The Ultimate 2 Day Belgium Itinerary: Bruges vs Antwerp Unfiltered
Visit To Netherlands’ Neighbour
In July 2026, on our way to the Netherlands, we decided to spend two days in Belgium. We wanted to explore a new country, and Belgium marked our 26th country together. We based ourselves in Antwerp for 2 nights, exploring Bruges on our first day and Antwerp on the second before continuing our journey north. Here is exactly how our trip went, along with our honest thoughts on whether these famous cities live up to the hype.
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Arriving in Antwerp
- Via Train or Bus: Antwerp is centrally located in Europe with excellent rail connections through Paris, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Frankfurt, arriving right at the iconic Antwerp-Central Station. To check schedules and book your ticket, use the Busbud platform here.
- Via Flight: Fly into Antwerp International Airport (or nearby Brussels Airport for broader international routes) to experience the stunning city of Antwerp while enjoying Halal food. To find the best deals on airfare, search and book your flights here.
Getting Around and Staying in Belgium
- Going Around:
- Taxis & Private Transfers Secure a reliable, fixed-price ride with professional drivers. Avoid the airport queues by booking in advance. Book your taxi/transfer here.
- Car Rentals Enjoy the freedom of the open road. Compare the best rates from top brands to find your perfect vehicle here.
- Public Transport Travel like a local and save money. Skip the station lines by securing your train and bus tickets here.
- Stay Connected: To navigate the city like a local and share your photos in real time, we recommend getting an eSIM. Pick the option that suits your needs:
- We recommend Airalo for a budget-friendly and basic plan. Get your Airalo eSIM here.
- Yesim is our top-pick for unlimited data needs. Get your Yesim eSIM here.
- Where to Stay: To make the most of your trip, I recommend booking one of these hotels.
Day 1: Exploring Bruges
We woke up early and drove straight to Bruges. We had heard incredibly positive reviews about it being a scenic fairytale and a must-visit town, so we wanted to see if the reality matched the hype. We parked at the Centrum-‘t Zand car park and began our walking tour.
St. Salvator’s Cathedral
We started by walking toward St. Salvator’s Cathedral. You can see it standing tall from a distance, looking majestic. The surrounding shops reminded me of Diagon Alley from Harry Potter. The architecture was magnificent, and the interior was even more breathtaking. The kids played in the cathedral yard while Mehran and I took turns stepping inside.
Church of Our Lady
Our next stop was the Church of Our Lady. The interior here was even more impressive than St. Salvator’s, though St. Salvator’s won on exterior architecture.
Rosary Quay
We walked toward Rosary Quay, taking in a lovely canal view with flowers along the bridge. However, the crowds on a Thursday were overwhelming, and the weather was extremely hot. Canal tour boats were packed to capacity. While the view was pleasant, it lacked the tranquil fairytale vibe often portrayed online. Because of the heavy crowds, we did not stay long.
Burg Square and the Basilica of the Holy Blood
Burg Square houses several historic structures, including the Basilica of the Holy Blood and Bruges City Hall. The basilica is said to hold a vial containing the blood of Jesus, so we went inside to view it for its historical significance.
Belfry of Bruges and the Markt
We walked through an interesting alleyway to reach the Belfry of Bruges, which is another tall, impressive structure. Right next to it lies the Markt. We had seen glowing reviews of this square, but it felt quite ordinary, lined with standard restaurants and packed with people. We were disappointed to find no street food stalls or local market setups. We ended up eating lunch at an overpriced restaurant nearby where the food quality was poor.
Halal Food Tip for Bruges: After our disappointing lunch, we stumbled upon two Halal restaurants nearby: Moana Pokebowl and Palma Burger. If you are visiting Bruges, head to one of these spots instead of the tourist traps around the main square.
Jan van Eyckplein and Minneboplein
Jan van Eyckplein was a welcome change. It was peaceful, with almost no crowds. If you want a beautiful photo spot in Bruges without the chaotic tourist groups, do not miss this square. Nearby is Minneboplein, another quiet location perfect for sitting by the canal and relaxing.
Kruispoort Gate and De Windmolen
Kruispoort is one of the best-preserved historic city gates of Bruges. It felt quite modest by modern standards, but you can imagine its strength as a medieval fortress.
Right near the gate, we visited the windmills at De Windmolen park. As we arrived, a Dutch ship navigated through the canal. The park was green, quiet, and offered a great walking track where the kids could run around freely while we enjoyed the view of the windmills. It was the best part of our day in Bruges. This was our last stop of the day and we headed back to our car to return to Antwerp.
Day 2: Discovering Antwerp
On our second day, we dedicated our time to exploring Antwerp before driving onward to the Netherlands. Antwerp turned out to be a wild card that far exceeded our expectations.
Antwerpen-Centraal Station
We started at the famous Antwerpen-Centraal Station. The grand architecture frequently shown online is actually limited to a small central hall area. The rest of the station functions like a standard modern transit hub. Coming from Europe, we have seen many grand train stations, so while the main hall is pretty, the building as a whole was somewhat overhyped. After viewing the station, we parked our car at Grote Markt Parking to begin our walking tour.
Cathedral of Our Lady
The Cathedral of Our Lady features incredible exterior architecture. Because of its height, it remained visible throughout most of our walk across the city center. Outside the cathedral, we loved the touching sculpture of the young boy and his sleeping dog (Nello and Patrasche).
Grote Markt Antwerp
Unlike the main square in Bruges, we thoroughly enjoyed the Grote Markt in Antwerp. It had lively stalls, pleasant outdoor seating, and a cozy atmosphere that was perfect for walking around in good weather.
Vlaeykensgang
We randomly stumbled upon Vlaeykensgang while walking to our next stop. This hidden medieval alleyway opens up into a charming courtyard. It was a complete surprise and turned out to be one of our favorite spots in the city.
Sint-Carolus Borromeuskerk and Het Steen
Sint-Carolus Borromeuskerk offered beautiful architecture without any heavy tourist crowds.
Halal Food Tip near the church: If you need a quick meal nearby, check out onlyKebap or It’s Mo.
We ended our tour at Het Steen, a well-maintained fortress along the Scheldt River. We went up to the rooftop observatory deck to enjoy scenic views over Antwerp and the river before heading back to our car.
Halal Food in Antwerp
- Uyghur Noodles Halal Food: We visited based on high ratings, ordering Uyghur Dumplings, Beef Noodle Soup, Rice Noodles with Beef, and Rice Noodles with Chicken. While the dumplings were delicious, the rest of the meal was disappointing. The soup lacked flavor, and the beef noodles were overly salty for the high price point.
- District 13: A 100% halal restaurant with great indoor seating. We ordered burgers, chicken tenders, fries, and Mac and Cheese. Everything was flavorful and fresh. The burgers were juicy and well-seasoned, and the Mac and Cheese was an absolute hit with the family. A solid 10/10 experience.
- Ocaprices Antwerpen: Excellent spot for a Halal family brunch. We had Nutella pancakes for the kids, along with a Tunisian breakfast, Mamamia plate, milkshakes, and frappes. The food was fresh and delicious. The highlight for the kids was the automated robot server delivering meals to the table.
- Sweetsie’s Antwerpen: You cannot leave Belgium without authentic waffles. We stopped at Sweetsie’s for fresh waffles topped with chocolate sauce, ice cream, and strawberries. It was the perfect sweet end to our trip.
Final Remarks
Overall, we enjoyed our two days in Belgium. It was our first new country of 2026, and while Bruges fell short of the online hype, Antwerp completely made up for it. If you are planning a trip to Belgium, we highly recommend spending more time soaking in the atmosphere of Antwerp.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 2 days enough for Belgium?
Yes, 2 days is enough time to get a good overview of major cities like Antwerp and Bruges, especially if you focus on walking tours, historic highlights, and local food spots.
Is Antwerp better to visit than Bruges?
While Bruges is famous for its picturesque canals, it can feel overcrowded and overly commercialized. Antwerp offers a richer mix of historical architecture, vibrant squares, hidden alleyways, and better food options with fewer crowd bottlenecks.
Is Halal food easy to find in Belgium?
Halal food is extremely accessible in major Belgian cities, particularly in Antwerp, which features a wide variety of fully Halal restaurants ranging from brunch cafes to burger spots and traditional grills.
