Country guide

Belgium

Belgium covers 30,689 km² and holds more than 11.8 million people, a density of 383 per km² that ranks sixth in Europe. It is divided three ways — Flanders in the north, Wallonia in the south, the Brussels-Capital Region in the middle — and the language divides with it: Dutch for about 60 per cent of the population, French for about 40, German for the one per cent in the East Cantons. The choice for a visitor is largely between Brussels, which carries the seats of the European Commission and Council and the headquarters of NATO, and the Flemish cities: Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, Leuven.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Brussels
Photograph · Ank Kumar · CC BY-SA 4.0

Brussels 3,621 places

Practical information

Language spoken: Dutch, French and German; National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code: +32; International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency: Euro (EUR); Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number: 112; Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type: Type C and E · 230 V; Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water: Safe from the mains; Public drinking water is regulated by Belgium's regional authorities

Planning a visit

January: seasonal closure recorded
February: seasonal closure recorded
March: seasonal closure recorded
April: seasonal closure recorded
May: seasonal closure recorded
June: seasonal closure recorded
July: no seasonality data recorded
August: no seasonality data recorded
September: seasonal closure recorded — this month
October: seasonal closure recorded
November: seasonal closure recorded
December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

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Common questions

How long should a first trip to Belgium be?

Five to seven days covers Brussels plus two or three rail-linked cities such as Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, Leuven or Liège. Staying in one or two bases avoids losing time to repeated hotel changes in this compact network.

What entry documents are needed for Belgium?

Belgium’s foreign-affairs service publishes visa and short-stay requirements. Check the rule for the passport being used and the full Schengen itinerary, especially when Belgium is not the first external border crossed.

What is the best way to travel around Belgium?

Brussels Airport connects directly with Belgium’s national rail network, and intercity trains link the principal cities without compulsory reservations. Local buses, trams and metros belong to separate regional operators, so one urban ticket is not automatically valid nationwide.

When is a practical time to visit Belgium?

April through June offers long sightseeing days, while September usually retains workable conditions with fewer peak-summer pressures. Belgian weather remains changeable, making a waterproof layer useful in any of these months.

What money and payment basics apply in Belgium?

The euro (EUR) is Belgium’s currency. Card and cash acceptance can differ between a station machine, a market stall and a small business, so retain a second payment method rather than assuming one card will work everywhere.

What practical safety details should I save for Belgium?

Belgium uses 112 for emergencies and Type C or E plugs at 230 V. The recorded national guidance says mains tap water is safe.

🇧🇪Belgium

Cities

Practical information

Planning a visit

Top things to see

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Hôtel Solvay

Royal Theatre of La Monnaie

Jeanneke Pis

Pavilion of Human Passions

Het Zinneke

Beguinage of Anderlecht

Bruxella 1238

Statue of Europe

Archives et Musée de la Littérature

Musée de l'érotisme et de la mythologie - Museum van erotiek en mythologië

Théâtre Royal des Galeries

ING Arena

Huis van Herman Teirlinck

Théâtre du Vaudeville

Brussels Planetarium

Clockarium

Ancienne Belgique

Jazz Station

Signaal van Zellik

Statue de la Brabançonne

NATO Star

Royal Circus

The Whirling Ear

Belgian Chocolate Village

Negro marrons surprised by dogs

MoMuse

Beursschouwburg

Carillon of the Mont des Arts

Charles of Lorraine

Comédie Claude Volter

equestrian statue of Leopold Ⅱ

Fountain of Neptune

La Laitière

La Madeleine

La Toison d'Or

Théâtre des Martyrs

Théâtre Océan Nord

Théâtre la Montagne Magique

Atelier KANAL

Bosmuseum Jan van Ruusbroec

Espace Allende

Experience Europe

Fondation Jacques Brel - Jacques Brel Stichting

Grand Serment Royal et de Saint-Georges des Arbalétriers de Bruxelles

LAB·AN

La Loge

La Maison de la Marionnette - Het Marionettenhuis

Librarium

Mansion Hannon

Musée Banksy - Banksy Museum

Musée Couvreur - Couvreur Museum

Musée d'Art Abstrait - Museum voor Abstracte Kunst

Musée d'Art Religieux Moderne - Museum van Moderne Religieuze kunst

Musée de la Police Intégrée - Museum van de Geïntegreerde Politie

Musée des Sœurs Noires - Museum van de Zwartzusters

Muséum de Zoologie et d’anthropologie de l’ULB

Museum of Illusions

Wittockiana

World of Mind

Au B'izou

Au-delà de l'espoir

Balsamine Theater

Fountain of Kneeling Youths

La Moisson - De Oogst

Les Tanneurs

L'Os à Moelle

Magic Land Théâtre

Mercelis Theater

Mo(nu)ment Melancholia

Phoenix 44

Pocket Theater

statue of Andreas Vesalius

statue of Madame Chapeau

Théâtre 140

Belgium