Why go to Belgium? The 10 good reasons to go Belgium
Folklore and street festivals
The country is famous for its carnivals (like the one in Binche) and traditional ducasses.
The land of french fries (the real thing)
Everywhere, good French fry shops to enjoy a cone in the Belgian way.
Numerous cultural events
In all seasons, festivals in all cultural fields: music, cinema, art..
A gourmet destination
Between waffles and chocolate, Belgium happily cultivates the art of gourmandise.
Unique Belgian architecture
Intriguing, surprising and attractive, Belgian architecture leaves no one indifferent.
Craft beers
Everywhere, you can stop and treat yourself to one of the country's 300 different types of mousse.
Ease of travel
It's easy to get around the country without a car: by train, on foot or by bike.
Industrial heritage
From Charleroi to Liège, the industrial past (especially mining) is highlighted.
Pedestrian cities
Stroll through city centers where pedestrians and bicycles can easily circulate.
Names that resonate
Brussels, Ghent, Bruges, Mons, Antwerp: Belgium evokes the desire to travel.
What to visit Belgium?
Interview: My Belgium
with Mélissa MONACO, author of the guide
Originally from Hainaut, Mélissa adopted Brussels when she arrived there for her journalism studies. After several years of expatriation, she returned in 2006. When she's not traveling (and writing on her blog mellovestravels.com), she's wandering around Belgium discovering things she'd never seen before and new addresses.
See the video of the interviewGood to know to visit Belgium
Timetable
Be aware that museums close early in Belgium, 6pm at the latest for the most important ones. The same goes for tourist attractions and sites. The closing day is normally Monday, as in France.
Budget & Tips
Museums are quite expensive in Belgium, equivalent to French prices. Public museums are free and open the first Sunday of the month, as in France.
Museum and tourist all-in pass for Brussels: the Brussels Card. For 24, 48 or 72 hours, free access to about fifty Brussels museums (including all the stars of the capital), discounts in about thirty tourist attractions, on guided tours, in shops, restaurants and bars. And as a bonus, a city map and a museum map. Ghent, Antwerp, Hasselt, Mons and Liege have similar formulas.
The Coast Pass (Kustpas, in Dutch) is completely free and offers discounts in museums, amusement parks and for certain activities and excursions. It can be purchased at any tourist office or printed from the dedicated website. www.kustpas.be
The VisitWallonia.be Pass, like the Kust Pas, is free and offers discounts on a wide range of activities as well as a loyalty card-style formula for additional benefits. All of this can be downloaded onto your smartphone.
Guided tours
The tourist offices of each city always offer paid guided tours to be booked on various themes and in French.
