The best Brussels day trip is a short one. Ghent and Antwerp are each under an hour from the Grand-Place by road, the battlefield of Waterloo is about half an hour south, Leuven and Mechelen are closer still, and Bruges, the classic choice, is about an hour and a quarter. Belgium's compact geography means a private driver can put two cities into one day, or reach the First World War sites around Ypres and be back for dinner.
Elly8.net sells Bruges as a fixed eight-hour package and books every other route as a full-day chauffeur at the same rate: from US$630 in a business sedan to US$1,255 in an Executive Sprinter, per vehicle. Shorter outings run by the hour from US$85. Rides in Brussels are operated by licensed, commercially insured local chauffeur partners vetted through the Limousine Worldwide network; Elly8.net takes the booking, fixes the price and runs the 24/7 desk.
What is the best day trip from Brussels?
For a first visit, Bruges, about 97 km (60 mi) from the Grand-Place, is the signature eight-hour day. Ghent, 56 km (35 mi) away, is the favourite of people who have already seen Bruges, and the two combine well. History lovers choose Waterloo, 23 km (14 mi) south, or the First World War sites around Ypres.
All distances in this guide are routed estimates from the Grand-Place using the public OSRM router, for a clear road. The Brussels ring and the motorways towards Ghent and Antwerp are slow at weekday rush hours; a departure around 9.30 usually avoids the worst. The fixed price does not change with traffic.
See Brussels prices and reserve
| Destination | Routed distance from the Grand-Place | Clear-road drive | Booking that fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bruges | 97 km / 60 mi | about 1 h 17 min | Bruges package, 8 hours |
| Ghent | 56 km / 35 mi | about 49 min | Full-day chauffeur, often with Bruges |
| Antwerp | 56 km / 35 mi | about 49 min | Full-day chauffeur |
| Waterloo battlefield | 23 km / 14 mi | about 31 min | Hourly, 3-hour minimum, or full day |
| Leuven | 30 km / 19 mi | about 31 min | Hourly or full day with Mechelen |
| Mechelen | 35 km / 22 mi | about 33 min | Hourly or full day with Leuven |
| Ypres (Ieper) | 124 km / 77 mi | about 1 h 35 min | Full-day chauffeur |
| Dinant, Meuse valley | 100 km / 62 mi | about 1 h 17 min | Full-day chauffeur |
Bruges: the signature day
Bruges is the day most North American visitors want, and the reason Elly8.net prices it as a package. The canal city is about 97 km (60 mi) from the Grand-Place, roughly 1 hour 17 minutes on a clear road. Its historic centre limits cars, so the chauffeur sets you down at the edge of the old town and collects you at an agreed point. Visit Bruges lists museums, canal boats and opening hours.
The eight-hour package costs from US$630 in a business sedan, US$810 in a business SUV, US$960 in a First Class SUV and US$1,035 in a First Class Sedan, to US$1,255 in an Executive Sprinter, all-in. If you are deciding between doing Bruges by train or by car, or moving hotels to Bruges rather than visiting for the day, our Brussels to Bruges transfer guide sets out the honest comparison.
Ghent, alone or with Bruges
Ghent is about 56 km (35 mi) from the Grand-Place, roughly 49 minutes on a clear road, and it is the city many travellers choose once they have already seen Bruges. Visit Gent, the city's tourism office, puts the Van Eyck brothers' Mystic Lamb at the top of its list of masterpieces to see.
Ghent and Bruges are about 51 km (32 mi) apart, around 41 minutes on a clear road, so the two make a long, satisfying full day: Ghent in the morning, Bruges for the afternoon and early evening, and the drive back of about 97 km (60 mi). Book it as a full-day chauffeur, from US$630 in a business sedan to US$1,255 in a Sprinter.
A sample Ghent and Bruges day
Here is how the desk would typically shape the two-city day. Treat it as a starting point, not a timetable.
9.30, Brussels hotel pickup. About 49 minutes to Ghent on a clear road; allow more on a weekday.
10.30, Ghent. The morning for the old centre and the Mystic Lamb, with the chauffeur waiting or returning at a set time.
13.00, lunch in Ghent, then on to Bruges. About 41 minutes between the two cities on a clear road.
14.15, Bruges. Set down at the edge of the historic centre for the afternoon: the squares, the canals and a boat trip.
16.30, back to Brussels. About 1 hour 17 minutes to the Grand-Place on a clear road, which brings the day in at a little over eight hours. On a full-day booking, the desk confirms the included time when you book, and waiting beyond it is billed at cost.
Antwerp: Belgium's port city
Antwerp, Belgium's great port city, is about 56 km (35 mi) north of the Grand-Place, also about 49 minutes on a clear road. It is an easy full day on its own, with the old town, the waterfront and the museums all within a short drive of each other. Visit Antwerpen has current exhibitions and opening hours. Antwerp to Ghent is a natural pairing for a second day if you have one.
Waterloo: the battlefield half-day
The battlefield of Waterloo is about 23 km (14 mi) south of the Grand-Place, roughly half an hour on a clear road, and it is the best half-day from Brussels. The Waterloo 1815 Memorial site brings together the Lion's Mound, with 226 steps to a panoramic view over the battlefield; the Panorama, a circular painting in a building from 1912; the Memorial 1815 exhibition with a 4D film; and an electric shuttle across the fields to the historic Hougoumont Farm. It lists free parking and free entry for children under 10.
A three-hour hourly chauffeur booking costs US$255 in a business sedan, US$330 in a business SUV and US$510 in an Executive Sprinter, which covers the drive, a visit and the return. Allow longer if you want Hougoumont as well as the Mound and the Memorial.
Leuven and Mechelen: two cities in one easy day
Leuven is about 30 km (19 mi) east of the Grand-Place and Mechelen about 35 km (22 mi) north, each around half an hour on a clear road. Visit Leuven describes a city shaped by its university and students, with the University Library among its highlights and local beer close behind. Visit Mechelen lists museums, historic churches and walking routes, and runs a Rubens in Stone programme on the Baroque of Lucas Faydherbe and Rubens.
Neither city needs a full day on its own, which makes them a good pair, or a half-day each by the hour. Leuven is also close to Brussels Airport, which lists direct trains between the two taking 13 minutes, so a morning in Leuven can fill the hours before an evening flight, with the luggage in the vehicle.
Ypres and the First World War front
For many North American families, the most meaningful day in Belgium is a visit to the First World War sites around Ypres, Ieper in Dutch. Ypres is about 124 km (77 mi) from the Grand-Place, roughly 1 hour 35 minutes on a clear road, so this is a full day. The In Flanders Fields Museum, on the Grote Markt in Ieper, is the place to start; it lists opening hours of 10.00 to 17.00, Monday to Sunday.
Canadian and American visitors often come with a specific regiment, cemetery or memorial in mind. Send us the places you want to see and the chauffeur builds the route around them.
The Meuse valley and the Ardennes
South of Brussels, the landscape changes completely. Dinant, on the Meuse, is about 100 km (62 mi) from the Grand-Place, roughly 1 hour 17 minutes on a clear road, and the river valley and the Ardennes beyond it suit a scenic full day. Further east, the Spa-Francorchamps circuit hosts the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix in July 2027; on race weekend a full-day chauffeur is the comfortable way in. See sports event transportation.
Package, full day or hourly: which booking?
| Booking | Business Sedan | Business SUV | First Class SUV | Executive Sprinter | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruges package, 8 hours | US$630 | US$810 | US$960 | US$1,255 | The classic Bruges day |
| Full-day chauffeur | US$630 | US$810 | US$960 | US$1,255 | Ghent and Bruges, Antwerp, Ypres, Dinant |
| By the hour, 3-hour minimum | US$85 per hour | US$110 per hour | US$130 per hour | US$170 per hour | Waterloo, Leuven, Mechelen |
| Private city highlights tour | US$340 | US$440 | US$520 | US$680 | Brussels itself |
Prices are per vehicle, not per person, and include the chauffeur, the vehicle, taxes and a standard gratuity. Parking and tolls are billed at cost. The First Class Sedan costs US$1,035 for the Bruges package or a full day and US$140 an hour. All published fares are on the Brussels page and the packages page.
Brussels itself. The private city highlights tour runs from the Grand-Place to the Royal Palace and the Atomium at Heysel, about 8 km (5 mi) north of the centre, with the chauffeur waiting while you walk. The Grand-Place and the lanes around it are pedestrianised, so drop-offs are at the nearest street the car can reach. See private city tours.
Train or car for a day trip?
Belgium's railways connect most of the cities on this list, and for two people visiting one city, the train is the cheaper choice and often the quicker one; we would say so. The car earns its place when the day joins places together, Ghent and Bruges, Leuven and Mechelen, Ypres and the cemeteries around it, or the battlefield sites at Waterloo, which are spread across the fields rather than next to a station. It also changes the arithmetic for a group: the full day in a Business SUV is US$810 for up to six passengers, about US$135 each as arithmetic for comparison only.
For getting around the city before and after, our Brussels Uber vs taxi guide explains the region's app and taxi rules, and the Brussels Airport taxi guide covers arrivals.
Timing and practical tips
Start mid-morning to miss rush hour on the ring.
Book museum slots yourself and send us the times. The chauffeur plans the order of the day around them.
Mondays. Some museums close on Mondays; check each site before you settle the day.
Low emission zone. The whole Brussels-Capital Region is a low emission zone, according to LEZ Brussels; partner vehicles are four model years old or newer, so you never need to think about it, as you would with a rental. See chauffeur vs car rental.
Children. Ask for child or booster seats when you book and give the ages; the partner fits them before pickup.
Choosing the vehicle
| Vehicle class | Passengers | Bags | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Sedan | 3 | 2 | Couples and small families |
| First Class Sedan | 3 | 2 | The same in an S-Class |
| Business SUV / Van | 6 | 6 | Families with strollers |
| First Class SUV | 6 | 6 | Families wanting more comfort |
| Executive Sprinter | 12 | 12 | Groups, battlefield tours, corporate outings |
The fleet page shows every class. Travel agents and hotel concierges book these days for clients through travel agent accounts and hotel accounts. If your trip continues, the same desk runs the Amsterdam car service, Paris chauffeur service and London chauffeur service.
How booking works
- Pickup and route. Choose the Bruges package, or enter your hotel and the stops for a full day or hourly booking. Add museum or tour times in the notes.
- Vehicle. Choose by passengers and bags, and add child seats.
- Reserve. Press Reserve now for a published package and pay by card in US$, or use the web booker for any custom route. Confirmation arrives by email.
Cancellation is free more than 72 hours before pickup, 10% at 72 hours or less, 50% at 48 hours or less, and 100% at 24 hours or less or for a no-show, refunded to the original card; see the cancellation policy. Elly8.net books the car only; BookingWorldwide.net handles flights and hotels. Elly8.net is a member of LimousineWorldwide.Directory, LimousineAssociation.International, HotelsWorldwide.Directory and VacationsWorldwide.Directory.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a private day trip from Brussels?
The eight-hour Bruges package costs from US$630 in a business sedan to US$1,255 in an Executive Sprinter. A full-day chauffeur for Ghent, Antwerp, Ypres or Dinant costs the same. Hourly bookings start at US$85 in a business sedan with a 3-hour minimum. Prices are per vehicle and include a standard gratuity.
Can we visit Ghent and Bruges in one day?
Yes. Ghent is about 56 km (35 mi) from the Grand-Place and Bruges about 51 km (32 mi) beyond it. A full-day chauffeur covers both, typically Ghent in the morning and Bruges in the afternoon, with the drive of about 97 km (60 mi) back to Brussels.
How far is Waterloo from Brussels?
About 23 km (14 mi) from the Grand-Place, roughly 31 minutes on a clear road. A three-hour hourly booking from US$255 in a business sedan covers the Lion's Mound, the Panorama and the Memorial 1815; allow more time for Hougoumont Farm.
Is Ypres too far for a day trip?
No, but it is a full day. Ypres is about 124 km (77 mi) from the Grand-Place, roughly 1 hour 35 minutes each way on a clear road. Start at the In Flanders Fields Museum, then visit the cemeteries and memorials you have chosen.
Are museum tickets included?
No. Elly8.net prices cover the chauffeur, vehicle, taxes and a standard gratuity; parking and tolls are billed at cost. Buy admission tickets from each site, such as the Waterloo 1815 Memorial or the In Flanders Fields Museum, and send us your times so the route fits them.
Can the day end at Brussels Airport?
Yes. Leuven is close to Brussels Airport, so a morning there can end at BRU with your luggage in the vehicle, and any other route can finish at the airport too. Give us the flight number and the desk plans the timing.
