Belgium, Europe
Bruges is a small enough city that the day-trip catalogue is half of why you book a few nights. Ghent, the Flanders Fields battlefields, and the coast at Ostend or Knokke are all inside about an hour by train.
| Where | Getting there | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Ghent | About 25 min by direct train | The lesser-photographed Flemish counterpart to Bruges, with the Van Eyck altarpiece in Saint Bavo's Cathedral and a more student-and-art rhythm. A clean full day. Pairs naturally with Bruges as a two-city Flanders trip. |
| Ypres (Ieper) and Flanders Fields | About 1 hr by train + bus | The WWI battlefield region, with the In Flanders Fields Museum, the Menin Gate ceremony at 8 p.m. nightly, and the Tyne Cot cemetery (the largest Commonwealth war cemetery). Heavy but worth doing for a half- or full-day. |
| Ostend (Oostende) and the Belgian coast | About 15 min by train | The Belgian coast resort with the long beach promenade and the Mu.ZEE contemporary art museum. The Kusttram (coastal tram) runs the full Belgian shore from here. |
| Knokke-Heist | About 30 min by train | The upscale end of the Belgian coast, with the casino, designer shopping, and the Het Zwin nature reserve on the Dutch border. Beach-side day trip if Ostend feels too touristy. |
| Damme | About 30 min by bike along the canal | The medieval canal-side village four kilometers north of Bruges, the polder version of the Bruges old town without the crowds. Best as a bike trip rather than driving. Half-day. |