Belgium is visited mostly while traveling to Netherlands and France. Although the country is relatively small, it has been origin to popular food like French fries, chocolates, ice creams, Brussel sprouts and many others. I was not very impressed with Brussels, but Bruges, the heritage city was worth visiting!
Best time to visit
Spring and Autumn between Mar- May, Sep- Nov are best months to visit. The temperature will be pleasant with minimal rains and snow. The beaches are the best in summer, but hot and humid at the same time
Visa
Schengen visa is valid here
Currency- Euro
Cards are accepted at most places
Getting in and around
Belgium is well connected to Netherlands, Germany, France. Most cities are walkable, with couple of attractions that might require a bus transfer
Places to visit in Belgium
The capital city of Brussels, historic town of Brugges are the most prominent places to visit
Brussels
The capital city, with Grand palace at the city centre forms a UNESCO World Heritage site.
You can see many building facades painted with images of Tintin, the famous cartoon character creating by Georges Remi (pen name Herge) who lived here
The stock exchange building is more than 200 years old, one of the pioneers in creating the financial hub at Belgium
Mannekin pis statue is an overrated fountain about 20 minutes away from the city centre. You can pay a visit if you are curious, but keep your expectations low
Take one of the free walking tours that operate on tips only mode to get an orientation of the city
Atomium is a popular site about 12 km away from city centre. Some spheres are open to visiting, with the top giving a nice view of the city. This is not covered in the walking tour and needs separate transport (bus #88) to reach there as it is quite far away to walk
Brugge/ Bruges
About 90 minutes away from Brussels, with connections every half an hour by train and a must visit town. Taxi within the town can cost €10. De Lijn operates a bus in case you are tired of walking
The city is quite walkable. Grote market, Belfry tower, and city gates have their own character. The architecture is centuries old, and they are collectively a UNESCO World Heritage site. Take a canal tour to experience the inner routes. We suggest staying a night here to experience the yellow-orange lit town beside the river. Avoid places at the town centre for eating out- they are quite expensive. Explore the inner walkways in the town
How much does it cost
- Flights: $700 Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa/Swiss Air, Middle East carriers like Emirates, Etihad are typically the cheapest with best connections
- Accommodation: Hostels cost $20 per night and mid-range can be around $50
- Travelling around: Budget $10-20 per day for public transport
- Food: $10-20 for simple takeaways