around 6:00 pm. Below, you can find a link to a detailed guide for your visit. The benefits that come from being tumbler-sized speak for itself: shorter travel periods, cheaper travel fares, and more time to visit the places that are required viewing. LEARN MORE: Best Things to Do in Antwerp & Antwerp Hidden Gems. Belgium is a small country thats often overlooked on a trip to Europe. Yes! :) There are so many other similar beers (also made by Trappist monks of other abbeys all over Belgium) that you can easily get in shops and bars, and they are just as special. Here are the main things to do in Bruges for first-time visitors: Have dinner in one of the many restaurants in Bruges and head back to the canals. Theres a longstanding stigma that Belgium has worn for years: that it is boring. And so we conclude on the fact that no, Belgium is not boring and yes, you should stop by on your European travels. Its not necessarily horrible, but very aloof. If you only have three or four days in Belgium, then this itinerary is all you need. We are all hopeful that life gets back to somewhat normal by late spring, but nobody really knows how it will turn out to be. Belgian cuisine is best known for mussels, fries, (frites) From Brussels you can reach Ghent in under one hour and Bruges in just over one hour, with bigger cities like Antwerp also only an hour away from the capital. Perhaps a trait borrowed from their influential southern neighbors, Belgians like to eat well, and they dont mind putting in the effort and time. I dont advise dining here as the restaurants are real tourist traps, but this street has such a unique atmosphere that no visit to Brussels would be complete without passing by here. So if you are short on time, you can visit Ghent and Bruges on the same day. In addition to this, other European destinations are also easy to reach. Below are my suggestions for the main places you have to see in Antwerp. From what I understand, there is also one (just 1) caf that is officially allowed to sell Westvleteren beer and that's caf 'In de Vrede', which is also located just near the abbey. One more tip: dont skip out on either the ketchup or the mayonnaise. The food in Belgium is also But as a foreigner, you would have to reserve in advance and drive there to pick it up yourself (really hard to time this, not to mention that they also need your car number plate in advance - not easy if you have a rental..). In my view, Antwerp is as good a place to base yourself for exploring Belgium as Brussels. Even if you are visiting Belgium for just one or two days, you will be able to plan your trip using our tips below.
It is picturesque, charming and impossibly quaint making it my favourite town in all of Belgium. Sandwiched between Germany and France and modest in size as well as in its peoples personality, Belgium is often treated by the backpacker as European crossover country. If you want HONEST Travel Advice from travelers who have been there, this is the Travel site for you. usually at a fast pace trying to cram a lot in. All the while, forward-striving spaces such as art laboratory Wiels and the new MIMA focusing on what it calls Culture 2.0 keep challenging the art worlds status quo, injecting the citys veins with youthful impulses that have become part of the ground current. We now visited Ypres and the WWI battlefieldsseveral times, with our kids, and its an experience I would recommend to everyone. Belgium is the perfect chance to stop, relax, and let life pass you by. Here are some frequently asked questions that our readers ask about visiting Belgium: As a minimum, we recommend 3-4 days in Belgium.
might surprise yourself and find one that you like. Combination tickets are available for both attractions.
Even today, Belgium has more comic book artists per square kilometre than any other country in the world. While an expansive gallery landscape has long bloomed in the Belgian capital, international artists have recently taken to adopting the city as a convenient pied--terre, centrally located and less frantic than say Paris or London. Belgium can be an expensive destination. My husband and I are going to Belgium for our 40th anniversary in August 2020! Dont miss Brussels, the canals of Bruges, Antwerp city center, and charming Ghent. Be sure to make it a quick stop in Brussels, as the best of Belgium is arguably outside of the capital a short train journey into the countryside (Brugge and Ghent) or further on towards Antwerp. If, however, you are coming from outside of Europe, I wouldn't count on it yet. This walk follows a route that will take you along buildings that are covered in large murals of comic scenes. Find me on: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook. However, only a very small percentage of tourists actually stay in Bruges, so in the evening the city is completely deserted, and you can have the whole place to yourselves. The country is technically split in two with the Dutch-speaking Flemish in the North and the French-speaking Wallonians in the South. Although surrealism was born in Paris, Belgium was the first country outside of France to establish a surrealism scene. I might like it even more than my own , Ooh Im happy to hear that I dont know why either, maybe because its so small , Im happy to hear that! Also Belgian food is worth a trip in itself. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. time. Thanks in advance.
Read on! We will make day trips to Ghent, Ypres, and maybe Dunkirk. I have since been asked the very same question by other travellers wanting to know if I enjoyed Belgium, what I did when I was there, and would I go back again? My personal favourites are Corsendonk, La Chouffe and Kriek Lindemans but itd be impossible to try them all or it would take quite some time.
, Im using this for a project but i might jusy have to visit belgium myself. From fairytale-like towns to historic battlefields and a huge number of beers: here are 10 good reasons to cast prejudice aside and visit Belgium on your next European trip. When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. Five Things You Will Love & Hate About Visiting Belgium. In my opinion, one day is plenty of time in order to see the main highlights of Brussels. Its easy and doesnt take too long to get from one place to another. Here are the main places not to miss when visiting the WWI battlefields: LEARN MORE: Ypres and the WWI Battlefields. As its bursting with diversity and culture, heres why many other travelers should be singing the pint-sized lands praises. And can you recommend a restaurant in Bruges for our anniversary? Places like the Langemark Cemetery and the Passchendaele New British Cemetery can also be visited, and there are some interesting museums throughout the country too. The fries are served with mayonnaise and sometimes Although these might be available throughout Europe and the rest of the world, the place where they taste the best is Belgium. The beer and the food in Belgium are As for a restaurant in Bruges, best ask at your hotel. A drawing of a pipe is not a pipe, and a Brussels home should be light and airy, filled with mosaics, elegant curves, and decorative cast-ironBrusselaars Ren Magritte and Victor Horta have left an indelible mark on the Belgian capital. They normally only sell to individuals and nowadays you can also order one crate to get it delivered at home in Belgium. Belgium! The train between the two towns only takes 35 minutes.
Now let me say this once and once only (if even just for effect), but you will not for the life of you find better fries in the world than those you will eat in Belgium. before downing several in a row, thinking its the same as the beer you drink glass pipe christmas drain yard pipes sink vaporizer use drug vicks sarah which rasta marijuana mainstream spoon machines where You can find, If you have some time left, you could visit one of the breweries . Hi, and thanks for stopping by! accommodation deal in Brussels, Bruges, Ghent or Antwerp and see all the cities relatively small country, so you can get from town to town in a very short time Indeed, when considering Belgium for the first time on my travels (it was strategically between France and the Netherlands by train), I thought to myselfWhat is even in Belgium! There are many reasons to visit Belgium, these are just our favourites. Belgium. Since I know that many people dont have a lot of time to explore Belgium deeper, here are my very best recommendations for a short first trip to Belgium. Alternatively, check here on the Visit Bruges website - they have quite some suggestions for really special restaurants. :) We are spending the first 5 nights in Bruges, and the last 2 in Brussels and will have a car. Bruges is a fairytale-like place, but its difficult to truly appreciate it if you have to squeeze your way through the crowds. You could also consider visiting the French-speaking part of Belgium with beautiful places like Namur, Dinant, Durbuy, etc. You can get to Amsterdam, Paris or London by train in just 2 to 3 hours.
a few quiet hours before dinner crowds start to head out for the evening. It is so easy to travel around Belgium. Yes, theyre even more likely to be triple fried. I highly recommend taking a WWI tour of Belgium, In summer, Belgium hosts lots of festivals and events. really good. The Belgian beer culture was even inscribed on UNESCOs intangible cultural heritage list. Just a short 20 minute train ride back towards Brussels is the equally gorgeous town of Ghent a popular student city with an incredible amount of charm (pictured above). Check out these other blog posts: Five Things You Will Love & Hate About Ghent Belgium, Five Things You Will Love & Hate in Catalunya Spain. I asked myself and others the question a few years ago, is Belgium boring?, before finally deciding to travel there to see for myself. Below, you can find a link to our more detailed guide to the best things to do in Antwerp, including a suggested city walk with the map. Im Jurga, a traveler with a camera, a mom of three boys, and the founder of Full Suitcase, one of the world's leading family travel blogs. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. But it's even more important when exactly and where you are coming from.
I don't mind making the drive to the Sixtus monastery butsince I can't just drive up to the monastery and pick up a six pack, I was hoping that it's possible to walk into a pub or store and acquire a few bottle there. But, of course, you have to figure out for yourself if it's worth it just for the experience to say that you've tasted it Good luck! READ ALSO: Fun & Interesting Facts About Belgium. 26 Surprising Facts, 12 Epic Hikes in Belgium (Castles, Viewpoints & Historical Walks). Thanks so much and happy travels! the Grand Place with gilded buildings in every direction. Today, we visit Belgium! Here are the main places not to be missed in Ghent: Have lunch in Ghent, then head back to the Dampoort Railway Station and take a train to Bruges. Rules for European Train Travel. So do contemporary projects like Ugly Belgian Houses (Because most Belgian houses suck) and the 2016 film King of the Belgians, a mockumentary digging into the Flemish-Walloon divide with relish.
Why do you love Belgium?
Its said that Belgium has more castles per capita than France! The town of Bruges is undeniably the biggest tourist drawcard in Belgium. So much depends on the numbers (which are not good in Europe at the moment). TIP: if you are planning to visit the WWI battlefields (see below), then its best to stay in Bruges to avoid driving up and down too much. But you can, of course, stay in a different town every day as well. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The If you want to visit museums (Musical Instruments Museum is my favorite and there are so many more) and less centrally located areas you will, of course, need more time. Enjoy your trip! find the prices in Belgium to be about 20-25% more expensive than equivalent
Read: 12 Epic Hikes in Belgium (Castles, Viewpoints & Historical Walks). I'm from the U.S. by the way and I'll have to check but I believe the U.S. is no longer on the EU's "safe countries" list. All this prompted me to pen this article, on the 12 reasons to visit Belgium because yes, you absolutely should! Taking a taxi is also ok, depending on where you have to be, but it costs multiple times more than a train and usually takes much longer because of all the traffic jams. However, in recent years, we often have very long periods with no rain at all. have fantastic architecture, public squares, and people-watching. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. on the train lines in Belgium. Theres a reason the esteemed Independent art fair ventured outside its New York home for a first edition abroad in 2016 and selected Brussels to plant its European roots. They'll know the best spots. Belgium is a small country with great train connections throughout the country. If youre asking me, Belgium is not boring! Especially since its so easy to access and sandwiched between some other nice destinations. Luxembourg is also just a 2,5 hours drive from Brussels and there are lots of beautiful places to visit near Luxembourg.
In all honesty, I just don't understand all the fuss around it. A bit hidden out of sight, the sister of the Manneken Pis Jeanneke Pis can be found in a small alley next to the Rue des Bouchers. Within the towns, I wont name them all, as the list would be too long, but some of the castles I think are definitely worth a visit are: Bouillon, Gravensteen, Vves, and Montaigle if youd like to visit some ruins. It's not the best way to get to the city as it takes a long time, so I'd only recommend it if your hotel is close to the airport. Instead of starched white tablecloths, relaxed dcors in repurposed industrial spaces have become the norm, with sustainable ingredients and homegrown vegetables as the real stars. This, in addition to being a bit boring means you can actually relax in Bruges is lined with canals, Ghent is full of amazing architecture. Yes, red tape, atrocious city planning and a jumble of governments are actual Belgian annoyances, but what better way to face up to your flaws than with a bit of humor. We cant find a country that matches your search. Make sure to try both Brussels and Liege waffles, you wont be disappointed! Here you can find our selection of the best Christmas markets in Belgium. If you are used to whirlwind
From today on, we don't even need face masks at the restaurants and shops anymore here in Flanders, and everything is now open as usual. 
It is picturesque, charming and impossibly quaint making it my favourite town in all of Belgium. Sandwiched between Germany and France and modest in size as well as in its peoples personality, Belgium is often treated by the backpacker as European crossover country. If you want HONEST Travel Advice from travelers who have been there, this is the Travel site for you. usually at a fast pace trying to cram a lot in. All the while, forward-striving spaces such as art laboratory Wiels and the new MIMA focusing on what it calls Culture 2.0 keep challenging the art worlds status quo, injecting the citys veins with youthful impulses that have become part of the ground current. We now visited Ypres and the WWI battlefieldsseveral times, with our kids, and its an experience I would recommend to everyone. Belgium is the perfect chance to stop, relax, and let life pass you by. Here are some frequently asked questions that our readers ask about visiting Belgium: As a minimum, we recommend 3-4 days in Belgium.
might surprise yourself and find one that you like. Combination tickets are available for both attractions.
Even today, Belgium has more comic book artists per square kilometre than any other country in the world. While an expansive gallery landscape has long bloomed in the Belgian capital, international artists have recently taken to adopting the city as a convenient pied--terre, centrally located and less frantic than say Paris or London. Belgium can be an expensive destination. My husband and I are going to Belgium for our 40th anniversary in August 2020! Dont miss Brussels, the canals of Bruges, Antwerp city center, and charming Ghent. Be sure to make it a quick stop in Brussels, as the best of Belgium is arguably outside of the capital a short train journey into the countryside (Brugge and Ghent) or further on towards Antwerp. If, however, you are coming from outside of Europe, I wouldn't count on it yet. This walk follows a route that will take you along buildings that are covered in large murals of comic scenes. Find me on: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook. However, only a very small percentage of tourists actually stay in Bruges, so in the evening the city is completely deserted, and you can have the whole place to yourselves. The country is technically split in two with the Dutch-speaking Flemish in the North and the French-speaking Wallonians in the South. Although surrealism was born in Paris, Belgium was the first country outside of France to establish a surrealism scene. I might like it even more than my own , Ooh Im happy to hear that I dont know why either, maybe because its so small , Im happy to hear that! Also Belgian food is worth a trip in itself. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. time. Thanks in advance.
Read on! We will make day trips to Ghent, Ypres, and maybe Dunkirk. I have since been asked the very same question by other travellers wanting to know if I enjoyed Belgium, what I did when I was there, and would I go back again? My personal favourites are Corsendonk, La Chouffe and Kriek Lindemans but itd be impossible to try them all or it would take quite some time.
, Im using this for a project but i might jusy have to visit belgium myself. From fairytale-like towns to historic battlefields and a huge number of beers: here are 10 good reasons to cast prejudice aside and visit Belgium on your next European trip. When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. Five Things You Will Love & Hate About Visiting Belgium. In my opinion, one day is plenty of time in order to see the main highlights of Brussels. Its easy and doesnt take too long to get from one place to another. Here are the main places not to miss when visiting the WWI battlefields: LEARN MORE: Ypres and the WWI Battlefields. As its bursting with diversity and culture, heres why many other travelers should be singing the pint-sized lands praises. And can you recommend a restaurant in Bruges for our anniversary? Places like the Langemark Cemetery and the Passchendaele New British Cemetery can also be visited, and there are some interesting museums throughout the country too. The fries are served with mayonnaise and sometimes Although these might be available throughout Europe and the rest of the world, the place where they taste the best is Belgium. The beer and the food in Belgium are As for a restaurant in Bruges, best ask at your hotel. A drawing of a pipe is not a pipe, and a Brussels home should be light and airy, filled with mosaics, elegant curves, and decorative cast-ironBrusselaars Ren Magritte and Victor Horta have left an indelible mark on the Belgian capital. They normally only sell to individuals and nowadays you can also order one crate to get it delivered at home in Belgium. Belgium! The train between the two towns only takes 35 minutes.
Now let me say this once and once only (if even just for effect), but you will not for the life of you find better fries in the world than those you will eat in Belgium. before downing several in a row, thinking its the same as the beer you drink glass pipe christmas drain yard pipes sink vaporizer use drug vicks sarah which rasta marijuana mainstream spoon machines where You can find, If you have some time left, you could visit one of the breweries . Hi, and thanks for stopping by! accommodation deal in Brussels, Bruges, Ghent or Antwerp and see all the cities relatively small country, so you can get from town to town in a very short time Indeed, when considering Belgium for the first time on my travels (it was strategically between France and the Netherlands by train), I thought to myselfWhat is even in Belgium! There are many reasons to visit Belgium, these are just our favourites. Belgium. Since I know that many people dont have a lot of time to explore Belgium deeper, here are my very best recommendations for a short first trip to Belgium. Alternatively, check here on the Visit Bruges website - they have quite some suggestions for really special restaurants. :) We are spending the first 5 nights in Bruges, and the last 2 in Brussels and will have a car. Bruges is a fairytale-like place, but its difficult to truly appreciate it if you have to squeeze your way through the crowds. You could also consider visiting the French-speaking part of Belgium with beautiful places like Namur, Dinant, Durbuy, etc. You can get to Amsterdam, Paris or London by train in just 2 to 3 hours. a few quiet hours before dinner crowds start to head out for the evening. It is so easy to travel around Belgium. Yes, theyre even more likely to be triple fried. I highly recommend taking a WWI tour of Belgium, In summer, Belgium hosts lots of festivals and events. really good. The Belgian beer culture was even inscribed on UNESCOs intangible cultural heritage list. Just a short 20 minute train ride back towards Brussels is the equally gorgeous town of Ghent a popular student city with an incredible amount of charm (pictured above). Check out these other blog posts: Five Things You Will Love & Hate About Ghent Belgium, Five Things You Will Love & Hate in Catalunya Spain. I asked myself and others the question a few years ago, is Belgium boring?, before finally deciding to travel there to see for myself. Below, you can find a link to our more detailed guide to the best things to do in Antwerp, including a suggested city walk with the map. Im Jurga, a traveler with a camera, a mom of three boys, and the founder of Full Suitcase, one of the world's leading family travel blogs. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. But it's even more important when exactly and where you are coming from.
I don't mind making the drive to the Sixtus monastery butsince I can't just drive up to the monastery and pick up a six pack, I was hoping that it's possible to walk into a pub or store and acquire a few bottle there. But, of course, you have to figure out for yourself if it's worth it just for the experience to say that you've tasted it Good luck! READ ALSO: Fun & Interesting Facts About Belgium. 26 Surprising Facts, 12 Epic Hikes in Belgium (Castles, Viewpoints & Historical Walks). Thanks so much and happy travels! the Grand Place with gilded buildings in every direction. Today, we visit Belgium! Here are the main places not to be missed in Ghent: Have lunch in Ghent, then head back to the Dampoort Railway Station and take a train to Bruges. Rules for European Train Travel. So do contemporary projects like Ugly Belgian Houses (Because most Belgian houses suck) and the 2016 film King of the Belgians, a mockumentary digging into the Flemish-Walloon divide with relish.
Why do you love Belgium?
Its said that Belgium has more castles per capita than France! The town of Bruges is undeniably the biggest tourist drawcard in Belgium. So much depends on the numbers (which are not good in Europe at the moment). TIP: if you are planning to visit the WWI battlefields (see below), then its best to stay in Bruges to avoid driving up and down too much. But you can, of course, stay in a different town every day as well. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The If you want to visit museums (Musical Instruments Museum is my favorite and there are so many more) and less centrally located areas you will, of course, need more time. Enjoy your trip! find the prices in Belgium to be about 20-25% more expensive than equivalent
Read: 12 Epic Hikes in Belgium (Castles, Viewpoints & Historical Walks). I'm from the U.S. by the way and I'll have to check but I believe the U.S. is no longer on the EU's "safe countries" list. All this prompted me to pen this article, on the 12 reasons to visit Belgium because yes, you absolutely should! Taking a taxi is also ok, depending on where you have to be, but it costs multiple times more than a train and usually takes much longer because of all the traffic jams. However, in recent years, we often have very long periods with no rain at all. have fantastic architecture, public squares, and people-watching. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. on the train lines in Belgium. Theres a reason the esteemed Independent art fair ventured outside its New York home for a first edition abroad in 2016 and selected Brussels to plant its European roots. They'll know the best spots. Belgium is a small country with great train connections throughout the country. If youre asking me, Belgium is not boring! Especially since its so easy to access and sandwiched between some other nice destinations. Luxembourg is also just a 2,5 hours drive from Brussels and there are lots of beautiful places to visit near Luxembourg.
In all honesty, I just don't understand all the fuss around it. A bit hidden out of sight, the sister of the Manneken Pis Jeanneke Pis can be found in a small alley next to the Rue des Bouchers. Within the towns, I wont name them all, as the list would be too long, but some of the castles I think are definitely worth a visit are: Bouillon, Gravensteen, Vves, and Montaigle if youd like to visit some ruins. It's not the best way to get to the city as it takes a long time, so I'd only recommend it if your hotel is close to the airport. Instead of starched white tablecloths, relaxed dcors in repurposed industrial spaces have become the norm, with sustainable ingredients and homegrown vegetables as the real stars. This, in addition to being a bit boring means you can actually relax in Bruges is lined with canals, Ghent is full of amazing architecture. Yes, red tape, atrocious city planning and a jumble of governments are actual Belgian annoyances, but what better way to face up to your flaws than with a bit of humor. We cant find a country that matches your search. Make sure to try both Brussels and Liege waffles, you wont be disappointed! Here you can find our selection of the best Christmas markets in Belgium. If you are used to whirlwind
From today on, we don't even need face masks at the restaurants and shops anymore here in Flanders, and everything is now open as usual.