Belgium · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Belgium
These are our picks across Belgium, from frites stands and beer cafés to Gothic masterpieces, canals, markets and forest walks. Opening hours change with the seasons, so check before you go.
Places to Visit in Brussels
Arts and Culture
- Grand Place (Centre)
The gilded guild houses and Gothic town hall make this one of Europe's most beautiful squares, day or night. - Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium (Mont des Arts)
Bruegel, Rubens and the Magritte Museum under one roof. - Horta Museum (Saint-Gilles)
Victor Horta's own house is a masterpiece of Art Nouveau down to the door handles. - Comics Art Museum (Centre)
Tintin, the Smurfs and the history of Belgian comics in a Horta-designed warehouse. - Musical Instruments Museum (Mont des Arts)
Thousands of instruments in an Art Nouveau department store, with a rooftop view over the city. - House of European History (Parc Léopold)
A free, thoughtful museum of the continent's story, with audio in every EU language. - Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert (Centre)
Elegant nineteenth century covered arcades with chocolatiers, a bookshop and a cinema.
Things to Do
- Atomium (Heysel)
The giant silver molecule from the 1958 World Fair, with exhibitions and views from the top sphere. - Manneken Pis (Centre)
The famous tiny statue, often dressed in one of his hundreds of costumes. - Comic book route murals (Centre)
Dozens of comic strip murals painted on city walls, perfect for a self-guided walk.
Nature and Outdoors
- Parc du Cinquantenaire (Etterbeek)
A grand park and triumphal arch surrounded by museums, ideal for a picnic. - Sonian Forest (Watermael-Boitsfort)
A vast beech forest on the city's edge with walking and cycling trails.
Shopping and Markets
- Place du Jeu de Balle flea market (Marolles)
A daily flea market where you can rummage for anything from vintage lamps to old postcards. - Sablon antiques market (Sablon)
Weekend antiques stalls surrounded by the city's smartest chocolatiers. - Midi Market (Saint-Gilles)
A huge Sunday market by Brussels-Midi with produce, spices and food from around the world.
Restaurants
- Maison Antoine (Place Jourdan)
A legendary friterie whose frites you can eat in many neighbouring bars. - Fin de Siècle (Sainte-Catherine)
A no-reservations Belgian brasserie serving hearty classics like carbonnade and stoemp. - Noordzee Mer du Nord (Sainte-Catherine)
A fishmonger's standing bar for grilled prawns, fish soup and a glass of white wine. - Le Cirio (Bourse)
A historic Belle Époque café near the Bourse, famous for its half and half aperitif. - Chez Léon (Centre)
An old-school moules frites house in the Îlot Sacré, open since the nineteenth century.
Cafés
- Maison Dandoy (Centre)
The classic Brussels biscuit maker, also serving waffles in its tea rooms. - Café Belga (Ixelles)
A buzzing café in the Art Deco Flagey building beside the Ixelles ponds.
Bars and Nightlife
- Moeder Lambic Fontainas (Centre)
A craft beer bar with dozens of Belgian beers on draught. - Delirium Café (Centre)
A sprawling beer hall famous for its enormous beer list and party atmosphere. - A La Mort Subite (Centre)
A wood-panelled tavern from the 1920s, the place to try gueuze and kriek. - Brasserie Cantillon (Anderlecht)
The last traditional lambic brewery in Brussels, with a self-guided visit and tasting. - À l'Imaige de Nostre-Dame (Centre)
A tiny hidden tavern at the end of an alley off Rue du Marché aux Herbes.
Events
- Ommegang (Grand Place)
A historic summer pageant recreating a sixteenth century procession for Emperor Charles V. - Winter Wonders (Centre)
The city's Christmas market and light shows from late November into the new year. - Flower Carpet (Grand Place)
A giant carpet of begonias laid over the square in August of even-numbered years.
Stays
- Hotel Amigo (Centre)
A grand hotel steps from the Grand Place, in a building that was once a prison. - Hotel Le Berger (Ixelles)
A boutique hotel in a former discreet love hotel, with a sense of humour.
Places to Visit in Bruges
Arts and Culture
- Belfry of Bruges (Markt)
Climb to the top of the medieval belfry for views across the rooftops and canals. - Basilica of the Holy Blood (Burg)
A Romanesque lower chapel and Gothic upper chapel guarding a famous relic. - Groeninge Museum (Dijver)
Jan van Eyck, Hans Memling and the Flemish Primitives in an intimate museum. - Church of Our Lady (Mariastraat)
Home of Michelangelo's Madonna and Child under a towering brick spire. - Saint John's Hospital (Mariastraat)
A medieval hospital ward and apothecary with masterpieces by Memling. - Choco-Story (Wijnzakstraat)
The history of chocolate with a tasting and live demonstrations.
Things to Do
- Canal boat tour (Centre)
The best way to understand the city, gliding under low bridges past gabled houses. - Historium Bruges (Markt)
An immersive journey back to medieval Bruges, great for families. - Rozenhoedkaai (Centre)
The classic postcard view of canals, belfry and medieval facades.
Nature and Outdoors
- Beguinage of Bruges (Wijngaardplein)
A peaceful courtyard of white houses and tall trees, beautiful in spring. - Minnewater (South Bruges)
The so-called Lake of Love, a romantic spot for an evening stroll. - Kruisvest windmills (Sint-Anna)
Old windmills along the green ramparts, far from the crowds. - Damme canal cycle (Damme)
A flat, tree-lined ride along the canal to the pretty village of Damme.
Bars and Nightlife
- De Halve Maan Brewery (Walplein)
A family brewery with tours and a beer pipeline running under the city. - 't Brugs Beertje (Kemelstraat)
A cosy beer café beloved by enthusiasts for its long list of Belgian beers. - Café Vlissinghe (Sint-Anna)
Said to be the oldest tavern in Bruges, with a garden and a timeless interior. - Le Trappiste (Kuipersstraat)
A candlelit beer cellar under a medieval vault.
Restaurants
- De Vlaamsche Pot (Centre)
Hearty Flemish stews and dishes served in cast iron pots.
Cafés
- The Old Chocolate House (Mariastraat)
Rich hot chocolate and pralines in a tea room above a chocolate shop.
Shopping and Markets
- The Chocolate Line (Simon Stevinplein)
Inventive pralines from a pioneering Belgian chocolatier. - Dumon Chocolatier (Eiermarkt)
A family chocolatier making traditional pralines in small batches. - Markt weekly market (Markt)
The Wednesday morning market in the main square, with local produce and snacks.
Events
- Procession of the Holy Blood (Centre)
A grand religious procession through the streets on Ascension Day.
Stays
- Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce (Centre)
A canalside boutique hotel right on one of the most photographed corners. - Hotel Dukes' Palace (Centre)
A grand hotel in a former ducal palace with gardens.
Places to Visit in Ghent
Arts and Culture
- Saint Bavo's Cathedral (Centre)
Home of the Ghent Altarpiece, with an augmented reality visitor experience. - Gravensteen (Centre)
A moated medieval castle with a witty audio tour that delights all ages. - Belfry of Ghent (Centre)
A medieval belfry with a lift to the top and views of the three towers. - STAM Ghent City Museum (Bijloke)
An engaging museum that shows how Ghent grew, with a giant aerial map on the floor. - Museum of Fine Arts Ghent (Citadelpark)
Flemish masters and modern Belgian art in a grand building. - S.M.A.K. (Citadelpark)
Ghent's adventurous contemporary art museum. - House of Alijn (Patershol)
A charming museum of everyday life in the twentieth century.
Things to Do
- Graslei and Korenlei (Centre)
Two quays of guild houses where locals sit along the water on summer evenings. - Saint Michael's Bridge (Centre)
The best spot to see the three towers lined up together. - Werregarenstraat (Centre)
A graffiti alley where street art is legal and changes constantly. - Ghent boat tour (Graslei)
Short boat tours from the Graslei show the medieval core from the water.
Nature and Outdoors
- Blaarmeersen (West Ghent)
A recreation park with a lake for swimming, sports and a campsite. - Citadelpark (South Ghent)
A large park with ponds and a waterfall between two museums.
Restaurants
- Patershol restaurants (Patershol)
Narrow lanes with some of Ghent's best small restaurants.
Cafés
- Cuberdon carts (Groentenmarkt)
Buy the purple cone-shaped Ghent sweets from street carts. - Mokabon (Donkersteeg)
A classic coffee house roasting its own beans since the 1930s.
Bars and Nightlife
- Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant (Groentenmarkt)
A riverside beer café with a long list of Belgian beers. - 't Dreupelkot (Groentenmarkt)
A tiny jenever bar with hundreds of flavoured gins. - Overpoort (Student quarter)
The student nightlife strip, packed with bars until late. - Gruut Brewery (Grote Huidevettershoek)
A city brewery making beers with herbs instead of hops.
Shopping and Markets
- Vrijdagmarkt market (Vrijdagmarkt)
A Friday and Saturday market in a square that has hosted trade for centuries. - Tierenteyn-Verlent (Groentenmarkt)
A historic mustard shop filling jars from a wooden barrel.
Events
- Gentse Feesten (Centre)
Ten days of free music, theatre and street parties every July. - Ghent Light Festival (Centre)
Light art installations across the city, held every few years in winter.
Stays
- 1898 The Post (Centre)
A stylish hotel in the old post office on the Korenmarkt. - Ghent Marriott Hotel (Korenlei)
A modern hotel behind historic facades on the river. - Hostel Uppelink (Sint-Michielsplein)
A hostel with views of the three towers from the waterfront.
Places to Visit in Antwerp
Arts and Culture
- Cathedral of Our Lady (Old town)
A Gothic cathedral with four great Rubens paintings. - Antwerpen-Centraal (Station area)
A palace of a railway station with a stone hall and glass roof. - Plantin-Moretus Museum (Vrijdagmarkt)
A Renaissance printing house with the oldest printing presses in the world. - KMSKA (Het Zuid)
The renovated Royal Museum of Fine Arts, with masters and James Ensor. - MAS Museum (Eilandje)
A red stone tower of exhibitions with a free rooftop view. - Rubens House (Wapper)
The painter's home and studio in the heart of the city. - MoMu Fashion Museum (Nationalestraat)
Exhibitions on fashion, from the Antwerp Six to today. - Museum Vleeshuis (Old town)
A medieval butchers' hall with a museum of music and sound.
Things to Do
- Antwerp Zoo (Station area)
One of the oldest zoos in the world, right beside Central Station. - Sint-Annatunnel (Old town)
A 1930s pedestrian tunnel under the Scheldt with wooden escalators. - Cogels-Osylei (Zurenborg)
A street of fantastical Art Nouveau and eclectic houses. - Grote Markt Antwerp (Old town)
The Renaissance town hall and Brabo fountain at the heart of the old city.
Nature and Outdoors
- Sint-Anna beach (Left bank)
A small river beach with views back to the city skyline. - Park Spoor Noord (Antwerp North)
A large park on old railway land with fountains and play areas.
Bars and Nightlife
- De Koninck Brewery (Berchem)
The home of the bolleke, with a brewery experience and tasting. - Kulminator (Het Zuid)
A legendary beer café with aged beers and a vast list. - Oud Arsenaal (Old town)
A traditional brown café loved by locals. - Den Engel (Grote Markt)
An old local café on the main square.
Shopping and Markets
- Meir (Centre)
Antwerp's main shopping street, lined with grand buildings. - Kloosterstraat (Het Zuid)
Vintage and antiques shops along one long street. - Vogelenmarkt (Theaterplein)
A weekend market of food, flowers and everyday goods.
Events
- Antwerp Christmas market (Grote Markt)
Festive stalls and an ice rink in the old town.
Stays
- Hotel Julien (Old town)
A boutique hotel in two old town houses near the cathedral. - Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp (Centre)
A luxury hotel in a former monastery beside the botanical garden.
Places to Visit in The Ardennes
Things to Do
- Citadel of Dinant (Dinant)
A clifftop fortress above the Meuse, reached by cable car. - Caves of Han (Han-sur-Lesse)
A vast cave system reached by an old tram, with a wildlife park. - Kayaking the Lesse (Houyet to Anseremme)
A classic family paddle through wooded valleys. - Durbuy (Durbuy)
A cobbled small town with a famous topiary park. - La Roche-en-Ardenne (La Roche-en-Ardenne)
A river town under a ruined castle, ideal for walking. - Thermes de Spa (Spa)
Modern thermal baths above the town that gave spas their name.
Arts and Culture
- Bouillon Castle (Bouillon)
The most impressive castle in Belgium, with summer torchlit visits. - Bastogne War Museum (Bastogne)
An immersive museum of the Battle of the Bulge. - Orval Abbey (Villers-devant-Orval)
Abbey ruins and gardens beside the Trappist brewery.
Nature and Outdoors
- Tombeau du Géant (Botassart)
A celebrated viewpoint over a loop of the Semois. - High Fens (Hautes Fagnes)
Boardwalk trails across moorland, the highest point in Belgium. - Gardens of Annevoie (Anhée)
Water gardens that run without pumps.
Bars and Nightlife
- Maredsous Abbey (Denée)
An abbey with a café serving its own beer and cheese.
Stays
- Le Sanglier des Ardennes (Durbuy)
A riverside hotel in the heart of Durbuy.
Places to Visit in Leuven
Arts and Culture
- Leuven Town Hall (Grote Markt)
A lace-like Gothic town hall covered with statues.
Bars and Nightlife
- Oude Markt (Leuven)
A square lined with student bars, called the longest bar in Europe.
Places to Visit in Mechelen
Arts and Culture
- Kazerne Dossin (Mechelen)
A moving memorial and museum on the Holocaust and human rights.
Places to Visit in Ostend
Nature and Outdoors
- Ostend beach (Ostend)
A wide sandy beach and promenade on the North Sea.
Places to Visit in Liège
Arts and Culture
- Liège-Guillemins station (Liège)
A dramatic white station designed by Santiago Calatrava.