From Brussels to Lige to Antwerp to Ghent, none of these essential Belgian hubs are more than an hour-and-a-half train ride away from each other. Really cool, informative post. Bruges is a fairytale-like place, but its difficult to truly appreciate it if you have to squeeze your way through the crowds. You can visit comic book museums, shops and bars, see comic book statues or go on a comic strip walk in Brussels. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Instead of starched white tablecloths, relaxed dcors in repurposed industrial spaces have become the norm, with sustainable ingredients and homegrown vegetables as the real stars. 
Although its true that Belgium is quite petite and you probably wont spend weeks exploring this country, it does have a lot to offer. [Part 29] Like any good story, we'll take it from, [Part 28] Writing the stories series was a form of, With travel finally back in our lives, Im beyon, NOTTING HILL! (Read more: Is Brussels boring?). Please try again. Its not as big as Brussels, not as touristic as Bruges or Ghent, and therefore has a more authentic feeling. Thats not necessarily a bad thing if you anticipate it ahead of Holding the middle between the surreal and the self-mocking, Belgian humor tends to err on the dry side of things. In this article, we feature a suggested Belgium itinerary that brings you to the most beautiful places in Belgium in three or four days. Some practical tips for visiting the WWI battlefields: TIP: If you are interested in the history of the Second World War, you may want to visit Bastogne town in the French-speaking part of Belgium. Luxembourg is also just a 2,5 hours drive from Brussels and there are lots of beautiful places to visit near Luxembourg. You just In the evening head back to the city center of Brussels, see the nicely lit Grand Place, and check out the famous dining area Rue des Bouchers. From fairytale-like towns to historic battlefields and a huge number of beers: here are 10 good reasons to cast prejudice aside and visit Belgium on your next European trip. Attractions tend to close early as well, so you will likely find yourself with However, in recent years, we often have very long periods with no rain at all. My third favourite in Belgium is Antwerp a much larger city and constantly referred to as the fashion capital of Belgium. This means I might get a small commission if you click on a link and buy a product. I created this blog to share my tips for independent and responsible travel adventures around the world. Just a short 20 minute train ride back towards Brussels is the equally gorgeous town of Ghent a popular student city with an incredible amount of charm (pictured above). I have to admit that it took us many years to get there (and we live in Belgium), but it was so worth it! Belgium is a great country to stop in for a few days if travelling on popular train routes, especially if travelling from Paris through to the Netherlands and beyond. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK". Join us as we discover the world one beautiful adventure at a time! Yes, theyre even more likely to be triple fried. Yes! This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. But you can, of course, stay in a different town every day as well. There are many reasons to visit Belgium, these are just our favourites. Each town also has a unique history, much of which Hi, and thanks for stopping by! Visiting Belgium in the things youll hate when you visit Belgium. favourite places: @ottolenghi_l, London photo dump (one of many) from the best lil, Zrich is the perfect solo travel city ~ most of, The 20 Safest Cities in Europe for Solo . We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. Its entire city core is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its most common nickname is the Venice of the North. With such abounding charm and fame, the age-old town often overshadows equally picturesque Belgian locations. Since I know that many people dont have a lot of time to explore Belgium deeper, here are my very best recommendations for a short first trip to Belgium. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I'm Laura, a Belgian girl who exchanged her 9 to 5 for a nomadic lifestyle. My recommended three day Belgium itinerary includes the capital city Brussels and the most beautiful towns of Flanders Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges. There are some really great cities to visit in The first and most obvious reason to visit Belgium is for the incredible architecture, scenic small towns on lakes, and even a large city such as Antwerp that has so much to offer despite its larger size. If youre into comic books, youll love Belgium. Due to its location between Germany, France and Britain, it always had tactical importance. Brooke Saward founded World of Wanderlust as a place to share inspiration from her travels and to inspire others to see our world. Belgium has a reputation for being a rainy country. complaints when visiting. Sandwiched between Germany and France and modest in size as well as in its peoples personality, Belgium is often treated by the backpacker as European crossover country. traveling in Belgium. ?Sure, it gets a bad wrap for its weather and slow pace but that is precisely what makes it so enjoyable! It is so easy to travel around Belgium. Hi Patti, I really have little time now, so just a quick answer. Its easy and doesnt take too long to get from one place to another. Now let me say this once and once only (if even just for effect), but you will not for the life of you find better fries in the world than those you will eat in Belgium. I wont name them all, as the list would be too long, but some of the castles I think are definitely worth a visit are: Bouillon, Gravensteen, Vves, and Montaigle if youd like to visit some ruins. A lot of European cities focus on From what I understand, there is also one (just 1) caf that is officially allowed to sell Westvleteren beer and that's caf 'In de Vrede', which is also located just near the abbey. Even if you are visiting Belgium for just one or two days, you will be able to plan your trip using our tips below. Being an avid lover of surrealism and of Magritte, the Magritte Museum in Brussels is one of my favourite museums in the world. I would say that beer is one of the best Not that it has kept restaurants like Olly Ceulenaeres Publiek from bagging that star anyway, or Kobe Desramault from receiving international acclaim for his warm bakery-cum-restaurant where the bread is baked in a central wood oven on the spot.
But dont just come to Belgium to visit Brugge! Its said that Belgium has more castles per capita than France! Pin these images! The country is technically split in two with the Dutch-speaking Flemish in the North and the French-speaking Wallonians in the South. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Some examples are In Flanders Fields Museum, Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, Battle of Waterloo Museum, and the Bastogne War Museum. luxembourg visiting worth 1741 subscriber things If you do go to the vegetarian friendly city of Ghent, see here for the best vegetarian restaurants in Ghent. In my opinion, one day is plenty of time in order to see the main highlights of Brussels. In fact, the preferred travel method for seeing Belgium is day trips or short overnight stays, soaking in the uniqueness of say a fashionable Antwerp or a multicultural Brussels before moving onto the relaxed seaside or the forested Ardennes. If comics are your thing, then you just might have a reason to visit Brussels home to an array of clever murals featuring the famous (and famously Belgian) cartoon, Tin-Tin. While the streets are filled with tourists in the warmer months, the colder months at the beginning of the year (December is impossibly busy thanks to Christmas) are some of the best months to visit, as the streets are much quieter. Here are some frequently asked questions that our readers ask about visiting Belgium: As a minimum, we recommend 3-4 days in Belgium. The towns of Belgium The trains are really affordable, too, which is With 3 days, you can briefly visit the most beautiful cities such as Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges. Happy Travels! It's not the best way to get to the city as it takes a long time, so I'd only recommend it if your hotel is close to the airport. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Theres no better place to try (Belgian) French fries and waffles than in Belgium. Oh Im sorry to hear that We just heard today that Belgium will be opening up to tourists again soon, so thats something nice to look forward to , Ill never understand why some people consider Belgium boring! travelers! Some practical tips for visiting Antwerp: While some people choose to spend the whole day in each Ghent and Bruges, you can see the very best these cities have to offer in just half a day as well. Follow us on Instagram for daily travel inspiration! Beer is an institution in Belgium and it is here where you will find plenty of tasty delights to keep you busy or ladies, if you want to take a moment or two to yourselves to take advantage of the Euro, you can send your boyfriend/partner/husband to the local nearby. belgium map tours tv satellite If youre a lover of the outdoors, this is probably the part of Belgium that youll love the most. Belgium can be an expensive destination. items in the United States. Posted on Last updated: December 30, 2021. usually at a fast pace trying to cram a lot in. If you come by train, plan to stay late in the evening and explore the beautiful canals after all the day tourists have left. Anyway, Im from Belgium and havent tried them all. Perhaps a trait borrowed from their influential southern neighbors, Belgians like to eat well, and they dont mind putting in the effort and time. When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. If you are used to whirlwind capital of the European Union, Belgium can sometimes feel a bit boring. might surprise yourself and find one that you like. Its one of the nicest family-friendly attractions in Brussels. This post may contain affiliate links, which means that we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you, for qualifying purchases. If you plan to go shopping in Belgium, youll need to plan I dont advise dining here as the restaurants are real tourist traps, but this street has such a unique atmosphere that no visit to Brussels would be complete without passing by here. Therefore you can base yourself in any city and make day trips from there that way you dont have to pack/unpack all the time. The service in Belgium is one of my biggest One of the most underrated points to be made about Belgium is the food and it doesnt stop at waffles! And you're rightSt. Bernardus, Chimay and Westmalle are all awesome beers and easy to find in the U.S. Most museums and shops are open now, but tourism isn't encouraged and there are also restrictions for people who arrive from abroad (obligatory forms to fill in before arrival, tests and quarantine, depending on where you are coming from). Its not necessarily horrible, but very aloof. Good to know: Since most of the main highlights of Belgium are towns, you can visit Belgium in any season. I don't mind making the drive to the Sixtus monastery butsince I can't just drive up to the monastery and pick up a six pack, I was hoping that it's possible to walk into a pub or store and acquire a few bottle there. Wolters World is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that is set up to help us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. If youre not convinced yet, you might want to check out my post on the most beautiful places in Belgium. My husband and I are going to Belgium for our 40th anniversary in August 2020! Antwerp is a place where you should best spend the whole day. Enjoy your trip! Belgium is also well connected with the rest of Europe, closeby to the likes of Paris and Amsterdam.
Hi Darina, it seems that your comment was meant to promote a company and we don't allow this on our blog, so I deleted the name. I really appreciate the detailed reply. Belgium and eating out in restaurants in Belgium. The beer and the food in Belgium are really good. The Hallerbos, which is also known as The Blue Forest, is a fairytale-like forest that turns blue for a few weeks every year. I have since been asked the very same question by other travellers wanting to know if I enjoyed Belgium, what I did when I was there, and would I go back again? However, only a very small percentage of tourists actually stay in Bruges, so in the evening the city is completely deserted, and you can have the whole place to yourselves. The where you can see the Flanders fields and learn how Belgium has evolved through A drawing of a pipe is not a pipe, and a Brussels home should be light and airy, filled with mosaics, elegant curves, and decorative cast-ironBrusselaars Ren Magritte and Victor Horta have left an indelible mark on the Belgian capital. Belgium is a small country with great train connections throughout the country. Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp - these are really a must in Belgium. On top of this, the Belgian Ardennes also have some beautiful villages that you can explore. Leuven has a beautiful Town Hall and a youthful university vibe. Its overshadowed by other European destinations and it even has the reputation of being pretty boring. A bit hidden out of sight, the sister of the Manneken Pis Jeanneke Pis can be found in a small alley next to the Rue des Bouchers. Anyway, Westvleteren beer is really hard to get unless, indeed, at the abbey itself and you have to reserve it in advance (see their website for all the info). In addition to this, other European destinations are also easy to reach. Hoping for next year with some new ideas you shared here. Dont miss Brussels, the canals of Bruges, Antwerp city center, and charming Ghent. The architecture throughout Brussels is incredibly impressive and among some of the most intricate in Europe. In all honesty, I just don't understand all the fuss around it. Hi Marc, I'm not sure where you are from, but traveling to/within Belgium is actually quite simple at the moment. The benefits that come from being tumbler-sized speak for itself: shorter travel periods, cheaper travel fares, and more time to visit the places that are required viewing. Sure, there are a few neighborhoods in Brussels to Regarding Westvletrenit's one of those "holy grail" beersat least to geeks over here in North America. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website.
The forest looks magical during this period and walking on the paths between the flowers is a wonderful experience. freyr dinant chateau Hi Jurga, do you know if it's possible to visit Belgium and other countries around it in spring this year? minutes, Brussels to Antwerp in 30 minutes, and on and on. Why do you love Belgium? Haha yes, The Smurfs are Belgian Thank you so much for the lovely comment, I appreciate it! Find me on: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook. How difficult is it to score a Westvleteren 12 in Brussels or Antwerp? Especially since its so easy to access and sandwiched between some other nice destinations. From mid-November until January, you can visit Belgian Christmas markets. If you have a car, better visit smaller towns and other places that aren't easy to get to by train. There were many more great surrealist artists in Belgium though, like Paul Delvaux, Marcel Marin and Paul Noug to name a few. If you have four days in Belgium I also strongly recommend visiting one of the historic war sites in Belgium either Ypres and WWI battlefields or Bastogne and its WWII museums and monuments. They'll know the best spots. Indeed, when considering Belgium for the first time on my travels (it was strategically between France and the Netherlands by train), I thought to myselfWhat is even in Belgium! The main highlights of Belgium are its cities. Both pioneers turned conceptions in their respective field upside down, Magritte by becoming the father of surrealist painting and Horta by introducing Art Nouveau architecture to the world. Want more travel tips for planning a trip to Europe?
Learn how your comment data is processed. TIP: The distances in Belgium are not big and there are good railway connections between all major towns. There is so much history in those war cemeteries, fields and trenches! It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. They normally only sell to individuals and nowadays you can also order one crate to get it delivered at home in Belgium. While waffles, beer, and fries are all fine Belgian fare, they do tend to detract from the countrys more gastronomic delights. Laure Wanders occasionally uses affiliate links when recommending products and services. But as a foreigner, you would have to reserve in advance and drive there to pick it up yourself (really hard to time this, not to mention that they also need your car number plate in advance - not easy if you have a rental..).
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. As for a restaurant in Bruges, best ask at your hotel. Its a Belgian waffles are popular throughout Europe and the rest of the world, but nowhere do they taste better than in Belgium itself. Here you can read about our recommended Belgian theme parks. If you only have three or four days in Belgium, then this itinerary is all you need. It has some nice places and then theres the chocolate . Even today, Belgium has more comic book artists per square kilometre than any other country in the world. the Grand Place with gilded buildings in every direction. In principle, the driest months in Belgium are between April and September. 26 Surprising Facts, 12 Epic Hikes in Belgium (Castles, Viewpoints & Historical Walks). Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Five Things Youll Love & Hate About Train Travel in glass pipe christmas drain yard pipes sink vaporizer use drug vicks sarah which rasta marijuana mainstream spoon machines where Check out these other blog posts: Five Things You Will Love & Hate About Ghent Belgium, Five Things You Will Love & Hate in Catalunya Spain. You can find, If you have some time left, you could visit one of the breweries . Belgium is a small country thats often overlooked on a trip to Europe. Wallonia and the Belgian Ardennes are situated in the south of the country, and theyre totally different from the north. So if you are short on time, you can visit Ghent and Bruges on the same day. Any other day trips? Theres a longstanding stigma that Belgium has worn for years: that it is boring. Yes, red tape, atrocious city planning and a jumble of governments are actual Belgian annoyances, but what better way to face up to your flaws than with a bit of humor. visit Belgium, I always feel very safe and Im not worried too much about petty Taking a taxi is also ok, depending on where you have to be, but it costs multiple times more than a train and usually takes much longer because of all the traffic jams. Most of your money will be spent on hotels in Belgium is much stronger, and you will end up with a Belgian hangover in the The beer in Belgium is amazing, but its a very With great architecture, museums, amazing beer and delicious fries, Places like the Langemark Cemetery and the Passchendaele New British Cemetery can also be visited, and there are some interesting museums throughout the country too. I asked myself and others the question a few years ago, is Belgium boring?, before finally deciding to travel there to see for myself. World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a Belgium! Youll find that they dont stop by to help you as The town of Bruges is undeniably the biggest tourist drawcard in Belgium. there are buses and trams you can take to get around town easily. My personal favourites are Corsendonk, La Chouffe and Kriek Lindemans but itd be impossible to try them all or it would take quite some time. Did you know that Belgium has over a thousand original beers and more than 200 active breweries? Yes, Belgium is absolutely worth visiting! She now divides her time between adventures abroad and adventures in the kitchen, with a particular weakness for French pastries. Make sure to try both Brussels and Liege waffles, you wont be disappointed! Looking forward to 2022 and possibly getting over.
And Im not saying this because its my home country. Lets not forget about the national comfort food: Frites (fries). Within the towns, In other words: well-preserved medieval landmarks are kind of Belgiums thing. One of my favourite things about Belgium is its large amount of castles and citadels. theft or tourist scams. I have a few questions: Should we see Antwerp as a day trip from Bruges or on our return to Brussels? These cookies do not store any personal information. If you visit it just for a few hours and by car, you'll spend more time getting there and trying to park than sightseeing. In recent years, the city of Ghent has fought its way onto the world stage with a new generation of inspired restaurants. The Belgian surrealist movement became the second-largest after the French movement, and its most famous artist was the Brussels painter Ren Magritte. on the train lines in Belgium. It is truly as diverse as they come! trips of Paris or London, youll be surprised at how few things there are to do LEARN MORE: Best Things to Do in Antwerp & Antwerp Hidden Gems. All the while, forward-striving spaces such as art laboratory Wiels and the new MIMA focusing on what it calls Culture 2.0 keep challenging the art worlds status quo, injecting the citys veins with youthful impulses that have become part of the ground current. ahead and buy anything you need before the stores close for the evening. If you want HONEST Travel Advice from travelers who have been there, this is the Travel site for you. I For that, Brussels is probably the best place to stay. Hi there. That way, you can easily make day trips to other destinations in Belgium. You can get from Brussels to Ghent in 30 minutes, Ghent to Bruges in 30 Thanks so much and happy travels! @Jurga, Thanks! Here are some final pictures of what Belgium has to offer: I always look forward to your new posts! Hope you get to visit Belgium again one day and see the nicest cities in Flanders as well, Prosper. We cant find a country that matches your search. The Belgian beer culture was even inscribed on UNESCOs intangible cultural heritage list. From Ghana, thanks and have a good day. Belgium is a small country and its possible to stay in one place and see everything. Belgium is the perfect chance to stop, relax, and let life pass you by. All Rights Reserved, What is Belgium Famous For? We are spending the first 5 nights in Bruges, and the last 2 in Brussels and will have a car. Hopefully, next time l will be able to visit all the beautiful places there. We are all hopeful that life gets back to somewhat normal by late spring, but nobody really knows how it will turn out to be.
26 Surprising Facts. If you have an hour to spare, you may want to visit Mini Europeas well. The citadel of Dinant (which is the place where the inventor of the saxophone lived), is worth visiting too. The food in Belgium is also Be sure to make it a quick stop in Brussels, as the best of Belgium is arguably outside of the capital a short train journey into the countryside (Brugge and Ghent) or further on towards Antwerp. More info:Disclosure. exploring smaller towns, Belgium has several worth your time. Belgian food is simply delicious, and I didnt even mention the chocolate yet its EXQUISITE. As you To some people, WWI battlefields are the main reason to visit Belgium. Find a great Antwerp is very well located and has excellent connectionsto Brussels Airport and Brussels city center (35-40 min), but also to Ghent (50 min) and Bruges (1h30). As you know, here at Wolters time. Six Unwritten Depending on when you visit, its likely that it will be somewhat cheaper to stay in Antwerp than in Brussels. :) You can get to Amsterdam, Paris or London by train in just 2 to 3 hours. Read: Hallerbos: Belgiums Magical Blue Forest. This, in addition to being a bit boring means you can actually relax in pace in Belgium is a bit slower, and it can seem underwhelming at times. Visiting Belgium for the first time and are not sure where to start with planning your trip? If you are interested in war history, Belgium has some interesting war sites, especially around Ypres and Bastogne. And can you recommend a restaurant in Bruges for our anniversary? In summer, Belgium hosts lots of festivals and events. Its my very best tip for anyone visiting Bruges for the first time. Anyway, thank you again for the article!! Youre awesome, awesome! Btw, Brussels is extremely easy to reach from the airport by train! It can be quite touristy during the summer months, but if you visit it off-season, the streets will be much quieter. I'm from the U.S. by the way and I'll have to check but I believe the U.S. is no longer on the EU's "safe countries" list. Read: 31 Best Day Trips from Brussels, Belgium.
Antwerp is much nicer to visit than Brussels, with a great coffee culture, small boutiques and great local designers to match. So much depends on the numbers (which are not good in Europe at the moment). Belgium is a year round destination and because most landmarks are located in the cities, you can visit at any time of the year. Beautiful valleys, small villages, woods and caves mark this region. The main squares (known as Grote Markt) are an absolute must visit and often feel like a time warp into a former era. One more tip: dont skip out on either the ketchup or the mayonnaise. Today, we visit Belgium! Then this post is for you. When I first heard of a self-dubbed Vegetarian capital of the world, I knew I had to find out more. So either way, you have to go really far for this beer. We now visited Ypres and the WWI battlefieldsseveral times, with our kids, and its an experience I would recommend to everyone. We will make day trips to Ghent, Ypres, and maybe Dunkirk.
accommodation deal in Brussels, Bruges, Ghent or Antwerp and see all the cities Dont forget to visit the charming city of Ghent, Belgiums fashion capital Antwerp, and the capital of the country Brussels, as well. fantastic. On this blog, I share our family's travel experiences from all over the world, coupled with lots of practical information and useful tips for your trips. off-season will open up some accommodation deals if you are willing to have
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