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InternationalTravel.ai > Belgium

Belgium

Coastal Beaches

Best Season to Visit: Spring

Best Off-Peak Month to Visit: November

Famous For: Medieval architecture, Belgian beer, Chocolate, World War I history

Train Access: Yes (sncb/nmbs, very safe)

Bus Service: Yes (De Lijn, TEC, STIB/MIVB, relatively safe)

Tourist Visa: EU and US citizens do not require a visa for stays up to 90 days within a 180-day period in Belgium's Schengen zone. Passport validity of at least 3 months beyond departure is required. Non-Schengen citizens should verify specific requirements with Belgian embassy websites.

Belgium spans Flanders in the north, Wallonia in the south, and Brussels as its capital. Travelers visit medieval town squares in Bruges and Ghent, explore the Art Nouveau architecture of Brussels, and walk the World War I battlefields around Ypres. The Ardennes region offers hiking and river valleys. Coastal towns like De Panne and Knokke provide beach access. Belgian cuisine centers on Trappist beers, moules-frites (mussels and fries), waffles from street vendors, and chocolate from artisanal makers. The Meuse River cuts through Wallonia with dramatic limestone cliffs. Visitors cycle through Flanders' flat countryside, visit the Atomium in Brussels, and explore the Spa-Francorchamps racing circuit.

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Podcasts

Episode 8: Jake Barber - The Expat Finance Expert Returns

Jake Barber, the Founder and CEO of SJB Global, is a life-long expat and an expert in expat finance. Over the course of Expat Exchange's nearly 30 years online, there are few people we have met with as much lived experience and professional acumen as Jake. We were thrilled to welcome him back to the show and look forward to having him on again!

Episode 6: Jake Barber - Expat Finance Expert and Lifelong Expat

Jake Barber is an expat finance expert and the founder and principal of SJB Global. A lifelong expat currently living in Marbella, Spain, Jake has vast experience helping expats from the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries manage their finances while living abroad. Get a primer on what you need to know both before and after you move abroad!

Planning Your Trip to Belgium

Weather: Belgium experiences a temperate oceanic climate with mild winters and cool summers. Average temperatures range from 2-7°C (36-45°F) in winter and 15-20°C (59-68°F) in summer. Rainfall is distributed throughout the year, with autumn and winter being slightly wetter periods. The country rarely experiences extreme weather, though occasional storms and frost are common in winter months.

Festivals: Gentse Feesten, Bruges Beer Festival, Tomorrowland, Brussels Summer Festival

Best Destinations for Kids: Pairi Daiza near Brugelette is a major zoo and amusement park combining animal exhibits with rides. Walibi Belgium near Wavre offers roller coasters and water attractions. The Chocolate Line in Bruges and Neuzekes chocolate shops provide interactive tasting experiences.

Hidden Gem: The Meuse Valley in Wallonia, particularly around Dinant and Hastière, features dramatic riverside cliffs, kayaking routes, and medieval castles overlooking the river—far quieter than Bruges yet equally picturesque.

Budget-Friendly Advice: Budget hostels in Bruges and Ghent cost €20-35 per night; mid-range hotels €60-100. Meals at casual restaurants run €12-18 for mains; street waffles and frites €3-6. Regional trains between cities cost €5-15 per journey; the Benelux rail pass covers Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Supermarkets like Carrefour and Delhaize offer affordable groceries. Free attractions include walking medieval town centers and many museums on designated free-entry evenings.

Accessibility: Belgium's cities have uneven accessibility; Bruges and Ghent feature cobblestone streets that challenge wheelchairs, though main tourist routes have some accessible paths. Brussels has better modern infrastructure with accessible metro stations and ramps. Regional trains accommodate mobility devices, but older town centers lack consistent elevator access.

For the Solo Traveler: Belgium is safe for solo travelers; crime rates in major cities are low and public transport is reliable. Solo visitors navigate easily by train between Bruges, Ghent, Brussels, and Antwerp. Flanders' cycling infrastructure allows independent exploration of rural areas. Hostels in Bruges and Brussels have active social scenes. Women travelers report feeling secure in city centers, though standard urban awareness applies in evening hours.

Planning a 1 Week Stay: Start in Brussels for 2 days exploring the Grand Place, Atomium, and Art Nouveau districts. Spend 2 days in Bruges cycling to nearby villages and visiting Sint-Baafskathedraal. Add 2 days in Ghent for canals and Sint-Baafskathedraal. End with 1 day in Ypres touring World War I memorials and the Menin Gate ceremony.

Planning a 1 Month Stay: Dedicate the first week to Brussels, Bruges, and Ghent as above. Week two: explore Antwerp's diamond district and fashion museums, then cycle through Flanders' countryside to smaller towns like Damme. Week three: venture into Wallonia—Liège for its Citadel and museums, then the Ardennes for hiking around Spa and kayaking the Meuse Valley near Dinant. Week four: return north to the coast at De Panne or Knokke, revisit favorite cities, and explore lesser-known areas like Tournai's Romanesque cathe

Delving into the Culture

Movies Set: In Bruges, A Dog of Flanders, The Fifth Estate

Popular Foods: Belgian cuisine is known for its rich and hearty dishes. Some of the most popular foods include moules-frites (mussels served with fries), carbonnade flamande (a sweet-sour beef and onion stew made with beer), and Belgian waffles, which come in a variety of styles such as the Liege waffle and the Brussels waffle. For desserts, chocolates and pralines from Belgium are renowned worldwide.

Unusual Eats: One of the more unusual Belgian specialties is tête pressée, a cold cut made from brawn, or head cheese, which is a jellied loaf made from the head of a calf or pig. Another is paling in 't groen, a dish of eels in a green herb sauce, which might be off-putting to some visitors due to its appearance and the idea of eating eels.

Popular Sports: football, cycling, tennis, field hockey

Popular Teams: R.S.C. Anderlecht (football), Club Brugge KV (football), Standard Liège (football)

Cultural Faux Pas to Avoid: When greeting, Belgians usually expect a brief handshake or, among friends, cheek kisses, which can vary in number depending on the region. It's important to wait for a Belgian to initiate this form of greeting. Also, punctuality is highly valued in Belgium, so being late can be seen as a sign of disrespect. Lastly, it's considered impolite to speak loudly in public places, as Belgians generally value modesty and discretion.