Travel Guide to Belgium

The unique geographical regions in Belgium give its landscape a distinct taste. The lovely sceneries you will discover in your tour include the short but packed coastal plain, the central plateau, and the Adrannes uplands. The landscape of the coastal plain is mainly sandy, while the central plateau region has fertile valleys. On the other hand, the Adrannes region has a thick forest plateau.

Gastronomy
Know Before You Go
Best Time to Visit
What to Expect
Currency
Language
ATMs
Plugs
Safety
Climate
Latest Belgium Articles

Gastronomy

The gastronomical evolution in Belgium dates back up to the influence of the French cuisine. Even though the native use of French recipes some have made a few tweaks to the ingredients and preparation to produce outstanding traditional meals. For instance, the Trappist beer is known to originate and be only produced in Belgium. Other good recipes and exotics foods you will come across in Belgium include the cinnamon cookie known as speculaas, the world-famed Brussels waffles, waterzooi, stoofkarbonnaden and the Belgian pralines. Belgium will never cease to impress as its cuisine never gets boring: every region in Belgium has a unique dish that originated in the area. Make sure you get a taste of chocolate when you tour the country.

Did you know Brussels is listed among the most dynamic cities in Europe? Well, when you decide to tour Belgium, consider cities like Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi and Liege for the ultimate Belgium experience.

Belgium is doing well economically, and you can quickly notice through the advanced infrastructure in all the major cities of the country. When you stroll around the towns, you will be amazed by the magnificent sites and quickly become intrigued by all cities’ history and development.

Know Before You Go

Not many people would pick Belgium as their first stop when planning a European holiday. It’s a shame, since this Western European country offers many attractions that can satisfy even the most severe case of wanderlust.

For a small country, Belgium is quite populous. You will see many people from different walks of life here! Furthermore, even though the country is small, their taste for beer is not. In fact, one of the most sought-after beers is from Belgium. Their beer culture is known worldwide. So, make sure to get your stomach ready if you want to hang with the locals.

Tourists also do not need to worry about closing times in bars. Most bars stay open till very late, especially if there are plenty of people there.

It is also quite easy to roam the country. Most tourist destinations are in close proximity to each other. From the forest to the sea, it will usually take you about two hours or even less to get there. Talk about time management!

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit is during the months of April to June and September to October. The weather during these dates is great. You can get to experience the spring and fall.

Winters in Belgium are still great, though! To visit the country during the winter months, plan your trip for the months of November to February.

Try to avoid the months of July to August since tourists tend to visit during this time. But if you don’t mind crowds, then go ahead and make those reservations.

What to Expect

Here are some things you must remember as a tourist in Belgium!

Currency

Belgians use Euros for their transactions. One Euro is equivalent to 1.12 United States Dollars.

Language

The three official languages used in Belgium are French, Dutch, and German. Be sure to bring some flashcards for the essential questions and information. This is to avoid accidents and to prevent you from getting lost.

If you find yourself in Brussels, they mostly speak French and Flemish. Most Belgians are comfortable speaking the English language, but it is recommended to learn a bit of French to get by.

ATMs

You will be able to find many ATM machines in Belgium without having to try! Most banks have it, so you are sure to find one there. Fortunately, the US, UK, and Australian cards work in Belgium. But take note they use chips instead of magnetic strips!

Plugs

In Belgium, power plugs type C and E are used. They operate on 230 V and 50 Hz. Bring the necessary attachments!

Safety

The police force in Belgium is efficient as well as consistent. This is the reason why the crime rate there is so low! Security efforts have increased over the years due to some terrorist attacks, but there is no need to worry. The police squad has your back!

Climate

Belgium has a temperate maritime climate. This means they have cool summers and winters that are moderate. Make sure to pack a parka for the winter as the temperature is known to go down below zero!