← Leuven Marathon·3 nights

Ghent and Bruges: Two Canal Cities After Leuven

Two canal cities in West Flanders, Ghent with a castle and a cathedral altarpiece and Bruges with its lace-trimmed lanes.

Duration3 nights
TransitSNCB train from Leuven to Ghent, about 1 hour, then Ghent to Bruges, about 25 minutes
DepartsLeuven station

After the Leuven Marathon: Ghent and Bruges

The Route: Leuven → Ghent → Bruges → Brussels Airport Logistics: SNCB train, about 1 hour to Ghent-Sint-Pieters and about 25 minutes on to Bruges. Both stations are a tram or bus ride from the centre. Marathon Month: April Duration: 3 nights

Leuven ──(about 1h, SNCB)──> Ghent ──(about 25 min, SNCB)──> Bruges
                                                                │
Brussels Airport (BRU) <──(about 1h30, SNCB via Brussels)───────┘

Ghent's most valuable painting sits in a side chapel of Saint Bavo's Cathedral, behind glass, and has survived iconoclasts, a theft and two world wars. The Ghent Altarpiece, painted by Jan van Eyck and his brother in the 1430s, is a group of panels that you view in a dim room, seated, with an audio guide. It is the right way to start a recovery trip.

Buy a ticket in the SNCB app or at the station, and check the planner.

April in Ghent and Bruges: highs of 12°C to 14°C, with sun and showers. Cobbles are slippery in rain. Check opening days, because Monday closures are common.

Night One: Ghent

NH Collection Gent Belfort is in the centre, with lifts. Confirm breakfast times when you book. The Graslei and Korenlei, the two quays along the old harbour, are flat and best seen at dusk. Gravensteen, the castle of the counts, has steps and a steep stair, so skip the climb for now.

Saint Bavo's has a modest entry fee for the altarpiece, around €16, and prices vary, so use the figure as a guide only. Book a timed slot in advance.

Night Two: Bruges

Hotel Heritage in Bruges is a short walk from the Markt. The old centre is entirely cobbled, so wear comfortable shoes and take your time. The Belfry on the Markt has 366 steps, so avoid it for now.

Take a canal boat, the best seated way to see the city, with boats from the Rozenhoedkaai. The Begijnhof is a quiet, flat courtyard with white houses.

Night Three: A Slower Day

Choose one place. The Groeninge Museum in Bruges holds Flemish primitives and has lifts. The Minnewater lake is a flat and quiet walk. Chocolate shops line the side streets.

Getting to Brussels Airport (BRU)

Bruges to the airport takes about 1 hour 30 minutes by train with a change at Brussels. Check the SNCB planner. The airport station is below the terminal, with lifts.