Plan The Ultimate Trip To Belgium – Top 5 Things To Know

Belgium is a small country bordering the Netherlands, France, Germany, and Luxembourg. They offer extremely delicious and wide variety of food and beer. But aside from that, Belgium has no shortage of art, culture, and wartime museums for history buffs.

So how do you plan the a trip to Belgium? With so much to see and do, it’s hard to know where to start.

I’ve been to Belgium twice now (even living in Brussels for a month) and wouldn’t hesitate going back. But, if it’s your first time visiting there are a few things to know for your vacation in Belgium. Here’s my Belgium guide so you can make the most of your time there!

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

But First, A Little Bit About Belgium

As I mentioned, Belgium is a small country nestled between France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. With that in mind, Belgium has a lot of different inflentiences making it a truly unique country to visit (and one of my favourites!).

For starters, did you know that Belgium is a trilingual country; speaking Flemish, French, and German? The country is actually split into the Flanders region in the north (Dutch) and the Wallonia region (French) in the south. So depending on where you visit, the language and culture will be very different. 

Is A Trip To Belgium Even Worth It?

I cannot stress enough how worthwhile a trip to Belgium is. It’s such an underrated country in Europe with so much to offer. I mean, there’s a reason I went back there to live in Brussels… it’s spectacular from everything from the food, art, culture…etc. You name it, they have it!

I swear, you will not be disappointed by going on a vacation in Belgium.

Top Belgium Travel Tips For Your Next Trip

From my vacation in Belgium, there are a few things to know before you go on your trip to Belgium…

1. Belgium Guide: The Main Cities To Visit

The two most popular cities in Belgium are probably Brussels and Brugge. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some hidden gems that are also worth a visit in Belgium…

Brussels Belgium Guide

Brussels is the financial and business epicentre of Belgium but don’t judge a city based on that! There’s surprisingly an abundance of art and nightlife in Brussels. There’ a pub with 3000 beer options, waffles at every corner, authentic Belgian fries, and a very big comic book culture.

I would plan at least one and a half days in Brussels, but ideally two full days. This gives you time to explore the city centre on the first day, and travel out to the Atomium and mini-Europe on the second day.

Antwerp Belgium Guide

Belgium’s second-biggest city is most known for their fashion and diamond districts. Spend a full day here to go window shopping on Meir Street and visit one of the oldest zoos in the world.  Check out the top free picturesque spots in Antwerp. 

Personally, Antwerp wasn’t my favourite Belgian city, but it is a main one to visit.

Brugge/ Bruges Belgium Guide

Bruges is known as a romantic fairy-tale town. It’s truly a magical and picturesque place to visit. I don’t think there’s anything else in the world quite like it…

They have a few main attractions that can easily be visited in half a day. But again, I recommend spending up to a day and a half, or even two days here. More time just means more time to wander down deserted alleys, visit their local brewery, and relax by the ‘Lake of Love’. It’s especially beautiful at night here.

Belgium Travel Tips: Other Popular Destinations

Like I said, Belgium has so much more than just the main cities. It’s the small towns that make visiting so special. Here are a few smaller Belgian towns I would try to fit in to your vacation in Belgium.

The Belgian Coast

The Belgian coast is by no means the largest in Europe, but it does have the longest tram line. Going from the Netherlands to France. It has several stops along the way where you can get off and explore different coastal towns. 

You can easily make a day trip here from Bruges or stay along the coast for a relaxing beach vacation in Belgium. Read my entire guide to the Belgian Coast here.

Namur And/Or Dinant

Namur and Dinant are quite similar as small towns in the Wallonia region of Belgium. They both offer local beer to try, a citadel to tour, and outstanding river views!

They’re the ultimate Belgian town: both small enough to visit in one day but will each take your breath away in their own way. 

Ghent And/ Or Leuven

Ghent and Leuven are Belgium’s University towns in the Flanders region, so they’re also quite similar. A day in each of these cities is all you’ll need, and Leuven can even be seen in half. 

Ghent has shopping, medieval castles and a lot of local food. You’ll have to make sure to pick up some cuberdon candy and try waterzooi before you leave.

Leuven is known for their old library that’s been burned down now twice. There’s a relaxing botanical garden to relax in and more! This is quite possibly the EASIEST day trip from Brussels as well, only a 15 minute train ride with train running throughout the day.

2. Travel Guide To Belgium: What You Need To Eat…

I don’t think I’ve ever had such good food than on my vacation in Belgium. There’s such an abundance of fresh local ingredients and plenty of new dishes to try. It also seemed like each city had a new local must-try dish.

Waffles

Belgian waffles are not what you think they are! In Belgium, there are actually two types of Belgian waffles: Liège and Brussels.

Brussels are the most similar to what you’re used to in North America: they’re rectangular and flakey on the outside. Liège waffles are why you’re going on a trip to Belgium.

Liège waffles are made with Belgian sugar pearls which melt and caramelize the outside of the waffle. This makes the outside crunchy when you bite into it, but still gooey and moist on the inside. You can easily tell them apart because they’re more of an oval shape and don’t have complete edges.

The most authentic place to have a Liège waffle is surprisingly from a food truck on the street corner in Brussels. This is where the locals pick them up from – just be sure not to order any toppings. The Liège waffle is sweet on its own, and the toppings are overpriced. You’ll never see any locals ordering it with toppings.

Belgian Chocolate

Calling all chocolate lovers! I swear Belgian chocolate is a whole new level of chocolate. They’re known for what’s called the praline. A harder chocolate shell with a softer, sometimes liquid inside. 

When you’re on a vacation in Belgium, try to stay away from Godiva and Leonidas. You want to buy from either Neuhaus or Mary. These have both been approved to serve the Belgian Royal family.

Neuhaus’s Astrid is the queen’s favourite (and probably mine too). It has a sugar crystalized crunchy outside with a soft inside. 

Belgian Beer

The rumours you’ve heard are true. Belgium loves beer. They drink the most beer per capita in any country in the world! Belgium is home to over 195 breweries, making over 2,000 different types of beer (the most different kinds in one country).

Even if you don’t like beer, I guarantee Belgium will have something for you. The options range from fruity to dry…doubles to quadruples. You name it, they have it.

They also take beer drinking very seriously; each beer comes with their own glass to properly aerate it. But that’s not all, they also have serving directions on the back of each glass. This will tell you the recommended serving temperature – and each one is different.

With the amount of beer they drink, it’s no surprise that Belgium is home to some of the top beers in the world. One of the top rated beer of all time is Westvleteren 12 (it fluctuates within the top three over the years). However,  the beer is not so easy to get your hands on. It’s brewed by Trappist monks and they decided that it’s not supposed to be sold commercially.

The only way to get it is to drive to the monastery yourself after waiting for 2 months for an appointment (so better get on the waitlist now). Or you might get lucky and find it incredibly overpriced at a corner store. Lucky for you, we found a place in Brussels where you can buy it for relatively cheap.

So, if you want the glory of trying the best beer in the world, but none of the hassle, head to The Monk. If it’s in stock, they’ll sell it to you for 9.50€. It won’t be on their menu so just ask for it!

The Seafood In Belgium

After eating dessert and drinking beer, we need some actual food in us. This brings us to mussels, grey shrimp, and croquettes. You won’t lose the food game by choosing any of these options.

Mussels and grey shrimp in Belgium are fresh from the Belgian coast. If you have a chance to visit the coast you might even be able to catch the fisherman on traditional horseback fishing for the shrimp.

You might have heard of croquettes before as they’re popular all over Europe. Normally it’s a fried mashed potato side dish. But being in Belgium, they take it to the next level.

They’ll fill them with creamy béchamel and either shrimp or cheese. So instead of serving it as an appetizer, it can be eaten as a meal.  You won’t have to search very hard for these – they’re on practically every restaurant menu.

Belgian French Fries

And finally what you’ve all been waiting for – french fries! And yes, they really are better in Belgium. That’s because the authentic way is to fry them is in beef fat – twice! This gives authentic Belgian french fries a crunchy outside and a melt in your mouth inside.

If you want this authentic recipe, be sure to ask before you order. Not every place will make it like this nowadays. Sometimes you can even stumble upon a veggie recipe. Just make sure to ask before you try!

3. Belgium Travel Tips: Tips For Getting Around Belgium

Travelling from city to city has never been easier. Trains are your best friend in Belgium. They stop at every main city, don’t take too long, and depart quite often. You can buy your ticket at the train station, or in advance either online or on your phone with their app. 

If you’re under 26 they have a deal for 10 tickets for 53€, making each trip around 5.30€ each. What is neat is that you can also share it among several people. The only downside is that you can’t buy it online, it has to be at a kiosk with an agent. It’s called the Go-Pass 10.

Within the cities, the Dutch-speaking parts of Belgium are all organized by De Lijn for public transportation. There are several options for trams and buses to take wherever you may be going. I suggest downloading the app to buy your tickets.

If it’s nice enough, you can also rent bikes! Bikes are probably the most popular way to get around if you’re a local. Also depending on where you want to go, you can probably just walk, most cities are pretty small.

4. Where Should You Stay In Belgium?

Belgium is quite small. This makes it possible to have a base in one or two cities (depending on how long you’ll be in Belgium for) and do day trips. Our first time in Belgium, we were there for a week so decided to stay in Brugge at B&B Huyze Weyne, to see the coastal cities, and you can also do a day trip to Ypres from here (they have bus tours leaving from Brugge). 

Our second base was in Antwerp, to travel to Ghent and Brussels. We stayed at Lucy in the Sky (yes it was somewhat Beatles Themed  – check it out!). They only have two rooms and it’s in the heart of Antwerp. 

We’ve also stayed in Brussels but a bit outside the city centre (more local, and more affordable). We stayed in an Airbnb in Ixelles. I wouldn’t recommend our Airbnb that we stayed in, but the area was unbeatable! It was around the corner from shopping and restaurants, and only a short walk to the Grand Place and train station. It gave us an escape from all the tourists at night!

Trip To Belgium Hotel Recommendations

I stayed in an Airbnb while in Brussels Belgium, but here are some hotels I found in the city stay at.

For a luxury 5-star hotel experience in the heart of Brussels, stay at Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo. You are one block away from Brussels Grand Place – you can’t get a better location than that! See room rates and availability on Booking.com.

If you’re looking for a bed and breakfast in Brussels stay at Art de Séjour B&B. You’ll get a delicious homemade breakfast included with your stay. See room rates and availability on Booking.com.

Bringing the family to Brussels or need a space for all your friends? Check out Spacious modern appartments in Brussels city centre. You can get an apartment for up to 6 adults! See room rates and availability on Booking.com.

See more accommodation options in Brussels, on Booking.com.

5. Belgium Guide: Souvenir Tips & More

Here are some more general Belgium travel tips. For starters, beer is the same price as water in most places, if not even cheaper sometimes. Although it’s tempting to buy a beer with lunch, remember to stay hydrated 🙂

A great fun, easy, and cheap souvenir from Belgium are bottle caps magnets. Every time you order a beer at a bar ask to keep the bottle cap. This is a great way to remember all the different beer you tried. 

Once your back home, buy some magnets, add a little padding and voila! Bottle cap magnets! Read my full DIY guide!

Don’t hesitate to reach out if I missed anything for planning your trip to Belgium! And share if you liked what you read. 

Get Ready For Your Trip To Belgium

Related Posts

• The Ultimate Brussels City Guide: What To See, Eat, & Do?
• Brugge Belgium: Everything You Need To Know For Your Trip
• What You Won’t Want To Miss In Ghent Belgium
• Top 10 Fun Things To Do In Leuven Belgium
• 5 Best Picturesque Spots in Antwerp That Are Free

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Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API