Last Updated on Ninth March 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
Belgium is an underrated nation in western Europe that usually misses out on a lot of the press it deserves in lieu of extra wanted locations corresponding to France and the Netherlands. However, should you take the time to discover Belgium, you’ll discover that there’s far more to the nation than meets the attention. Here’s the right 3 or 4 days in Belgium itinerary you’ll wish to comply with in your subsequent European journey.
What is Belgium recognized for?
Belgium might be most well-known for a mouthwatering collection of candy and savoury meals, together with waffles (there are a number of completely different varieties), Belgian beer, goodies, and fries. For extra Belgium inspiration, make sure you try these prime information about Belgium and the 10+ best-kept secrets and techniques of Belgium.
Getting round Belgium
Unless you’re planning to go to extra off the crushed path areas, you possibly can simply get round Belgium through the use of public transportation, and extra particularly, the practice. Train hyperlinks are quick, simple, and handy.
Just make sure you validate your ticket earlier than boarding a practice as in any other case your ticket won’t be seen as legitimate and you would face a high quality. Be conscious of your belongings, particularly on extra touristy routes as pickpockets are not any unusual.
Is 3 days sufficient time to go to Belgium?
I’d personally say that 3 or 4 days is sufficient time to get an summary of Belgium, pattern a few of the native delicacies, and see a number of of the foremost cities, together with their main points of interest.
If you wish to get to know Belgium on a deeper stage, nonetheless, and maybe see a few of the extra off the crushed path areas, together with the countryside and some castles, you’ll wish to put aside round every week’s price of time.
Suggested Belgium Itinerary
Day 1: Antwerp
Antwerp is a pleasant port metropolis that additionally occurs to be the second largest metropolis in Belgium and is the place the painter Rubens spent most of his life. Located within the north of the nation, not removed from the border with the Netherlands, many of the metropolis’s important points of interest are centred across the outdated city.
If you’re arriving in Antwerp by practice, your first introduction to the city will probably be within the type of the gorgeous practice station, Antwerpen Centraal, which is usually mentioned to be probably the most lovely on the planet. You’ll then wish to spend a number of hours discovering the centre, which is round a half hour stroll from the station.
One of probably the most iconic websites to find is Grote Markt, which is the principle city sq.. Close by, you possibly can head to the vacationer workplace to choose up a vacationer map of the town that can assist you get round for the remainder of the day. Then, try the cathedral.
Located within the very coronary heart of the town, near the Grote Markt, this ecclesiastical constructing was consecrated within the Sixteenth-century. Though just one tower exists at the moment, the unique plans for the cathedral included two towers of equal peak.
There’s an enormous variety of dishes you possibly can bask in for lunch, although we personally opted for quick meals for lunch in order to not waste an excessive amount of time the place we might have been exploring the town. If there’s one meals it’s best to attempt when in Beligum (if solely only one fry to say you’ve sampled the native delicacies!) it’s the fries.
The chips at Frituur n°1 are quick to get and so good that we ended up going twice! You can simply discover someplace close by to take a seat and munch in your fast-food. When ordering, make sure you get the Fritessaus- you received’t remorse it!
After lunch, you’ll wish to head to the Plantin-Moretus Museum. Part artwork museum, half historical past of the printing press, this sprawling complicated of buildings simply wants 2-3 hours to totally discover and particulars the historical past of printing.
Then, should you’re a fan of Rubens, you’ll wish to try the Rubenshuis earlier than testing a few of the extra hidden gems of Antwerp. Finally, finish your day of exploration by heading to Het Elfde Gebod.
Lying within the shadows of Antwerp’s Cathedral, the bar’s title is kind of actually translated into English because the ’Eleventh Commandment’. Once inside, you’ll quickly uncover an array of pulpits, church murals, angels and extra.
Day 2: Bruges & Ghent
Spend the morning in Bruges adopted by a day in Ghent. Ideally, you’d spend someday in every metropolis, however should you’re quick on time then half a day is enough for every vacation spot. I’d personally begin my morning in Bruges by heading to the Quay of the Rosary.
This is without doubt one of the most iconic viewpoints in Bruges and gives you a good suggestion of what to anticipate for the remainder of the morning. You’ll then wish to go to the Basilica of the Holy Blood, which is probably the most well-known church on the town.
The ecclesiastical constructing itself was constructed within the Twelfth-century and is now thought-about to be one of many most interesting examples of Gothic structure within the metropolis. In a metropolis the place virtually every part will price you a good bit, it’s price noting that the Basilica itself is free to enter!
Afterwards, think about climbing the Belfry the place you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the town should you climb the 366 steps to the highest. You’ll then wish to spend an hour or two wandering the city earlier than grabbing some lunch (listed here are a few of the finest hidden gems of Bruges).
In phrases of lunch, I personally liked visiting That’s Toast, which has an out of doors terrace and loads of vegetarian choices. If you’re on the lookout for a extra conventional Belgian meal, then you would try Belgian Pigeon House pub.
I don’t suggest occurring a canal cruise of Bruges as you are able to do one in Ghent, a metropolis which tends to be considerably much less crowded. After a reasonably fast tour of Bruges, head again to the practice station so as to hop on a practice to Ghent.
The journey between Bruges and Ghent takes round 24 minutes so that you received’t have lengthy to take a seat down earlier than heading out of the practice to spend a day exploring Ghent. Once in Ghent, begin by heading to St Bavo’s Cathedral.
This Twelfth-century masterpiece showcases the Adoration of the Lamb (additionally referred to as the Ghent Altarpiece), a Fifteenth-century polyptych altarpiece that’s broadly regarded to be probably the most spectacular artworks from the Middle Ages.
Afterwards, you’ll wish to head to the town centre, the place you possibly can stroll round, be taught concerning the story of the little noses, and see highlights corresponding to St Peter’s Bridge and the Patershol neighbourhood.
Next, you’ll wish to go on a canal cruise. These boat excursions gives you a larger perception into the historical past of Bruges and Belgium and take slightly below an hour. Check out extra particulars right here. Finish your time in Ghent by heading to Pub de Dulle Griet.
If you’re on the lookout for probably the most uncommon issues to do in Ghent, it must be ordering the proef onze max van het huis (‘max of the house’ home beer). After all, even the very fact of ordering the drink is a singular expertise in of itself.
Not solely will you quickly uncover that the form of the glass is most uncommon (and comes with its personal little wood stand), however that as a way to be given your tipple, you’ll want at hand over a shoe, which is then hung over the bar in a little bit metallic cage! The bar is money solely. Proost!
Day 3: Brussels
Of course, you possibly can’t spend a number of days in Belgium with out additionally testing its capital metropolis, Brussels, if just for a day. The metropolis is house to the EU Parliament and boasts one of many finest Christmas Markets in Europe.
Begin your someday in Brussels by spying Manneken Pis, considered one of a handful of weeing statues within the Belgian capital (sure, you learn that appropriately!) Then, stroll only a few minutes to achieve Grand Place.
This imposing city sq. is usually mentioned to be probably the most lovely on the planet and highlights embody the town’s city corridor, the Baroque guildhalls of the previous Guilds of Brussels, and the previous King’s House, which now operates as a museum.
After visiting the Grand Place, it’s best to head to the close by Royal Passages, that are full of chocolate outlets, boutiques, and even a bookshop (Tropismes) the place you should purchase books about Brussels.
For those that take pleasure in discovering a metropolis from a chook’s eye perspective, a hike as much as the Mont des Arts district of the town is an absolute should. The stroll from the town centre takes round ten minutes and you’ll admire the view earlier than heading to the close by cathedral.
Brussels Cathedral dates all the best way again the Ninth-century, when a chapel to St Michael seemingly existed on web site. The church you see at the moment was constructed between the Eleventh and 15h-centuries, with the dual towers on the entrance façade having been constructed in 1485. For a nominal price, you can even pay to go to the crypt, which is without doubt one of the lesser-known gems of Brussels.
Skip lunch and go on a meals tour as an alternative. If you would like to pattern each candy and savoury snacks and be taught extra about Belgian meals over the course of a single tour, you then would possibly think about reserving a Private Food Tour with 10 Tastings.
If you occur to be visiting Brussels in the course of the summer time, then you possibly can pay to go to the Royal Palace of Brussels without spending a dime. End your day the correct method by attending to know all about Belgian beers.
The two most well-known kinds of beers from Belgium are the Trappist beers and the Abbey beers. Trappist beers are significantly distinctive in that they’ll solely be referred to as such if they’re brewed in Trappist monasteries.
Day 4 (and day 5 should you do each choices): Leuven & Mechelen or Dinant & Namur
The final day of this itinerary is elective and is for individuals who have a little bit extra time to spare and want to enterprise a little bit off the crushed path.
There are literally two choices for this last day and it relies upon totally on what you’re after out of your Belgium journey. If you could have two days remaining, then you possibly can spend a day in Leuven and Mechlen and a day in Namur and Dinant.
The first possibility is to hold on exploring Flemish Belgium and head to Leuven, a pleasant college metropolis with a lot of hidden gems, a mouthwatering beer scene, and an astonishing variety of lovely buildings. The different possibility is to go to Wallonia, which is throughout the French talking a part of Belgium.
Leuven is a bit off the crushed path however boasts a treasure trove of points of interest price exploring with out the identical variety of crowds as cities like Ghent and Bruges. Start your day by heading to the Grote Markt, the principle city sq..
This can also be the place you possibly can see the Gothic city corridor. Nearby, St Peter’s Church is a must-see, as are the stunning cobbled lanes of central Leuven. After strolling the streets, you possibly can head to the Leuven Botanical Garden.
Founded as early as 1738, the gardens had been based by the University of Leuven, earlier than Belgium was its personal impartial nation. Thought to be based with the intention of rising herbs for use in a medicinal method (certainly ‘Kruidtuin’ actually means ‘herb garden’), the backyard was then remodeled for use to develop decorative crops and shrubs for college research.
You can then have lunch at one of many many cafés on the town. One of the best locations to go to is Oude Markt (Old Market), which is usually dubbed the ‘longest bar in the world’ because of the very fact it has so many bars subsequent to at least one one other.
After lunch, head to the beguinages of Leuven. UNESCO world heritage listed and simply one of many finest issues to do in Leuven, the grand beguinage of the town is without doubt one of the largest in Belgium.
Comprising of an area that covers a formidable 3 hectares in measurement, the Groot Begijnhof is well one of many largest beguinages of Belgium and the Netherlands. Afterwards, you possibly can head to the smaller beguinage, which is without doubt one of the finest hidden gems of Leuven.
If you’re a beer lover, spend the remainder of the afternoon testing one of many metropolis’s many breweries. Stella Artois is definitely brewed near Leuven, and it’s attainable to go to the brewery each Saturday.
Those who would like to see one other city as an alternative of sampling much more Belgian beer can hop on a fast practice of beneath half an hour to achieve Mechelen. The city isn’t large so that you don’t want quite a lot of hours to see the entire main points of interest.
Some of the highest issues to do in Mechelen embody the Kruidtuin botanical gardens (that are free to go to), and strolling alongside the image excellent boardwalk, Dijlepad. If you’re on the lookout for an awesome place to seize a espresso, head to Noen.
Dinant is an enthralling city that’s characterised by its pastel hued buildings and is pretty compact, which means you can see all that the city has to supply over the area of a half day.
There are sadly no direct trains between Brussels and Dinant so that you’ll have to modify trains at Namur. What this does imply is that it’s the right alternative to see each Dinant and Namur in a day, and also you’ll cease off at Namur in your method again from Dinant.
Begin your go to to Dinant by testing the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame de Dinant. This beautiful Gothic church that dates again to the thirteenth century and boasts intricate stonework, in addition to lovely stained glass home windows.
Next, take a stroll alongside the Meuse River, which flows by way of the town and wandering alongside it affords attention-grabbing vantage factors of the city. Beer lovers shouldn’t miss Maison Leffe, a museum and brewery that showcases the historical past and brewing strategy of Leffe beer.
Take a cable automobile as much as the Citadel of Dinant. Fortified and mighty, the location has been fortified because the Eleventh-century, although the fortifications you see at the moment had been largely constructed in the course of the Nineteenth-century.
You can then head again to the town centre to take pleasure in lunch at one of many many eating places. If you’re not drained to Belgian meals fairly but, then there are many choices to select from. Le Confessionnal and La planche des saveurs are each well-reviewed choices which serve up basic Belgian fare.
After lunch, go to the Saxophone Museum, which pays tribute to Adolphe Sax. The inventor of the saxophone was born in Dinant and at the moment you possibly can study his life and the evolution of the saxophone on this cultural hub.
After exploring Dinant, it’s time to hop again on the practice and head again within the course of Brussels, stopping off at Namur en route. Once in Namur, you’ll wish to head to go to the citadel of Namur.
This is the crowning jewel in the fantastic thing about the city and dates again to 937, although a lot of what you see at the moment was created in the course of the Seventeenth-century. After strolling the ramparts, head to the town centre the place you possibly can store for Belgium souvenirs and go to the 18th-century Baroque Saint-Aubin’s Cathedral.
Where to remain
If you choose to decide on only one metropolis to remain in (in order to keep away from having to deliver your suitcase in all places and having to pack and unpack each day), then I’d suggest basing your self in Brussels for this itinerary as its central location means you can simply attain in all places else in a brief period of time. Here are a few of our prime locations to remain in Brussels:
Latroupe Grote Markt: There isn’t any two methods about it: Brussels is kind of an expensive metropolis so wherever you keep might nicely price greater than you’re used to. However, one of many extra reasonably priced choices on the town is the Latroupe Grote Markt, which has facilities corresponding to free Wi-Fi and a bar on-site. Check costs and availability right here.
Aparthotel Adagio Brussels Grand Place: Those in the hunt for mid-range lodging when in Brussels ought to try this three-star institution. Highlights embody baggage storage and breakfast for an additional price. Check costs and availability right here.
Juliana Hotel Brussels: For an additional luxurious keep throughout your time in Brussels, think about testing this five-star resort. Located on the neoclassical sq. of Place des Martyrs, this lodging boasts a spa, indoor pool, and bar onsite. Check costs and availability right here.
What to put on when exploring Europe
In the summer time, you possibly can’t go flawed by pairing a cute midi gown with basic white tennis sneakers for a laid-back sensible informal look that’s simply as stylish for strolling round a metropolis’s cobbled lanes as it’s for wandering coastal paths. I like this gown and have it in a number of color methods. In phrases of tennis sneakers, that is my go-to shoe.
When it involves winter in Europe, most locations (except for a number of islands) can get fairly chilly and so heat layers is a should. I discover that cute ankle boots like these ones are the right mixture of sensible meets cute.
Shoulder seasons (spring and summer time) in Europe have a tendency to come back with a mixture of wet and sunny days and so, once more, layers are a should. Trench coats and sneakers are the most effective uniform to discover the continent in.
Finally, a cross-body bag like these ones is a should. I personally use a crossbody bag by this model and love its form, measurement, and flexibility. As nicely as being handy and compact, it’s one of many most secure methods to move your valuables, all of the whereas wanting stylish. I additionally suggest bringing alongside a journey adapter like this one so you possibly can cost all your electronics throughout your keep!
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Sophie Nadeau loves canine, books, journey, pizza, and historical past. A fan of all issues France associated, she runs solosophie.com when she’s not chasing after the following sundown shot or consuming one thing candy. She at the moment splits her time between Paris and London. Subscribe to Sophie’s YouTube Channel.