Multi-Day Trips: Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges
Multi-Day Trips: Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges
Four days, three cities, and no more than a couple of hours of train between them: Flanders is built for the multi-stop trip. This route follows the story of Flemish painting from Jan van Eyck to Rubens, with Antwerp first so the bigger museums get a full two days. Rail fares are on belgiantrain.be .
The Flemish Art Cities route
Spend two nights in Antwerp, one in Ghent and one in Bruges. Total train time between the cities adds up to under two and a half hours, and services are frequent.
Days 1 and 2, Antwerp. Start with the Cathedral of Our Lady (€12; Saturday 10:00 to 15:00, Sunday 13:00 to 17:00) and its Rubens altarpieces. KMSKA costs €20 with a reserved timed slot (€10 under 26, free under 18). Add the MoMu fashion museum, the Red Star Line Museum (Tuesday to Sunday, €10) and the free MAS rooftop, which is closed Mondays. From 5 December 2026 the Plantin-Moretus printing museum reopens, so winter trips can add it.
Day 3, Ghent. The train takes about 50 minutes. See the Van Eyck altarpiece in Saint Bavo’s, the Gravensteen castle and the lit-up canals in the evening. Visit Ghent has current hours.
Day 4, Bruges. The hop from Ghent takes around 25 minutes. Climb the Belfry, visit the Groeningemuseum and take a canal boat. Visit Bruges lists tickets.
The Dutch border extension
If you have another day or two, take the train north. Rotterdam is about 32 to 48 minutes from Antwerpen-Centraal and Amsterdam about 1 hour 15 minutes. A stop in Mechelen, 17 minutes away, makes a good half day on the way.
Where to base yourself
Staying near Antwerpen-Centraal keeps every train within a short walk, and it is the hub for the Ghent and Mechelen lines. You can compare Antwerp hotels on Booking.com . Hotels in Ghent and Bruges are best booked once your dates are fixed.
Moving between cities
Luggage is easy to carry on trains, and stations are in the centre of each city. Public-sector strikes sometimes affect rail, so keep a flexible day in the middle of the trip. For each town in more detail, the day trips page has frequencies and times.
Tip: take the Bruges leg first thing in the morning on day 4, then you reach the Belfry before the coach crowds.