Did someone say chocolate? 🇧🇪

When we were planning our next destination, I knew Belgium was a must. So many of my friends had visited in the past and told me I would love it, especially because of my love for fairytale-like places.

I’ve always had a deep love for castles and architecture, and Belgium truly felt like stepping back in time. Around every corner, I felt incredibly grateful to experience a life that allows me to see parts of the world so different from home.

And honestly—this Belgian waffle alone might be reason enough to add Belgium to your next Europe trip.

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Day Five Belgium, Ghent 🇧🇪

📍 Saint Bavo’s Cathedral

📍 Belfry of Ghent

📍 Korenmarkt

📍Canal Cruise through Ghent

📍 Castle of the Counts - Gravensteen

📍Du Progres for lunch with new friends ☺️

📍Grafittistraat

📍 Jacob van Artevelde Monument

📍 Dulle Griet (Groot Kanon 1430-1450)

📍Het Patershol Street

Ghent quickly won us over with its storybook streets and effortless charm. We started our day walking towards Saint Bavo’s Cathedral to enjoy the beautiful stonework and architecture. Just a short walk away, the Belfry of Ghent stood tall above the rooftops, reminding us how deeply medieval Ghent is and was.

One of the highlights of the day was a canal cruise through Ghent, which gave us a whole new perspective of the city. Drifting past old guild houses and hidden corners felt like flipping through a history book. Our guide was telling us so many stories and was such a lovely gentleman to chat with. After the cruise, we explored the impressive Castle of the Counts (Gravensteen), its dramatic stone walls rising right out of the city centre. It’s one of those places that makes you stop and imagine what life here looked like centuries ago.

Lunch at Du Progrès turned into one of those unexpectedly perfect travel moments. While we were walking, we spotted a group of three friends trying to take photos of each other, so I stopped to offer a group shot. That simple gesture sparked a conversation, and before we knew it, we had decided to grab lunch together. Good food, lots of laughter, and new friends made it feel less like a stop on the itinerary and more like a memory we’ll always associate with Ghent.

Afterward, we took a creative turn down Grafittistraat, where colorful street art covered every inch of the alley—bold, expressive, and completely different from the historic sites we’d seen earlier.

We wrapped up the day with a few quieter but meaningful stops, including the Jacob van Artevelde Monument and the massive Dulle Griet cannon, a reminder of Ghent’s powerful past. A stroll through Het Patershol felt like the perfect ending with narrow cobblestone streets, cozy corners, and that unmistakable feeling that Ghent is a city meant to be explored slowly. Even on a day trip, it left a lasting impression and easily became one of our favourite stops in Belgium.

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Day Six Belgium, Bruges 🇧🇪

📍Lake Minnewater (Lake of love)

📍 Sashuis

📍 Beguinage “Ten Wijngaerde”

📍Pause Bruges for Belgium Waffles

📍Belfort

📍Grote Markt

📍2be Bar - The Wall of Beer

📍Jan van Eyckplein Statue

📍Choco-Story

Today was a very happy day, as I had my first Belgian waffle, and it did not disappoint. We arrived in Bruges early, hoping to beat the rain. We started the day strolling along the Lake of Love, managing to enjoy a bit of sunshine before the rain finally arrived.

Just steps away, we wandered into the Beguinage “Ten Wijngaerde,” a place steeped in history and tranquility. Founded in 1245, the Beguinage was once home to Beguines—independent religious women who lived communally without taking permanent vows. Unlike nuns, they could leave, marry, or return to everyday life, making the community remarkably progressive for its time. Walking through its tree-lined paths felt like stepping into a peaceful pause from the bustling city just beyond its gates.

Next, we treated ourselves to Belgian waffles at Pause Bruges—warm, delicious, and absolutely worth the stop. We then followed the sound of bells toward the iconic Belfort, which towers over Grote Markt. Surrounded by colourful guild houses and lively cafés, the square felt like the heart of Bruges, buzzing with energy and postcard-worthy views.

We ended the day by exploring 2be Bar and its famous Wall of Beer, where shelves of Belgian brews stretch endlessly upward. A stop at Jan van Eyckplein allowed us to pause at the statue honouring one of Bruges’ most famous artists before finishing at Choco-Story. This was a last minute stop due to a down pour of rain that started and it was quite the experience. To be honest it was fairly overwhelming and a little odd at times but was very cool to learn the history of Belgium chocolate.

Although I loved Bruges after many recommendations from friends to make the trip I don't think I loved it as much as I loved Ghent. Ghent felt less touristy and more like a hidden gem. I think Bruges was a great stop along our journey and I will cherish that Belgium waffle in my tummy forever.

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Day Seven Brussels, Belgium 🇧🇪

📍Brouette for Breakfast

📍Grand Place

📍Mannekin Pis

📍Chez Bij PAPY for Lunch

📍Mont de arts

Today, I got to meet up with my dear friend Cloé, who travelled all the way from Lille to see us. I met her a few years ago through Bumble BFF, and we became friends back in Toronto. We even travelled to London together in 2024 to see Taylor Swift. Sadly, she later moved back to France, so I knew I had to see her while I was in a neighbouring country.

Cloé became our tour guide for the day, which was absolutely amazing since she’s explored Brussels before and knew exactly where to go. She showed us some hidden gems and made sure we tried plenty of delicious food along the way. We started the morning at Grand Place before making our way to Manneken Pis. The area was packed for such a small sculpture, but we still loved seeing it in person. Cloé was especially surprised that it wasn’t dressed up, as she usually sees it in costume.

Although our time together was short, we had the best day exploring yet another country side by side. It only made me want to visit France even more so she can show me all of her favorite places next.

After saying our goodbyes, Josh and I grabbed our bags and headed to the airport to catch our flight to Berlin, Germany, ready for the next chapter of our trip.