Belgium
Belgium Travel Guide and Archives
Belgium Travel Guide
In this Belgium travel guide you’ll learn that, besides being one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, Belgium is also the tastiest. That is, if you’re into beer, chocolate, chocolate covered waffles, and french fries. And if you’re not, you may wanna get yourself checked out–just a thought. I think you have a fever…
Belgium’s main cities include:
- Brussels – the capital of the European Union (and Belgium for that matter)
- Bruges – Unbelievably picturesque medieval village and the most beautiful place to have a canal-side beer.
- Ghent – home of the Ghent Altarpiece, considered a masterpiece of European art and one of the world’s greatest treasures. Also, the best frites on the planet–a masterpiece of potato frying.
- Antwerp – the capital of the Flanders province and Belgium’s most populous city proper
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Belgium travel basics
What currency is used in Belgium?
Belgium uses euros (Check out xe.com for the most up-to-date currency conversion–they have a mobile app too!)
What time zone is Belgium in?
Belgium is in the time zone GMT+1. This means the entire country of Belgium is six hours ahead of the Eastern time zone.
What are Belgium’s visa/passport requirements?
If you’re planning to spend less than 90 days in Belgium/the Schengen area, you can get by using just your U.S. passport–no Visa required. (Except for all those waffles you’re planning on buying, ba-dum-tshh!)
However, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date you leave the Schengen area.
What language do they speak in Belgium?
Unlike many other European countries that speak languages of their own, Belgium residents speak many.
Depending on where you are in Belgium, you’ll hear French, German, and a variation of Dutch known as Flemish that you won’t be able to understand a word of.
Where to stay in Belgium
Regardless of where in Belgium you’ll be visiting, there will be hotels and hostels ready and willing to put you up. I’m more of a hotel-stayer personally but those Alpine hostels are pretty damn charming too.
For booking accommodation in Belgium, I recommend reading hotel reviews on Tripadvisor, then booking your room through Booking.com (my favorite booking site).
And don’t forget, there’s always vacation rentals. Check out Belgium rental listings here!
My personal recommendations:
In Brussels: the Meininger Hotel Brussels City Center
In Bruges: St. Christopher’s Inn at the Bauhaus
Belgium packing essentials
For your trip to Belgium, you’ll want to pack the following:
– Belgium guidebook: I prefer Rough Guides and Fodor’s, but you can also find one from Lonely Planet and Rick Steves. I also really like these culture-centered guidebooks from Culture Smart!.
– In Bruges: a must-watch before visiting Bruges
– Travel insurance. Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.
