Things to see and do on your trip to Belgium?

To some, Belgium’s 30,689 km², an area smaller than the Community of Catalonia, might suggest that it is a country with little to see. However, nothing could be further from the truth. This small northern European country has beautiful cities and villages that are well worth a visit, as well as a rich culture, two official languages and a long history. Come with us on this trip to Belgium and discover all the things to see and do in the land of Belgian chocolate, waffles and fries.

What are the cities to see in Belgium?

1. Brussels, discover what to see in the capital of Belgium

Brussels, the Belgian and European capital, is one of the best cities for a weekend getaway. Although it has quite a few interesting sights to see, they are all relatively close by, making it a very convenient city to get to know in a nice walk.

Its main point of interest is the Grand Place, the main square, one of the most beautiful squares in Europe, with its stone guild houses, slate roofs and gold ornamentation, giving the square a sense of grandeur that it clearly deserves. The Grand Place, a World Heritage Site, is also home to the Town Hall, and on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings there is a flower market that fills the square with colour. The Manneken Pis is just a stone’s throw from the square.

Brussels is also noted for its fantastic parks, such as the Cinquantenaire Park, where the famous Brussels triumphal arch and other interesting public buildings such as museums and the Grand Mosque are located. Very close to the Cinquantenaire Park is the beautiful Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula.

Finally, the Atomium, a 102-metre atom-shaped structure built in 1950. As well as being fascinating on the outside, the interior can be visited, and you can tour the atom, which has exhibition rooms in each of its spheres.

2. Bruges, the most beautiful city to see in Belgium

Bruges is one of the most charming cities in Belgium, in fact, it is considered a World Heritage Site for its beauty and medieval architecture. Its canals, which criss-cross the city and from where you can discover hidden corners of the city, also stand out.

Walking the canals on foot or by boat is a must-do activity in Bruges. There are small piers scattered throughout the city with many boats leaving all the time, so it won’t be difficult to find one. From the boat you will be able to see the main buildings from new points of view, and they will also tell you a bit of the history of the city. But the best thing is that most tickets include a beer in the price. The boats run daily from 10:00h to 18:00h.

In the heart of Bruges there are two spectacular squares. On one side is the Market Square or Grote Markt, which is a very common meeting point and a lively place. The other most important square is the Burg Square, where the town hall and the Basilica of the Holy Blood are located. The opening hours of the town hall are from Monday to Sunday from 9:00h to 17:00h. The basilica is open from Monday to Sunday from 09:30h to 12h and from 14h to 17h.

Finally, there is one must-see in this Belgian city. The Minnewater Park is one of the most romantic spots in the city. It is right in the centre of the city and has a small lake with swans. From the park you can also see emblematic buildings such as the Castle de la Faille, a former hospital. It is recommended to go at sunset or for a midday snack if the weather is nice.

Learn more about the city in Things to do in Bruges Belgium?

3. Ghent

Ghent is one of the most beautiful cities in Belgium and although architecturally it has much in common with Bruges, the truth is that it is a unique city that will surely surprise you. The cultural offerings include the Castle of the Counts of Flanders, the Church of St. Nicholas and the central square, although the best thing to do is to stroll around the city, either on foot or by boat along the canals and come across these places. The Patershol is the most famous area, so we recommend a visit in the evening, when there are fewer tourists

Further, discover Ghent at Things to do and see in Ghent Belgium?

4. Antwerp

Capital of its namesake province, Antwerp is a metropolis on the banks of the Scheldt River, where its beautiful historic heritage blends with the modern, avant-garde architecture of the city’s new areas.

When you arrive in Antwerp, the first place you should head for is the Grote Markt, or Market Square, the city’s liveliest spot. In exquisite Renaissance style, Antwerp’s town hall leads the charge of monuments that populate the Grote Markt square. You can visit it on weekdays from 8.30am to 5.30pm. Another highlight of the square is the Brabo Fountain, as well as the beautiful buildings that frame it. Next to the Grote Markt is the Cathedral of Our Lady, the largest in Belgium, in Gothic style and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Inside, you can see the stained-glass windows designed by Rubens himself.

And if you enjoy strolling, you must see the Vlaaikensgang alley, with the beautiful white facades of its 16th-century houses, and the diamond quarter, where you’ll find the most jewellery shops per square metre in Belgium. Another interesting visit to make in Antwerp, especially if you’ve come to the city by train, is its station. An impressive early 20th-century glass building in the Art Nouveau style,

Learn more about this city at Things to do and see in Antwerp Belgium?

5. Liège, a welcoming city to see in Belgium

In the valley of the Meuse River and very close to the borders with Germany and the Netherlands, you’ll find quiet Liège. One of Belgium’s cities that often goes unnoticed, but where there’s plenty to see.

Arriving by train from Brussels or elsewhere in Belgium, you’ll come across the first of many sights to see in Liège: the spectacular Liège-Guillemins station. This station is an architectural masterpiece designed by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava. Its glass details and unique shapes caused a stir at the time, but today it is one of the main sights to see in Liège.

If there is one place where all the life of Liège is concentrated, it is the Place Saint-Lambert. Throughout history, it has been, and still is, one of the most important squares in the city. It was once the site of the Gothic Saint-Lambert Cathedral, an emblem of the city, but it was demolished in the 18th century. Nowadays, it is the best place in town for lunch or dinner because of its great atmosphere and number of bars and restaurants.

Other places of interest in Liège include the Saint-Paul Cathedral, the Bueren Mountain and the Palace of the Princes-Bishops, among others.

These are just a few places in Liège, see them all at Things to do and see in Liège Belgium?

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

Belgium map and travel itinerary

Here is a map of an itinerary to Belgium created by one of our travellers to help you organize your trip quickly and easily. You can also add important documents such as travel tickets, hotel reservations and even invite your friends to be part of the itinerary organization. Using Passporter is free of charge and will help you travel in a more organized way.  You have the option to organize your trip on the web by registering or downloading the app, so you can carry everything in your pocket 🙂

What to see in Belgium in 7 days?

First day of your trip: Brussels

• The Grand Place
• Chocolaterie Godiva de la Grand Place
• Manneken Pis
• Parliament of Belgium
• Church of the Madeleine
• Brussels Cathedral

Second day of travel: Brussels

• Fiftieth Anniversary Palace
• Brussels Park
• Brussels National Palace
• Belvue Museum
• Museum Marguerite

Third day of the trip: Ghent and Antwerp

Morning in Ghent:

• Castle of the Counts of Flanders
• Streets of the Patershol Quarter
• Korenmarkt Square
• Church of St. Nicholas

Evening in Antwerp:

• The Grote Markt
• Our Lady’s Cathedral
• Antwerp Station
• Vlaaikensgang
• The Diamond Quarter

Fourth day of travel: Bruges

• Grand Makt
• Burg Square
• Bruges Town Hall
• Church of Our Lady
• Saint Saviour’s Cathedral
• And of course the canals on foot and by boat

Fifth day of travel: Lieja

• The Liège-Guillemins Station
• Place Saint-Lambert
• Saint-Paul’s Cathedral
• Mountain of Bueren
• The Princes-Bishops’ Palace

Sixth day of the trip: Leuven

• Grote Markt
• Municipality of Leuven
• Old Market Square
• St. Peter’s Church
• College tour

Seventh day of the trip: Brussels and home

• Atomium
• Airport

Gastronomy of Belgium

Belgium has a varied and delicious gastronomy, with some surprising dishes that we all love, such as waffles and fries.

You read that right, one of Belgium’s signature dishes is french fries, wherever you go, you’ll see stalls selling cartridges of frites, in French. French fries are so important to their gastronomy that they have even been declared a national heritage site. The secret of their special flavour is that in most places they are fried in beef or veal fat. But this is not the only famous dish. In Belgian bars and restaurants, steamed mussels are often on the menu, the moules, which are often eaten, of course, with fried potatoes.

Belgium is also known for making some of the best chocolates in the world. One of the most famous Belgian chocolate shops is Godiva, which offers all kinds of bars and chocolates of infinite variety and flavours, but all of them delicious and delicate. And the Belgians are specialists in sweets, as another of the country’s most typical sweets is famous all over the world and adored by almost everyone. We’re talking about waffles, which in Belgium are not only eaten sweet, but filled with all kinds of delicious savoury combinations.

Tips for your trip to Belgium

• The official currency of Belgium is the euro, so you won’t have to worry about exchanging currency
• As European citizens, we don’t need a visa to enter the country either, just an ID card or passport is enough.
• If you are travelling from a country with a different currency, we recommend that you exchange your currency in advance.
• Buy museum tickets in advance to avoid queues.
• There is no Roaming in Belgium, you can use the internet on your mobile phone without any problems.
• The city is safe, but as with any tourist destination, it’s best to be careful with your belongings.
• Be covered for possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
• Use the 10 best apps for travelling.

How to organize what things to see in Belgium?

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers
• Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
• Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
• Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post)
• Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make any modifications you need to make, and you’re all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend to other travellers what to see in Belgium.

If you have questions about how to organize your trip, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.

Frequently Asked Questions Before Travelling to Belgium