Mosey along Korte Steenstraat, one of Kortrijk's main shopping roads and the first fully pedestrianised shopping street in Belgium dating back to 1962. Today, the street draws in high-end fashionistas and bargain hunters to its independent boutiques, concept stores and high-street chains. 

Wander around the cobblestone courtyards of Kortrijk's UNESCO Béguinage, the former home of the lay contemplative Beguines. Be sure to pop into the Sint-Annazaal Experience Centre which sheds a contemporary light on the Flemish beguinages through personal narrative and storytelling. 
 

Head across the pedestrian bridge to the river island of Buda, part of a huge urban renewal project seeking to support the contemporary artistic life of the city. Check out three main art spaces: the Budascoop, Budatoren and the Budafabriek.

Head to the Beguinage Ten Wijngaerde, a secluded 'town within a town' and home of the former beguines: lay-women who led a life of contemplation and philanthropic devotion. Today, the whitewash, cobbled Beguinage is a beautiful place to relax and uncover something of the peace of the Beguines community. 

Bruges is spoilt for choice when it comes to churches, and it's easy enough to explore a lot of them on foot. The Basilica of the Holy Blood is probably the busiest, but if you're happy to get off the beaten track then St Anne's Church (Sint-Annakerk) has some beautiful examples of Flemish art.

The Museum of Folk Life (Volkskundemuseum) is a quirky place to visit, all about life in Bruges in the 19th and 20th centuries. There are temporary exhibitions on the top floor.

Discover the iconic 12th-century Gravensteen Castle, straight from the pages of a fairytale. Walk around the fortress, climb the narrow stairs and uncover the spectacular original battlements.

Ghent was built for bikes; explore the city on two wheels from one of the many rental points dotted across the city. Or, for something more rural, head southward along the River Scheldt along the well-signposted Scheldt River Valley Route.

Weave your way through the designated graffiti street of Werregarenstraat, where layers upon layers of spraypainted doodles sit beside spectacular monochrome murals by Ghent's most loved street artist, Klaas Van der Linden.

Immerse yourself in the world of Tintin, the Smurfs and other characters at Brussels' Comic Arts Museum, housed in one of the city's most stunning Art Nouveau buildings.

​​Immerse yourself in the history of chocolate at the Choco-Story Museum, with live demonstrations from expert chocolatiers. You can also try making some sweet treats at a workshop (book ahead).

Take a walk around the vast Sonian Forest just south of Brussels. You'll find over 5000 hectares of woodland, including many native beech trees up to 200 years old, which are now UNESCO World Heritage protected.