Flanders: Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp

Bruges, the "Venice of the North," is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe — the old town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. Canals, brick houses, bell towers, and monasteries are found in close proximity.

• Market — the central square with the 83 m high Belfry (bell tower, UNESCO-listed, 366 steps to panoramic view)
• Burg (Burg Square) — with the town hall (14th century) and the Basilica of the Holy Blood
• Canal tour — 30 min., classic Bruges experience, March-November
• Beguine Convent (Begijnhof) — UNESCO World Heritage Site, a quiet oasis with whitewashed houses around a lawn
• Groeninge Museum — Flemish Primitives (van Eyck, Memling, Bosch)
• Michelangelo's Madonna in the Church of Our Lady (the only sculpture by Michelangelo outside Italy during his lifetime)

Bruges is very crowded in summer. Early morning (before 10 am) or evening (after 6 pm, when the day tourists have left) is the best time to visit.

Ghent is the younger, more vibrant sister of Bruges — with a university, trams, and a similarly fascinating historical core.

• Graslei & Korenlei — the medieval harbor district on the Leie, perfect for sunsets
• St. Bavo's Cathedral — houses the Ghent Altarpiece by the van Eyck brothers (1432) — one of the most significant artworks in world history. Restored, displayed in a specially built hall
• Belfry of Ghent — UNESCO-listed
• Gravensteen — medieval castle of the counts in the middle of the city
• STAM — city museum
• Werregarenstraat — legal graffiti alley with constantly changing art

Ghent also has one of the liveliest bar and food scenes in Belgium, especially around the Patershol alley.

Antwerp is the second largest city in Belgium — world capital of the diamond trade, a port of European significance, and home to Peter Paul Rubens.

• Cathedral of Our Lady — with four Rubens masterpieces (including "The Descent from the Cross")
• Rubens House — the painter's residence and studio, now a museum (renovated; check current opening hours)
• Antwerp Central Station (Antwerpen-Centraal) — one of the most beautiful train stations in the world, a neo-Renaissance masterpiece
• Grote Markt with town hall and Brabo statue
• MAS (Museum aan de Stroom) — modern city museum with a free panoramic terrace
• Diamond District — 80% of the world's rough diamond trade passes through Antwerp
• Antwerp Zoo — one of the oldest zoos in Europe (1843), right next to the station

Antwerp is also a fashion capital: The "Antwerp Six" (including Dries Van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester) set the fashion school to international training standards.

• Mechelen — between Brussels and Antwerp: magnificent St. Rumbold's Cathedral with a 97 m tower, beguinages (UNESCO), toy museum
• Leuven (Louvain) — university city with arguably the most beautiful town hall in Europe (15th century, late Gothic); home of Stella Artois
• Ypres (Ieper) — In Flanders Fields: center of World War I remembrance, Menin Gate with daily "Last Post" ceremony since 1928
• Belgian North Sea Coast — 67 km of coastline with seaside resorts: Knokke-Heist (upscale), Oostende (cultural), De Haan (Art Nouveau), De Panne (dunes)