13-Day Ultimate Family Travel Guides Route in Belgium
Belgium is a dream destination for families who love history but hate the stress of long travel days. With its compact size and world-class train network, you can hop between medieval castles and world-famous chocolate shops in under an hour. This 13-day itinerary is designed with a relaxed pace, ensuring that both parents and kids enjoy the magic of the Low Countries without the burnout.
We focus on stroller-accessible city centers, interactive museums like Technopolis and Chocolate Nation, and plenty of park time. From the comic book walls of Brussels to the fairytale canals of Bruges, every stop is curated to keep little ones engaged while providing the classic European experience adults crave.
Day 1: Arrival & Exploring Brussels
Arrival at Brussels Airport (BRU)
Touch down and take the easy 15-minute train ride directly to Brussels Central Station. The trains are frequent and have dedicated space for luggage and strollers.
Grand Place Exploration
Marvel at the gold-trimmed guildhalls of one of the world's most beautiful squares. It is completely pedestrianized, making it a safe spot for kids to stretch their legs after a flight.
Manneken Pis & Waffle Break
Take a short stroll to see the famous small statue. Right around the corner, grab a legendary Brussels waffle topped with strawberries and chocolate—a guaranteed hit for the kids.
Relaxed Dinner at Place Sainte-Catherine
Enjoy a seafood-focused dinner in this open, airy square. There is plenty of room for strollers at the outdoor tables and a small carousel nearby.
Day 2: Brussels - Comics & Chocolate
Belgian Comic Strip Center
Housed in a beautiful Art Nouveau building, this museum celebrates Tintin and the Smurfs. It’s highly visual and features many interactive exhibits for children.
Comic Book Route Walk
Follow the city's "Comic Book Route," where giant murals of famous characters decorate the sides of buildings. It turns a city walk into a fun scavenger hunt for the family.
Choco-Story Brussels
Learn how chocolate is made with a kid-friendly audio guide and, most importantly, enjoy the live demonstration and chocolate tasting at the end.
Mont des Arts Garden
Let the kids run around the manicured gardens while you enjoy one of the best sunset views over the Brussels skyline.
Day 3: Brussels - Atomium & Mini-Europe
The Atomium
Take the elevator up this iconic silver structure. The futuristic tubes and spheres offer a panoramic view of the city and cool light shows inside the escalators.
Mini-Europe Park
Located right next to the Atomium, this park features 1:25 scale models of Europe’s most famous landmarks. Kids love the interactive buttons that trigger trains, volcanoes, and bells.
Design Museum Brussels
Explore the colorful Plasticarium collection. The bright colors and unique shapes of mid-century design are surprisingly engaging for toddlers and children.
Dinner in the Heysel Area
Enjoy a quiet meal near the park before taking the tram back to the city center.
Day 4: Mechelen - Science & Play
Train to Mechelen
A quick 20-minute train ride brings you to Mechelen, often called the most kid-friendly city in Belgium due to its toy museum and focus on families.
Technopolis
This is a world-class hands-on science center where kids can fly a plane, ride a bike on a cable 5 meters in the air, or create giant soap bubbles.
St. Rumbold's Tower
If the kids are older, climb the tower for a view. For those with strollers, the Sinte-Mettetuin garden offers a quiet playground in the heart of the city.
Stroll Along the Dijle Path
A floating wooden walkway on the river that is perfectly flat and stroller-friendly, offering a unique perspective of the city's backsides and gardens.
Day 5: Antwerp - Arrival & Zoo Fun
Antwerp Central Station
Arrive at what is frequently cited as the world’s most beautiful railway station. The multi-level architecture is a sight in itself.
Antwerp Zoo
Located right next to the train station, this is one of the oldest and most beautiful zoos in the world. It’s compact, stroller-friendly, and perfect for a half-day outing.
Chocolate Nation
The largest Belgian chocolate museum in the world. It’s an immersive experience that takes you from the cocoa plantations to the final product with plenty of samples.
Dinner at the Keyserlei
A wide pedestrian boulevard with dozens of international food options that are very welcoming to families with small children.
Day 6: Antwerp - Fashion & Ships
Museum aan de Stroom (MAS)
This striking red building offers great views from the roof. The exhibits inside tell the history of the port in a very visual way.
Red Star Line Museum
A moving museum located in the original warehouses of the shipping line. It tells the story of immigrants leaving for America and is surprisingly engaging for school-aged children.
Het Steen Castle
A medieval fortress on the riverbank. While parts are under renovation, the surrounding park and the exterior architecture are great for photos and play.
Pedestrian Tunnel (Sint-Annatunnel)
Walk or take the vintage wooden escalators down to this tunnel under the river. On the other side (Left Bank), you’ll find a massive playground and a great skyline view.
Day 7: Antwerp - Open Air History
Middelheim Museum
A massive open-air sculpture park. It’s free to enter, stroller-friendly, and allows kids to run around while parents enjoy world-class art.
Park Spoor Noord
A repurposed railway yard turned into a park. It features water fountains for kids to play in during summer and a large indoor hall with food trucks.
The Rubens House
Visit the home and studio of the famous painter. The courtyard garden is a peaceful escape from the busy shopping streets.
Belgian Fries for Dinner
Find a local 'frietkot' and enjoy authentic Belgian fries with various sauces—an easy and cheap meal for the whole family.
Day 8: Ghent - Medieval Magic
Train to Ghent
A 45-minute journey from Antwerp. Ghent is a vibrant university city that feels like a living museum but with a modern, friendly edge.
Gravensteen Castle
The "Castle of the Counts" is a real-life fortress with a moat and battlements. The audio guide is famously funny and keeps kids (and adults) entertained.
Patershol District Walk
Explore these narrow winding streets. It’s largely car-free, making it perfect for a slow wander with a stroller.
Graslei & Korenlei
Sit by the canal and watch the boats go by. This is the heart of Ghent and the perfect spot for a family photo.
Day 9: Ghent - Canals & Cathedrals
Ghent Canal Boat Tour
See the city from the water. Many boats are covered and heated, making this a comfortable activity regardless of the weather.
St. Bavo's Cathedral
Home to the famous Ghent Altarpiece. For families, the nearby Belfry offers an elevator to the top, so no need to climb hundreds of stairs with kids.
The World of Kina
A nature museum specifically designed for children and teenagers. It’s interactive and located in a beautiful old abbey garden.
Dinner at Vrijdagmarkt
A large square with plenty of space for kids to play while you wait for your meal at one of the surrounding brasseries.
Day 10: Bruges - Fairytale Canals
Train to Bruges
Only 25 minutes from Ghent. Bruges is the jewel of Belgium, but it can be crowded, so we start early.
Market Square & Belfry
The center of Bruges. Listen to the carillon bells and enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride—a big hit for younger children.
Bruges Canal Tour
The best way to see the city's "hidden" corners. The boats are small and offer a close-up view of the swans and medieval bridges.
Minnewater (Lake of Love)
A peaceful park with a lake full of swans. It’s much quieter than the main square and perfect for a late afternoon stroll.
Day 11: Bruges - Frites & Fairytales
Frietmuseum
The only museum in the world dedicated to potato fries. It’s quirky, fun, and ends with a tasting in the medieval cellars.
Choco-Story Bruges
Since you are in the chocolate capital, this museum offers a different perspective and different tastings than the one in Brussels.
Historium Bruges
An immersive experience that uses VR and themed rooms to take you back to the Golden Age of Bruges. Very popular with tech-savvy kids.
Windmill Walk
Walk along the city's old ramparts to see the four remaining wooden windmills. There is a lot of grass for kids to run on.
Day 12: Dinant - Citadels & Saxophones
Train to Dinant
Head south into the French-speaking Wallonia region. The scenery changes to dramatic cliffs and river valleys.
Citadel of Dinant
Take the cable car (very stroller friendly!) to the top of the cliff for a stunning view of the Meuse River and the town below.
Charles-de-Gaulle Bridge
Known as the Saxophone Bridge, it’s lined with giant, colorful saxophone statues—a tribute to Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the instrument who was born here.
Maison Leffe
Located in an old convent, parents can enjoy a beer tasting while kids explore the interactive museum displays about the history of the abbey.
Day 13: Brussels - Final Treats & Departure
Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert
One of the oldest glass-roofed shopping arcades in Europe. Perfect for picking up high-quality souvenirs and last-minute chocolates.
Park of Brussels
Enjoy a final picnic in the park across from the Royal Palace. It has wide paths and several playgrounds.
Train to Airport
Head back to Brussels Central for the quick link to the airport.
Departure
Check in and enjoy the family-friendly amenities at Brussels Airport before your flight home.
Best Time to Visit Belgium
The best time for a family trip to Belgium is from May to September. During these months, the weather is mild (18-23°C), and the many parks and outdoor festivals are in full swing. If you enjoy holiday magic, December is also wonderful for the Christmas markets in Brussels and Bruges, though you'll need to bundle up the kids for the cold and occasional rain.
Currency & Money
Belgium uses the Euro (€). Credit and debit cards (Visa/Mastercard) are accepted almost everywhere, including for small purchases at bakeries and on public transport. Tipping is not mandatory as service is included in the price, but rounding up the bill is a common way to show appreciation for good service in restaurants.
Getting Around Belgium
Belgium has one of the densest and most efficient rail networks in the world (SNCB). Trains between major cities like Brussels, Ghent, and Antwerp run every 15-30 minutes. Most stations have elevators for strollers. Within cities, the trams and buses are excellent, but most historic centers are compact enough to explore on foot. For families, the "Standard Multi" (10-ride pass) is a great way to save money on intercity travel.
