5 Days in Belgium with Kids: A Family-Friendly Itinerary
Planning a family trip that feels adventurous and doable can be a challenge—especially when you’re juggling school breaks, sibling fights, and your travel nerves. If you’ve ever thought Europe might be too tricky with kids, let me reassure you: Belgium is one of the easiest and most underrated destinations for families.
We visited Belgium in April 2025 with our three kids (ages 7, 10, and 12) and two other families. Over five days, we explored five cities, took two kid-friendly cooking classes, and navigated the country’s excellent rail system—even during a surprise train strike. It wasn’t flawless (no trip with kids ever is), but it was one of the most enriching and accessible international adventures we’ve had as a family.
This itinerary breaks down exactly how we spent five days in Belgium with kids, with two nights in Bruges and three in Brussels. I’ll walk you through our favorite activities, the towns that surprised us most, and why Belgium should be on your family travel radar.
Belgium is often underrated as a family destination, as many families gravitate to England, France, Italy, and other popular destinations. However, it proved to be a friendly and easy country to visit with a group of 7 kids.
🚨Short on time? Book my favorite Belgium Picks Here!🚨
🏨Bruges Rental
🏨Brussels Rental
🚅Train Tickets
⛴️Bruges Canal Tour
🍫Bruges Chocolate Class
🧇Waffle Class
🇧🇪Atomium
🇧🇪Mini-Europe
Day 1 – Arrive in Brussels & Head to Bruges
Bruges, photo credit: R. Schwartz
We landed in Amsterdam the day before, so we grabbed an early morning train to Brussels with a final destination of Bruges. Unfortunately, we entered Belgium on the same day as a train strike, and what should have taken a few hours took at least seven train rides (honestly, I lost count) and almost seven hours.
We did eventually make it to Bruges, our home base for the first two nights. The train from Brussels to Bruges is a smooth ride—just over an hour—and if your kids are anything like ours, the novelty of train travel is half the fun.
Bruges is a fairy tale come to life. Cobblestone streets, dreamy canals, and swan-dotted lakes made it feel like we had stepped inside a storybook. After settling into our Airbnb, we spent the afternoon exploring the neighborhood, letting the kids run around a great playground, and then grabbed a relaxing dinner in the heart of Bruges.
Staying in an Airbnb with a kitchen and multiple bathrooms was a game changer. With three families traveling together, having space to spread out and gather as a group to socialize was perfect.
Click HERE to book our wonderful Bruges Apartment!
Day 2 – Day Trip to Ghent
Walking along the canal in Ghent, photo credit: R. Schwartz
We left our Bruges Airbnb early and caught a morning train to Ghent for a a full day visit. Train travel in Belgium is fast and frequent—perfect for quick day trips—but do double-check schedules.
Ghent surprised us in the best way. It’s bigger and buzzier than Bruges but still packed with charm. Our day was packed full with stops at key sights in Ghent, such as St. Bavo’s Cathedral, the Ghent Altarpiece, and the Belfry.
Pro tip: If interested in the Ghent Altarpiece, make reservations in advance. We learned the hard way and weren’t able to see it. You can still explore most of the church.
In this general area, there are built in trampolines that allowed our kiddos to burn off energy! I highly recommend making a stop here. We grabbed a quick bite to eat and then found the famous Grafetti Alley, which is definitely worth checking it.
Gravensteen Castle, photo credit: R. Schwartz
Our main stop was Gravensteen Castle, a medieval fortress right in the city center. The kids loved roaming the stone staircases and peeking into dungeons, and the self-guided audio tour kept them engaged.
Afterwards, we strolled along the Graslei canal and tried authentic Belgian waffles. Some of our group grabbed a train home while the others hung back to experience the unique Dulle Griet, a Ghent bar which requires patrons to give a shoe as collateral!
Day 3 – Exploring Charming Bruges & Move to Brussels
Bruges, photo credit: R. Schwartz
We started the day with one of our trip highlights: a chocolate making class right in the heart of town. It was hands-on, interactive, and a huge hit with the kids (and adults). Our ticket also came with entry to Choco-Story Museum. It’s very family-friendly and interactive, with chocolate samples and hands-on exhibits
After loading up on chocolate, we spent the rest of the morning exploring Bruges by foot and by boat. A canal cruise is a must—relaxing for the parents, and an exciting new perspective for the kids to see the medieval buildings and arched bridges from the water.
view of Bruges from our canal cruise, photo credit: R. Schwartz
We enjoyed a stroll through the market where we ate a simple lunch from the stands and a delicious waffle. Afterwards, we explored more of Bruges with a stop at the Museum of the Church of Our Lady to see Michelangelo’s “Madonna and Child”.
By dinnertime, we popped into an adorable Mexican restaurant for a quick bite to eat before grabbing a train to Brussels to continue our adventure.
⭐While in Europe, check out these great activities with kids⭐
Best Canal Tours in Amsterdam with kids
Windsor Castle with kids
Anne Frank House with kids
Visit Versailles with kids
Chocolate Class in Bruges with kids
5 Days in Belgium with kids
Day 4 – A Full Day in Brussels
Our full day in Brussels was packed with fun, and surprisingly easy to navigate with kids in tow. We started with a waffle-making class in the heart of town. It was fun, interactive, and delicious! Afterwards, we walked over to take a photo of Manneken Pis before heading to the city center to see the beautiful Grand Place.
Manneken Pis, photo credit: R. Schwartz
We really enjoyed strolling through the streets of the city center, stopping at cute shops before picking up sandwiches for lunch. We checked out the Palais Royal de Bruxelles before relaxing for a bit in Parc de Bruxelles. The kids enjoyed the playground while the adults sipped on beverages.
We finished at two of the city’s top family attractions: the Atomium and Mini-Europe, which are conveniently located next to each other and accessible by metro.
Atomium, photo credit: R. Schwartz
The Atomium—a giant metallic molecule-shaped structure—is both futuristic and fascinating. Inside, the exhibits and panoramic views kept my son curious, while the escalator ride between the spheres was just plain cool. Right next door, Mini-Europe offered a fun, walkable tour of Europe in miniature. It’s quirky, interactive, and a great way to spark interest in future travels.
Pro tip: you can buy a combo ticket for both, but you need at least 2 hours or they won’t sell it to you. Trust me- we tried. Mini-Europe takes longer than it looks, so if you have really little kids, bring a stroller.
Mini Europe, photo credit: R.. Schwartz
We ended the day with dinner at WOLF, a food market in Brussels. It is a cool setting where you grab a table, scan a QR code and see all the menus for the food stands. You order online and then pick up food as its ready. For a group of 13 with 7 kids, it was the perfect setting and I highly recommend it!
Book your Atomium ticket by clicking HERE and Mini-Europe by clicking HERE!
Day 5 – Antwerp & Mechelen Day Trip
For our final full day, we decided to make the most of our last day and explore two more cities: Mechelen in the morning and Antwerp in the afternoon. If that sounds ambitious, it was—but worth it. The Belgian train system makes these short hops incredibly easy (as long as there’s no strike or delays that day!).
Mechelen was the hidden gem of our trip: smaller crowds, cobblestone charm, and a truly fantastic stop for families.
In Antwerp, we admired the stunning central train station. Afterwards, we followed the Rick Steves’ walking tour to Grote Markt and popped into a few stores.
Final Thoughts – Why Belgium is a Family-Friendly Winner
Belgium surprised us. It’s compact, clean, incredibly easy to navigate by train, and full of experiences that both kids and adults will love. From castle adventures to cooking classes, from chocolate tastings to museums, this country packed a punch in just five days. If you are worried about a language- there’s no need! The vast majority are fluent in English.
Traveling with three kids and two other families have easily felt chaotic—but it didn’t. Choosing Airbnb rentals gave us space and flexibility, the cities were safe and welcoming, and the train system made day trips a breeze (minus that one strike hiccup!). We loved the mix of big-city energy in Brussels, storybook charm in Bruges and Ghent, and the laid-back feel of Mechelen.
If you’ve been dreaming of a European trip that’s enriching without being overwhelming, Belgium is your sign to go for it. It’s doable. It’s fun. And your kids will come home raving about waffles, castles, and how cool it was to travel like a local.
🇧🇪Belgium Resources🇧🇪
Waffle Making Class in Brussels
Chocolate Class with kids in Bruges
5 days in Belgium with kids
