A few years ago I asked myself the question, “Is Belgium boring?” Since then, I’ve been asked the exact same question by other travelers who want to know if I’ve enjoyed Belgium and what I did when I was there. All this has been inspired to write this article for 12 reasons to visit Belgium.
1. Picturesque towns: Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp
The first and most obvious reasons to visit Belgium are incredible architecture, small lake towns, and even metropolitan cities like Antwerp, which offer despite its larger size. The town of Bruges is undoubtedly the biggest tourist draw in Belgium. It’s picturesque, charming, incredibly quaint and makes it my favorite town in everything Belgium. The streets are full of tourists in warmer months, but the cold month at the beginning of the year (December is incredibly busy thanks to Christmas) is a great month to visit as the streets are much quieter. But don’t come to Belgium to visit Bruges! The only 20-minute train ride towards Brussels is the equally gorgeous town of Ghent. My third favorite in Belgium is Antwerp. It is a much larger city and has always been called the fashion capital of Belgium. Antwerp is much better to visit than Brussels. It’s a great coffee culture, a small boutique and a great local designer. This is probably a hot spot for those in their 20s and 30s to kick back and spend a few days.
read more: 48 hours in Ghent; 48 hours in Antwerp; 5 Things You Need to Do in Bruges
2. Enjoy authentic Belgian waffles
If the photo could convey a thousand words…this would be breaking the quota. If you haven’t tried Belgian waffles at least once in your lifetime, where are you hiding! ? Belgian waffles are popular in Europe and other worlds, but nowhere can taste as good as Belgium itself. One of the most underrated points in Belgium is the food…and it doesn’t stop at Waffles!
3. But don’t forget the frit
Don’t forget National Comfort Food: Frites (Fries). Now let’s say this once and once (if only for the benefit), you will not find better fries in the world than what you eat in Belgium. Yes, they could double fried. Yes, they’re more likely to get triple fly. But the most important part is yes, they taste very good! Another tip: Don’t skip either ketchup or mayonnaise. This is what makes them as great as they are. Go both or don’t mind at all!
4. Take a step back and pass through life
It has a long-standing stigma that Belgium has worn for many years. It’s boring. Certainly, when I first looked into Belgium on my trip (it was strategically trained between France and the Netherlands), I thought to myself “What’s in Belgium too?!” Certainly, it gets a bad lap due to its weather and slow pace, but that makes it just so much fun! Belgium is a great opportunity to stop, relax and make your life pass by you. Unless you spend that break in Brussels, it’s the perfect break between Paris and Amsterdam! (Read more: Is Brussels boring?)
5. Incredible architecture
The architecture throughout Brussels is very impressive and is among the most complicated in Europe. The main square (known as Grote Markt) is an absolute visit, often feeling like a time warp to an earlier era.
6. Comic Culture
If the comics are yours, you may have a reason to visit Brussels – there are plenty of clever murals featuring the famous (and famous Belgian) cartoon, Tin Tin.
7. Try Belgian beer
…Because we need something to wash away those frits. Beer is a Belgian establishment and it’s here where you can find plenty of delicious delights to keep busy and women busy. If you want to take a little time to yourself to take advantage of the Euro, you can send your boyfriend/partner/husband to locals nearby.
8. Discover diversity at the heart of the European Union
One of the most fascinating parts of Belgium is its diversity. The country is technically divided into two parts. There are Dutch-speaking Flanders to the north and French-speaking Wallonians to the south. In Brussels, this is the capital of the European Union and is therefore even more diverse as it is filled with immigrants from all over Europe. As diverse as they come!
9. Visit the Christmas Market
Certainly they are almost everywhere in Europe (even champion Elysie, even today), but some of the most luxurious Christmas markets are in small Belgian towns.
10. Visit the vegetarian capitals of the world
When I first heard of the “vegetarian capital of the world,” I knew I needed to know more. After all, the small town of Ghent, Belgium is very vegetarian-friendly, and there’s also a “vegetable Thursday” that encourages non-vegetarians to eat vegetables one day each week! If you’re looking to visit the vegetarian-friendly towns in Ghent, check out this Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Ghent.
11. Ease of train travel
Belgium is a relatively small country and, thankfully, there are train connections. From Brussels you will arrive in Ghent within an hour and Bruges within an hour. Big cities like Antwerp are also only an hour away from the capital. Belgium is well connected to other parts of Europe, such as Paris and Amsterdam.
12. Because Belgium is not boring!
And we conclude on the fact that no, Belgium is not boring. Yes, you should stop by on your European trip. Belgium is a great country to stop by for a few days, especially if you are traveling from Paris to the Netherlands or elsewhere, or if you are traveling by popular train routes. The best of Belgium is definitely outside the capital, so make sure you stop by in Brussels immediately. There are many reasons to visit Belgium, but these are just our favorites. Why do you like Belgium?
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