15x The Best Places to Visit in Belgium in 2024
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15 OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO VISIT IN BELGIUM
Stuffed between major destinations as France, the UK and the Netherlands, Belgium often doesn’t stand a chance when visitors are planning a trip to Western Europe. However, with more sights per square meters than any of its neighbouring countries, it’s well worth a week or more of your time! To help you discover how beautiful tiny Belgium really is, we’ve compiled this list of 15 best places to visit in Belgium.
What are the best places to visit in Belgium?
#1 Bruges
Probably the most known medieval city of Western Europe, Bruges attracts tourists from all over the world. And for good reason: the entire historic centre is simply stunning and oozes a fairytale feeling. The entire centre is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
We guarantee you’ll fall in love with the small canals and stunning architecture. Not to mention the many interesting museums, tasty restaurants and the lovely countryside once you step out of the city.
Bruges is small enough to explore on foot, but you might want to check out the canal boat rides and horse-drawn carriages to see the city from a different perspective.
#2 Brussels
Brussels is not only the capital of Belgium but also the capital of Europe. Add to that the millions of tourists that visit the city every year and you’ll understand how multicultural Brussels always feels. As the largest city in Belgium, there are many neighbourhoods and sights to explore, but if you stick to the cultural centre you’ll already have your work exploring all there is to see.
There’s a big emphasis on history, architecture and comic book art, but Brussels has something for just about anybody.
More about Brussels
Sightseeing
- How to visit Brussels in a day
- The best museums to discover in Brussels
- The best day trips from Brussels (in and outside of Belgium)
Transport
#3 Antwerp
Belgium’s third most visited city is Antwerp. The city is famous as the world capital of diamonds and as a fashion capital (originally thanks to the “Antwerp Six”: 6 designers including Dirk Bikkembergs, Ann Demeulemeester and Dries van Noten who put Antwerp on the fashion map but nowadays thanks to the alternative fashion scene). However, it has more to offer than clothes and diamonds alone! You can discover Antwerp’s past in the historical centre with some fantastic architecture, famous painters (Pieter Paul Rubens) and medieval hideaway streets.
Antwerp is also a great location for foodies and offers a lively night scene. The city is the perfect mix between historic & alternative and is well worth a couple of days of your time.
#4 Ghent
Ghent has always been Belgium’s hidden secret. The city is very similar to Bruges but with much fewer tourists, allowing a more relaxed vibe. As it is also a student city, you get a nice mix between fairytale old and hipster modern. The historic centre is small and walkable, although a boat ride on the canals will tell you more about the history of the city. Also, don’t miss out on the castle-inside-the-city Gravensteen with its large collection of medieval torture equipment.
Ghent has put much effort into becoming eco-minded leading to an interesting shopping and food scene with lots of vegetarian and vegan options.
#5 Durbuy
Durbuy presents itself as “the smallest town in the world” and they might not be far off with a population of only 500. It might even come across as a very well-made amusement park because it feels like you went back to the Middle Ages. The narrow pedestrian cobblestone streets are lined with flowerpots and charming shops that sell artisanal produce. In between, you find many hotels, bed & breakfasts and restaurants. In short, everything you need for a wonderful experience!
And once you step outside of the city centre, you’ll discover why they also call Durbuy the “adventure capital of Belgium”. Kayaking, rock climbing, an adventure park, mountain biking, laser games and an escape room are a couple of the options available. Not to mention that the surrounding woods of The Ardennes are perfect for long nature walks.
#6 Leuven
With the oldest university in the Low countries (more or less what we now call Flanders and The Netherlands), Leuven is first and foremost a university city. The roughly 50.000 students bring a livelihood to the city, but we can’t forget about Leuven’s past either. The remnants are still visible in the many beautiful landmarks such as the gothic Town Hall and the picturesque beguinage. More reasons to visit Leuven are the botanical garden (the oldest in the country! Created in 1738 by the University for the Medicine students), the many odd churches and the brewery of Stella Artois.
Also, don’t forget to go for a drink – like the students do – on the Old Market (Oude Markt), where one pub is lined up next to the other. This earned the square the nickname “the longest bar in Europe”.
#7 Ypres (Ieper)
A visit to Ypres is all about the World War I history of the area. Located in the far West of Belgium, this is where many important battles were fought. About 300.000 soldiers lost their lives here, so it will not be a surprise that many of the sights are war museums, cemeteries and memorials. Things you can’t miss are a visit to Flanders Fields Museum, the Menin Gate Memorial and the Last Post ceremony (every night at 8 PM). An exploration of Hill 60 is a great idea as well.
Although always a bit haunted by the past, Ypres has more things to discover than the WWI memories. The beautiful market square is well worth a visit as is a walk on the Vauban ramparts (created in the 17th century) and continue on along the canal.
#8 Liège
Liège is the largest city in Wallonia (the French-speaking part of Belgium) and is mostly famous for its art scene. Like nearly all Belgian cities it has a nice historical feeling, but its situation along the Meuse river makes it extra special. There are two things Liège is most famous for: waffles (a different kind than the Brussels’ waffles!) and the futuristic rail station Liège-Guillemins. Make sure to check both out! There are also many festivals hosted during the year and each one will give the city a different feeling altogether.
Other things you can’t miss: climb the staircase at Montagne de Bueren and you’ll be rewarded with stunning views over the city. And visit the Blegny-mine, one out of the 4 coal mines in Wallonia that are UNESCO World Heritage and discover all the secrets of the most important product in 19th & 20th century Wallonia.
#9 Hasselt
Hasselt is the place to go when you want to experience the friendliness of the Limburg province. The historic centre is mostly closed off for traffic and filled with shops and cafes. The city is most famous for Jenever – a traditional liqueur. This drink is still distilled in the 19th century traditional way in the Jenever Museum.
But there’s much more things to do in Hasselt than just drink alcohol – however mostly on the outskirts of the city. You can explore the remains of the Herkenrode Abbey, learn more about traditional Flemish village life in the interactive outdoor museum Bokrijk (a personal favourite!), visit the Circuit of Zolder (a popular racing circuit often used in contests) and have a relaxing stroll in the Japanese Garden.
#10 Mechelen
Like Bruges and Ghent, Mechelen is one of those Flemish cities with a prominent role for the river. In this case, it’s the Dyle and you’ll find many charming walk paths along the water and bridges to cross it. Mechelen has a very convenient location between Antwerp and Brussels, making it very easy to reach from just about anywhere in Belgium. It’s also the place to be if you want to tick off UNESCO World Heritage sites
While most cities are lucky to have one beguinage, Mechelen has two: a small and a big one (the latter being part of the UNESCO World Heritage of Belgian beguinages). The city also has two (unfinished!) belfries and both of them are on the heritage list. The first is the belfry at the Cloth Hall and the second is the St Rombold’s tower – the symbol of Mechelen. You can climb to the top of the tower and admire the city from the skywalk.
#11 Dinant
Deep in Wallonia lies Dinant – a magnificent city on the banks of the Meuse. Its location is quite spectacular with the river on one side, steep cliff walls on the other and a fortified citadel on top guarding the city. Dinant is the birth place of Adolphe Sax, the invenor of the saxophone and other than the museum you’ll also find many saxophone references throughout the city.
Belgium has the most castles per square meter in the whole of Western Europe, and around Dinant, you’ll find a couple of the most beautiful ones like the Castle of Freÿr and the Castle of Vêves. Off course, you can’t miss a visit to the citadel and don’t forget to admire the unique shape of the Notre Dame church.
#12 High Fens
The High Fens – a Natural Park on the border between Belgium and Germany – is probably one of the last remaining pieces of wilderness you’ll find in the country. There are a couple of villages far and in between, but mostly the landscape is bare and desolate. The area also comes with its very own climate: many rainy and misty days and a winter that lasts about 8 months – there’s a big difference with the rest of Belgium.
The National Park is bordered by Eupen, Malmédy, Monschau (a picturesque town in Germany) and Spa (time for wellness!), which you can all include in your visit. However, most people come to the High Fens to walk, bike or cross-country ski. Pay attention though that there are only a couple of trails where dogs are allowed (always on the leash!).
With untouched nature comes spectacular fauna as well. It’s home to the black grouse (the symbol of the High Fens), the black stork and the Tengmalm’s owl amongst many others and in the last couple of years, both the Lynx and the Wolf made their re-entry into Belgium!
#13 Damme
Damme more than earns its spot on the list of most charming villages in Belgium. The cobble-stone streets and beautiful old buildings set the scene for this self-claimed book village. It consists of barely 4 or 5 streets, but you can easily spend a half day or more if you explore the surrounding countryside. And it’s only a 10-minute drive from Bruges, which makes it a perfect trip if you’re spending a couple of days in the Venice of the North.
As Damme holds a long history, there are a couple of archeological sights, but there are also two museums, many bookstores, a very nice church (with a tower you can climb!) and a river boat that brings you from Bruges to Damme and back. As it is quite the touristy village, there are also tons of brasseries and restaurants when you need some down-time.
More about Damme
#14 Namur
Namur is another one of those picture-perfect cities in Belgium. With its impressive citadel overlooking the city and walks along the banks of the two rivers The Meuse and The Sambre, it ticks all the boxes. As with many of the Wallonian destinations, you might have to look past the grey a bit to see the charm and colour, but in Namur, you’ll find plenty of the latter.
The main sight is of course the citadel, and you should plan in plenty of time to make your way up, explore everything and get back down. There’s a tourist train and underground tunnels to discover.
Also, don’t forget to taste the local beer Blanche de Namur.
#15 De Panne
And for the last item on this list, it’s time for something else. Not a city or town with a beautiful historic centre, but one of the most charming beach towns of Belgium instead. It’s located very close to France and therefore appeals to both Belgian as French tourist, by which it gets overflowed during the summer months.
The beach in De Panne is the widest of the entire coastline, giving you plenty of space to enjoy a relaxing day at the beach (especially if you choose to sit a bit more on the outskirts of town). There’s a lovely neighbourhood – the Dumont neighbourhood – with beautiful old houses in low-traffic streets. But there’s heaps more to do: climb up to the top of the city park, which used to be the viewpoint from where the fishermen’s wives watched their husbands return. Go for a hike in Natural Reserve De Westhoek or in the Calmeyn Forest. Or – if you have kids – head over to Plopsaland, one of the most popular amusement parks in Belgium.
Also, if you head over to the next town, Oostduinkerke, you’ll be able to see the shrimp fishers in action. This UNESCO World Heritage protected tradition consists of fishermen on horseback (in bright yellow suits) fishing for the grey shrimps that you can only find in the North Sea.
Final thoughts
So, what do you think? Is there something that might get you to visit Belgium? Or if you’ve already been there, what would be on your to-do list for your next trip? Let us know in the comments!
BELGIUM TRAVEL PLANNING RESOURCES
Getting to Belgium: Fly into one of the main international airports: Brussels Airport (BRU) or Charleroi Brussels South Airport (CRL). Take an international train to Brussels South Station. Or take a ferry to Dover or The Netherlands, then drive or take the train to Belgium.
Getting Around: For the major destinations, the train is by far the best option. You can book your train tickets here. If you’d like to visit smaller places, the most convenient way would be to rent a car. We always use Discover cars, they compare all the rental companies and give you the best rates.
Accommodation: Booking.com is the most popular accommodation platform in Belgium. It’s what I use every single time.
Guided tours: Use Get Your Guide or Viator to find fun tours in Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp. Or Guruwalk to find free walking tours in multiple destinations.
