Routes · Europe

Bangkok to Flanders: Ghent, Antwerp and Leuven

Bangkok → Ghent → Antwerp → Leuven

Medieval guild houses, Rubens & Flemish art Best season (general guide): Apr–Sep

Flanders, the Dutch-speaking north of Belgium, is a region of medieval cities, great art and a deep brewing tradition. This route spends seven nights between Ghent, Antwerp and Leuven. From Bangkok you'll fly to Brussels, directly or via a hub.

How to pace it: Spend days one to three in Ghent: day one, the Graslei and Korenlei; day two, the Ghent Altarpiece; day three, Gravensteen castle. Then spend days four to six in Antwerp: day four, train to Antwerp, then the station and the cathedral; day five, Rubens House; day six, Plantin-Moretus Museum. Then spend day seven in Leuven: Leuven town hall and the university.

Ghent is a lively university city with canals lined by guild houses on the Graslei and Korenlei. Its castle, the Gravensteen, rises from the water in the centre.

In Saint Bavo's Cathedral, the Ghent Altarpiece, painted by the van Eyck brothers in the fifteenth century, is one of the most important works in European art.

Antwerp, a short train ride away, is a port city with a fashion scene and a famous painter. The Rubens House was the home and studio of Peter Paul Rubens. The Plantin-Moretus Museum, listed by UNESCO, preserves a printing house from the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

Antwerp's central station is one of the grandest railway buildings in Europe, with a domed hall and decorated stone.

Leuven, east of Brussels, is home to one of Europe's oldest universities and an ornate Gothic town hall covered with statues.

April to September is the most pleasant time, but rain is possible in every month.

Ghent is at its best in the evening, when the towers and guild houses are lit and the quays fill with students. In Antwerp, give Rubens and Plantin-Moretus a morning each rather than squeezing both into one day. Leuven is small enough to see in a day, so it works well as a final, slower stop before your flight from Brussels.

Good to know: Trains link all three cities quickly, so there's no need for a car. Belgian beer is a tradition here, with many styles; ask for local recommendations in a café. Book the altarpiece visit ahead in busy months.

Safety: Canada's advice for Belgium is to exercise a high degree of caution (updated 11 August 2026).

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