Belgium travel guide

Explore Bruges

With charming ancient-bricked buildings, stunning canals, and a UNESCO World Heritage city centre, Bruges is full of photo-snapping opportunities.

Plus, Bruges’ beer bar scene is one of the world’s best – and if you consider yourself a beer connoisseur, you must explore this area. Spend a weekend in Bruges, and I promise you’ll fall in love!

Read Next: Things to Do in Bruges

Step Back in Time in Antwerp

Antwerp is a port city packed with history, so visiting here feels like stepping out of a time machine. This feels especially true when visiting the Grote Markt and the 16th-century City Hall.

The city is also known for its bustling contemporary art scene and institutions like M KHA.

Read Next: Things to Do in Antwerp

Discover Brussels

Next up, Brussels – Belgium’s capital and the EU’s administrative centre. It’s full of museums, galleries, and stunning Art Nouveau architecture to keep you enthralled.

On top of this, it’s the best place to be for markets, fine dining, and beer-tasting tours.

Visit Quirky Charleroi

Once a site of post-industrial abandonment, this mining town was derelict and polluted. However, the city has recently been reinventing itself as a spot for modern art lovers.

Pay a visit to the Industry Museum to learn about its mining history or Musée des Beaux-Arts for an impressive surrealist and post-impressionist collection.

Relax by the Canals of Ghent

This delightful university town is another fun place in Belgium, with its Gothic architecture, lively markets, and charming atmosphere.

It once served as a critical European city in the Dark Ages for trading due to its location. You can learn all about this on a historical walking tour as you pass by cathedrals and castles.   

Pay Your Respects at Flanders Fields

If you consider yourself a history buff, there’s no better thing to do than visit Flanders Fields and the Ypres Battlefield.

This was a significant battle site during World War I, where more than a million soldiers fought and died.

Visit the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken

Home to some of the world’s most exotic plants and flowers, these greenhouses offer a vibrant look into Mother Nature.

An example of stunning Belgian architecture and horticulture, the Royal Greenhouses are only open for three weeks during the spring – you may want to plan your trip around it.

Spend a Calming Day in Spa

That’s right, Belgium has a town in the Ardennes region called Spa, famous for its mineral thermal waters. In fact, the word ‘spa’ comes from here.

So, to destress from all the walking, why don’t you pamper yourself with a treatment at Thermes de Spa?

Expect world-class gastronomy, fine art, and a treasure trove of history and heritage as you dive into any of the following Belgium itinerary suggestions. 

Best of Belgium

4 Days

Brussels – Antwerp – Ghent – Bruges – Flanders Fields – Brussels

Explore Belgium’s top attractions in this four-day itinerary.

Nature of Belgium

7 Days 

Brussels – Westhoek Nature Reserve – Zwin Nature Park – Ghent – Leuwen – Hautes Fagnes Wetland Nature Reserve – Ardennes – Brussels

This is the ideal itinerary for outdoor lovers, as you visit Belgium’s best natural offerings.

Around Belgium in 10 Days

10 Days

Antwerp – Ghent – Bruges – Dinant – Ardennes – Charleroi – Brussels

Get a taste of a bit of everything Belgium has to offer on this ten-day trip.

Castles of Belgium 

10 Days

Antwerp – Bornem Castle – Ghent – Chimay – Dinant – Château de La Hulpe – Brussels

Go back in time by visiting Belgium’s historical highlights. 

Just because this country is full of modern cities doesn’t mean there are no hidden treasures. 

Hike in the Ardennes

Belgium’s Ardennes region is full of rolling hills, mesmerising caves, idyllic villages, and, let’s not forget, lush forests. This makes it the ideal spot for hiking, whether in the Semois Valley or the majestic Anlier Forest.

Take a Dip in the North Sea

While Belgium may not be famous for its beaches, it is home to a few along the North Sea. Just outside of Bruges, at Ostend, Blankenberge, and Knokke – you’ve got a spot to swim. This is a welcoming offering, especially in Europe’s recent sweltering summers. 

Appreciate the Views at Hautes Fagnes Wetland Nature Reserve

You’ll find the delightful Hautes Fagnes Wetland Nature Reserve on Belgium’s border with Germany.

The reserve is home to Belgium’s highest point at just under 2300 feet above sea level, and is a beautiful spot for strolling the boardwalks and appreciating nature.

Go Underground at Grotto de Han

Experience the subterranean delights of being in this cave with millennium-old stalactite formations and the underground Lesse River. As an interactive and educational experience, it’s quite literally one of Belgium’s best hidden gems.

Dishes to try

Frites – Fries served smothered in mayonnaise.

Moules frites – Steaming-hot mussels with broth served with frites and Dijon mayonnaise. 

Waffles – Made with a lighter batter and deep pockets, these waffles are often served with whipped cream or ice cream.

Belgian chocolate – Described by many as the world’s best chocolate, these come with a high percentage of cocoa and stronger aromas.

Drinks to try

Belgian beer – The country’s known to have over 1,000 types of beer.

Expect to spend between €150 and €180) / $165 and $200 per day per person in Belgium on a mid-range basis. Add €120 / $132 if you’re travelling on a luxury basis.

Average Daily Costs 

• Hotel 
  • Mid-Range between €65 and €85 / $72 and $93
  • Luxury between €125 and €300 / $137 and $385
• Food between €40 and €90/ $44 and $100
• Public Transport between €15 and €25 / $17 and $28
• Attractions between €20 and €30 / $22 and $33
• Tours prices may differ based on your tour choice.

Safety

Belgium is a very secure place for tourists – even for solo travellers and women. However, it’s always wise to remain vigilant as pickpocketing and petty theft still occurs in highly-trafficked areas.

If you’ve been the unlucky victim of a crime or an accident, call 100 or 112 for assistance. 

Health

You don’t need certain vaccinations when visiting Belgium. And even though it’s not served in restaurants, the tap water is perfectly safe to drink. I suggest bringing along a sturdy water bottle.

Tipping

Tipping in Belgium isn’t expected, as most servers get paid a fair living wage. I did notice that many restaurants often include an automatic 10–15% tip on the bill.

Tips for travelling

1. You can’t get tap water at restaurants. Instead, they will bring bottled water upon request.
2. A lot of shops and supermarkets are closed on Sundays. This is due to regulations about employees and shop owners having a 24-hour rest period weekly.
3. For vegans and vegetarians, be aware that frites are often cooked in animal fat.
4. Most places have two names – one in French and one in Flemish. 
5. Carry coins for public toilets and museum lockers. Otherwise, you may find yourself having to hold it in. 

How to see the best for free

Belgium is sometimes renowned for being pricey, especially for expats and tourists. But it doesn’t have to be, as many activities cost nothing. 

A free tour is an excellent option for walking tours in the four major cities. You can explore the historic centre and the European Parliament in Brussels for free.

In Bruges, Ghent, and Antwerp, visiting most churches and wandering the streets are free.

Packing

Packing for your Belgium trip? Don’t forget… 

• A pair of comfy trainers for the amount of walking you’ll be doing.
• A travel umbrella as Belgium’s known to be rainy at times.
• A useful power bank, so you don’t run out of juice.
• This compact daypack is for souvenirs, snacks, and jumpers.
• A rain jacket to keep you warm and dry.

Travel insurance

While Belgium is an incredibly safe country to visit, you can’t always predict disasters like car accidents, lost baggage, and pickpocketing. That’s why travel insurance is incredibly vital when going on holiday.

I use AXA Travel Insurance to protect myself against any unforeseen costs while travelling.

Suggested guidebooks

Here are some of the best Belgium travel guidebooks: 

• Lonely Planet Belgium & Luxembourg
• The Rough Guide to Belgium & Luxembourg
• Moon Amsterdam, Brussels & Bruges

Interesting facts

• Belgium produces around 80% of the world’s billiards balls.
• None of Belgium’s three official languages originate from within the country. 
• French fries actually come from Belgium. 
• UNESCO officially protects the beer culture of Belgium.

Handy phrases

Hello – Bonjour (French) / Hallo (Flemish)

Yes – Oui (French) / Ja (Flemish

No – Non (French) / Neen (Flemish)

Please – S’il vous plait (French) / Alstublieft (Flemish

Thank You – Merci (French)  / Dank Je (Flemish)

How Much Is – Combien Coûte (French) / Hoeveel Is (Flemish)

Time zone

Belgium has one time zone – GMT+1 or Central European Time with daylight savings from March to October. 

Electricity and adapters

You’ll need a type C or E power plug in Belgium, and the standard voltage is 230V and 50Hz. Think about getting a universal travel adapter.