Tourism Tickets Belgium

Best Places to Visit in Belgium: Medieval Squares, Chocolate & Beer

Belgium fits UNESCO squares, canal cities, chocolate counters and abbey breweries into a country you can cross by train in under two hours. These are the best places to visit in Belgium and the things to visit once you land.

Vibe

Two main languages, three regions and a country small enough to cross in an afternoon. Cobbled squares, canal-side cafés, praline counters and abbey breweries all sit within an hour of each other.

Highlights

Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and Leuven cover the UNESCO squares, medieval belfries, Flemish art and beer halls that most travellers come for.

Sweet Spot

May, June, September and early October bring mild days and thinner queues. December is the exception worth planning around, when Christmas markets take over the main squares in Brussels, Bruges and Ghent.

The Wallet

Belgium sits mid-range for Western Europe. Train fares are short and cheap and museum entry is modest. The biggest saving is where you eat, since a bakery or friterie costs a fraction of the restaurants ringing the Grand Place.

Quick Facts

Currency in Belgium

The Euro (EUR) is the official currency in Belgium. Cards and contactless payments work almost everywhere, including bakeries and market stalls, though €10 to €20 in cash is handy for fries stands, small cafés and public toilets.

Language in Belgium

Belgium has three official languages. Dutch is spoken in Flanders to the north, French in Wallonia to the south, and German in a small community near the eastern border. Brussels is officially bilingual in Dutch and French, and English is widely spoken in cities.

Visa & Passport in Belgium

Belgium is part of the Schengen Area, so travellers from outside the EU may need a Schengen visa depending on nationality. Passports should generally stay valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure date.

Power Plug Type in Belgium

Belgium uses Type C and Type E plugs at 230V and 50Hz. Type E sockets have an earthing pin, so a plug made for France will fit. Visitors from the UK, US, Canada and Australia need an adapter.

Best Vacation Spots in Belgium

Brussels

The capital pairs the gilded guild houses of the Grand Place with the Atomium, comic strip murals and a dense museum quarter. It also makes the easiest base, since most Belgian cities sit under an hour away by train.

Explore Brussels

Bruges

A UNESCO-listed old town of canals, cobbles and an 83-metre belfry you can climb. Bruges is small enough to walk end to end, and its chocolate shops and canal boats fill up from mid-morning onward.

Ghent

Ghent has the same medieval architecture and waterways as Bruges with a large student population behind it. Gravensteen castle, the Ghent Altarpiece in Saint Bavo’s Cathedral and a bar scene that stays busy midweek.

Antwerp

Belgium’s second city runs on fashion, diamonds and one of Europe’s largest ports. The Rubens House, a cathedral hung with his paintings and the cathedral-like 1905 railway station anchor the centre.

Leuven

Home to a university founded in 1425 and a late-Gothic town hall covered in 236 statues. Leuven sits 25 minutes from Brussels and works as a beer stop, with Stella Artois brewed here and abbey breweries close by.

Planning Your Belgium Adventure: Travel Tips & Essentials

Getting Around

SNCB runs one of the densest rail networks in the world, and Brussels-Midi is the hub for both domestic trains and Eurostar arrivals. Brussels to Ghent takes about 30 minutes, Antwerp 45 and Bruges an hour. A rental car only pays off for the Ardennes and the abbey breweries.

Best Times to Visit

May, June, September and early October give mild days without August queues. The Belgian summer is warm rather than hot, with highs around 22°C in Brussels. Weather in Belgium turns grey and wet in winter, though the Christmas markets make late November and December worth the coats.

Budget Planning

Transport costs little here because no domestic journey is long, and museum entry usually runs €10 to €15. Where you eat makes the difference: bakeries, friteries and neighbourhood brasseries cost a fraction of the terraces on the main squares in Brussels and Bruges.

Trip Ideas

Most trips pair two or three cities with a food theme. Common routes include a Flanders loop through Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp, a chocolate and waffle trail across Brussels, or a slower drive through Wallonia and the Ardennes.

Things to Do in Belgium

Belgian Chocolate Shops & Tastings

Belgian chocolate has meant filled pralines since Jean Neuhaus II invented them in Brussels in 1912. Tastings run from the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert to Pierre Marcolini’s single-origin bars and the chocolate museums in Brussels and Bruges.

Belgian Beer & Trappist Abbeys

Six Trappist breweries operate in Belgium: Westmalle, Westvleteren, Achel, Chimay, Rochefort and Orval. Add lambics from the Senne valley, wheat beers and tripels and you get a brewing culture listed by UNESCO as intangible heritage.

Medieval Squares & UNESCO Old Towns

The Grand Place, the historic centre of Bruges and a set of Belgian belfries all hold UNESCO status. Ghent, Leuven, Mechelen and Mons add town halls, guild houses and cathedrals within short train rides of each other.

Museums, Art & Comic Strip Heritage

Belgium holds Van Eyck’s Ghent Altarpiece, Rubens in Antwerp and Magritte in Brussels. The country also produced Tintin and the Smurfs, celebrated in the Brussels comic strip museum and on murals across the city centre.

Waffles, Fries & Belgian Cuisine

Brussels and Liège waffles are two different recipes, fries come from a friterie in a paper cone, and moules-frites, stoofvlees and waterzooi fill brasserie menus. Belgian food leans hearty, and beer often ends up in the pot.

The Ardennes & Nature Escapes

South of Namur the country turns to forested hills, caves and river valleys. Dinant, Durbuy and the high moors of the Hautes Fagnes suit hiking, kayaking and slow driving, and they stay quiet even in August.

Belgium Itineraries That Match Popular Travel Styles

Belgium’s Classic Cities Route - We recommend: Brussels + Bruges + Ghent

Covers the Grand Place, the Bruges canals and the Ghent Altarpiece, which is what most first-time visitors come for.
All three cities sit within an hour of each other by train, so you can base yourself in one and day-trip to the others.
Three to four days is enough, and an extra night lets you walk Bruges before the day-trip crowds arrive.

Flanders Heritage Trail - We recommend: Bruges + Ghent + Antwerp

Stays in Flanders, where the belfries, guild houses and Flemish Primitive paintings are concentrated.
Antwerp adds fashion, diamonds and Rubens, which gives the route a different pace from the two canal cities.
Works over four to five days. Dutch is the local language here and English is widely spoken throughout.

Belgian Beer & Abbey Trail - We recommend: Leuven + Westmalle + Chimay

Built around Trappist and abbey breweries, from the city where Stella Artois is brewed to the monastery taprooms in Antwerp province and Hainaut.
A rental car matters here, since most abbeys sit off the rail network and tastings are spread across two regions.
Pair it with the lambic cafés of the Senne valley near Brussels for the sour end of Belgian brewing.

Chocolate & Waffle Tasting Route - We recommend: Brussels + Bruges + Antwerp

Moves between the chocolatiers, praline counters and waffle stands the country is best known for.
Brussels covers the historic houses such as Neuhaus and Mary, while Bruges and Antwerp add smaller independent makers.
Short train hops mean tastings, a chocolate museum and city sightseeing all fit into two or three days.

Wallonia & the Ardennes Escape - We recommend: Namur + Dinant + Durbuy

Swaps city squares for river valleys, citadels, caves and forested hills across French-speaking Wallonia.
Best done by car, with kayaking on the Lesse, the citadel above Dinant and the abbey brewery at Rochefort along the way.
A useful counterweight to a Flanders trip, and much quieter in summer than Bruges or Brussels.

Belgium & Netherlands Highlights Route - We recommend: Brussels + Antwerp + Amsterdam

Links two countries whose main cities sit close together, with Antwerp roughly halfway between Brussels and Amsterdam.
Direct trains run frequently, and high-speed services cover Brussels to Amsterdam in under two hours.
Easy to extend toward Bruges, Rotterdam or Cologne depending on how long you have.

Nearby Destinations

Netherlands

Amsterdam is under two hours from Brussels by direct train, and Rotterdam and The Hague are closer still. Canal cities, museums and flat cycling routes make it the most common add-on to a Belgium trip.

France

Paris is around 1 hour 25 minutes from Brussels-Midi on Eurostar and Lille is barely half an hour away, which puts French cities within day-trip range of a Belgian base.

Germany

Cologne is under two hours from Brussels by ICE, which opens up the Rhine valley, the German Christmas markets and Aachen just across the border.

Luxembourg

Belgium’s smallest neighbour sits about three hours south by train, with a fortified old town built on cliffs and the Ardennes continuing on both sides of the border.

United Kingdom

Eurostar runs from Brussels-Midi to London St Pancras in about two hours, so a few days in England becomes an extension of the same trip rather than a separate one.

Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Belgium

What language do they speak in Belgium?

Belgium has three official languages: Dutch in Flanders to the north, French in Wallonia to the south, and German in a small community near the eastern border. Brussels is officially bilingual in Dutch and French, and English is widely spoken in cities, hotels and tourist attractions.

What is the currency in Belgium?

Belgium uses the Euro (EUR). Cards and contactless payments are accepted almost everywhere, including bakeries and market stalls, though €10 to €20 in cash is useful for fries stands, small cafés and public toilets.

What are the best things to do in Belgium?

Most visitors combine the UNESCO-listed Grand Place in Brussels and the Bruges old town with chocolate tastings, Trappist and lambic beer, museums holding Van Eyck, Rubens and Magritte, and a waffle or a cone of fries along the way.

Which cities in Belgium are worth visiting?

Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and Leuven cover most of what the country is known for. Bruges and Ghent bring the medieval canals, Antwerp adds fashion and Rubens, Leuven brings beer heritage, and Brussels works as the transport hub for all of them.

What is the best time to visit Belgium?

May, June, September and early October bring mild weather with fewer crowds. Summer is warm rather than hot, with highs near 22°C in Brussels. Winter weather in Belgium is cold and wet, though the Christmas markets in late November and December are a reason to go anyway.

How many days do you need in Belgium?

Four to five days covers Brussels, Bruges and Ghent at a comfortable pace. A week lets you add Antwerp, Leuven or a couple of days in the Ardennes without changing hotel every night.

What is the best way to travel around Belgium?

By train. SNCB runs one of the densest rail networks in the world, with Brussels-Midi as the main hub. Brussels to Ghent takes around 30 minutes, Antwerp 45 and Bruges about an hour. A rental car is mainly worth it for the Ardennes and the abbey breweries.