Belgium Travel Guide

Travel Guide Belgium
Travel Guide Belgium

Belgium is such a tiny little country squeezed in between France and the Netherlands, but don’t underestimate it’s charm. From the historical city’s of Antwerp, Brussels and Bruges, to the adventurous Ardennes, and everything in between, there are many things to do in Belgium. 

Belgium Beers and Sweet Treats

Belgium is perfect for city trippers, shopping, adventure, beach holidays and last but not least; foodies. With it’s French influence in food, more Michelin stars per head than anywhere in Europe and a more and more popular vegan scene in Ghent, Belgium will surprise your taste buds. Don’t even get us started on the Belgium Beer, Belgium Chocolate and Waffles. 

I guess everyone can name at least one type of Belgian beer. There are so many sorts to try. We as Dutchies, always had the opportunity to drink Belgium beer in the Netherlands as they are just as famous over there.  Lief mans and Hoegaarden with a slice of lemon are my favourite!

Belgian people are born with a sweet tooth. Not only in Brussels, but Belgium in general has lots of treats to try! The most famous are definitely the Belgian Chocolates. Just like Belgian beer, Belgian Chocolates like pralines, bon bons and truffles don’t need an introduction. They are yummy!! Personally I don’t like the ones with some sort of liquid alcohol in it, but luckily there are lots of other filings to choose from. You will find Chocolate shops all around Belgium and in many cafes and restaurants you get a little piece with your coffee or tea.

Another Belgian treat are the Belgian Waffles. Obviously, different parts of Belgium cultivated their own waffle style, but the most famous is the Brussels waffle. This is the light and crispy rectangular waffle. They are best when served hot and sprinkled with powdered sugar, chocolate, syrup and of course covered in a big layer of whipped cream.

Okay, enough of the Belgium food scene. You just have to try it yourself and indulge in all those delicious little Belgium treats.  

Let’s have a look at our Belgium Travel Guide based on the things we think that you cannot miss when travelling to Belgium, and things we personally love about this little country. 

Brussels

Brussels is much more than only the political heart of the European Union. And while Brussels can’t really compete with nearby cities like Amsterdam, Paris or London, it certainly has its own charm and definitely worth a short visit.

Brussels is known for a few popular landmarks.

De grote markt

The Grote market ( big market  ) is the central place of the city where you will be surrounded by Brussels rich history, beautiful old buildings, cathedrals, restaurants and terraces. This iconic square attracts thousands of tourists every year and is one of the most important landmarks in Belgium. This UNESCO World Heritage Site holds an interesting history and is today a blend of architectural and artistic features in Belgium’s Capital City.

Manneken Pis

( The peeing man ) Yes, this is literary translated. And you know why they call him like this, when you actually see him, or find him in the first place.  This tiny little statue is really famous and when we say ‘tiny little’, we mean; ini-mini-needle-in-a-haystack-tiny.

We thought when looking for Manneken Pis, that we would find this massive statue on the middle of a square somewhere in the middle of Brussels, but after wandering through the small streets of Brussels, our eyes got drawn to a group of Chinese tourists stacked on top of each other making pictures of something.

So of course we wanted to figure out what all the commotion was about, and there he was; This little dude with a tiny little wee wee. We had a good laugh, a few pics and went on to the next pub to enjoy a Belgium Beer which was probably bigger than Manneken Pis. 

The Atomium

A massive architectural building, located a bit outside the city centre of Brussels, but perfectly accessible by metro. The Atomium is not only from the outside a unique masterpiece, but also inside the Atomium you find some interesting features.

There are 9 massive spheres and in the top one you will find a restaurant and a viewing point where you can see all the way to Antwerp according to the Atomium info sheet. There are three spheres which exhibitions related to architecture, design and science. At night the Atomium lights up by thousands of little led lights.

Antwerp 

Antwerp and fashion have been synonymous for decades and it’s still considered as the shopping city of Belgium.

There are many designer boutiques, all the famous brands, diamond shops and markets.  

‘De Keyserlei’ is Antwerp’s popular shopping street that goes from Antwerpen-Centraal to the Meir, and offers a lot of stores and cafe’s along with beautiful historical buildings. When walking the Keyserlei you will come across the highlights of Antwerp. 

Wander around the Grote Markt and Groenplaats and make sure that you check out the Antwerp Central Train Station.

If you travel to Belgium via Train, you will arrive at Antwerp Central Station, but make sure that if you don’t travel via train, you check out the station regardless. 

It’s named as of one the worlds most beautiful train stations with it’s gothic architecture.

Bruges

Bruges is romantic, stunning and unique. Its medieval houses, cobbled lanes, charming buildings and canals make Bruges the perfect city to explore in a day or two. 

We loved exploring Bruges by food ( by day and night! ) Just grab a map at the tourist centre and off you go. 

Here are a few of the things to see in Bruges. 

Brewery at De Halve Maan, where they pump beer through the pipes beneath the streets. 

A bit of history and culture at Begijnhof & Minnewater, St Saviour’s Cathedral, Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk, Rozenhoedkaai and City Hall. 

Market Square for many restaurants, cafes and unique narrow houses. 

Belgian Coast

Being born and bred in the Netherlands, the Belgium North Sea coast is a destination we visited since we were kids. We took Sem to the Belgium Coast in 2017, but it was raining all day when we where on our way to France and Spain, so we have to come back one day. 

The most popular coastal places ( and the most busy – especially in summer ) are  Knokke, Blankenberge and Ostend. 

There are beach clubs, shops, promenades and just that general beachy vibe. 

Adventure in the Ardennes 

If you are into adventure, nature and picturesque villages, the Ardennes are your thing. 

Situated in the south-east of Belgium, the Ardennes are a complete opposite of the industrial north. Here you will find nature’s unspoilt areas, rich flora and fauna, forests, waterfalls and hills along with picturesque romantic villages located in the valleys. 

Spring and Summer time are the perfect seasons to enjoy ( mountain ) biking, climbing, walking, fishing and water sports in the Ardennes.  

Plan your trip to Belgium

We have created this Belgium Travel Guide for you to make planning and booking your trip to Belgium easy! 

Cheap Airfares to Belgium

We use www.skyscanner.com for all our flights. It’s one of the most popular flight search engines and it compares hundreds of airline companies and booking websites. A big plus for us is that Sky Scanner can look for flights in the cheapest month, and it will also automatically look for the cheapest dates in that particular month. 

Where to stay in Belgium

Are you looking for something more luxurious? Like a 5 star hotel in Belgium? Or maybe you want to visit Belgium on a budget and are looking for a budget accommodation in Belgium ? Agoda offers accommodation in Belgium suitable for any budget or wish list. Check out all hotels in Belgium! 

 

Airbnb in Belgium

Airbnb offers many lovely Airbnb’s in Belgium

Book via our special link to get a whopping $$$ discount off your first booking with AirBnb, so you can definitely score yourself a bargain.
Have you booked your trip via Airbnb before? Book your next Airbnb accommodation in Belgium easy and fast right here ↓

 

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Visa for Belgium

Different passports and nationalities means different Visa requirements for Belgium.

IVisa is the place to be for all your visa requirements. You can easily see what the requirements are for your passport and apply straight away for your Belgium visa. Super handy↓

Travel Insurance for Belgium

A travel insurance for Belgium – just like any other country – is absolutely necessary. We don’t travel without it!   

World Nomads Travel Insurance is definitely not your not your typical, boring insurance company.

The travel insurances from World Nomads covers people from 140 countries, with medical and evacuation cover, 24-hour emergency assistance, over 150 adventure activities and more. 

Simple and Flexible Travel Insurance for independent travellers and intrepid travelling families. Designed by travellers for travellers. Get a quote for your Brunei travel insurance right here ↓

Tours and Transport in Belgium

Viator offers a wide range of tours and excursions in Belgium for travellers who’d just like to sit back an relax and see the highlights with a professional guide.

You can also book your transfers in Belgium via Viator. 

Check out many different tours in Belgium for the best prices right here ↓

Viator

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Thank you for reading our article about Traveling to Belgium. This article contains a few affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission when you book your trip to Belgium via us, which helps in providing you with our epic and FREE travel content and insider travel tips.
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27 Comments

  • Hi!
    Thank you 🙂
    Hope you are able to visit Brussels anytime soon!
    I have put your blog on the list! Had a look at it, and looks great! Need a few more participants to launch the article 🙂
    To be continued…

    Jo

  • Hi. Great blog. I’m looking forward to getting to Brussels sometime in the near future! Thanks for sharing.

  • Hey Elisa, Exactly! The little Mermaid in Copenhagen is the same! You expect something huge, as it is so popular and then you arrive there and you are like; This is it?! 😉 Funny!!
    Have a great weekend

    Jo

  • Hehe I’m not Belgian but I was born with a sweet tooth too, so you can guess my favourite part of your post Jo! Can’t wait to try a ‘real’ Belgian waffle one day! 😛 Loving the b&w pics too xx

  • Beautiful pictures of Brussels! I also had the same feeling when I saw that the Maneken Pis was so tiny! I think it is like Mona Lisa or the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, everybody expect iconic sights to be bigger

  • Though I’ve never been to Brussels, your post is tempting me to do so! Thanks for sharing a list of places to visit while in Belgium. It will sure come in handy 🙂 Saving your post for later!

  • Hey Mal! Yes, Brussels definitely has some great architectural masterpieces to check out! And of course Manneken Pis, our little fella! Think a lot of people think exactly the same as us 😉 I am not a beer drinker either, apart from the light / white/ rose beers ( with a lemon! ) and ciders!
    Hope you have a great day! X Jo

  • Oh, I wouldn’t think of going to Brussels but the picture from de grote marks stole my heart- such beautiful pieces of architecture there! I recognise the peeing guy from the pictures but to be honest I expected it to be a huge statue in the middle of the market square and that thing looks just sooo funny! Makes you think: ‘Oh man, REALLY?! Is that it?!’ haha. And of course, chocolate and waffles, how could I forget! I’m not a huge fan of beer but never had it with lemon so it may be more to my taste- thanks for the inspo! Mal Xx

  • Exactly right Sandy! Most people will choose to visit Paris and Amsterdam for example, or take the train from Amsterdam to Paris or the other way around, but Brussels is definitely worth visiting to discover its own Belgian charm.

    Jo

  • Hi Andi,
    I totally agree with you! We are now living in Australia, but nothing beats the European history and architecture, and Brussels is no exception on this.
    Glad you liked it 🙂
    Jo

  • Brussels has its own unique flavour. Though it may be overshadowed by the more illustrious Paris and Amsterdam, Brussels has that old world charm that is so typical of most European cities. It has its own share of treasures waiting to be discovered.

  • Brussels has its own unique flavour. Though it may be overshadowed by the more illustrious Paris and Amsterdam, Brussels has that old world charm that is so typical of most European cities. It has its own share of treasures waiting to be discovered.

  • Brussels does have its unique flavour. It has the old world charm which one has come to associate with most if not all European cities. Of course it is overshadowed by Paris and Amsterdam, but it has its own treasures which are really worth seeking out.

  • I’ve heard a lot of great places in Brussels and it sure proved itself with your photos. The rich history it holds and the detailed architecture and the gothic style is really something that amazes me every time I see this! Thanks for sharing this.

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