Belgium

A weekend circuit to Antwerp — doable from Metz, Paris, Amsterdam, or Luxembourg — with Billie's Bier Kafétaria for beer lovers, plus Brussels, Bruges, and Ghent all worth adding.

Duration

A weekend covers Antwerp itself comfortably. Extend to a long weekend if you want to add Brussels, Bruges, or Ghent.

Best time

Spring (March-May) or fall (September-October) — the shoulder seasons offer mild weather, fewer crowds, and cheaper rates than summer's peak pricing.

Budget

Around €80/night for a double hotel room, plus roughly €20 per person per meal.

Getting around

No direct train from Metz — you'll change at Luxembourg, with the full journey to Antwerp taking somewhat longer than the equivalent Brussels route given the extra distance north. This route also works well as a weekend trip from Amsterdam (roughly 1h15, direct — the fastest gateway by far), Paris (roughly 2 hours, direct), or Luxembourg (roughly 3.25-3.75 hours) — see the note below.

A weekend circuit to Brussels — doable from Metz, Paris, Amsterdam, or Luxembourg — with Delirium Café for beer lovers, plus Antwerp, Waterloo, Namur, Bruges, and Ghent all worth adding.

Duration

A weekend covers Brussels itself comfortably. Extend to a long weekend if you want to add Waterloo, Namur, Bruges, or Ghent.

Best time

Spring (March-May) or fall (September-October) — the shoulder seasons offer mild weather, fewer crowds, and cheaper rates than summer's peak pricing.

Budget

Around €80/night for a double hotel room, plus roughly €20 per person per meal. We got a Brussels Card for our two days, which covers free entry to around 47-49 museums and attractions across the city (we used it for about 5 places ourselves), with public transport available as an add-on option.

Getting around

No direct train from Metz — you'll change at Luxembourg. The full Metz-to-Brussels journey runs roughly 3.5-4.5 hours depending on connections. This route also works well as a weekend trip from Amsterdam (roughly 2 hours, direct), Paris (roughly 1h22, direct — the fastest gateway of them all), or Luxembourg (roughly 2.5-3 hours, direct) — see the note below.