Practical Cozy Travel

Tag: Belgium

A Summer Grand Tour of Belgium, Luxembourg, Alsace & Switzerland: Our Day-by-Day Itinerary
Last summer we looped through Belgium, Luxembourg, a slice of Germany, the Alsace region of France, and into Switzerland — mostly by train, with a private driver for the longer country-to-country legs. It packed in a lot without ever feeling rushed, and it’s very repeatable whether you’re traveling solo or wrangling a group of five like we were. Here’s the full day-by-day, with links to everything I wrote up in detail.

The route at a glance

Four home bases, everything else a day trip. Dotted lines are excursions; dashed lines are the travel days between cities.
- Belgium: Brussels as a base, with day trips to Bruges and Ghent
- The drive south: scenic stops in Durbuy and Dinant
- Luxembourg: Luxembourg City, plus a day trip across the border to Trier, Germany
- Alsace: Haut-Kœnigsbourg castle and Colmar en route to Strasbourg
- Switzerland: Zurich, plus Lucerne and Mount Rigi to finish
The day-by-day itinerary

Day 1 — Travel day. An overnight flight over, landing early the next morning. If you want the full breakdown of how I fit this whole trip into a carry-on, that’s here.

Day 2 — Brussels. Arrival and the Old Town, including the Grand-Place. My honest take on Belgium’s capital: Brussels: An Honest First Look.

Day 3 — Bruges. An early train and the storybook canals — my favorite of the three Belgian cities. Bruges: The Storybook Belgian City.

Day 4 — Ghent. Belgium’s underrated canal city (take the tram, not the walk). Ghent: Belgium’s Underrated Canal City.

Day 5 — Brussels to Luxembourg. A private driver let us break up the drive with two lovely stops. Durbuy & Dinant: The Prettiest Stops Between Brussels and Luxembourg.

Day 6 — Trier. An easy day trip across the German border to Germany’s oldest city. A Day Trip to Trier.

Day 7 — Luxembourg City. A leisurely day of clifftop views, the Grund, and a lot of good cafes. A Leisurely Day in Luxembourg City.

Day 8 — Luxembourg to Strasbourg. A fairytale castle and the storybook town of Colmar along the way. Luxembourg to Strasbourg: Haut-Kœnigsbourg & Colmar.

Day 9 — Strasbourg. Alsatian charm, a grand cathedral, and — for the skincare lovers — a proper French pharmacy haul. Full day here: Strasbourg: Alsatian Charm & a Grand Cathedral.

Day 10 — Zurich. A relaxing arrival into Switzerland: wandering the Limmat, the old-town classics, and watching locals leap off the bridges into the river. First Look at Zurich.

Day 11 — Lucerne & Mount Rigi. A private-tour day and the highlight of our Switzerland leg — Lucerne’s Chapel Bridge and Lion Monument, then a gondola and cog railway to the top of Mount Rigi. Lucerne and Mount Rigi: The Best Day of Our Switzerland Trip.

Day 12 — Flight home. A pure travel day. My rule for the last morning: no ambitious sightseeing — breakfast, one last check that nothing got left in the hotel safe, and head for the airport. Still short on gifts? Don’t panic-buy from a souvenir shop. Swiss grocery stores, the shops at Zurich’s main train station, and the airport all have a good spread — just check what will actually clear a carry-on before you buy.

Before you go

Two posts that made this trip run smoothly: what I packed for 12 days in a carry-on, and how I used AI to help plan the whole thing.

← Back to all Destinations

Next up: Belgium — Brussels →
July 30, 2026
Durbuy & Dinant: The Prettiest Stops Between Brussels and Luxembourg

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through a link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure here.

We were lucky enough to have a private driver for the leg between Brussels and Luxembourg, which meant we could break up the drive with a couple of stops instead of powering straight through. If you’re planning the same route — with a driver or your own car — here are the two we chose, and my honest take on each.

Durbuy

Durbuy gets billed as one of the smallest towns around, and it’s cute and quaint in exactly the way you’d hope. That said, I’ll be straight with you: it’s very small, with just a handful of shops, and nothing that made me stop in my tracks. It’s a lovely leg-stretch and good for a photo or two, but I wouldn’t build a whole day around it.

Dinant

Dinant, on the other hand, was a highlight. The setting along the water is stunning, and there’s a real cluster of restaurants (plus a few shops), which makes it a perfect place to stop for lunch.

The saxophone bridge was such a fun surprise — Dinant is the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone, and the bridge is lined with colorful sax sculptures. Walking across it was genuinely beautiful and just really cool, and there are some great photography spots here if you like to capture your trips.

We also grabbed a gelato and wandered down along the river with it — honestly one of the best ways to cool off in the summer heat while soaking up the views. Little moments like that are what made Dinant so easy to love.

We also went up to the citadel. Here’s my honest opinion: unless you’re really into history, I’m not sure it’s worth the fee just for the view. The view is beautiful — but you can enjoy plenty of Dinant’s charm from the ground for free. Still, the town as a whole is absolutely worth the stop.

The takeaway

If you’ve got a driver or a car between Brussels and Luxembourg, skip the straight shot. Durbuy is a quick, charming pause, and Dinant is well worth a proper lunch stop and a wander.

Comfort tip: both towns involve some uneven, hilly walking, so easy shoes make this a lot more enjoyable — and a crossbody keeps your hands free for photos. I wore the Skechers GO Walk Flex slip-in sandals and carried the Baggallini Securtex Anti-Theft Daytripper Sling.

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← Belgium — Ghent

Next up: Germany — Trier →

Part of A Summer Grand Tour of Belgium, Luxembourg, Alsace & Switzerland.

July 30, 2026
Ghent: Belgium’s Underrated Canal City

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through a link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure here.

Ghent often gets overshadowed by Bruges, and while Bruges did win my heart, Ghent was absolutely worth the visit. It has a completely different feel — bolder, a little grittier, with its own gorgeous canal and a very different style of architecture.

Getting there — and skip the walk

Ghent is an easy morning train from Brussels — the same line as Bruges, just an earlier stop. Here’s the one thing I’d do differently: from the station, take the tram into the city center. We decided to walk it, hoping the route would be scenic, and honestly it wasn’t worth the steps or the effort. The tram is cheap, quick, and gets you to the good part faster. Learn from my mistake.

What we saw

The waterfront along Graslei and Korenlei is the postcard shot, and the medieval Gravensteen castle anchors the old center. St. Bavo’s Cathedral (Sint-Baafskathedraal) is home to the famous Ghent Altarpiece and worth stepping inside. We also did the canal cruise here — it was great, though I’d say it edges out just behind Bruges for me. Different architecture, still very beautiful.

One local sweet to try: cuberdons, the little cone-shaped candies. Fair warning — they are very sweet. And if beer is more your thing, Artevelde is brewed right here in Ghent.

One thing to check before you go

Our one downside was timing: the city was setting up for the Ghent Festivities (Gentse Feesten), which meant a fair amount of construction and stage rigging around the center. If you want Ghent at its prettiest and least cluttered, it’s worth checking the festival dates (usually mid-July) before you lock in your day trip.

Is it worth it?

Yes. I enjoyed Bruges more overall, but Ghent earns its spot — pair the two on separate days from a Brussels base and you get two very different, very beautiful sides of Belgium.

Comfort tip: even with the tram, it’s a walking day on cobbles and canal-side paths. I alternated between the Skechers GO Walk Flex slip-in sandals (unbeatable on cobblestone, and easy to rinse off) and the New Balance 1080 v15 for extra cushioning.

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← Belgium — Bruges

Next up: Durbuy & Dinant →

Part of A Summer Grand Tour of Belgium, Luxembourg, Alsace & Switzerland.

July 30, 2026
Bruges: The Storybook Belgian City (and How to Beat the Crowds)

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through a link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure here.

If you only have time for one Belgian day trip, make it Bruges. Of the three cities we visited, this was my favorite by a mile — genuinely storybook, canal after canal, and the kind of place that makes you slow down and just look around.

Getting there (and why we went early)

We got up early and took the train from Brussels specifically to beat the crowds and the summer heat. The train is genuinely easy — worth upgrading to first class if you can swing it — and it’s a quick ride straight to Bruges, followed by a beautiful walk into the center. Two small things save you a lot of hassle: have your tickets ready to show, and go early. It’s the best decision we made all day.

Do the canal tour — but do it first

We deliberately bypassed a lot of sights on the way in so we could get to the canal boats before the lines built. We were on the second boat out; by the time we got back, the operator was quoting people a 45-to-50-minute wait. Going early in summer also meant a lovely breeze on the water instead of the midday heat. The tour itself is a wonderful way to see the city and pick up a bit of its history — highly recommend, just get there early.

Wander, and eat well

After the boat we wandered the Markt and Burg squares and just soaked it in. A few things I’d send you straight to: chocolate from Dumon and waffles from Laurence take-away were both excellent calls, and the mussels we had for lunch were delicious. This is a city that rewards a slow afternoon.

The takeaway

We took the train back to Brussels that afternoon and enjoyed a relaxing evening in. Bruges was worth every early-morning minute — if you do just one thing here, ride the canals first thing, then let the rest of the day unfold.

Comfort tip: the cobblestones here are charming and completely unforgiving on the wrong shoes. My two go-tos: the Skechers GO Walk Flex slip-in sandals — a cute, functional sandal that handles cobblestone beautifully, stays comfortable all day, and rinses off easily — and the New Balance 1080 v15 when I want more cushioning underfoot.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full Affiliate Disclosure for details.

← Belgium — Brussels

Next up: Belgium — Ghent →

Part of A Summer Grand Tour of Belgium, Luxembourg, Alsace & Switzerland.

July 30, 2026
Brussels: An Honest First Look at Belgium’s Capital

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through a link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure here.

Brussels was our arrival city and the first of three Belgian stops — and I’ll be honest with you up front, it ended up being my least favorite of the three. That doesn’t mean skip it. It just means going in with the right expectations, which is exactly what I wish I’d had.

Getting into the city

Our arrival hit a snag at security. There were huge crowds, only a few lanes open, and none of the digital scanners were working — it took us about an hour and fifteen to get through. The silver lining: by the time we cleared it, our luggage was already waiting for us. Because we landed early with five people and a full set of bags, we skipped the train and took an Uber straight to the hotel. If you’re arriving as a group with luggage, that’s the call I’d make again — easier and far less stressful than wrangling everyone onto a train.

What we saw

After dropping our bags, we wandered. The Grand-Place is genuinely show-stopping — the ornate guild houses and the Town Hall are worth the trip on their own. We also stopped by Manneken Pis, which is famous, tiny, and exactly as small as everyone warns you. It’s a fun tick-the-box moment more than a highlight.

My honest take

Brussels leans more touristy than Bruges or Ghent, with more of those souvenir-lined streets. A couple of times it didn’t feel especially safe — we were completely fine, but I stayed more aware of my bag than I did elsewhere. We also stayed near the beer museum, and on the weekend the plaza was a party well into the night. The next morning it was covered in trash with a few disgruntled stragglers still about. The cleanup crews were fast, but it wasn’t quite our pace.

If I did it again, I’d book a hotel a few streets back from the main nightlife squares — you’re still walkable to everything, minus the 2 a.m. soundtrack.

Is it worth it?

Yes — for the Grand-Place alone, and as an easy base for day trips to Bruges and Ghent (both a quick, simple train ride away). Just go in knowing it’s the busiest and most touristy of the three, and plan your hotel accordingly.

Comfort tip: in busier, touristy areas I like a crossbody bag that zips closed and sits in front of me — hands free for photos, and one less thing to think about. The one I carry is the Baggallini Securtex Anti-Theft Daytripper Sling. Honestly, anything by Baggallini does the job — and it’s well worth checking TJ Maxx before you pay full price.

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← The full 12-day itinerary

Next up: Belgium — Bruges →

Part of A Summer Grand Tour of Belgium, Luxembourg, Alsace & Switzerland.

July 28, 2026