Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Start on foot at Grand-Place, ideally around 9:00–9:30, before the square fills with tour groups. Give yourself about 45 minutes to take in the gilded guildhalls, the Town Hall, and the contrast between the ornate façades and the broad open space. From there, walk two minutes to Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, where the glass roof gives you shelter if May brings rain. Browse the chocolatiers, bookshops, and boutiques for around 30 minutes; the galleries are generally accessible from morning until evening, though individual shops set their own hours. Both stops are free, and this compact area is best explored on foot over cobblestones—wear the broken-in sneakers and keep the raincoat handy.
Continue through the Îlot Sacré lanes to Manneken Pis, roughly a five-minute walk from the galleries. The statue itself takes only 15 minutes, and the surrounding streets are more enjoyable if you resist lingering in the busiest souvenir strip. Then walk uphill for about 15 minutes, via the Sablon edge and the Royal Quarter, to Mont des Arts. Allow 45 minutes here to sit in the landscaped gardens, look back toward the lower city, and use the viewpoint for photographs. There is no admission charge, but the ascent is noticeable; a short break for coffee or a Belgian waffle makes sense before continuing. If the weather turns wet, the gardens are still a worthwhile brief stop, but save time for shelter rather than forcing a long visit.
For dinner, walk back downhill toward the Îlot Sacré and settle in at Chez Léon for its classic moules-frites. Allow about 1½ hours and budget approximately €25–40 per person before drinks. It is a well-known, lively Brussels institution rather than a hidden local secret, so arriving slightly early or booking ahead is sensible, especially on evenings when the city is busy. Brussels’ center is easy to navigate after dark, but the narrow lanes can be slick in rain; carry the compact umbrella and keep valuables secure in the crowds.
Allow roughly 1½ hours from your Brussels hotel to Bruges Markt door to door: walk or take local transport to your Brussels station, allow 10–15 minutes for finding the platform and boarding, then add the short walk from Bruges railway station into the center. A train around 7:30–8:30 gives you a quieter arrival. Start among the guildhalls on Bruges Markt, allowing about 45 minutes for photographs and a first look at the medieval square. Then climb Belfort van Brugge—366 steps, narrow in places—with around 1½ hours including the likely queue. Tickets are best bought online for a timed entry; expect roughly €15–€16, and note that the tower is not suitable if you dislike confined stairways. Keep your raincoat handy: the upper platform can be windy even in May.
Walk five minutes to Burg Square for the Basilica of the Holy Blood, a compact but richly decorated church that usually takes about 30 minutes. Entry is generally free, though donations are welcome; access to the chapel can be restricted during a service, so treat the visit as conditional and be respectfully dressed. From there, a five-minute stroll along Wollestraat brings you to Rozenhoedkaai, the classic canal viewpoint. Spend around 20 minutes here, then wander beside the water toward Walplein rather than rushing directly—this is one of the nicest parts of the old center for quiet façades and small bridges. For lunch, keep it light near Simon Stevinplein or pick up a sandwich, since the brewery visit is best enjoyed without a heavy meal.
Continue to De Halve Maan Brewery on Walplein, about a 10-minute walk from Rozenhoedkaai. Set aside two hours for the guided tour and a beer afterward; tours commonly run at set times and cost approximately €16–€20, so reserve ahead, particularly for weekend departures. The brewery has stairs and uneven floors, and beer tastings are included or available depending on the ticket. Afterward, leave time for an unhurried loop through the quieter lanes around Katelijnestraat before dinner at Restaurant De Vlaamsche Pot in the historic center. Reserve a table if possible and expect about €30–€45 per person for hearty Flemish dishes such as stew or waterzooi. Finish with a relaxed walk back toward Bruges railway station; if returning to Brussels tonight, allow at least 20 minutes to reach the station and check the SNCB/NMBS departures, with the trip taking about an hour once aboard.
Arrive at Gent-Sint-Pieters in the morning and allow about 20–25 minutes to reach Gravensteen by tram or taxi; the tram is usually the simplest option, followed by a short walk through the center. Start with the castle’s atmospheric stone rooms, towers, and ramparts—about 1½ hours is right, and the stairs can be steep, so wear your grippiest walking shoes. Admission is roughly €13–15; check the official opening time and reserve ahead if your May visit falls during a busy period.
Afterward, spend an hour wandering Patershol, where lanes such as Kraanlei and Corduwaniersstraat retain a wonderfully medieval feel. Stop for coffee at Café ’t Galgenhuis, a tiny historic spot near the castle, or choose a quieter table in the quarter rather than rushing straight on. Then visit Het Huis van Alijn, a small, engaging museum about everyday life in historic Ghent; allow around an hour and check its current opening days before setting out, as smaller museums can have limited schedules. The castle and Patershol are close together, so this section works comfortably on foot.
Walk roughly 10–15 minutes toward Saint Bavo’s Cathedral, passing through the historic center. Allow an hour for the interior and, if available, The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. The altarpiece visit uses timed access and may require a separate booking, so secure that slot in advance rather than assuming cathedral admission guarantees entry; budget approximately €5–12 depending on the ticket option. Afterward, take a slower route through the surrounding lanes to Vrijdagmarkt, where the broad square is a good place to pause with a drink or snack. Keep some small change for public toilets, and carry your light raincoat—Ghent’s weather can shift quickly even in May.
From Vrijdagmarkt, it is about a 10-minute walk to Du Progrès around Korenmarkt. Book ahead for dinner, particularly on Friday or Saturday evenings, and expect approximately €30–45 per person for Belgian and international dishes before drinks. This is a useful point to settle in after a full day: the nearby tram stops make it easy to return to Gent-Sint-Pieters or continue to your accommodation, while the illuminated historic streets are pleasant for a short post-dinner stroll if you still have energy.
After the roughly one-hour SNCB/NMBS journey from Ghent—allow about 20–30 minutes extra for getting to Gent-Sint-Pieters, the connection, and finding your way out at the destination—begin at Antwerpen-Centraal. Arriving around 9:00–9:30 gives you time to admire the vast domed concourse, marble details, and iron-and-glass platforms before the station gets busy; allow around 30 minutes. From here, it is a pleasant 10-minute walk through the Theaterbuurt to the Rubenshuis. Set aside 1½ hours for the house, garden, and studio, but check the current restoration-related access and reserve ahead if timed entry is required. Admission is commonly in the €8–12 range, though restoration works can affect what is open.
Walk about 10 minutes toward the Fashion District for MoMu – Fashion Museum Antwerp, allowing roughly 1½ hours for its changing exhibitions on Belgian and international fashion. Check the exhibition schedule before setting out, as opening hours and ticket prices vary; expect approximately €10–15 for a standard adult ticket. For lunch, keep it simple around Nationalestraat—several cafés and bakeries make an easy stop before continuing west toward the historic center. A 15-minute walk brings you to Grote Markt, where 45 minutes is enough to take in the Renaissance town hall, stepped guildhalls, and the lively square without rushing. Continue a few minutes to Museum Vleeshuis, an atmospheric former guildhall devoted to Antwerp’s musical instruments, sound, and craft traditions; allow about an hour and check its current opening days, as museums here can have weekday closures. Comfortable sneakers are the right choice for the cobbles, and a light raincoat is worth keeping handy.
Finish at Frites Atelier, a short walk from Museum Vleeshuis, for a relaxed Belgian meal of carefully prepared fries with inventive sauces and toppings. Budget approximately €10–20 per person; it is casual rather than a long sit-down dinner, so it works well after a full museum day. If you still have energy, wander the nearby lanes around Oude Koornmarkt before heading back to Antwerpen-Centraal; allow about 20–25 minutes on foot, or use a tram if the weather turns. Keep your phone charged and carry a little cash for small purchases, although contactless payment is widely accepted.
After arriving from Antwerp, allow roughly 20–30 minutes from Brussels-Central to reach the Royal Quarter, including walking and storing any luggage. Begin at the Magritte Museum, allowing about two hours for its major Surrealist collection. A timed ticket is strongly recommended—entry is typically around €10–15, and morning availability can be limited. From there, walk downhill through the Mont des Arts gardens to the Musical Instruments Museum; allow about 1½ hours, and don’t miss the top-floor restaurant terrace for one of the city’s best elevated views. Admission is generally around €15, with hours varying by day, so check the current schedule before committing.
Continue on foot through the elegant Sablon quarter, where Place du Grand Sablon is ideal for an unhurried hour of chocolate browsing, antiques, and people-watching. Visit Notre-Dame du Sablon next—its stained glass and Gothic interior are especially atmospheric in the afternoon, though access may pause during services. Then take a well-earned stop at Maison Dandoy for a Brussels waffle or a box of biscuits; budget about €8–15 per person. From Sablon, allow around 20–25 minutes by tram or taxi to Brasserie Cantillon in Anderlecht. The brewery visit takes roughly two hours, including tastings; check opening days carefully and reserve if required, as access can be restricted on some days. Wear your comfortable walking shoes—the brewery is working industrial heritage rather than a polished museum, with uneven floors and a strong, earthy lambic character.
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