City Guide | Planning a Trip to Belgium
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Ready to start planning a trip to Belgium?
If you’re thinking about a European getaway, then planning a trip to Belgium is a wonderful option to get you started. There’s a reason most people include this beautiful country in their European itineraries; the picturesque towns will make you fall in love.
It may be a small country, but it has a lot to offer. From the beautiful architecture to the historically rich spots, Belgium is full of beautiful quaint small towns. You won’t be short of stunning buildings to admire.
Belgium’s history might not be as well-known as some of its neighbours, like France or Germany. But, this country has a lot of stories to tell, too. There are so many historical spots to visit in Belgium, so if you’re a history buff, it will definitely be up your alley.
Nowadays, Belgium plays a major role in modern European politics. As the head of the European Union, there’s always something going on in Belgium.
So, if you ever find yourself thinking: what is there to see in Belgium? Scratch that. You’ll find so much to see and do in this guide to planning a trip to Belgium, you won’t be sorry you stopped by. From the best cities to visit, the foods you must try and some transportation tips. We hope this is helpful for you and that you decide to include Belgium in your next trip.
Top cities to visit in Belgium
Bruges
Is Bruges worth visiting? Absolutely! Bruges is one of the most famous cities in Belgium for a reason: it’s breathtaking. You feel like you stepped into a fairytale and it’s 100% worth visiting when you’re in Belgium.
The best thing to do there is to simply walk around. If you want to get a feel for the city, walk around the historic city centre.
You don’t even need to do a specific activity to enjoy the town. Simply walking around, taking the beautiful architecture, scenery and canals in, is an experience. Bruges isn’t a UNESCO Heritage site for no reason.
The Market square in the heart of the city is a top spot to visit in Bruges. It’s filled with restaurants, cafes and statues, and you may even see carriages and people dressed up. This all adds to the magical atmosphere of the city. Here you’ll find two very important buildings, the Belfry and the Cloth Hall, as well as the Church of our Lady, which is a beautiful medieval church.
Check out the Minnewater Lake (Lake of love). Legend says that if you go there with your lover, your love will last forever. Whether you have a lover with you or not, the view is worth a visit.
Another thing you can’t miss is the Rozenhoedkaai (Quay of the Rosary). It is located in downtown Bruges, very close to Market Place, and is the place where the canals meet. The stunning view makes it a definite must-see. And, the perfect place to take pictures.
Dinant
Dinant isn’t exactly at the top of travel magazine destinations. But, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth checking out. It may not be one of the more famous Belgian destinations, but if you want to experience a small charming town, it’s a good pick.
Its medieval architecture is eye-catching and full of history. If you want to learn about the town’s history, you should visit the citadel. It has been at the centre of many wars, and you can learn a lot by visiting. If the history doesn’t interest you much, we still recommend climbing to the top of the mountain. You get a beautiful view of the whole city.
Other sights to visit in Dinant are the gorgeous Church of Dinant and the Chateau Walzin. The castle isn’t in Dinant, but it’s very close. While you can’t go inside the castle, it’s still worth the trip to experience the exterior of the castle.
Dinant also has an extra element that makes it cooler than any other random Belgian town: it’s known as the Saxophone city.
The streets are filled with huge saxophones. The inventor of the instrument, Adolphe Sax, was born in Dinant, so the city placed huge painted saxophones all around the town to honour him. Each one has a different artwork covering it, and, if you love a photoshoot, it makes for the perfect place for some fun pictures.
The saxophones are all around the city, but the best place to see them is the Charles De Gaulle Bridge.
Ghent
A single look at pictures of Ghent will make you want to visit. This Flemish city is easy on the eyes. As the third-largest city in Belgium, it’s also lively with many things to do.
First off, the medieval Gravensteen Castle. The castle has been turned into a museum now, which takes you through the history of the area and the people that lived there.
Saint Micheals Bridge is a must-see spot too. It has a beautiful view, and it’s the perfect picture-taking spot.
You can’t miss St. Bavo’s Cathedral. It is stunning inside and outside. And while Saint Nicholas Church may not be as astonishing as St. Bavo’s, it’s worth a visit too.
If you’re looking for a nice dinner spot, head to Pathershol. The area is filled with restaurants and bars. Everyone will find a place they love. Take a stroll down the cobbled streets after to feel like you’re transported to medieval times.
Last but not least, check out Graffiti Street. As you can probably guess from its name, this street is full of street art. It’s the perfect spot for art enthusiasts or snapping that picture for the ‘gram.
Antwerp
If you travel by train, Antwerp is a sight to see from the start. This may sound weird, but one of the places you cannot miss is The Central Station (below). The interior of the train station is truly incredible, especially the main hall.
In the city of Antwerp, you should start your visit off with the Old Town. There you’ll find the Grote Markt. This is Antwerp’s main square. There’s a lot to see around that area, including the Brabo Fountain, which is at the centre of the square. You’ll also find the Cathedral of Our Lady.
If you’re looking for a museum to visit, the Rubens House Museum is the one. It was the house/workshop of painter Peter Paul Rubens during his last few decades. Perfect for the artist in your travelling party.
Brussels
Of course, Brussels has to be on your list when you’re planning a trip to Belgium. You can’t go to Belgium and not visit this city. Brussels is Belgium’s capital and the home of the Belgian royal family and Parlament. That’s a great palace to start: the Royal Palace of Brussels.
You also can’t miss the Grand-Place (above). This is the central square and one of the most famous spots in the city. It’s even considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site! The architecture of the buildings there is beautiful, and in the square, you’ll find the Town House and the King’s House building, as well as many restaurants and stores.
We recommend strolling around the area near the Grand-Place. The whole neighbourhood is beautiful. You’ll understand why people love Brussels so much. Plus, it’s filled with waffle shops. Nothing is better than walking around Brussels with a Belgian waffle in hand!
If you’re staying in the centre of Brussels, there you’ll find many museums, close to the Grand-Place. The Brussels City Museum will give you insight into the city’s history, and the nearby Belgian Beer Museum and the Chocolate Museum will have you learning history of a different kind (a delicious kind!).
If you want an activity a tad different, check out the Comic Book Route. Throughout the route, you will find dozens of murals inspired by comic books.
There are many other things to do in Brussels. It’s such an exciting and historically rich city. These are just a few of the options we’d recommend you check out.
The best food in Belgium
Belgium is not known for its gastronomy. But, that doesn’t mean they don’t have some gems to check out.
Belgium waffles (or Gaufre)
You may think, oh we’ve all had waffles before. But, trust us, you haven’t had a waffle unless you’ve had a Belgian waffle.
They’re so much better than the American version. Crispier and bigger. Plus, they’re freshly made. You can get them with toppings like whipped cream or Nutella, but, we recommend you try a regular one with powdered sugar at least once.
Spéculoos
Spéculoos are traditional cookies, and they’ll usually give you some when you buy a drink. They’re good, but the true gem, in our humble opinion, is the Spéculoos cookie butter. If you can, get your hands on it.
Belgian Chocolate
Belgium has some of the best chocolate we’ve ever had! We recommend you try their pralines and truffles. But, to be fair, all their chocolate is good. Even the chocolate bars they have at vending machines are delicious.
Belgium Beer
Belgium is known for its beer. They have an unlimited amount of flavors to choose from, and even if you’re not a beer enthusiast, we recommend you give them a try.
Frites / Fries
Fries are a staple food to try in Belgium. Like waffles, you’ve most likely had these before too, but you still have to try them. They are unlike other fries around the world. Plus, they have their own mayonnaise-based sauces to pair them with. We especially recommend the Andalouse sauce.
Transportation in Belgium
Like in most European countries, trains are the way to go, so bear that in mind when you’re planning a trip to Belgium. All cities in Belgium have train stations with good service. Some are smaller than others, but you’ll be able to move around the country easily.
If you’re going long distances, you’ll most likely have layovers. You may have to stop and change train lines to get to your final destination, but, to be honest, it’s a pretty simple process.
It might be more complicated in big train stations. But even then, the organization of the big train stations is good, so you should be fine.
And, worst-case scenario, if you get lost, or you can’t find where your train boards, you can just ask. As the saying goes, don’t judge a book by its cover. Europeans (Belgians included) may seem distant, but they are usually polite. If you ask for help, they’ll most likely give you a hand.
To move within cities, it depends on where you are. Big cities, like Brussels, have good public transport, but small towns usually won’t have as good public transport.
The truth is, they don’t need it. Belgium is a small country, so most cities are small too. You’ll be able to get around fine by biking or walking. Take Antwerp, for instance, it’s the second-largest city in Belgium. And, when we visited, we got around on foot and had no issues. We actually loved walking through the whole city.
Day trips from Belgium
Belgium is a wonderland all in itself. But, one of the best things about this country is its central location in Europe. The perfect middle-ground for a EuroTrip. It’s super easy to see other countries while staying in Belgium, and there are many day trips you can take from Belgium to other countries.
The easier destinations are Germany, France, The Netherlands and Luxembourg. Depending on where in Belgium you are, you’ll have different places nearby.
In Germany, we recommend visiting Cologne. If you’d like to visit France, take a day trip to the beautiful Lille. When it comes to The Netherlands, Rotterdam and Breda are good picks.
If you choose to stick to Belgium, you’ll have more than enough incredible places to see. If you’re planning a trip to Belgium and find you have some time to squeeze in some day trips, Belgium is a wonderful place to base yourself while you pop over to visit other European countries.
Before you go …
We would love to hear your thoughts on this incredible country. What was your favourite Belgian city? Did you have a favourite food? Lets us know in the comments.
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Dani & Sam – The Mind UncoveredThe Mind Uncovered was started by best friends, Dani & Sam. It’s our way to express our shared love for travelling, culture, spirituality & self-care. When we’re not blogging about these topics, we’re planning our future adventures or talking about those same topics with each other. |
