Belgium is famous for Manneken Pis, the Atomium, the Flower Carpet, and countless beer sorts and chocolates.
Best places to visit in Belgium are numerous. Its main city is the Capital of Europe and its second-largest town – the Diamond Capital of the World.
Belgium is also known for its creative minds, thousands of castles, and highways lit at night.
The most beautiful places
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. Bruges crafts some of the most luxurious lace in the world.
Pop into one of the lace shops dotted around the city to buy a lace souvenir, or better yet visit the Lace Centre to learn more about the history of lace in Bruges.
Brussels’ Grand Place
The Grand-Place is the central square of the City of Brussels. All over the world it is known for its decorative and aesthetic wealth.
The Grand-Place is surrounded by the guild houses, the City Hall and the Maison du Roi.
The Grand-Place is considered as one of the most beautiful places of the world.
Antwerp Art & Fashion
Cosmopolitan and confident, Antwerp is a city that has everything. Its skyline is still dominated by one of the lowlands’ most magnificent stone steeples and its medieval house-
museums are stuffed with works by its most famous 17th-century resident, Pieter Paul Rubens.
Today it attracts art lovers and mode moguls, club queens and diamond dealers, with state-of-the-art museums, vibrant nightlife and a reputation as one of Europe’s capitals of haute couture.
It’s hard to think of anywhere else in the world with so many designer fashion boutiques huddled so close together.
Ghent
Ghent is a great addition to any vacation in Belgium. It’s easy to get around and has unique historical buildings and picturesque views.
The tourist-oriented attractions are mixed with a local flavor that makes Ghent feel real and laid-back—the kind of place you’d like to hang out for a while.
Flanders Fields
For much of the 20th century, Flanders Fields were synonymous not with potato and hop production but with poppies and death in the wake of the mindless battles of WWI.
The area around Ypres remains dotted with manicured graveyards where white memorial crosses bear silent witness in seemingly endless rows.
Museums improve every year at explaining the battles’ context and helping visualise conditions.
And the incredible rebuilt central squares of Diksmuide and Ypres are wonders in themselves.
Belgian Beer
Belgian beer was made long before Belgium became an independent country; it is believed that it started even before the First Crusade.
The French and Flemish brewed beer to raise money. At that time, the people drank beer more often because of the unsanitary condition of the available drinking water.
Caves of the Ardennes
You don’t need to be a daring speleologist to explore some of northern Europe’s most awesome cave
systems,
hollowed out beneath the rolling countryside of the Belgian Ardennes.
The best known at Hansur-Lesse even starts with a train ride, while at Remouchamps you float part of the way on an underground river.
Once you’re caved out, the surrounding areas have opportunities for gentle kayaking and are set amid pretty valleys with grey-stone villages and plenty more castles.
Chocolate
In 1857 Swiss confectioner Jean Neuhaus opened a ‘medicinal sweet shop’ in Brussels’ glorious Galeries St-Hubert ( Click here ) – it’s still there.
But it was in 1912 that Neuhaus’s son was credited with creating that most Belgian of morsels, the praline, by filling a chocolate shell with flavoured fillings.
Belgian chocolates remain world beaters due to the local insistence on 100% cocoa butter, and every town has its selection of chocolatier shops,
hushed hallowed temples where glove-handed assistants patiently load up ballotin boxes with your individual selection.
When to go?
HIGH SEASON
(Jul & Aug)
Warm weather, many outdoor activities and festivals.
Hotels get overloaded in the Ardennes, Bruges and coastal towns, but are cheaper in Brussels.
LOW SEASON
(Nov, Feb, Mar)
Weather often cold andwet.
Hotels cheaper but some attractions close. From the start of Lent there are numerous superbly colourful carnivals.
Arriving in Brussels
Brussels Airport
Four trains an hour to central Brussels (€7.60, 20 minutes), two to Leuven (€7.90, 14 minutes), 5.30am to 11.45pm.
Brussels Midi train station
Take any east-bound train to Bruxelles-Central station (three minutes, 4.45am to 12.15am) rather than walking into central Brussels.
Charleroi (‘Brussels-South’) Airport
Two or three hourly coaches take 70 minutes to Brussels (8.30am to 11.50pm).
Castles in Belgium
Castles might not be the first things that jump to mind when you imagine Belgium and Luxembourg.
Yet both little nations are remarkably over-endowed with them. From grand châteaux to rugged stone ruins, there’s a site for all tastes.
What language is spoken in Belgium?
Belgium is a small country in Western Europe located between France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
With 12 million people spread across about 30.000 sq km, it’s one of the most densely populated European countries.
Historically speaking, the country has had quite a wide variety of rulers, influencing how multilingual and multicultural Belgians are today.
Due to their close proximity to these three countries, they have three official languages that divide Belgium into three main regions.
Dutch (Flemish Dutch), French, German are three official languages.
While there is no official region that speaks English in Belgium,
this is likely the third most popular language spoken in Belgium due to the education system’s tendency to teach English.
It’s also important to note Belgium’s, and in particular Brussel’s, commitment to upholding language multiculturalism.
Popular Belgian tradition
Belgium’s strong tradition of fine cuisine is expressed in its large number of top-rated restaurants.
The country is known for moules frites (mussels served with french fries) as well as waffles, a popular snack item.
Belgian chocolate is renowned around the world and may be considered a cultural institution.
Food and Drink
Find the best places to visit in Belgium and the best food
Chicons au gratin Endive rolled in ham and cooked in cheese/béchamel sauce.
Chocolates The essentials are pralines and creamy manons, filled bite-sized chocolates sold from an astonishing range of specialist chocolaterie shops.
Filet Américain Ablob of raw minced beef, typically toppedwith equally raw egg yolk.
Mosselen/moules In-the-shell mussels, typically cooked inwhite wine and servedwith a mountain of frites (chips).
Paling in ’t groen Eel in a sorrel or spinach sauce.
Stoemp Ahome-cooking classic: mashed veg-and-potato dish.
Vlaamse stoverij/carbonade flamande Semi-sweet beer-basedmeat casserole.
Waterzooi Acream-based chicken or fish stew. .