# Brussels with a day in Ghent

[Canonical itinerary](<https://zukio.com/trips/europe/single-base-plus-day-trip/brussels-with-a-day-in-ghent-z0064/>)

Add a nearby city or landscape while keeping one overnight base

- Region: Europe
- Trip format: Single base + day trip
- Nights: 5
- Interests: Design, Politics, History, Food & Drink

## Route and nights

- Brussels · 5 night(s)

Tradeoff: A day trip avoids repacking. Check the last return option and whether the travel time is worth the outing.

Compare: Local transit, rail, ferry or road for the outing as applicable

## Day-by-day agenda

Suggested schedule. Times are local. Check hours and availability for your dates.

### Day 1 · Brussels

- 15:00 to 15:40 · Check in or drop off your bags · ibis Brussels off Grand Place
- 16:00 to 17:35 · Locate the station entrance and walk around Grand-Place · Brussels-Central railway station. Keep the walk optional if you arrive late.
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near the end of your walk · Brussels-Central railway station
Overnight: [ibis Brussels off Grand Place](<https://www.hotels.com/ho125111/ibis-brussels-off-grand-place-brussels-belgium/>) · Brussels

### Day 2 · Brussels

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Grand-Place, Brussels
- 09:25 to 10:40 · Walk around Grand-Place and the streets by the guildhalls · Grand-Place, Brussels
- 10:55 to 12:10 · Explore the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert and nearby lanes · Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, Brussels. Use the public arcade and allow time for individual shops to open.
- 12:25 to 13:35 · Lunch near the historic center · Brussels city center
- 13:55 to 16:45 · See Art Nouveau facades around Rue Antoine Dansaert and the city center · Rue Antoine Dansaert, Brussels. Include the former Old England department store near Mont des Arts as an exterior stop if you prefer a compact route.
- 18:15 to 19:45 · Dinner near your hotel · Grand-Place, Brussels
Overnight: [ibis Brussels off Grand Place](<https://www.hotels.com/ho125111/ibis-brussels-off-grand-place-brussels-belgium/>) · Brussels

### Day 3 · Brussels

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Grand-Place, Brussels
- 09:25 to 10:15 · Travel to the European Quarter · European Quarter, Brussels
- 10:25 to 12:20 · Visit the Parlamentarium if open · Parlamentarium, Brussels. Check admission, identification rules, and opening hours. The exterior district and Parc Léopold work if the visit is unavailable. [Official information](<https://visiting.europarl.europa.eu/en/visitor-offer/brussels/parlamentarium>)
- 12:35 to 13:45 · Lunch around Place du Luxembourg · Place du Luxembourg, Brussels
- 14:05 to 16:45 · Walk Parc Léopold and the surrounding European Quarter · Parc Léopold, Brussels
- 18:15 to 19:45 · Dinner near your hotel · Grand-Place, Brussels
Overnight: [ibis Brussels off Grand Place](<https://www.hotels.com/ho125111/ibis-brussels-off-grand-place-brussels-belgium/>) · Brussels

### Day 4 · Ghent

- 08:10 to 10:15 · Travel from Brussels to Ghent and reach the historic center · Gent-Sint-Pieters railway station. Choose an actual train and add local tram or walking time into town. [Official information](<https://www.belgiantrain.be/en>)
- 10:25 to 12:20 · Walk the canal streets around Graslei and Korenlei · Graslei, Ghent. Take the public quays and bridges toward the old trading center.
- 12:35 to 13:45 · Lunch near the historic center · Ghent, Belgium
- 14:00 to 15:45 · Explore Korenmarkt and the streets around Saint Bavo’s Cathedral · Saint Bavo’s Cathedral, Ghent. Check visitor access if you want to enter.
- 16:00 to 17:45 · Return by rail to Brussels · Brussels-Central railway station. Pick a published service and allow time to get back to Gent-Sint-Pieters.
Overnight: [ibis Brussels off Grand Place](<https://www.hotels.com/ho125111/ibis-brussels-off-grand-place-brussels-belgium/>) · Brussels

### Day 5 · Brussels

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near your hotel · Grand-Place, Brussels
- 09:30 to 10:45 · Browse chocolate shops around Grand-Place and the galleries · Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, Brussels. Compare shops and choose a small purchase or tasting rather than treating every stop as a meal.
- 11:00 to 12:15 · Walk toward the Sablon streets and square · Grand Sablon, Brussels
- 12:30 to 13:45 · Have a Belgian cafe lunch around the Sablon · Sablon, Brussels. Check kitchen hours.
- 14:05 to 16:45 · Follow the streets back toward Place Sainte-Catherine · Place Sainte-Catherine, Brussels. Make time for a coffee stop if you want a slower afternoon.
- 18:15 to 19:45 · Dinner near your hotel · Grand-Place, Brussels
Overnight: [ibis Brussels off Grand Place](<https://www.hotels.com/ho125111/ibis-brussels-off-grand-place-brussels-belgium/>) · Brussels

### Day 6 · Brussels

- 08:25 to 09:15 · Breakfast near your hotel · Grand-Place, Brussels
- 09:30 to 10:00 · Check out and collect your bags · ibis Brussels off Grand Place
- 10:10 to 10:50 · Optional last walk near your hotel · Grand-Place, Brussels. Skip this if you need the time to get to your departure point.