Travelers often neglect Belgium in favor of neighboring countries like France and the Netherlands, but it’s one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. Due to its history, Belgium is linguistically and culturally diverse, while being small and compact, making it easy to travel between destinations.
From perfect fries and chocolate to easy-to-access nature breaks, picturesque medieval towns, and a vibrant art and fashion scene, there’s so much to experience in Belgium. The best places to visit are:
Brussels is full of architectural masterpieces © repistu / Getty Images
1. Brussels
Great for shopping, museums and street food
Brussels, the capital of Belgium and home to the EU and NATO, is one of Europe’s most multicultural cities.
Art lovers can spend an entire day visiting the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. His six different museums include the must-see Magritte Museum, as well as the Boghossian Foundation in Villa Ampang, a modern and chic multipurpose museum. A cultural facility commonly referred to as BOZAR.
The city is home to many architectural masterpieces, including the Grand Place, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the famous Maison Cauchy, which can be visited on select weekends by advance reservation.
You’ll find some of the world’s best and most affordable vintage shopping at Brussels’ flea markets, especially the daily open-air antique market on Place Jeu de Bar and the shops in the Sablon district.
Planning tip: For food and drink lovers, Brussels is the place to sample all the highlights of Belgium. Delirium Café is a popular bar with over 2,000 beers, including the country’s famous Trappist beer, and is always crowded. Nearby, there are several outdoor kiosks known as Fleetcotts (snack stands) where you can buy Friten (fried potatoes served in a paper cone with your choice of sauce). To satisfy your sweet tooth, try Pierre Marcolini’s Belgian chocolates or Maison Dandois’ fluffy Brussels-style his waffles.
Start budgeting for Belgium with these tips.
2. Namur Department
Perfect for fort, nature and river views
Nestled inland in Wallonia, known as the “Land of the Valleys”, the Namur department is blessed with rivers, cliffs, rolling hills and the lush greenery of the Ardennes.
With its picture-postcard-perfect beauty and massive citadel perched atop limestone cliffs, Dinant is an ideal day-trip destination. Stroll through the town, cruise along the river, take a funicular ride to the fortress for sweeping views, and enjoy the view from a café, where you can sample local delicacies such as couc de dinant (hard biscuits of various shapes) . Since it is made with equal amounts of flour and honey, it can be stored easily, making it perfect as a souvenir.
For a once-in-a-lifetime culinary experience, head to Lierne, an even smaller town that epitomizes tranquility. Here you will find L’air du Temps, a fine dining restaurant housed in a beautifully renovated farmhouse set in 5 hectares of private gardens. Most of the dishes on offer come from the garden and often incorporate highlights of the local terroir, such as snails from Petit Gris de Namur, Wallonia’s most sustainable food source.
From there, you are in the immediate vicinity of the city of Namur, the capital of the state and region. This relaxed city is home to one of Europe’s largest citadels, as well as the adults-only Félicien His Rops Museum, which exhibits the life and work of the scandalous 19th-century Belgian artist.
Take a canal boat tour and count all the bridges in Bruges © Eric Begolli / EyeEm / Getty Images
3. Bruges
Perfect for wandering and romantic getaways
Visiting Bruges is like stepping into a fairy tale. Sometimes referred to as the Venice of the North, this city is a fascinating complex of tree-lined canals, cobblestone streets, and well-preserved architecture. Thanks to the red Gothic bricks, many of the characteristic medieval buildings look like gingerbread houses, making them even more charming. All this, and the fact that this is the birthplace of primitive Flemish painting, led to the designation of the entire historic center of Bruges as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Bruges is best enjoyed at a leisurely pace. Stroll through the Old Town on foot and soak up the atmosphere of the Square, Markt and Burg. Take a canal boat tour and count all 54 bridges, then cycle along the canal to a less crowded spot. For the best bird’s-eye view, head to Belfort, one of Bruges’ most famous landmarks, and climb the 366 steps to the top.
Take a break with a refreshing Belgian beer, available all over the city. Notable destinations are De Halvemaan, a brewery that also offers tours with tastings, and ‘t Brugs Beertje, a legendary beer house with over 300 of his Belgian beers on the menu.
Last but not least, no visit to Bruges would be complete without a visit to the Gröning Museum, a museum that houses an impressive collection of proto-Flemish art.
4. Antwerp
Perfect for fashion and design
Home to the world-famous Royal Academy of Arts, Antwerp is Belgium’s second largest city and also its coolest. Some of fashion’s top creators have ties to Antwerp, including Martin Margiela and Balenciaga’s Demna Gvasalia. Shops worth visiting have opened here, including Dries Van Noten’s Fashion Palace and Andemeulemeester’s sleek black-and-white flagship.
The Kamen Street and Natele Street areas that make up the fashion district are home to even more trendy shops and the impressive MoMu fashion museum.
Antwerp has a visual edge caused not only by its stylish residents but also by the contrasting architectural styles of modern projects and medieval buildings. Step down to the harbor to admire the late architect Zaha Hadid’s Antwerp Port House and his MAS, home to exhibitions and collections held throughout the city.
Belgium’s short coastline and convenient transport links make beach hopping easy © eyewave / Getty Images
5. Belgian coast
perfect for the beach
Belgium’s coast stretches for 65 kilometers (40 miles), so you can visit multiple towns without getting overwhelmed. Things are made even easier by taking the Dextram, a coastal tram that is one of the longest tracks in the world. There are 67 stops starting from De Panne near the French border and ending at Knokke-Heist near the Dutch border. The entire journey takes 2.5 hours. You can jump off whenever you want without having to worry about parking and enjoy views of the entire coastline.
Two must-visit stops are De Haan and Oostdeinkerke. De Haan differs from other towns in that all buildings must be no more than five stories high, thus preserving its small village charm. The low beachfront, made up of Belle Époque architecture and pristine grass-covered dunes, is love at first sight for many. Still not convinced? A sweet treat at the retro Wafelhuis Annie or a High Her Tea at the vintage ‘t Stil Genot tea room will surely win you over.
Oostduinkerke (East Dunkirk) is a sand dune reserve and the only place in the world where shrimpers still use horse-drawn nets to collect the tiny gray shrimp from the sand. This centuries-old tradition is practiced by more than a dozen highly trained locals and usually takes place at low tide during the warm season from April to October. In 2013, Oostdwinkerke’s horseback shrimping was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. To learn more about the island and other local maritime traditions, visit Navigo, a national museum housed in a 19th-century fisherman’s hut.
6. Ghent
Perfect for a quirky weekend getaway
Located between Brussels and Bruges, Ghent encapsulates the best of Belgian cities: winding canals, medieval architecture, enviable museums, and cobbled alleyways lined with shops and restaurants. The difference is that it is also the city with the most students in Belgium. It’s a young, vibrant city located in one of the country’s oldest urban areas.
Take a closer look and you’ll find an unconventional creative community, a thriving music scene, and an abundance of plant-based menus that make it the vegetarian capital of Europe.
Since 2009, Ghent proudly holds the title of UNESCO Creative City of Music. From Belgium’s first silent disco in Abacho, to performances at the timeless Voruyt Art Center and Dehis Vigiloque Music Center, to live music on the streets and in bars and cafes like the record label Kinky Star, everyone’s There is a wide range of options to suit your taste. Owner-run cafe known for its Irish coffee and alternative concerts.
7. Spa
Perfect for hot springs and health
Spas around the world take their names from this quiet and breathtaking Ardennes town. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021, the spa is known for its soothing hot springs and lightly sparkling mineral water. The most famous spa is Thermes de Spa, a modern and surprisingly affordable complex in the hills, backed by over 150 years of knowledge and tradition. Against the backdrop of wonderful natural scenery, you can easily feel rest and relaxation here.
Spa is also home to the world’s first casino, a permanent exhibition of Joan Miro’s lithographs, and the annual F1 Belgian Grand Prix held on the world-class Spa-Francorchamps track.
These road trips will take you to all the highlights of Belgium.
8. Hoge Kempen National Park
perfect for nature
Hoge Kempen National Park is Belgium’s only national park. A former coal mine, the site opened in 2006 after a collaborative conservation effort involving businesses, government agencies, and environmental groups.
The 57 sq km (22 sq mi) nature reserve is mostly heathland and pine woodland, with lush landscapes of evergreens next to vast man-made waterways and bright purple flowers in August and September. You can see shrubs that bloom. Today, the region is home to more than 6,000 species of plants and animals, which is especially impressive given the region’s industrial history.
Planning tip: The park has many entrances. If you don’t have a car, you can access the park through the Kattevenen Gateway. First, take the train to Genk Station, then catch the De Rijn bus or walk a short distance. Once inside, there are different routes to take depending on whether you want to explore by bike, mountain bike, horse or on foot. Admission is always free and the park is open all year round. Rangers offer guided experiences for all ages with pre-registration.
This article was first published on May 13, 2022 and updated on May 5, 2024.
