Belgium is one of Europe's most underrated travel destinations. A small country with an extraordinary density of medieval architecture, world-class art, and the finest food and drink culture on the continent, it rewards visitors who look beyond the tourist trail. From the fairy-tale canals of Bruges to the vibrant street art of Brussels and the medieval towers of Ghent, here's the best of Belgium.
Best Things to Do in Brussels
Grand Place — One of the most beautiful squares in Europe, the Grand Place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site surrounded by ornate 17th-century guild houses and the Gothic Town Hall. The square is spectacular at any time of day, but particularly magical when illuminated at night. Every two years in August, the square is carpeted with a 75m x 24m flower carpet of begonias — one of the most extraordinary temporary artworks in the world.
Manneken Pis — Brussels' most famous (and most irreverent) landmark — a small bronze statue of a boy urinating into a fountain. The statue is dressed in elaborate costumes on special occasions (over 1,000 outfits in the wardrobe). Smaller than you expect, but impossible not to smile at.
Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts — Belgium's national art museum, with one of the finest collections of Flemish and Belgian art in the world. Bruegel the Elder, Rubens, Van Dyck, and the Surrealists (Magritte Museum is next door) are the highlights.
Atomium — A 102-metre structure built for the 1958 World's Fair, representing an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. The views from the top sphere are excellent and the interior is a fascinating time capsule of 1950s optimism.
Belgian chocolate and waffles — Brussels has more chocolate shops per square kilometre than anywhere else in the world. Neuhaus, Godiva, Leonidas, and Pierre Marcolini are the famous names. The Brussels waffle (lighter and crispier than the Liège waffle) is best eaten fresh from a street stall.
Best Things to Do in Bruges
Bruges is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe — a UNESCO World Heritage Site of canals, cobbled streets, and Gothic architecture that has changed remarkably little since the 15th century.
Canal boat tour — The classic Bruges experience. Boat tours depart from five landing stages around the city and give a unique perspective on the medieval architecture from the water. 30 minutes, runs year-round.
Belfry (Belfort) — The 83-metre medieval bell tower that dominates the Markt square. 366 steps to the top, but the views over the city and the surrounding Flemish countryside are worth every one.
Groeningemuseum — One of the finest collections of Flemish Primitive and Early Netherlandish painting in the world, including Jan van Eyck's Madonna with Canon van der Paele and Hans Memling's masterpieces.
Bruges beer — Bruges has several excellent local breweries. The Halve Maan (Half Moon) brewery in the city centre offers tours and tastings. Their Brugse Zot and Straffe Hendrik beers are excellent.
Best Things to Do in Ghent
Ghent is Belgium's most underrated city — a medieval university town with a vibrant cultural scene, excellent restaurants, and a beautiful historic centre that is less touristy than Bruges.
Gravensteen Castle — A 12th-century moated castle in the heart of the city, one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Belgium. The views from the battlements over the city are excellent.
Ghent Altarpiece (The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb) — Jan van Eyck's 1432 masterpiece, displayed in St Bavo's Cathedral, is one of the most important paintings in the history of Western art. Recently restored to its original brilliance.
Graslei and Korenlei — The two medieval guild quays facing each other across the Leie river, lined with beautifully preserved 12th–17th century buildings. The most photogenic spot in Ghent.
Belgian Beer Culture
Belgium produces over 1,500 different beers — more varieties per capita than any other country in the world. Belgian beer culture is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The main styles: Trappist ales (brewed by monks — Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, Westvleteren), Lambic and Gueuze (spontaneously fermented, sour), Saison (farmhouse ale), Witbier (wheat beer — Hoegaarden), and strong golden ales (Duvel, Delirium Tremens).
The best places to explore Belgian beer: Delirium Café in Brussels (over 2,000 beers on the menu), Bruges' Halve Maan brewery, and the specialist beer bars of Ghent.
