive 20 minutes further to visit the Venice of the North, as it is known, or even head east and check out Antwerp, which is about a 45-minute drive away. To get to the battlefields from Brussels, drive east out of the city and pick up the ring road heading south to Waterloo. The abbeys in Belgium are known across the world, perhaps not so much for their devoted monks as for the Trappist Beer said monks brew. Highlights include a walk around Bruges Lake of Love and Ghents Castle of the Counts of Flanders. Tiny houses and little artisanal shops are connected by picturesque cobblestone paths.Tip: If you happen to visit in summer, the kids are going to love the giant corn maze located 1.2 km outside of town! Tip: Click on the category name above to jump directly to the relevant section in the below article and avoid having to scroll through places in Belgium that are of less interest to you. All you have to do is head south out of Brussels and hop on the A4 which will take you almost all the way there. 8. Book Tour to Luxembourg Getting there:To reach Luxembourg by train takes almost 3 hours each way from Brussels making it quite a long day trip. Here youre surrounded by the citys Renaissance architecture including the Cathedral of Our Lady, an immense Gothic building. If you take an early train to Bruges, it is possible to stop by beautiful Ghent on the way back to Brussels as they lie on the same train line. The Brussels area is serviced by both Flemish, Walloon, and Brussels local transport. A clearing in the forest will give you uninterrupted views. 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