Antwerp and Ghent Day Trip from Brussels

Enjoy a comprehensive day trip to Antwerp and Ghent from Brussels, setting off early from the capital to make the most of the day and explore the most beautiful sights and monuments of these two unmissable destinations in the Flemish Region.

You’ll be accompanied by a professional guide who’ll give you the best tips for exploring both cities. All this on a coach tour from the centre of Brussels, where you can relax and simply enjoy the journey.

You’ll discover the natural and architectural beauty characteristic of Flanders, adorned with lovely canals, small bridges and luxurious high-rise buildings. The perfect picture-postcard setting to explore Antwerp, the ‘city of diamonds’, and see places such as:

• Atomium: This steel sculpture, consisting of nine spheres representing a crystalline iron structure, is an unmissable spot for taking photos in Antwerp
• Het Steen Castle: you’ll be amazed by this beautiful medieval castle, which served as a fortress in the Middle Ages to protect Antwerp as it flourished as a commercial and port city
• Grote Markt: on the Grand Market Square, you’ll find the town hall, the Brabo Fountain and a wide variety of bars and restaurants lining the banks of the River Scheldt
• Antwerp Cathedral: upon entering this Gothic-style church dating from 1352, you’ll see spectacular works of art by artists such as Rubens, Murillo and Otto van Veen
• Meir Street: you’ll soak up the city’s authentic local atmosphere as you stroll along Meir Street, the commercial heart of Antwerp, with its endless array of shops, terraces, bars and restaurants
• Central Railway Station: it’s like stepping into a royal palace. That’s how you’ll feel upon entering the railway station, a building with fourteen platforms boasting a 75-metre-high glass dome and marble details throughout

In Ghent, one of Belgium’s premier cultural and port destinations, you’ll have the chance to visit iconic sites, including:

• Ghent Belfry: this impressive belfry, whose construction began in 1314, forms a complex with two other monuments, St Nicholas’ Church and St Bavo’s Cathedral
• St Nicholas’ Church: a Gothic and Romanesquechurch whose interior enjoys incredible natural light, thanks to the rays of light streaming through the transept tower
• St Bavo’s Cathedral: upon entering this cathedral, you’ll be able to admire *The Adoration of the Mystical Lamb* by the Van Eyck brothers, one of the world’s most influential paintings
• Korenmarkt: enjoy Ghent’s liveliest and busiest atmosphere as you stroll through its main square, surrounded by numerous bars and restaurants well worth a visit
• Sint-Veerleplein: another charming square in Ghent, where the River Lys and the Lieve Canal meet. It is home to the ‘Ai Nati Oggi’ monument, which lights up every time a baby is born in the city
• Gravensteen Castle: the ‘Castle of the Counts’ is a 17th-century fortress that epitomises Ghent’s medieval and ancient past, with dungeons, towers and cells true to the era

Once the scheduled activities with your private guide have finished, you’ll have plenty of free time to explore other places of interest on your own before returning to the coach for the journey back to Brussels.