Belgium: Tourist & Vacation Guide

Country's codes

International phone code for Belgium: +32

Standard ISO 3166-1:

3 letters: BEL

2 letters (internet domain): .BE

Digital country code 056

Standard EAN-13 (country barcode): 540-549

Olympic country code: BEL

FIFA code: BEL

🇧🇪 Belgium Travel Guide

🇧🇪 Belgium blends medieval charm, world-class gastronomy, and a rich artistic legacy. From the fairy-tale canals of Bruges to Brussels' grand squares and the forests of the Ardennes, it delivers culture, history, and flavour in every corner.

🌍 RegionWestern Europe

⭐ Famous forBeer, chocolate, waffles & medieval cities

📅 Best time to visitApril – September

💰 CurrencyEuro (EUR)

  ✨ Why visit Belgium?

  Belgium may be one of Europe's smallest countries, but it punches well above its weight. Discover perfectly preserved medieval cities, over 1,500 types of beer, world-renowned chocolate, Michelin-starred cuisine, masterpieces by Rubens and Bruegel, and the thriving cosmopolitan buzz of Brussels — all within an hour of each other by train.

Top Attractions in Belgium

🏛️ Grand Place, Brussels

One of the world's most beautiful town squares, surrounded by ornate Gothic and Baroque guild houses — a UNESCO World Heritage Site at the heart of the capital.

🚣 Canals of Bruges

The "Venice of the North" — a flawlessly preserved medieval city of winding waterways, cobblestone lanes, and the iconic 83-metre Belfry tower.

🏰 Gravensteen Castle, Ghent

A formidable 12th-century moated fortress rising dramatically from the city centre, offering sweeping views and a fascinating medieval history museum.

⚔️ Battlefield of Waterloo

Relive Napoleon's final defeat at this historic site just south of Brussels, with an immersive panoramic museum and the iconic Lion's Mound memorial.

Best Places to Visit

🏙️ Brussels – EU capital, Art Nouveau architecture, Atomium, and legendary nightlife.
🌊 Bruges – Medieval canals, lace workshops, and the finest Belgian chocolate shops.
🎭 Ghent – A vibrant student city balancing stunning medieval heritage with a cutting-edge arts scene.
💎 Antwerp – World fashion capital, diamond district, and home to Rubens' magnificent masterpieces.
🌳 The Ardennes – Rolling forested hills ideal for hiking, cycling, and exploring castle ruins.

  💡 Travel Tip: Belgium's NMBS/SNCB rail network is fast, affordable, and scenic — you can travel between Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, and Antwerp all in a single day with a B-Rail Weekend Ticket for exceptional value.

Things to Do in Belgium

Stroll the Grand Place and admire the ornate guild halls, especially at night when illuminated.
Take a boat tour along Bruges' canals and climb the medieval Belfry for panoramic views.
Discover Flemish masters at Antwerp's Royal Museum of Fine Arts and the Rubenshuis.
Embark on a Belgian beer tasting tour — from Trappist ales to fruity lambics and saisons.
Hike or cycle through the Ardennes forests and visit the dramatic Château de Bouillon.

🍽️ Local Experience: Belgian food is a true highlight. Try moules-frites (mussels and fries), a crispy Liège waffle from a street stand, creamy waterzooi stew, speculoos biscuits, and a Trappist Rochefort 10 — widely regarded as one of the finest beers on earth.

Travel Tips for Visitors

☀️ Spring and summer are ideal for canal cruises, outdoor markets, and cycling through the countryside.
🚆 Public transport (trains, trams, metro) is excellent and connects even smaller towns efficiently.
💳 Cards accepted nearly everywhere, but carry a few euros for waffle stands and market stalls.
🗣️ Three official languages — Dutch, French, and German — a simple "merci" or "dank u" goes a long way.

📌 Useful Country Information

Quick Facts

Total area: 11,787 sq mi (30,528 sq km)

Population (2023 est.): ~11.6 million

Capital: Brussels (~1.2 million)

🇧🇪 Brussels: Capital City Profile

Other major cities: Antwerp, Ghent, Liège, Bruges, Charleroi

Currency: Euro (EUR)

CurrencyRate

National name: Koninkrijk België / Royaume de Belgique / Königreich Belgien

Language: Dutch/Flemish (official, ~60%); French (official, ~40%); German (official, ~1%)

Ethnicity/race: Belgian 75.2%, Italian 4.1%, Moroccan 3.7%, French 2.4%, Turkish 2%, Dutch 2%, other 10.6%

Religions: Roman Catholic 52.9%, Muslim 5%, Protestant 2.7%, other Christian 2.7%, other/none 36.7%

National Holiday: July 21, Belgian National Day (Independence, 1831).

Background

🇧🇪 Belgium is a small but historically significant nation at the crossroads of Western Europe, shaped by Burgundian dukes, Habsburg rulers, Napoleonic France, and the Dutch before gaining independence in 1830.
🎨 The country gave the world Rubens, Bruegel, and René Magritte, as well as the saxophone (Adolphe Sax), the Big Bang theory (Georges Lemaître), and the continent's first commercial railway line, opened in 1835.
🌐 Today Belgium serves as the de facto capital of the European Union, hosting NATO headquarters and over 1,400 international organisations — making Brussels one of the most diplomatically important cities in the world.
🇪🇺 Belgium was a founding member of the European Community in 1957 and adopted the euro in 1999, while navigating a unique federal structure that balances its Dutch-speaking, French-speaking, and German-speaking communities.