Belgium has countless temptations for a wide variety of travelers and an antidote for any symptom your travel bug bite has ailed you with. Whether you are looking to enjoy its unique architecture over days and weeks or just partake in a day trip to Belgium.
Looking for something that will pump you full of adrenaline? Well, Belgium is home to one of the best race tracks in the world, as well as some of the most exciting adventure and theme parks in Europe.
We have compiled a list of the best cities to visit in Belgium for the intrepid adventurer that wants to spend weeks in a city to get to know it intimately. However, for those who only have a day or two to spend in this beautiful country, we have a short list of the five best attractions to visit in Belgium.
Each part of Belgium has something unique to offer, regardless of the time of year. This means that depending on what you want, from a white Christmas to a sunny beach getaway, any time of year is the best time to visit Belgium.
5 Best Cities to Visit in Belgium
Cities have a unique power over the people who visit them. Someone’s experience in just one city can either make them fall head over heels in love with an entire country or ruin that country for them forever.
This means which cities you choose to visit on your tour of Europe can really set the tone for your whole trip. Luckily for you, we have the best cities Belgium has to offer, all collected together down below. This should allow you to see which cities will suit your expectations best.
Brussels
Brussels is undoubtedly one of the best cities to visit while in Belgium. You can enjoy a wide range of attractions while in the city. Book a workshop on how to make delicious Belgian chocolate, or join fantastic guided walking tours of the city streets.
If you are looking for more of a viewing experience, then perhaps you would prefer to visit the V, where you will have picturesque panoramic views of Brussels. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, you could always check out the Magritte Museum. Here you will be able to see over 230 works of the surrealist artist René Magritte.
Bruges
One of Belgium’s hottest tourist hotspots is undeniably Bruges. The city has loads of museums, workshops, and cruises of the canal. Have you ever wondered how to make iconic Belgian waffles? Well, in Bruges, you can learn exactly how by taking a Belgian waffle-making workshop that even includes a beer tasting.
If Beer and waffles sound a bit odd to you, then check out the Historium Brugge instead. They offer a truly magical experience where you can learn all about medieval Bruges in VR or through film, backdrops, and special effects.
Ghent
Are you looking for more of a cultural trip? Ghent has everything you are looking for. This is one of the best European food destinations, and the city knows it. You can go on a guided city food tour where you can enjoy food and drink tastings as you go along.
Ghent also offers spectacular private walking tours where you can explore Saint Bavo’s Cathedral or the Belfort Tower. You can even enjoy the very unique experience of taking one shoe off in exchange for a beer at the famous bar De Dulle Griet.
Antwerp
The city of Antwerp is almost synonymous with diamonds. Look no further than the historic Diamond District in the city as proof of that. However, Antwerp has a lot more to offer than just sparkling diamonds.
The city also offers a great variety of cultural experiences. From the awe-inspiring opera house to the impenetrable Het Steen fortress and the peculiar architecture of the Museum aan de Stroom. All of which can be explored during your e-scooter tour of Antwerp.
Ostend
Belgium isn’t just for those who are looking to explore castles and cathedrals. You can even enjoy a beachy holiday and catch some sun. If this is what you are looking to do, then Ostend is the destination you are looking for.
The city of Ostend offers the usual walking tours of local architecture and landmarks. However, our best pick of activities is the Sherlock Holmes self-guided smartphone city game. Not only will you get to see all the sites the city has to offer, but you will also get to solve the murder of the head of Homeland Security, Balthazar.
5 Best Attractions to Visit in Belgium
Staying for a week or more is really the best way to get the full experience of any city or country. Unfortunately, that is not a luxury many of us get to have. So, what do you do if you only have a limited amount of time or budget to experience what Europe has to offer?
Well, you plan a highlight tour, of course. However, doing so could take weeks or months of research and planning. Finding out what the best spots are for each city in Belgium could take days on its own.
Don’t you worry. We have all of the can’t-miss attractions right here! Fascinating walks in underground caves, exploring iconic and legendary race tracks, and even a scavenger hunt, so let’s dive right on in.
Caves of Han & Wildlife Park
Nestled in the district of Han-sur-Lesse, near the city of Rochefort, you will find the Caves of Han. Here you can explore magical underground caves. The Famenne – Ardenne UNESCO Global Geopark, which is where you will find the Caves of Han, is the first ever UNESCO geopark in Belgium.
The geopark is also home to some wild animals that get to roam around semi-free. If you purchase the Caves of Han & wildlife park bundle, you will also gain access to the PrehistoHan exhibition.
Royal Museum for Central Africa
If dark underground caves and wild animals are more of an adventure than you want to sign up for, then perhaps you can visit the Royal Museum for Central Africa instead. The architecture of the museum itself is worthy of being an exhibit amongst some of the best landmarks in Europe.
The museum’s collection is a representation of past and present African culture. You will be able to partake in Africa’s rich culture and creativity by listening to the many languages and the traditional and contemporary music they have created.
Spa-Francorchamps Racetrack Museum
For motor-racing enthusiasts, there is no greater honor than driving or merely stepping foot on the hallowed grounds of the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Many racing legends have been made and destroyed by this race track. It has even claimed a few lives as recently as 2024.
Don’t worry if the track itself seems too intimidating; you can visit the Spa-Francorchamps Racetrack Museum. Here you can learn about the track’s long and illustrious history as well as about the cars, drivers, and racing teams that have claimed glory at the track.
However, if the museum is too much history and not enough racing, then you can go to the actual Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps to become a part of the high-octane history.
Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour of Liège
Shifting a few gears down from the legendary race track to a less dangerous but equally exhilarating scavenger hunt and walking tour, you can participate in the city of Liège. With your trusty smartphone as your guide, you will need to solve riddles as you gaze upon the city’s momentous monuments.
St. Paul’s Cathedral, Charlemagne Monument, Aquarium-Muséum, and the magnificent Théâtre de Liège are only some of the awe-inspiring landmarks the hunt will lead you to. You will learn something about each and every stop as you go along, making it perfect for first-time visitors.
Plopsaland De Panne Theme Park
Our last entry actually has two kinds of adventure on offer. It is all going to depend on whether you want to stay dry or not. Do you prefer the excitement and thrills of roller coasters or water parks?
For the rollercoaster lovers, Belgium has the Plopsaland De Panne theme park. It is home to 50 hair-raising, blood-pumping attractions. Rides vary from a swan-shaped pedal boat ride through a prehistoric landscape filled with dinosaurs to a stomach-churning rollercoaster.
For those who prefer to get wet while raising their heart rate, there is the Plopsaqua De Panne water park. The park offers 15 different aqua-related attractions and four major slides. However, the crown jewel of the park is the sky drop which is a 20-meter (21,87 yards) free-fall down a water slide.
Best Places to Visit in Belgium| Final Thoughts
Belgium truly has something for everyone. Whether you are an adrenaline-seeking adventurer or just looking to gaze upon the beautiful landmarks. Belgium is well worth adding to your European tour, even if you just do a day trip from Amsterdam to Bruges to learn how to make those waffles.