Reasons to Visit Belgium
What are the reasons to visit Belgium? This is why Belgium should be on your travel bucket list!
Located in Western Europe and sharing borders with France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Germany, Belgium is hardly a hidden gem. But at the same time, it’s often overlooked for its more popular neighbors.
Many travelers will plan a trip to Paris and Amsterdam, but won’t give Belgium a passing thought, even though it’s located right between France and the Netherlands. But skipping Belgium is a mistake!
Below, I’ve rounded up the top reasons you should plan a trip to Belgium.
I first visited Belgium many years ago on a quick trip from Paris, where I was studying abroad. I chose Antwerp as my destination, and I don’t remember exactly why — it seems like maybe I found cheap bus tickets to that city? Regardless, I really enjoyed my short trip to Antwerp and my little taste of Belgium.
However, I always knew I wanted to go back and experience more of Belgium. And so last month, I finally did that, spending six days in Belgium and visiting multiple destinations around the country.
And I have to say, I enjoyed it even more the second time around! Belgium delighted me in so many ways, and I’d highly recommend it as a European destination you can’t miss. Here are the reasons why:
1. Beautiful Cities
For being a pretty small country, Belgium is packed full of beautiful cities and towns.
Some of the highlights include Bruges, a charming medieval city filled with canals and picturesque architecture that looks like something straight out of a fairytale. Then there’s nearby Ghent, a less touristy but equally beautiful city with canals and an imposing medieval castle. Rounding off the best Flemish cities, there’s also Antwerp, a historically wealthy trading city also known for its art and fashion.
You also can’t skip Brussels, the bustling capital of Belgium, with its impressive Grand-Place, spectacular historic architecture, and variety of delicious dining options. For something a little different, the quaint, colorful riverside city of Dinant in the French-speaking southern part of Belgium is also worth a visit.
2. Easy to Get Around
Another reason to visit Belgium is because it’s so easy to get around. All of the destinations I mentioned above can easily be visited in a week-long trip to Belgium without feeling rushed or spending a lot of time in transit. This is because Belgium is a fairly small country with excellent public transportation.
Robust train connections make it easy to get around the country in a quick and efficient manner. From Brussels, which is a central hub, it’s less than an hour by train to many other cities across the country.
SNCB, the Belgian train company, also has something called Train+, which is a discount card that offers significant concessions on train fares at off-peak times, as well as capped train fares. If you’ll be taking day trips around Belgium by train, it’s definitely worth getting Train+ for just a few euros!
3. Delicious Food
I would definitely return to Belgium just for the food. This country is known for several different foods (none of which are particularly healthy, which is probably why I enjoyed them so much!)
The first is fries, which, despite being called “French fries” by many people, actually originated in Belgium. Waffles also come from Belgium, although there’s no such thing as a “Belgian waffle.” There’s a Brussels waffle, which is lighter and crispier, and a Liège waffle, which is denser and sweeter. Speaking of sweets, chocolate is also a big deal in Belgium, and Belgian chocolate has a rich, cocoa flavor.
Although I didn’t personally try these dishes since I’m a vegetarian, moules frites (mussels and fries) and Flemish stew (a hearty beef stew) are two more popular things to eat in Belgium.
4. Blend of Cultures
I always find it interesting to visit countries that have distinctive cultures and speak different languages within their borders. In the case of Belgium, the northern half of the country (Flanders) is Dutch-speaking, and the southern part of the country (Wallonia) is French-speaking. There’s also a very small German-speaking portion of the country located in the east along the border with Germany.
Although Brussels is technically in Flanders, it’s close to the border with Wallonia, and the city is primarily French-speaking. I found this blend of cultures and languages in Belgium to be very intriguing.
The Flemish cities of the north, like Bruges, Ghent, and Antwerp, have unique architecture that reflects their status as rich trading hubs, while driving through the forested Ardennes of the south, I often felt like I was in the French countryside. The contrasts between the different regions make a trip to Belgium special.
5. Year-Round Destination
Unlike some destinations in Europe, which are really seasonal, I think Belgium is an excellent year-round destination. This is because many of the top places to go in the country are cities, which are lively and fun to visit all year long, unlike seasonal destinations such as beaches or resort towns.
I personally visited Belgium in December, and I loved how festive everything was for Christmas! Belgium can be cold and sometimes rainy during the winter, but the temperature rarely drops below freezing.
Spring and fall are great times to visit Belgium too, with beautiful blooms in the spring and colorful foliage in the fall. Summer is another nice season to visit Belgium, with warm, sunny weather.
6. Convenient Access
Finally, it’s really easy to get to Belgium, making it simple to plan a trip here, or to add it on to an itinerary visiting other European destinations. You can get to Brussels by fast train from the following cities:
- Paris, France: 1.5 hours
- London, England: 2 hours
- Amsterdam, Netherlands: 2 hours
- Cologne, Germany: 2 hours
Brussels also has a large international airport, with direct flights from all over Europe, North America, and more. So wherever you’re coming from, you’ll have lots of good options for getting to Belgium.
Reasons to Visit Belgium
This guide showed you the top reasons to visit Belgium.
I loved my time visiting Belgium, and I’ll absolutely return in the future to explore more. With how easy it is to get around and how easily accessible it is, there’s no reason to skip Belgium! Whether you spend one week in the country like I did, or just visit for a few days in combination with another destination like France or the Netherlands, Belgium is definitely worth a stop on your European itinerary.
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