Your Essential Travel Guide to Belgium

Discover everything Belgium has to offer. From bustling cities to historic towns, bluebell covered woods to centuries’ old canals, there’s plenty to explore and our Belgium Travel Guide is a great place to start. Discover sights to see in Belgium and things to do via our partner, Get Your Guide.  

History buffs can visit the battlefields of Belgium, including Ypres and Flanders, famous for their role in WW1 and WW2. Foodies will love Bruges, with its winding canals and cobbled streets with the permanent smell of cocoa wafting from the many chocolatiers across the city. Art and fashion reign supreme in Antwerp, once the home of painter Rubens. Explore stunning architecture, great café culture and a fantastic fashion and diamond district. 

Driving in Belgium couldn’t be easier. You can take the ferry to Belgium on our Dover–Dunkirk route with less than a 30-minute onward journey from Dunkirk to the Belgian border. Alternatively, you could take an overnight crossing from Newcastle–Amsterdam and drive just two hours to arrive in Belgium with a car packed full of adventure! Once you’re in Belgium, it’s a great country to cycle through or hit the open road on your motorbike. You can even join some organised cycling tours in cities across the country. Check out this bike tour across Antwerp from Get Your Guide.

Perhaps one of the most famous (and rude) landmarks in Belgium is Manneken Pis, the statue of a little boy urinating in a fountain in the heart of its capital Brussels. This draws thousands of visitors each year to get a snap with the unusual sculpture! Other famous landmarks to see include the 83-metre-high Bruges Belfry, Antwerp Central Railway Station, the European Parliament Building in Brussels and the magnificent main square or Grote Markt in Antwerp, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Antwerp’s Centraal Station is also an architectural wonder. In an Art Nouveau style, it is often named one of the top train stations in the world. In Brussels, as well as its antiquarian architecture, it also boasts the intriguing Atomium, an imposing steel sculpture and now a museum. Scale it to its summit for 360° views of the capital. 

Famed the world over, Belgian chocolate has garnered its reputation for a reason and you can even try your hand at making your own in a range of chocolate making workshops across the country.

Sticking with sweet treats, Belgian waffles are the ideal afternoon snack to keep your sightseeing energy up! Or if you’re looking for a savoury fix, a cone of Belgian frites really hits the spot! All that sugar and salt will make you thirsty, so why not visit one of many breweries across Belgium to try some of the country’s famous beers? Most of the big cities have beer tasting events for you to go independently or as part of an organised tour.

They may be famous for their beers, but did you know Belgium also produces some delicious wines? Find out more in our dedicated travel guide.

Belgium offers charms year-round, with each month offering a unique experience. November and December invite cosy carriage rides, Christmas, and hot chocolate. January and February provide quieter crowds for unhurried exploration. March to May sees the country bloom, with Grand Bigard Castle hosting the vibrant Floralia flower exhibition. Just outside Brussels sits Hallerbos Woods, the enchanting forest carpeted with bluebells each spring. June to August is perfect for city breaks in Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp or other hidden gems in Belgium, with music and beer festivals. September and October offer ideal conditions for a couples' getaway or exploring at a leisurely pace. Enjoy Belgium's delights throughout the year!

Bruges is a picturesque medieval town with canals, colourful buildings, and famous landmarks like the Belfry Tower and Basilica of the Holy Blood. Brussels boasts beautiful architecture, sculptures, and parks, with a vibrant street art scene and iconic attractions like Manneken Pis, whilst Ghent offers ancient architecture, cobbled streets, and notable churches, including the impressive St. Bavo's Cathedral. Antwerp is a medieval port town known for its art, fashion, and diamond industry, featuring attractions like the Royal Museum of Fine Arts and the Diamond District. These cities offer a mix of history, culture, and picturesque landscapes, making them all ideal destinations to explore in Belgium.