Brussels and Ghent in 48 Hours: What to See Between Amsterdam and Paris
Updated April 2026 | 3 min read
Two days in Brussels in August 2023 as part of a longer Amsterdam-to-Paris trip by train. Brussels gets overlooked between its flashier neighbors, but the chocolate, the beer, and a day trip to Ghent and Bruges made it a highlight.
Brussels: Day One
We arrived by train from Amsterdam at 2pm and headed straight to the Grand Place, one of the most beautiful city squares in Europe. From there, we did a self-guided chocolate walk: Neuhaus, Pierre Marcolini, Corne Port-Royal in the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, and Maison Dandoy for waffles.
Manneken Pis is exactly as small and underwhelming as everyone says. The real draw is the surrounding streets and the walk up to Monts des Arts for a view of the city.
Evening: Delirium Cafe, which holds the Guinness record for most beers available. Go downstairs to the basement bar.
Bruges and Ghent: Day Two
The best day trip of the entire two-week trip. Morning train to Bruges (50 minutes), afternoon in Ghent (20 minutes from Bruges), back to Brussels by evening.
Bruges: Medieval canals, cobblestones, chocolate shops. The canal boat tour at 11am is the best way to see it. Dumon Chocolatier near the Market Place makes excellent chocolate. Chez Albert has street waffles. Skip the Belfry (mesh fencing ruins photos).
Ghent: The surprise. Less touristy, better food, better photos. St. Michael’s Bridge is the prettiest spot. Gravensteen castle is explorable. We climbed the Ghent Belfry at 5:30pm for panoramic views with no mesh fencing. Du Progres on Korenmarket for dinner.
Practical Details
- Brussels to Bruges: 50-60 min direct train
- Bruges to Ghent: 20-40 min direct
- Ghent to Brussels: 30 min from Gent-Sint-Pieters
- Ghent tip: Tram line 1 from station to Korenmarket (walking takes 30 min)
- Total train cost: ~$40 for all three legs
What It Cost (Two People, 2 Nights)
- Hotel: ~$300
- Trains: ~$120
- Food/drinks: ~$300
- Chocolate shopping: ~$80
- Total: ~$800
Amsterdam, Brussels, and the Dutch Grand Prix by Train covers the full route. Amsterdam in 2025 is the Amsterdam deep dive.
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Written by Jenna Fattah
I have visited 25+ countries across 6 continents, attended 7 Formula 1 races, and spent 4 years writing about what actually works and what I would do differently. Every recommendation on this site comes from trips I planned and paid for myself. Read more about me
