Day trips in (y)our own country: Belgium at its best
What to do, what to do? Itching to get out at the weekend, on your day off or during your holidays, but struggling for ideas? No worries: this overview gives you a list of the best day trips in Belgium. Jumping to your heart's content in a trampoline park, absorbing culture in museums or taking a high ropes course without batting an eyelid... our tips are fun to do with the kids, with friends, on your own or even as an original date! Many of these activities are also pram- and wheelchair-friendly.
Japanese garden, Hasselt: a little piece of Japan in Flanders
Imagine yourself in Japan among the hundreds of cherry blossom trees, and walk among the peaceful ponds full of koi carp. Or better still, bring along a blanket and some tasty snacks and drinks. No packed lunch? Not to worry: genuine Japanese delicacies are also available, or you can join a workshop to learn how to make sushi and bento boxes. Ideal for enjoying a leisurely picnic among the blossoms. Unleash your creative side during a workshop on ikebana (flower arranging) or kintsugi (repairing broken ceramics with gold paste), or put your fingers to work and learn the secrets of origami or calligraphy. Ideal for a day trip!
Location: Hasselt
How to get there: Easy to reach by car, train, bus or (shared) bike.
Meise Gardens: stroll among living heritage
The Botanical Garden in Meise is famous for the not-so-fragrant giant arum calyxes that spread their ‘delicious’ aroma every year. But there is much more to discover, like giant water lilies that can support up to 40 kilos and are the ideal summer backdrop for baby photoshoots. Or what about the Eastern Cape bread tree, which is now more than 300 years old. Be amazed by the dazzling floral display in the Flower Theatre. If you fancy something a bit more interactive, join the fun in the GPS scavenger hunt or attend a workshop.
Location: Meise
How to get there: Easy to reach by car and bus. A bus stops right in front of the main entrance of the Botanical Garden. If you’re coming by bike, you can map out a nice route via the cycling network and you can park your bike in the bike shed. If you prefer to go by train, go as far as Londerzeel station or Brussels North station and take the bus to the entrance of the Garden. You can park your car alongside the estate.
A day at the zoo
If you’re fond of animals, the following excursions are made for you! How about sleeping with a view of Siberian tigers? Pairi Daiza takes you on a journey through different continents with evocative names like ‘Kingdom of Ganesha’, ‘The Last Frontier’ or ‘The Land of the Cold’. See a range of different animal species: from the herds of majestic elephants to the wonderfully lazy giant pandas or the rare white Bengal tiger.
Or perhaps you’d rather visit Belgium's oldest zoo, right in the centre of Antwerp? If so, come and soak up the atmosphere at ZOO Antwerp: discover the elephants and giraffes in the Egyptian Temple, walk through the Valley of the Great Apes and watch little Thandie grow up fast; visit the okapis in the Moorish Temple, stand eye to eye with the penguins or discover the history of the famous Gorilla Gust!
Do you remember Kai-Mook? This little elephant lady grew up into a big elephant and moved to ZOO Planckendael. Apart from elephants, you’ll also see giraffes, rhinos, bonobos and many more animal species. In the newly opened Orangutan Kingdom, you’ll learn about the Sumatran orangutans, among other things. Take a look at one of the feeding times or listen to one of the interesting caretaker chats. This zoo is a stone's throw from the town of Mechelen, with a convenient shuttle bus provided from the train station.
Location: Antwerp (ZOO Antwerp), Brugelette (Pairi Daiza) or Muizen (ZOO Planckendael)
How to get there: Easy to reach by car, train or bus.
Suitable for wheelchairs and prams (but often with special routes).
Partir en bus pour une escapade estivale en amoureux?
Savez-vous que vous pouvez facilement acheter vos tickets de bus et de tram
dans KBC Mobile?
Gin Museum The pride of Hasselt
The ‘Jenevermuseum’ in Hasselt is about much more than just gin. Learn the tricks of the master distiller's trade, or unravel the mystery of the ‘Genever Murder’. Listen to the wacky audio guide ‘The Spirit Detector’, where different spirits guide you through the distillery. You’ll learn about daily life in the 1900s and what was it like to work and live in a gin distillery. End the day with a tasty drinks flight or an exciting food pairing.
Location: Hasselt
How to get there: Hasselt is very easy to reach by train: you can walk from the station to the ‘Jenevermuseum’ in about 15 minutes. There are several bus routes that will drop you nearby. Or if you come by bike, you can use the bike racks at the Library. If you’re driving, you can park a few minutes away.
Sonian Forest: valuable World Heritage Site
Awe-inspiring, that’s the Sonian Forest: in this primeval forest you can walk, run and cycle among cathedrals formed by trees. Are there only trees? Not a bit of it! Through the different access points such as the old Bosvoorde racecourse, the King's Ponds, the Rouge-Cloître monastery or the Park of Tervuren, you can see the forest from a completely different perspective each time. Want to visit the Royal Museum for Central Africa (AfricaMuseum), see the old racecourse, play golf or enjoy all the greenery? It's all possible in the Sonian Forest!
All the entrance gates are very easily accessible by public transport.
Location: southeast of the city of Brussels
How to get there: Easy to reach by car, train, bus or bike, depending on which gate you use.
Suitable for wheelchairs and prams (a special route of 1.6 km has been created for wheelchair users in the Rouge-Cloître park).
Terhills
At the site where the Eisden coal mine was still fully operational until late 1987, you’ll now find the beautiful ‘Terhills’ National Park. Situated on the site of a former coal mine, it’s ideal for walking between Genk and Maasmechelen and the old slag heaps are a great spot to take in the stunning views.
You can enjoy hiking in the Hoge Kempen National Park here, as well as discovering the mining heritage, sitting down to some great food or enjoying a variety of watersports at the Cablepark. Another fun fact: the Maasmechelen Village shopping mecca is nearby.
Location: Maasmechelen
How to get there: Easy to reach by car, train, bus or bike. At Terhills, get around sustainably on electric scooters and free driverless shuttles.
Walking from station to station with the Treinstappers hiking routes
Looking for an original and healthy activity? Why not walk from station to station? It’s an original and fun way to discover Belgium and learn about its railway heritage. Take the train to your starting point and walk to your final station using the guidebook. The walks are marked in both directions and, if you want, you can also shorten the walk (useful if you need to rest your legs or are walking with children). Discover forgotten corners and couleur locale across Belgium with these comprehensive walks.
Location: Spread throughout Belgium
How to get there by public transport: Easy to reach by train
Not suitable for wheelchairs and prams.
Arranging your train journey is a breeze with the additional ‘SNCB’ service in KBC Mobile.
INTENSE in Boom: if you love heights
In Belgium, Boom is synonymous with Tomorrowland. But there is much more to experience, all within the same location. Head to De Schorre in Boom and push your limits. Various high routes, a hair-raising zipline or a challenging 24-metre-high adventure tower? It's all there. If you fancy a climb, reservations are required.
Location: Boom
How to get there: Easy to reach by car, train, bus or bike.
Not suitable for wheelchairs and prams. By contrast, some of the footpaths in De Schorre are suitable for wheelchair users.
Adventure Valley: for the daring
Fancy combining climbing with kayaking and caving? Then Adventure Valley in Durbuy is definitely worth exploring. Also on offer: ziplines, climbing walls, a climbing pole, obstacle courses, mountain bike trails and a via ferrata. If you fancy staying overnight, you can book a real glamping tent.
Location: Durbuy
How to get there: Easy to reach by car, train, bus.
Not suitable for wheelchairs and prams.
Walibi amusement park, Plopsaland, Bobbejaanland
Fancy a day of fun, and witches, dragons and wild rivers are totally your thing? If so, pay a visit to Bobbejaanland! Want to try out Benelux's fastest rollercoaster? Discover the Kondaa at Walibi! Or like to get completely lost in a fairytale world? At Plopsaland De Panne, you've come to the right place.
Locations:
Bobbejaanland – Kasterlee
Walibi – Wavre
Plopsaland De Panne – De Panne
How to get there: Easy to reach by bus, train or car.
Sport Vlaanderen high ropes circuit
Another fun active outing for beginners and experienced climbers alike is Sport Vlaanderen's high ropes circuit in Hofstade. It offers 69 climbing elements, ranging in height from 3 metres to 8 metres. Be sure to reserve your place in advance. When you’ve finished climbing, you can also hike around the lake, go mountain biking or chill on the beach.
Location: Hofstade
How to get there: Easy to reach by car, train, bus or bike.
Not suitable for wheelchairs and prams.
Jump, jump! Jumpsquare Trampoline Park
Does your heart leap when you think of practising somersaults or hanging from the trapeze? If so, then the Jumpsquare trampoline parks are definitely your thing. Or you could have a blast jumping with friends at a disco jump! Fun for the whole family or even a fun date trip.
Locations: Hasselt, Bruges, Kortrijk, Sambreville and Brussels
How to get there: Easy to reach by car, train, bus or bike.
Not suitable for wheelchairs and prams.
Bruges Torture Museum: not for the faint-hearted! Edit the title component.
In the Middle Ages this was a prison (now the oldest in Europe); today it is a torture cellar where you can see lifelike wax figures and authentic torture equipment.
Location: Bruges
How to get there: Located in the centre of Bruges, the Bruges Torture Museum is easily accessible by bus, train or on foot. If you intend to drive, we recommend parking outside the city centre and walking to this location and using public transport.
What’SUP
If you’re looking to take part in a fun activity on a sunny day, you should definitely go supping (short for ‘Stand Up Paddleboarding’). It’s a water sport where you propel yourself on a surfboard with a paddle and an original way to discover lots of nice places in nature and even in the city!
Location: Ghent, Leuven, Mechelen
How to get there by public transport: This varies from location to location. A quick search and you're already halfway there!
Not suitable for wheelchairs and prams.
Royal Belgian Institute of Sciences in Brussels: stand among dinosaurs
Walk in wonder through the Gallery of Dinosaurs and meet Stan the T. rex, Ben the Plateosaurus or study the mammoth of Lier and the Iguanodons of Bernissart. The museum houses a huge collection of fossils, minerals and animals. A spectacular adventure of discovery!
Location: Brussels
How to get there: Easy to reach by bus and train. Due to limited parking spaces (including nearby), the best option is to come by public transport.
AfricaMuseum in Tervuren: a modern look at Africa
Africa, the cradle of our world. At the AfricaMuseum, restored and modernised in 2018, you’ll discover Africa's rich history, as well as an honest look at the continent's colonial past. You can discover this museum with fun activity books for the kids or puzzle your way through the museum with the AfricaMuseumQuest.
Location: Tervuren
How to get there: Easy to reach by bus, train or car.
M Museum Leuven: discover Leuven in all its facets
In the heart of Leuven, you'll find the M Museum where centuries-old Leuven and Brabant art is on display in all its glory. The collection consists of more than 58 000 objects from the Stone Age to the present day. In addition, there are always temporary collections you can visit. In summer, it also hosts M-IDZOMER, an informal festival where you can spend a pleasant evening.
Location: Leuven
How to get there: Easy to reach by bus, train, shared bike or car. If you’d rather not drive in Leuven's busy city centre, park your car at one of the peripheral car parks and take the bus to the city centre for free.
Gallo-Roman Museum: a dive into our history
If you’ve watched the Flemish TV series ‘Het Verhaal van Vlaanderen’ (‘The History of Flanders’) with Tom Waes, then this place is really for you. Discover the history of humans in our regions, from Neanderthal to Gallo-Roman. Delve into our local history through beautiful objects, colourful sculptures and much more besides. Definitely worthwhile!
Location: Tongeren
How to get there: Easy to reach by train
Totally suitable for wheelchairs and prams. There is an extensive wheelchair-friendly trail and assistance dogs or guide dogs are more than welcome. Visually impaired people can also visit the museum comfortably.
Ravottorium: a treasure trove of games and puzzles
A reverse escape room, what is that exactly? Well, in the case of the Ravottorium, it’s an escape room where you can ‘unlock’ new games rooms through puzzling and playing. It’s highly educational, but also super cool. This day trip is suitable for parents, children but also definitely groups of friends looking for a challenge. Being close to the railway station, it’s easily accessible by train.
Tip: buy a 10-journey ticket from SNCB!
Location: Beernem
Not suitable for wheelchairs and prams.
