The 15 Hidden Gems Tours in Belgium That Earn Their Price

1.Guided Retro Bike Tour of Highlights and Hidden Gems

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 374 reviews · 2 hours - 150 minutes · from $52Our pick

Set out from the 15th-century Hof Bladelin with a vintage bike, basket, and optional helmet. Guides including Sebastian, Eveline, Frieda, and Godfried lead you through Bruges landmarks, canals, windmills, the Beguinage, and local corners such as Stairway to Heaven. Finish with a complimentary Belgian beer or limonade in the garden.

“We spent our time very well in a company of Eveline! Highly recommended! Very attractive route,nice remarks about plenty of nice places!”

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2.Bruges, Guided Retro Biketour: Highlights and Hidden Gems

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 345 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $53Top rated

Ride through Bruges with guides such as Sebastian, Mercedes, Nathan, and Frida, covering famous squares, the beguinage, ramparts, windmills, almshouses, and quiet corners. Retro bikes, helmets, baskets, ponchos, and umbrellas are provided. Expect frequent stops, local history, and city riding on cobbles among cars and pedestrians.

“Loved the bike tour and personal touch given by our guide. Not only did she show us numerous sights, but also her connection to the city by pointing out landmarks created by her grandfather”

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3.City Highlights and Hidden Gems Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 344 reviews · from $40

Ride through Brussels with Cactus Brussel à Vélo on a gentle 3.5-hour tour led in English, Dutch, or French. Choose a well-maintained city bike, visit major sights and quieter neighborhoods, pause at a cozy café, and hear local stories from guides such as Philippe, Andréa, Michel, and Renata.

“Andrea had great vision. The tour was amazing ! We saw all the historical places and learnt about history”

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4.Brussels Highlights & Hidden Gems Private Tour with a Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 251 reviews · 3 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $95

Explore Brussels with a local host such as Patrick, Sebastian, Francis, or Chloe. Your 3 to 8 hour private walk can focus on history, food, architecture, family interests, or lesser-known corners. Expect Grand Place, Manneken Pis, the Royal Palace, chocolate and beer stops, plus optional public transport between distant sights.

“Our guide, Patrick, was very informative and kept the narrative very interesting while showing us the Brussels most interesting spots. There was a good balance of history and current life facts. We really enjoyed our tour and will definitely try to come back in the future.”

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5.Highlights & Hidden Gems With Locals: Best of Bruges Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 217 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $106

Spend three hours with a private Bruges guide such as Ann, Arthur, Patrick, or Nathan, following a flexible route through Markt, Burg Square, canals, historic churches, Minnewater Lake, and local neighborhoods. You may stop for Belgian chocolate, waffles, beer, or another local tasting, with the pace shaped around your interests.

“Great to get out of the busy tourist areas and see where people live. Hitting a great old bar from the early 1900 for a hot chocolate and beer was fantastic.”

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6.City Highlights and Hidden Gems Guided Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 196 reviews · 2h 30m · from $53

Spend 150 minutes cycling Ghent with a local guide, often Tim, through safe bike lanes and quiet streets. See abbeys, churches, canals, the Castle of the Counts, Portus Ganda, and the small beguinage, then pause halfway for a drink or coffee. City bikes and raincoats are provided.

“When in Gent, be sure to take this tour! Tim showed us all around, providing a wonderful perspective! We were able to see artwork, statues, parks, canals, quiet neighborhoods and the outside of the city center’s towers & churches. It was all so beautiful! Halfway through the tour we stopped at an eclectic brewery, so you can use facilities and/or get a refreshing drink. The pace of the ride was just right & the information provided regarding Gent and its history was in-depth & interesting. A slight drizzle didn’t stop us, as we just put on our rain jackets and continued on. It was invigorating! Thx Tim!”

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7.Brussels Highlights & Hidden Gems Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 195 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $39

This 3.5-hour English-language bike tour covers Brussels highlights and lesser-seen districts with guides such as Andrea, Jessica, Vito, and Mauro. Expect a small group of up to 14, included bicycle and helmet, city views, industrial heritage, cobblestones, hills, and a look at Brussels beyond Grand Place and Manneken Pis.

“No kidding-loved this biketour. 3 1/2 hours flew by. Usually more than 2 hours and I am thinking "why did I book this?" but Andrea the tourguide was awesome! We had such a great time with her - upbeat, communicative, organized, and friendly. There were slight long hills, but easily biked even for beginners. Definitely book this. As a non-profit it also helps to have more changes occur to reduce pollution and increase bike use throughout Brussels.”

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8.Brussels PRIVATE TOUR With Locals: Highlights & Hidden Gems

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 177 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $114

Spend three hours exploring Brussels with only your party and a private local guide. See St Nicholas Church, the Royal Palace, Grand Place, and possibly Bois de la Cambre or Sonian Forest. Your guide shapes the route around your interests and includes one local snack or drink. Guides such as Tiago, Eric, Matteo, and Asefeh are praised for lively stories and useful food tips.

“Matteo was such a fantastic guide for my day in Brussels. He showed me the highlights of the town, and gave me some wonderful tips for the rest of my time in the city. Thank you!!!”

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9.Brussels Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 72 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $38

Start and finish at Grand Place on a two-hour English walking tour through central Brussels. You’ll see the Galeries Royales, Bourse, Royal Palace, Éverard t’Serclaes Monument, Manneken Pis, and a few surprise stops. Guides such as Peter, Tom, Rosh, and Asefeh may lead the walk, with groups capped at 15 per guide.

“Unfortunately, I learned more about our tour guide, Peter, than I did about Brussels. He was lovely, but I really wanted to learn more about Brussels, the history and the culture. The commentary was very limited — usually just a couple of sentences per site — and he couldn’t answer basic questions about the city’s history. It felt more like a walk with a friendly local than a guided historical tour. Disappointing, especially given Viator’s usual quality.”

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10.Private Tour with Locals – Highlights & Hidden Gems

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 45 reviews · 3 hours · from $106

Spend three hours exploring Bruges with a private English-speaking local guide. You’ll see Burg Square, the Markt, and De Halve Maan, hear local stories, seek out quieter corners, and enjoy one local drink or tasting. Guides named Patrick and Artur have been praised for friendly, personal, well-informed tours.

“The private tour of Bruges was excellent. We like to learn a lot about the places we visit, and find that a private tour is the best way to enrich our experience. Our guide Patrick was friendly, professional, and very knowledgeable. Highly recommend this tour.”

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11.Highlights & Hidden Gems Private Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 24 reviews · from $132

Spend 3 to 8 hours exploring Brussels with a private local guide matched to your interests. See Grand Place, Manneken Pis, comic murals, Saint-Hubert Galleries, and the European Quarter, with time for frites, chocolate, beer, vintage shops, and local cafes. Guides may include Stephane, Andrea, Michael, or Walid.

“she was excellent!! Gave us a great tour of the city, history and information. Led us to great waffles, chocolate and fries. We'll versed, easy to talk to and engaging. We were very happy with our tour and guide!!”

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12.Private Tour w/ Locals – Highlights & Hidden Gems

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 17 reviews · 3 hours · from $108

Spend three hours exploring Brussels with a private English-speaking local guide. Visit the Grand Place, Royal Palace, and St Nicholas Church, hear stories about the city, and enjoy one local drink or tasting. Guides such as Tiago, Christophe, and Mariana have led this route, with room for some personal adjustments.

“We got 23 minutes late because we misunderstood and we were confused. We wrote and called the tour guide, we had a problem with the communication. I told him that we had still 2 hours and a half left of tour but he told me that he waited 20 minutes and cancelled the tour. There was not a notification regarding 20 minutes wait or cancel. For that I request a refund”

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13.Bruges Food and History Tour: Culinary Delights & Hidden Gems

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $203

Walk Bruges with Xavier or another Crusade.be guide, linking Market Square, Burg Square, Sint-Annakerk, the Adornes Domain, and the canals with local food stops. Expect beer and sausage at The Belleman Pub, fries at Chez Vincent, and chocolate at Depla Chocolatier. The private tour runs about four hours in English.

“A wonderful walking tour of Bruges start to finish. We learned a lot about the history of Bruges and sampled some delicious treats. Our guide did a fabulous job of explaining Bruges' history from the Middle Ages onward. Standout treats were the meats and cheeses and the waffles. Our guide recommended that we have our waffle without any toppings as there is sugar in the dough, and oh my, he was 100% correct. We look forward to returning to Bruges to pick up where we left off.”

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14.Highlights and Hidden Gems Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 14 reviews · 3 hours · from $35

Meet near Pizzeria Del Corso for a three-hour Brussels walk with a live guide in English, French, Italian, or Spanish. You’ll see St. Nicholas’ Church, the Royal Palace, Grand Place, and other city spots, with time for a local snack stop. Private tours can be adjusted to your interests.

“Visite super intéressante notre guide fabio était très passionnée et connaissait parfaitement les détails de l histoire de la ville nous avons vu tous les magnifiques monuments et certains lieux insolites nous recommandons vivement Stéphanie”

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15.Private Hidden Gems Walking Tour in Ghent

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $210

Spend about three hours exploring central Ghent and lesser-seen streets with a private English-speaking guide such as Sara or Nick. Learn local stories, compare Ghent with other Belgian cities, and stop at two chocolatiers for unusual chocolates and pralines. The tour starts at Kouter and ends by the Belfry.

“Our tour guide Sara was excellent. We didn’t know what to expect in Ghent as it was just a day trip, but it went very well even with the crummy weather she really gave us a good feel for the city and the differences between it and the other large cities in Belgium. She was a local born and raised so that was very helpful and gave us a lot of insight into differences between the north and south of Belgium and all the major cities. The city itself is fairly modern, but has a lot to offer travelers. Would highly recommend to anyone going to Ghent without any previous…”

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