Belgium Destination Guide
Belgium lies nestled between Holland and France. It is a thumb nail sketch of the best of Europe and yet remains distinct in character. Despite three official languages, you will be welcomed warmly to Belgium in the fourth unofficial one, English. Be it sauntering along the pebbly squares embellished with fine architecture or embarking on a gastronomic voyage with one restaurant proving better than the next, Belgium tourist attractions offer an experience unlike any other. And the joie de vivre that is infused into the Belgian ethos will leave you refreshed and invigorated.
The Belgium rail network, one of the most dense and well connected networks in the world, is one of the simplest and most comfortable ways to explore Belgium.
Use this Belgium destination guide to plan what you want to see and do during your holiday. A perfect way to get to know the real Belgium is to take a tour. And be sure to check out some further Belgium travel information, or some of the local highlights of Brussels, or other nearby cities like Prague and Bratislava.
Things to See & Do in Belgium
Although the country is small, but there are so many things to see and do in Belgium, and a lot you can do in a day. There is something to cater to every palate. You can enjoy the romance of a cruise down a canal in Bruges, soak in the sun-kissed beaches or sample the waffles of Oostende.
Indulge your artier side and travel back in time by exploring a castle in Namur, pick up some rare antiques from the outdoor market in Liege or look up the fine art museums, stunning cathedrals, churches, belfries or town halls. On a worldlier plane, you can pamper yourself with diamonds from Antwerp or revel in the merriment of a festival in Binche. There is a vast array of tourist attractions in Belgium to ensure your holiday is action packed.
Brussels
Bruxelles in French and Brussel in Dutch, Brussels is the capital of Belgium. A fine blend of the old and the new, it has a glorious architectural heritage, from Gothic and medieval, to Art Nouveau and Art Deco.
Step into the old world charm of the Grand Place - the market square encircled by buildings from the 16th-18th centuries - the royal palace, pubs and gallerias, many of them in buildings that are a few centuries old. Some of these are apparently the oldest covered shopping gallerias in the world. Move on, and you're right in the atomic age with the Atomium. Built in 1958 and meant to last for only six months, the Atomium today, along with other structures in the city, represents the modern face of the Brussels landscape that came into being when the city's ring roads were built.
Flanders
Flanders lies in the northern part of Belgium and is home to the historic cities of Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, Leuven, Ypres and Mechelen. Despite strong Dutch and French connections, it is aligned primarily to Belgium.
Antwerp, the second largest Belgian city is synonymous with diamonds. The Diamond Stock Exchange through which more than half of the world's cut diamonds pass is located here. But there is more to Antwerp than diamonds. It is the second largest port of Europe and hosts annual naval fetes. The Antwerp Zoo, almost a hundred and fifty years old, houses more than 4000 animals. The fashion design department of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts is located in the Mode Museum in Antwerp. A city that reached its cultural zenith in the 17th century, Antwerp has a number of museums and a heritage city walk is the best way to take in its rich culture.
In Ghent and Bruges, you can savour the medieval cultural heritage of Belgium which has been kept intact, right down to the city layout and architecture. Known as the Venice of the North, both cities have a network of navigable, tree lined canals. Ghent has modernized itself to a certain extent, but Bruges has retained its medieval charm. In Ghent, you can see the City Museum for Contemporary Art (SMAK) while Bruges displays the Low Countries' art of Paul Delvaux, Rene Magritte, James Ensor, Hieronymus Bosch and Jan van Eyck in its Groeningemuseum.
In Leuven, visit one of the oldest European Catholic universities and marvel at the exquisite 15th century town hall or soak in the serenity of the Begijnhoff or beguinage, which used to be a hostel for nuns.
Leuven, Hasselt, Ghent and Antwerp, the student cities, boast of a spirited night life on their campuses. Hasselt and Antwerp lead the way in clothing trends and fashion in the country. Hasselt's Fashion Museum is any fashion aficionado's dream come true!
Liege
Namur
Namur is the capital of Wallonia and is attracting a lot of tourists lately, thanks to the Citadel. The Citadel is a fortress built on a tunnel ridden limestone hill, almost two thousand years ago, to defend the region from invasions. It contains small interesting museums of military history which are worth visiting. Namur has some quaint streets, lined with restaurants and bars, where only pedestrian traffic is allowed.
Mons
Charleroi
This erstwhile mining town, close to Mons, is of tourist importance because of its airport, Brussels South, from where many low-cost airlines operate.
Durbuy
Spa
The word ‘spa', as we know it today, owes its existence to this small beautiful town of forests, rivers and of course, mineral springs. The water from these springs was used for hydrotherapy for years together and today it is used for drinking as well. While the baths of yore are closed, you can still pamper yourself in their modern counterpart atop the picturesque hill, reachable by funicular.
Bastogne
Bastogne is most famous for its connection with the Battle of Bulge during World War II. Learn more about this from its museums and the American war cemeteries. You can also just drink in the beauty of the city, which is right in the middle of the Ardennes forest.
Ardennes
Ardennes has more to offer. At La Roche En Ardenne, you can explore a feudal castle or go kayaking and rafting, mountain cycling and trekking. At Rochefort and Han Sur Lesse, discover fascinating facts about caves, or amble through the castle and the museum of Crusades at Le Bouillon.
