The Ultimate Brussels Road Trip

Difficulty

165 miles/265 km

Distance

6 - 8

Recom. Days

Culture, Food, Adventure

Trip type

Hannah is a frequent traveller and road trip enthusiast from the UK that works as a freelance journalist at Indie Campers.
Hannah Hilton

Freelance travel writer and road trip enthusiast based in York, UK. When Hannah isn’t climbing mountains or hopping overseas on an adventure, you can find her at home with her crazy puppy Red.

Brussels Road Trip Itinerary: Brussels Round-Trip

Brussels Road Trip map itinerary

Google Maps

This all-encompassing Brussels road trip takes you to some of Belgium’s most talked about cities to sample local delicacies, explore parks filled with flora and fauna, and brush up on the country’s rich history. Your campervan itinerary begins and ends in Brussels, a capital city home to glorious 19th-century mansions, art deco architecture, and Belgian waffles to boot.

Once you’ve soaked up Brussels’ highlights it’s time to head west to Ghent, one of Belgium’s oldest cities home to the famous Gravensteen castle, then onwards to Bruges to sample local chocolates and lashings of beer. The final stop on this Brussels itinerary is the small coastal city of Ostend where you can take to the beach and relax!  

Lights on in Bruges, one of the Brussels Road Trip destination
Pick-up in
Brussels Pick-Up Center
1

Indulge on Waffles, Fries, and Chocolate in Brussels

Begin your Brussels road trip in the city of Brussels itself, a bustling capital famed for its beer and chocolate production. Popular with culture vultures, foodies, and historians alike Brussels’ highlights can be explored in just two days, but once you’ve cut the surface of this small city with a big attitude, you might find it hard to leave.

Mont des Arts garden Brussels

While sampling the local beer and dining on fine chocolate is a great way to spend a day in the city, there’s a lot more on offer including over 90 museums, a wealth of bustling bars, and tropical botanical gardens that are well worth a stroll.

Don’t forget to swing by the 14th-century gothic cathedral ‘Notre Dame Du Sablon’ to soak up the local history, culture, and architecture. Fear not, the bars will still be waiting for you after! 

Visiting

Brussels

2

Recom. Days

Main route

14 miles

from the Brussels depot

40 min

drive

You can find Indie Campers RV rentals in more than 40 different cities and destinations across Europe.

Visit

The Grand Palace

15th century, culture stop, grand architecture

Brussels Beer Tasting Tour

Best pubs, beer history, taste testing

Signal

Eat at

Le Rabassier

$$$$$

Fine dining, tasting menu, Belgian cuisine

Le Bistro

$$$

Casual dining, Belgian bar, outdoor seating

RV icon

Parking

Delta Metro Station Car Park

$$$

450 spaces, train to city centre

Signal

Stay at

3CB Camping Caravan Club

$$

Close to centre and shop, onsite clubhouse

2

Lose Yourself Amidst Medieval Architecture in Ghent

Continue your campervan road trip west of Brussels along the E40, and you’ll eventually find yourself in the smaller city of Ghent; a port city and university town that’s become quite the cultural hub.

As one of Belgium’s oldest cities you’ll be met with wonderful architecture and historic buildings, all of which contrast with the modern bars and hip nightclubs that bring endless entertainment to the resident students and the passing tourists.

Person riding a bike on a street in Ghent, one of the cities of the Brussels Road Trip

When it comes to exploring Ghent, the history buffs should head north to admire medieval buildings while the adventurous soak up the sites along the canals winding pathways. Alternatively, if you’re after a culture-filled morning then add the Ghent Museum of Fine Arts to your to-do list.

Don’t leave Ghent without trying a hearty bowl of ‘fries with mayonnaise and stew gravy’ – a traditional dish that tastes a lot better than you’d expect.

Visiting

Ghent

2

Recom. Days

Main route

37 miles

from Brussels

1h

drive

You can find Indie Campers RV rentals in more than 40 different cities and destinations across Europe.

Visit

Gravensteen

12th-century castle, take the history tour

Graslei

City centre, historic buildings, busy cafes

Signal

Eat at

Allegro Moderato

$$$$

Romantic, fine dining, Belgian cuisine

RV icon

Parking

Yachtdreef

$$$

Walking distance from centre, bus route, spacious

Signal

Stay at

Playground Camping Blaameersen

$$$

Lakeside setting, outskirts, family friendly

3

Explore a Fairy-tale like City in Bruges

Home to picturesque cobblestone streets, winding canals, and beer bars to boot, the capital of West Flanders has long been a popular destination on Brussels itineraries. It’s not just Bruges’ medieval buildings and fairy-tale design that’s attracting many.

The city also boasts numerous food markets, glorious gardens, and more museums than you can shake a French fry at (there’s literally a museum dedicated to this very food).

Canal in Bruges

Whether you opt to explore the city on foot, two wheels, or by boat down the canals, you’re in for a real treat. If you’re here on a Wednesday, make a beeline for Brugge Markt, a weekly produce market that’s been running for decades. If flora and fauna are more your thing, head over to Minnewater Park for an afternoon stroll and check out the Lover’s Bridge.

Visiting

Bruges

2

Recom. Days

Main route

30 miles

from Ghent

50 min

drive

You can find Indie Campers RV rentals in more than 40 different cities and destinations across Europe.

Visit

The Belfry Tower

UNESCO site, 15th century, iconic attraction

2be Beer Wall

Beer shop, museum, terrace bar

Signal

Eat at

Park Restaurant

$$$$

Belgian cuisine, outdoor dining, white-table cloth

Chez Albert

$$$

Fast food, waffles, dessert

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Parking

Parking Kanaaleiland

$$$

Dedicated to campervans, unlimited stay, 57 bays

Signal

Stay at

Camping Memling

$$

3km from centre, green area, close to bus stop

4

Relax on the Beach at Ostend

End your Brussels road trip in the charming seaside town of Ostend, located just west of Bruges on one of the countries most beautiful coastlines. Famously known for its soft sandy beach and fantastic seafood, many add Ostend to their Brussels itinerary to enjoy fresh mussels and shrimps and to attend one of a string of cultural festivals held in the city.

Ostend beach with sea and rocks, a must-visit on the Brussels Road Trip

If you can ignore the high-rise flats that line Oostende Beach, we recommend you head straight for the sands and take a dunk in the North Sea. Your final two days on this epic Brussels road trip should be spent sunbathing on the beach, cycling along coastal paths, and sampling fresh seafood (try ‘shrimp croquettes’) in the town centre.

At the end of your time in Ostend, head back to our Brussels depot to drop off your campervan!

Visiting

Ostend

2

Recom. Days

Main route

18 miles

from Bruges

30 min

drive

You can find Indie Campers RV rentals in more than 40 different cities and destinations across Europe.

Visit

Fort Napoleon Ostende

Military fort, 17th century, historical site

Ostende Beach

Sand beach, sunbathing, swimming

Signal

Eat at

Bij Moustache

$$$

Fish deli, shrimp croquettes, waterside

RV icon

Parking

Camperplaats Ostende

$$$

2km from beach, 72 hour stay, arrive early

Signal

Stay at

Camping Oasis

$$$

Close to beach, electricity, WiFi

Drop-off in
Brussels Pick-Up Center

78 miles

from Ostend

1h20min

drive