From castles to abbeys, ship streetart to romantic cobblestones, there are a ton of beautiful places in Belgium to go and explore.
Belgium
Traveling to
the Kingdom of Belgium
Belgium might be a small country, but it is chock-a-block with things to do. Discovering Art Nouveau in Brussels, hiking up old mine shafts in Charleroi and trying one of the 3000 Belgian beers are but the tip of the iceberg.
Nestled between the Netherlands, Germany and France lies the Kingdom of Belgium which just happens to be the country I call home. Belgium is famous for Belgian chocolates (delicious), Belgian beer (deceptively strong), our inconceivably complex political structure and our quaint medieval towns and castles (3000 of them to be precise).
The city of Brussels holds a double function, serving as both the capital of Belgium and Europe. It is home to the European Commission & Parliament as well as NATO. In practice, this means the city is a true melting pot of different cultures with a very diverse culinary scene.
The weather in Belgium is fickle, although not the wettest place in Europe, it is safe to say we do get our fair share of rain. A good rain jacket and a backup plan of rainproof activities are good things to have when visiting Belgium.
When it comes to language, things become a bit tricky in Belgium. The vast majority of Belgians speak English, however, it is not their native tongue. The northern part of the country (Vlaanderen) speaks Flemish while Brussels and the south of the country (Wallonia) speak French.
Where to stay in Belgium
One of the great things about Belgium is the relatively small size of the country, and the comprehensive public transportation network. Stay in Brussels and use it as a hub for your day trips. A one-hour train ride will take you all the way to the seaside or deep into the Ardennes.
Traffic in Belgium
The Belgian traffic is notoriously bad. It is not uncommon to find traffic jams on the ring of Brussels at midnight. Part of the explanation for the high amount of cars on the road lies in the culture of receiving a company car as part of the Belgian salary package. This has cultivated the habit of taking the car over public transport amongst the Belgian population. Traveling around Belgium is often faster if you take the train or the bus.
Favorite Places to Visit in Belgium
BRUSSELS
ANTWERPEN
MECHELEN
INSPO: 24 BEAUTIFUL PLACES
Key Facts About Belgium
Capital |
Brussels |
Main Languages |
Flemish, French, German |
Population |
11.56 million |
Currency |
Euro (€) |
Main religion |
Catholic |
Time Zone |
UTC+1 / UTC+2 |
Plugs types |
C, E |
Driving |
Right side of the road |
Emergency Number |
112 |
Practical Information For Visiting Belgium
HOW TO GET THERE
Fly into Brussels International Airport
or the smaller Brussel South Airport (also known as Charleroi airport)
ACCOMODATIONS
Find a list of comfortable accomodations ranging from local guesthouses to luxury hotels.
BUDGET
Average Daily Budget: $95
Meals $25 a person; hotel accommodations $45- $120; activities (museums) $30
WHEN TO GO
Summer (June – September)
has the least amount of rain and the highest amount of sunshine.
VISA REQUIREMENTS
Depending on the country of origin visitors can stay for up to 90 days; costs depending on the country of origin
TOURS & ACTIVITIES
Chocolate workshops, beer tastings, pub crawls, tours of Brugge or Ghent and so much more.
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BELGIUM TRAVEL GUIDES
BRUSSELS GUIDES
DAY TRIPS FROM BRUSSELS
31 Day trips from Brussels
16 Day trips from Brussels by train
10 Castles near Brussels
BRUGES GUIDES
ACCOMMODATION
15 Sustainable boutique hotels in Bruges
BRUGES FOOD GUIDES
12 Vegetarian & vegan restaurants
SEASONAL GUIDES
Bruges Christmas Market Guide
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