STAY

Fly into Brussels and check into Rocco Forte’s Hotel Amigo, a historic 173-room property with contemporary décor. The hotel is just steps from the medieval Grand-Place. Individually decorated guest accommodations designed by Olga Polizzi offer views of the marketplace or the churches and spires of the city.

DINE

Old-school Restaurant de l’Ogenblik spans an evocative multilevel space in the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert shopping arcade. Green glass lamps, lace curtains, wooden tables and affable service create a homey atmosphere for traditional Belgian and French cooking.

EXPLORE

Start by exploring the old center. Enjoy the atmosphere of La Grand-Place, immerse yourself in iconic surrealist artworks at the Magritte Museum. In an adjacent building, the Old Masters Museum is home to major paintings ranging from triptychs by Bosch to “The Death of Marat,” by Jacques-Louis David.

In the afternoon, perhaps enjoy some shopping along fashionable Rue Antoine Dansaert, followed by a fine Belgian beer in an atmospheric pub such as the lively A l’Imaige Nostre-Dame, with wood beams and stained-glass windows.

A few days will give you enough time to also visit the Horta Museum, dedicated to the work of art nouveau architect Victor Horta. Set in his former home and studio, it features an arresting five-floor staircase that culminates in an exquisite glass skylight.

STAY

It’s an hour by train from Brussels to Bruges, where the nine-room Notary is a short walk from Market Square and the Belfry Tower. The hideaway combines historic architecture with theatrical interiors, featuring an ornate dining room, a colorful salon, a comfy library, a canal-front garden and a compact wellness area with a sauna that can be booked for private sessions.

DINE

Be sure to break for a snack of frites, which are usually thick, twice-fried and accompanied by mayonnaise, served from the frites vans (frietkot) on the Market Square’s perimeter. For a high-end dining experience, visit elegant Zet’joe, opened by celebrated chef Geert Van Hecke, the first chef in Flanders to earn three Michelin stars. The intimate one-star dining room features a window into the kitchen, where chefs create artfully composed dishes that range from lamb sweetbreads to a gâteau of white Belgian asparagus and Zeebrugge gray shrimp finished with a decadent crustacean sabayon.

EXPLORE

While the city is increasingly overcrowded due to day-trippers and cruise passengers, there are still moments of magic to be found. Book a romantic canal cruise or carriage ride to take in the well-preserved medieval architecture.

Bruges is a gold mine for art lovers, with multiple masterpieces within easy walking distance of one another, and the imposing castles and churches reveal centuries of stories. Among Bruges’ greatest artistic treasures is Michelangelo’s “Madonna and Child,” housed within the Church of Our Lady. One of Bruges’ most unexpected art destinations is the Sint-Janshospitaal, a centuries-old complex with soaring architecture resembling that of a church. In an attached gallery is the museum’s great highlight, the “St. John Altarpiece,” a monumental triptych by Hans Memling. The Groeninge Museum houses some of Bruges’ most important works, from the technically brilliant paintings by the Flemish primitives to 20th-century modernist pieces, including Bosch’s “Last Judgment” triptych. In a neighboring building, a new hall called BRUSK opened in May 2026, showcasing temporary exhibitions.

Those with more time could take a day to go castle-hopping through the countryside in a vintage Jaguar or make an excursion to the World War I Flanders Field cemetery and memorial.

STAY

Hop back on the train for the 30-minute ride to Ghent, where you’ll check into the 38-room 1898 The Post hotel, inside a portion of the city’s old main post office. The fashionable public areas feature vintage lighting, earth tones and elegant furnishings.

DINE

Just outside Ghent’s historic center, Publiek occupies an inviting brick townhouse where the casual atmosphere belies the remarkable quality of the cooking. The menu showcases creative techniques applied to familiar ingredients, with soul-satisfying dishes such as roasted guinea fowl with smoked bacon and braised chicory. An inventive bar program features specialties such as a Picon Vin Blanc with housemade orange bitters and a Genever-based Negroni.

EXPLORE

Make your first stop St. Bavo’s Cathedral to see “The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb,” by Hubert and Jan van Eyck. Commonly known as “The Ghent Altarpiece,” the 15th-century work is one of Belgium’s artistic highlights. The masterpiece has been motorized to open and close automatically, giving you a chance to see all 12 panels, both inside and outside.

Next, consider visiting the fascinating Museum of Industry, housed in an old textile mill and devoted to the city’s industrial history; the superb Museum of Fine Arts Ghent; or S.M.A.K., the city’s contemporary art museum, which features works by Joseph Beuys and Luc Tuymans, among others.

Also leave time to stroll around the center. Ghent is a brilliant city for shoppers who love discovering small, one-of-a-kind boutiques selling Belgian-made linen, porcelain, antiques and clothing by local designers.

STAY

After an hourlong train ride, you’ll reach Antwerp, where you’ll stay at the fantastic Botanic Sanctuary. Occupying a former monastery complex, this 108-room hotel feels remarkably removed from the surrounding city. Guest rooms vary by building and feature a restrained rustic-chic décor, many with exposed wooden beams and tranquil courtyard views.

DINE

One of Belgium’s premier dining destinations is atop Antwerp’s Museum aan de Stroom: Zilte pairs panoramic city views with dishes that demonstrate extraordinary precision and technique. The multicourse menu showcases an impressive range of ingredients and preparations, from lobster and poultry-liver tarts to wagyu with octopus and smoked hay. Set aside several hours (and several hundred dollars) for this gourmet extravaganza.

At Botanic Sanctuary, dining options encompass two Michelin-starred restaurants, Fine Fleur and Hertog Jan, as well as several other commendable venues, such as the convivial Henry’s Bar and Catalpa, which sets out a decadent breakfast buffet.

EXPLORE

After an 11-year closure for renovations, the fantastic Royal Museum of Fine Arts reopened in 2022 and now ranks among Europe’s finest museums, displaying Flemish masters alongside contemporary pieces in a striking architectural setting. It’s worth spending the better part of a day here.

Nearby, the Fotomuseum Antwerpen has impressive rotating exhibits by both world-famous artists like Carrie Mae Weems and new talent. The Museum of Contemporary Art presents thought-provoking works from up-and-coming artists. Often inspired by current events, exhibits here can sometimes be disturbing.

Despite its relatively small population, Antwerp has had an outsize impact on fashion. The Antwerp Six, a group of students who attended the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in the 1980s, first put the city on the style map. Today, the center is full of independent boutiques by local designers. The Travel Office can arrange an exclusive fashion-focused tour, which will take you from the ModeMuseum, Antwerp’s clothing museum, to some of the chicest shops in town.

Antwerp is under an hour from the Brussels airport, or you can continue your train-hopping adventure with a visit to Amsterdam (a little over an hour) or Paris (two and a half hours). On our last visit, we continued our travels by riverboat, taking a tulip-themed river cruise.