3-DAY FAMILY ROUTE

Belgium Family Itinerary

Ghent → Bruges → Brussels

One canal-side home base, two easy day trips, and enough room for castles, chocolate, and streets worth wandering.

See the Route

TRIP OVERVIEW

Route overview

One hotel kept the trip simple. Ghent deserved its own day, then Bruges and Brussels were easy train trips without moving luggage.

Family route · 3 days

Ghent → Bruges → Brussels

Three-day Belgium family route based in Ghent with train trips to Bruges and Brussels

Family route · 3 days · Day 1 · Home base for all three nights

Ghent

Canals, Gravensteen Castle, St. Bavo's Cathedral, local shops, waffles, chocolate, and evenings after the day-trip crowds left.

  • Graslei

  • Gravensteen

  • St. Bavo's

  • Canal cruise

Gravensteen Castle during our family stay in Ghent

Family route · 3 days · Day 2 · Train day trip

Bruges

Markt Square, the Belfry, canals, fries, waffles, chocolate, and enough open time to let the compact center do the work.

  • Markt Square

  • Belfry

  • Burg Square

  • Canal boat

Family route · 3 days · Day 3 · Train day trip

Brussels

Grand Place, the Galeries, Manneken Pis, chocolate, and one family attraction chosen around everyone's energy.

  • Grand Place

  • Galeries Royales

  • Manneken Pis

  • Atomium

Day 1 · Home base for all three nights

Ghent

Canals, Gravensteen Castle, St. Bavo's Cathedral, local shops, waffles, chocolate, and evenings after the day-trip crowds left.

Day 1 and our home base

WHY GHENT WORKED

The best part of the route was coming back to Ghent.

We stayed at the Ghent Marriott Hotel, right on the canal, and it was the perfect home base for our family.

The location put us in the middle of the historic center, so we could walk almost everywhere. After the day-trip crowds went home, we still had the canal views, old streets, restaurants, and chocolate shops outside the hotel.

Ghent gave us the beauty people expect from Bruges, but it felt more lived-in and less crowded.

Gravensteen Castle during our family stay in Ghent

DAY 1

Ghent

Spend the first day exploring Ghent at a relaxed pace.

Begin along Graslei and Korenlei, the canal lined with historic guild houses. From there, walk through the old city and visit St. Bavo's Cathedral, home to the famous Ghent Altarpiece.

Continue to Gravensteen Castle. It feels like exactly the kind of medieval castle children hope to find in Europe. The audio tour is entertaining, and the rooftop has wonderful views over the city.

In the afternoon, take a canal cruise or wander through Ghent's cobblestone streets, churches, and locally owned shops. Stop for Belgian waffles and chocolate along the way.

Stay: Ghent Marriott Hotel
Eat: Chocolaterie Luc Van Hoorebeke and Het Pateeke.
Reserve: Gravensteen and the Ghent Altarpiece.

GHENT FAQ

Good to know before you go.

  • Ghent is beautiful, walkable, central for both train trips, and especially enjoyable in the evening. One canal-side hotel also kept us from moving luggage.

  • Give it at least one full day plus an evening. The castle, cathedral, canals, shops, and food easily justify more than a place to sleep.

  • Chocolaterie Luc Van Hoorebeke was our favorite. Try more than one local shop, because some Ghent chocolatiers are not found elsewhere.

Day 2 · Train day trip

Bruges

Markt Square, the Belfry, canals, fries, waffles, chocolate, and enough open time to let the compact center do the work.

Day 2

DAY 2

Bruges day trip

Take the train from Ghent to Bruges for an easy day trip.

Start in Markt Square, surrounded by colorful buildings and the towering Belfry of Bruges. Families with enough energy can climb the belfry, but the views from the square are beautiful even if everyone stays firmly on the ground.

Walk through Burg Square, explore the canals, and take a boat ride through the historic center. Bruges is compact, so there is no reason to overplan the day.

Leave time for chocolate shops, fries, waffles, and plenty of wandering before returning to Ghent for the evening.

Stay: Ghent Marriott Hotel
Eat: Chocolate, fries, and waffles along the walking route; Keep the meal close to the day's route.
Reserve: Belfry of Bruges

BRUGES FAQ

Good to know before you go.

  • Yes. The train keeps this as a simple day trip, and the historic center is compact enough to explore without a complicated route.

  • Only if the climb and view matter to your family. The square is beautiful from the ground, and a canal boat can be a better break for tired legs.

Day 3 · Train day trip

Brussels

Grand Place, the Galeries, Manneken Pis, chocolate, and one family attraction chosen around everyone's energy.

Day 3

DAY 3

Brussels

Take the train to Brussels for the final day.

Begin at the Grand Place, one of the most impressive squares in Europe. Walk through the nearby streets to see Manneken Pis, browse the shops, and sample more Belgian chocolate.

Families may also enjoy the Belgian Comic Strip Center, especially when the children recognize characters such as Tintin or the Smurfs.

For a longer day, travel out to the Atomium before returning to Ghent or continuing to the next destination.

Stay: Ghent Marriott Hotel
Eat: Galet is one option to check near Grand Place.
Reserve: Atomium

BRUSSELS FAQ

Good to know before you go.

  • Yes, but the Atomium is not beside Grand Place. Decide before the day whether it matters enough to take time away from the historic center.

  • Grand Place and the nearby streets are easy anchors. Add either the Comic Strip Center or Atomium rather than forcing every option into one day.