Belgium Travel Guide

Browse the Belgium Photo Gallery

Compact enough to be covered in a week and spirited enough to count as one of Europe’s most underrated destinations, Belgium does many things well, not least winning over sceptical visitors. If all that comes to mind is waffles and EU bureaucracy, then the reality – with its frothing beer, medieval steeples and simmering cultural mix – will be a pleasant wake-up call.

True, Brussels has more than its share of faceless political buildings, but take a closer look and you’ll find a dynamic city big on café living and Art Nouveau, while Antwerp and (particularly) Bruges are both custom-made for picture postcards, the pair of them rich with finely crafted Middle Ages architecture.

The country itself is split into two sections – Flanders (the predominantly Dutch-speaking north) and Wallonia (the predominantly French-speaking south) – which, when taken together, add up to a visitor package far greater in scope than Belgium is generally given credit for.

Geography

Belgium is situated in northwestern Europe, bordered by France to the south, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast and the Netherlands to the north. There is 60km (37 miles) of coastline to the northwest, on the North Sea. The national landscape is varied, with the rivers and gorges of the Ardennes in the southeast contrasting sharply with the rolling plains which make up much of the northern and western countryside. The country’s two contingent parts – French-speaking Wallonia and Dutch-speaking Flanders – are roughly the same size. Capital city Brussels sits close to the center of the country.