Belgium Travel Guide | Tourist4Tourist

Local time: 12:37
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Capital: Brussels
Calling code: +32
Drive on the: right

Overview

Small, dense and easy to cross by train, Belgium packs medieval Bruges and Ghent, Art Nouveau Brussels, the Ardennes forests and the First World War sites of Flanders, with beer, chocolate and fries to match.

Belgium sits between France, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg, and nowhere is more than about 300 km away. Brussels, the capital and home of the EU's headquarters, combines the Grand-Place and the Atomium with a large European quarter. A short train ride away are Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp, with medieval centres, belfries and great art museums, and smaller cities such as Leuven, Mechelen and Mons.

The country is split by language: Dutch-speaking Flanders in the north, French-speaking Wallonia in the south, and a small German-speaking area in the east. The north-west is flat, with a coast served by a tram from France to the Netherlands; Wallonia rises into the wooded Ardennes, good for hiking, caves and castles. Food is taken seriously, from mussels and fries to waffles, chocolate and hundreds of beers.

Bruges: A medieval centre on the UNESCO list, with a 13th-century belfry.
Brussels: The Grand-Place, the Atomium, the Manneken Pis and over 80 museums.
Ghent: Canals, a belfry and medieval architecture, plus a large student population.
Antwerp: A huge cathedral, art museums and a fashion and diamond scene.
The Ardennes: Forested hills with caves, castles and outdoor sports, best reached from Namur.
Ypres: Rebuilt after the First World War, surrounded by memorials and cemeteries.

Places to visit

City
Town
Historic site
Area

Cities

Brussels: The capital and unofficial capital of the EU, with a historic centre and many museums.
Bruges: Medieval, touristy and quiet at night, with small guesthouses rather than chains.
Ghent: A city of canals and medieval buildings with a lively student population.
Antwerp: Second city, with a giant cathedral, artistic heritage and fashion.
Leuven: A small university city with a historic centre and lively nightlife.
Liège: An industrial city on a wide river with a strong character and good nightlife.
Namur: Capital of Wallonia, where the Sambre meets the Meuse, below its citadel.
Mons: Home to a UNESCO belfry, the Neolithic flint mines of Spiennes and the Doudou festival.
Mechelen: A small medieval city around its cathedral, with trains everywhere every 30 minutes.

Beyond the cities

Grand-Place (site): Brussels' UNESCO-listed square of guildhouses and the Gothic town hall.
Atomium (site): The steel landmark of the 1958 World's Fair in Brussels.
Ypres (town): A First World War town, rebuilt, ringed by memorials and military cemeteries.
Dinant (town): A small town in a striking setting, popular for canoeing and rock climbing.
Caves of Han-sur-Lesse (site): Impressive caves in the Ardennes.
Spa (town): The spa town that gave its name to all spas, visited for centuries.
Pajottenland (area): Green hills, villages and castles west of Brussels, home of Geuze beer.

Regions

Flanders: The Dutch-speaking north: Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Leuven, Mechelen and the coast.
Brussels: The bilingual capital region.
Wallonia: The French-speaking south: Liège, Namur, Mons and the Ardennes, with a German-speaking area in the east.

Things to do

See

Grand-Place and Manneken Pis Brussels: The guildhall square and the tiny bronze fountain nearby.
Bruges belfry Bruges: The 13th-century tower where the carillon is still played daily.
Ghent's beguinages and belfry Ghent: World Heritage sites in a city as rich in medieval architecture as Bruges.
Fine arts museums Brussels and Antwerp: The Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Brussels and the Royal Museum in Antwerp.
First World War sites Ypres: Memorials, museums and cemeteries; stay on footpaths, as old shells still turn up.

Do

Ardennes: Hiking, cycling, camping and caves, with Namur as a base.
Kusttram: The tram along almost the whole Flemish coast, best in summer.
Cycling in Flanders: Lots of cycling infrastructure, and bikes for rent almost everywhere.

Eat

Mussels and fries: Moules-frites, best from September to April.

Drink

Belgian beer: Trappist ales, lambics, white beers and kriek in any café.

Tours and tickets in Belgium PartnerGuided tours, day trips and attraction ticketsSee activities

Itineraries

Brussels, Ghent and Bruges in 5 days (5 days)

Brussels (2 nights): The Grand-Place, museums and the Atomium.
Ghent (1 night): Frequent trains from Brussels.
Bruges (2 nights): 25 minutes from Ghent on an InterCity train.

Brussels and Wallonia in 5 days (5 days)

Brussels (1 night): Start in the capital.
Namur (2 nights): The citadel, and the gateway to the Ardennes.
Dinant (1 night): Canoeing and climbing on the Meuse.
Liège (1 night): Lively city, with Spa nearby.

Climate and best time to visit

Brussels
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max °C	6	6	10	13	18	20	22	23	19	14	9	7
Min °C	1	1	3	5	9	12	14	13	11	8	4	2
Rain mm	71	53	73	54	70	78	69	64	63	68	79	79

Belgium has a temperate climate with mild winters and cool summers, and little difference from region to region. It is often rainy and cloudy: in Brussels every month brings 50 to 80 mm of rain. July and August average highs of about 22 °C, and January about 6 °C.

May to September is the most comfortable time for cities, the coast and the Ardennes. Heavy rain in spring and summer can cause floods, especially near major rivers.

Holidays and events

1 January 2026 · New Year's Day
3 April 2026 · Good Friday (banks closed, not a public holiday)
5 April 2026 · Easter Sunday
6 April 2026 · Easter Monday
1 May 2026 · Labour Day
14 May 2026 · Ascension Day
15 May 2026 · Day after Ascension Day (banks closed, not a public holiday)
25 May 2026 · Whit Monday
21 July 2026 · Belgian National Day
15 August 2026 · Assumption Day
1 November 2026 · All Saints' Day
11 November 2026 · Armistice Day
25 December 2026 · Christmas Day
26 December 2026 · St. Stephen's Day (banks closed, not a public holiday)

Getting around

Main airports	BRU, CRL, LGG, ANR
International driving permit	Recommended

Trains are punctual, frequent and the easiest way between cities; nowhere is more than a couple of hours away. Use InterCity trains where you can. Brussels makes a good base for day trips to Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, Namur and Leuven. City buses, trams and metros are run by STIB/MIVB in Brussels, De Lijn in Flanders and TEC in Wallonia, and their tickets are not interchangeable.

Driving: motorways are toll-free, but signs use only the local language, so Mons may appear as Bergen and Liège as Luik. Give way to traffic from the right unless signs say otherwise. Speed cameras are everywhere. Brussels, Ghent and Antwerp have low-emission zones: register foreign cars online first. Canada advises an International Driving Permit. Strikes often disrupt transport at short notice.

Flying to Belgium? PartnerCompare fares and find the cheapest datesSearch flights

Where to stay

Hotels: Plentiful; Brussels has many business hotels whose prices rise during big EU events.
Guesthouses: In Bruges, small guesthouses outnumber chain hotels.
Hostels: Hostelling International runs about 30 hostels in Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels.
Cyclists' B&Bs: The Vrienden op de fiets network has private homes for cyclists and walkers in Flanders.

Eat and drink

Dishes to try

Moules-frites: Mussels cooked in white wine or with onion and celery, with fries; best from September to April.
Stoofvlees (carbonade flamande): A traditional beef stew, served with fries.
Stoemp: Mashed potatoes and carrots with bacon and sausages, from Brussels.
Chicons au gratin: Chicory wrapped in ham under a cheese sauce.
Fries: From a frituur, with mayonnaise and a choice of sauces.
Waffles: Light Brussels waffles with toppings, or dense, sweet Liège waffles eaten plain.

Drinks

Trappist ales: Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, Westmalle, Westvleteren and Achel.
Lambic and geuze: Sour, spontaneously fermented beers, often fruit-flavoured, such as kriek.
Jenever: A strong spirit in many flavours, the speciality of Hasselt.

Tipping	Not expected: service is included. Rounding up is a sign of appreciation.

Skip the restaurants with touts on streets like Rue des Bouchers in Brussels, and ask locals for tips. Tap water is safe, but restaurants rarely serve it. About one restaurant in ten does not allow young children, so check first. Beer and wine can be bought from 16, spirits from 18, and smoking is banned in pubs.

Entry requirements and visas

Passport validity	Issued less than 10 years before you arrive, and valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area

Passport	Entry	Max stay	Notes
EU / EEA	Freedom of movement		EU free movement rules apply.
United Kingdom	Visa free	90 days	90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area.
Canada	Visa free	90 days	90 days in any 180-day period; Canada also mentions travel health insurance of at least €30,000.

Other nationalities: check the official source below.

EES (Entry/Exit System): fingerprints and photo at the border, free

Official entry requirements

Belgium is in the Schengen area. UK and Canadian visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa, counting days in other Schengen countries. You may be asked for a return ticket and proof of funds, and non-EU visitors register fingerprints and a photo in the EU Entry/Exit System. Adults travelling with children may need to prove their relationship.

You must carry your passport at all times in Belgium. Meat and milk products cannot be brought into the EU, and cash of €10,000 or more must be declared. Check the official link before you book.

Money and payments

Currency	Euro (EUR)

Belgium uses the euro (€). Service is included in restaurant bills. Good buys are chocolate, lace in Bruges, fashion and jewellery in Antwerp, beer and comic-book merchandise in Brussels.

Costs and budget

According to Eurostat, in 2024 the general price level in Belgium was about 112% of the EU average, food in shops about 105% and restaurants and hotels about 124%.

Health

Recommended vaccines	Routine vaccines, including measles (MMR), Hepatitis A: consider it for most travellers, Hepatitis B, Tick-borne encephalitis, for long stays or time outdoors in forests and countryside
Malaria	None
Tap water	Safe

No vaccinations are required. Tap water is safe everywhere. With a European (EHIC) or UK (GHIC) health card you get medically necessary state healthcare, but non-emergency consultations and prescriptions are charged, and the card does not replace travel insurance. Dial 112 for an ambulance.

This is general information, not medical advice: check with a travel health professional before you go.

Safety

United States: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (2026-10-20)
Canada: Exercise a high degree of caution (2026-10-20)
United Kingdom: No advice against travel (2026-10-20)

Pickpockets and bag thieves are common in crowded places, especially at Brussels-Midi (the Eurostar terminal), Brussels-Nord and Brussels-Central stations, around the Grand-Place and on international trains, where luggage disappears from racks just before the doors close. The terrorism threat level is 3, "serious". Gang violence linked to drug trafficking affects parts of Brussels and Antwerp; bystanders are rarely targeted.

Strikes and demonstrations are frequent, often around stations and the EU quarter, and general strikes can stop transport nationwide: check before you travel. Use only licensed taxis. On First World War battlefields, keep to footpaths and report anything that looks like a shell.

Customs and etiquette

Language is a sensitive subject. Do not speak French in Flanders or Dutch in Wallonia: start in English if you are unsure. Do not call Walloons French or Flemings Dutch, and avoid discussing the Flemish-Walloon divide. Belgians can seem reserved at first, and salary, politics and religion are not small talk.

Covering your face in public is illegal, with fines of up to €137. You must carry your passport. Smoking is banned in pubs.

Language

Official languages	Dutch, French, German
English	Common

Hello (Dutch / French)	Hallo / Bonjour HAH-low / bawn-ZHOOR
Please	Alstublieft / S'il vous plaît AHL-stuu-BLEEFT / seel voo PLEH
Thank you	Dank u / Merci DAHNK uu / merr-SEE
Excuse me	Pardon pahr-DOHN
Goodbye	Tot ziens / Au revoir TOT seens / oh ruh-VWAHR
Do you speak English?	Spreekt u Engels? / Parlez-vous anglais? SPRAYKT uu ENG-uls

What to pack

Passport: You must carry it at all times in Belgium.
EHIC or GHIC and travel insurance: Non-emergency care and prescriptions are charged.
Rain jacket: It rains in every month of the year.
Plug adapter: Belgium uses plug types C and E.
Birth certificate for children: Adults travelling with children may need to prove their relationship.

Quick reference

Country facts

Capital	Brussels
Population	11,941,781 (2025)
Area	30,494 km²
Time zone	Europe/Brussels (UTC+1)
Calling code	+32
Driving side	right

Electricity and plugs

Plug types	C, E
Voltage	230 V
Frequency	50 Hz

Staying connected

SIM and eSIM	Proximus, Orange and Base are the main networks, with near-total coverage, 4G almost everywhere and 5G in most cities. Prepaid SIMs require registration with your name and address.
Roaming	With an EU SIM card you roam at home prices; other visitors should check their provider's rates.
Wi-Fi	Free in many cafés, libraries, train stations and motorway restaurants.

Staying connected in Belgium PartnerMobile data on your phone, without a local SIM cardGet an eSIM

Emergency numbers

Emergency	112

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Belgium?

Not for short stays with a UK or Canadian passport: up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area. Check the official EU link before you book.

Do I need to carry my passport?

Yes. In Belgium you must carry your passport at all times.

Should I speak French or Dutch?

Dutch in Flanders, French in Wallonia, either in Brussels. If unsure, start in English: speaking the wrong language can cause offence.

Do I tip in Belgium?

Not necessarily: service is included. Rounding up is a sign you were happy.

Is the tap water safe?

Yes, everywhere, though restaurants usually serve bottled water.

What is the best way to get around?

By train: services are frequent and punctual, and Brussels is a good base for day trips to Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp.

Suggest an update

Travel rules, prices and timetables change. If something in this guide is out of date, tell us: we check every suggestion against an official source before changing the page.

Belgium