Roavina

Country guide

Belgium

A photograph of Belgium
Photograph · Naval S from Berlin · CC BY 2.0

Belgium covers 30,689 km² and holds more than 11.8 million people, a density of 383 per km² that ranks sixth in Europe. It is divided three ways — Flanders in the north, Wallonia in the south, the Brussels-Capital Region in the middle — and the language divides with it: Dutch for about 60 per cent of the population, French for about 40, German for the one per cent in the East Cantons. The choice for a visitor is largely between Brussels, which carries the seats of the European Commission and Council and the headquarters of NATO, and the Flemish cities: Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, Leuven.

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information
Language spoken
Dutch, French and German
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+32
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
112
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C and E · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Safe from the mains
Public drinking water is regulated by Belgium's regional authorities

Planning a visit

  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: seasonal closure recorded
  5. May: seasonal closure recorded
  6. June: seasonal closure recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded
  9. September: seasonal closure recorded — this month
  10. October: seasonal closure recorded
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

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25 places match
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Category

Historic monuments 25 Museums 61 Places of worship 3 Nature sites 8 Viewpoints 0 Food and drink 0 Markets and shopping 1 Entertainment 1 Nightlife 0 Family attractions 0 Art and culture 1 Activities 0

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 22 1 to 2 hours 3

Interests

History 0 Art 0 Museums 0 Nature 0 Sea and beach 0 Viewpoints 0
  1. Grand-Place - Grote Markt Grand-Place - Grote Markt
    01 1 hr 30 min

    Grand-Place - Grote Markt

    Grand-Place, or Grote Markt, is Brussels' historic central square and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  2. Atomium Atomium
    02 2 hours

    Atomium

    The Atomium is a building in the shape of a cube standing on one corner, and it is a model of something: the unit cell of an iron crystal, magnified 165 billion times.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  3. Manneken Pis Manneken Pis
    03 10 min

    Manneken Pis

    Manneken Pis is a bronze fountain figure of a small boy urinating, 55.5 centimetres tall, set in a stone niche on the corner where the Rue du Chêne meets the Rue de l'Étuve, a short walk downhill from the Grand-Place.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  4. Brussels Town Hall Brussels Town Hall
    04 1 hr 30 min

    Brussels Town Hall

    Hôtel de Ville de Bruxelles - Stadhuis van Brussel

    The City Hall of Brussels is the working seat of the city's administration and the only building on the Grand-Place that a visitor can go inside on a ticket.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  5. Royal Palace of Brussels Royal Palace of Brussels
    05 45 min

    Royal Palace of Brussels

    Palais Royal - Koninklijk Paleis

    The Royal Palace of Brussels serves as the official palace of the Belgian King and houses the administrative services of the monarchy. Despite its name, it is not the royal residence; the King lives at the Palace of Laeken.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  6. Bourse Palace Bourse Palace
    06 45 min

    Bourse Palace

    Bourse - Beurs

    Bourse Palace, known locally as Bourse or Beurs, is a historic landmark on Boulevard Anspach 80 in central Brussels. The building stands in the pedestrian zone beside Grand-Place and combines public halls with visitor attractions, hospitality venues and services.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  7. Palace of Justice of Brussels Palace of Justice of Brussels
    07 45 min

    Palace of Justice of Brussels

    Palais de justice - Justitiepaleis

    The Palace of Justice of Brussels, known locally as Palais de justice or Justitiepaleis, stands as one of Belgium's most monumental law courts.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  8. Brussels Park Brussels Park
    08 45 min

    Brussels Park

    Parc de Bruxelles - Warandepark

    Brussels Park, known locally as Parc de Bruxelles and Warandepark, is a public park situated in the heart of Brussels. It lies adjacent to the Royal Square and the Belgian Parliament building.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  9. Stoclet Palace Stoclet Palace
    09 45 min

    Stoclet Palace

    Palais Stoclet - Stocletpaleis

    The Stoclet Palace is a private residence in Brussels, Belgium, designed by architect Josef Hoffmann and the Wiener Werkstätte between 1905 and 1911. It stands as one of the most refined achievements of the Vienna Secession movement.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  10. Royal Castle of Laeken Royal Castle of Laeken
    10 45 min

    Royal Castle of Laeken

    Château de Laeken - Kasteel Van Laken

    The Royal Castle of Laeken serves as the official residence of the Belgian royal family. Located in the Laeken district north of central Brussels, this neoclassical palace complex stands within extensive private grounds.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  11. Beersel Castle Beersel Castle
    11 45 min

    Beersel Castle

    Kasteel van Beersel

    Beersel Castle, also called Kasteel van Beersel, is a medieval fortress in the municipality of Beersel, southwest of Brussels. Its preserved defensive form is defined by circular towers, heavy masonry and a moat surrounding the castle.

    • High
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  12. Charle-Albert Castle Charle-Albert Castle
    12 45 min

    Charle-Albert Castle

    Château Charle-Albert — Charle-Albertkasteel

    Charle-Albert Castle, also known as Château Charle-Albert or Charle-Albertkasteel, is a named historic castle structure in Brussels.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  13. Groot-Bijgaarden Castle Groot-Bijgaarden Castle
    13 45 min

    Groot-Bijgaarden Castle

    Kasteel Groot-Bijgaarden

    Groot-Bijgaarden Castle, known locally as Kasteel Groot-Bijgaarden, is a historic castle situated in the municipality of Dilbeek, within the Brussels-Capital Region's broader metropolitan area. The structure represents Belgian feudal and Renaissance architectural heritage, with origins tracing to medieval fortifications.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  14. Karreveld Castle Karreveld Castle
    14 45 min

    Karreveld Castle

    Château du Karreveld - Kasteel Karreveld

    Karreveld Castle, known as Château du Karreveld and Kasteel Karreveld, is a historic castle and cultural landmark in Brussels. The site is associated with Wikidata identifier Q2971719 and contributes to the heritage character of the Brussels region.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  15. Linthout Castle Linthout Castle
    15 45 min

    Linthout Castle

    Castel de Lindthout

    Linthout Castle, also known as Castel de Lindthout, is a documented historic structure in Brussels and is identified by Wikidata as Q2941363.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  16. Rivieren Castle Rivieren Castle
    16 45 min

    Rivieren Castle

    Château de Rivieren - Kasteel ter Rivieren

    Rivieren Castle, also called Château de Rivieren and Kasteel ter Rivieren, is a heritage landmark in Brussels. Its French and Dutch names fit the bilingual character of the Belgian capital.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  17. Wemmel Castle Wemmel Castle
    17 45 min

    Wemmel Castle

    Gemeentehuis Wemmel

    Wemmel Castle, also known locally as Gemeentehuis Wemmel, is a civic landmark in the municipality of Wemmel near Brussels. The second name means Wemmel Town Hall and explains the building’s present municipal role.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  18. Wittouck Castle Wittouck Castle
    18 45 min

    Wittouck Castle

    Château de La Fougeraie - Kasteel van Fougeraie

    Wittouck Castle, also known as Château de La Fougeraie and Kasteel van Fougeraie, is a private estate in Uccle, in the southern part of Brussels.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  19. Wolvendael Castle Wolvendael Castle
    19 45 min

    Wolvendael Castle

    Château de Wolvendael - Kasteel Wolvendael

    Wolvendael Castle, also called Château de Wolvendael and Kasteel Wolvendael, is a historic landmark in Brussels. The French and Dutch names place it within the capital’s bilingual cultural landscape.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  20. Academy Palace Academy Palace
    20 45 min

    Academy Palace

    Palais des Académies - Academiënpaleis

    Academy Palace, Palais des Académies or Academiënpaleis, is a neoclassical institutional building in Brussels. It serves as the seat of five Belgian royal academies, including the Royal Academy of Sciences and the Royal Academy of French Language and Literature.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  21. Egmont Palace Egmont Palace
    21 45 min

    Egmont Palace

    Palais d'Egmont - Egmontpaleis

    Egmont Palace is a historic aristocratic residence beside the Petit Sablon in central Brussels. Today it serves as a venue for Belgian and international state functions, diplomatic meetings, ministerial gatherings and ceremonial occasions.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  22. Palace of Charles of Lorraine Palace of Charles of Lorraine
    22 45 min

    Palace of Charles of Lorraine

    Palais de Charles de Lorraine - Paleis van Karel van Lotharingen

    The Palace of Charles of Lorraine is a historic Brussels building associated with Charles of Lorraine and the aristocratic world of the Habsburg Netherlands.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  23. Palace of National Industry Palace of National Industry
    23 45 min

    Palace of National Industry

    Palais de l'Industrie Nationale - Paleis voor de Nationale Nijverheid

    The Palace of National Industry, known as Palais de l'Industrie Nationale in French and Paleis voor de Nationale Nijverheid in Dutch, is a Brussels building linked with Belgium's industrial heritage.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  24. Palace of the Count of Flanders Palace of the Count of Flanders
    24 45 min

    Palace of the Count of Flanders

    Palais du Comte de Flandre - Paleis van de Graaf van Vlaanderen

    The Palace of the Count of Flanders is a Brussels landmark associated with the Count of Flanders title and Belgium’s aristocratic heritage. Its identity is architectural and historical rather than that of a conventional museum.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels
  25. Palace of the Marquess of Assche Palace of the Marquess of Assche
    25 45 min

    Palace of the Marquess of Assche

    Palais du marquis d'Assche - Paleis van de Markies van Assche

    The Palace of the Marquess of Assche is a Brussels aristocratic residence linked with the city’s noble architectural heritage. Its importance lies in the way titled families shaped the Belgian capital’s built environment.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Brussels

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Belgium be?

Five to seven days covers Brussels plus two or three rail-linked cities such as Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, Leuven or Liège. Staying in one or two bases avoids losing time to repeated hotel changes in this compact network.

What entry documents are needed for Belgium?

Belgium’s foreign-affairs service publishes visa and short-stay requirements. Check the rule for the passport being used and the full Schengen itinerary, especially when Belgium is not the first external border crossed.

What is the best way to travel around Belgium?

Brussels Airport connects directly with Belgium’s national rail network, and intercity trains link the principal cities without compulsory reservations. Local buses, trams and metros belong to separate regional operators, so one urban ticket is not automatically valid nationwide.

When is a practical time to visit Belgium?

April through June offers long sightseeing days, while September usually retains workable conditions with fewer peak-summer pressures. Belgian weather remains changeable, making a waterproof layer useful in any of these months.

What money and payment basics apply in Belgium?

The euro (EUR) is Belgium’s currency. Card and cash acceptance can differ between a station machine, a market stall and a small business, so retain a second payment method rather than assuming one card will work everywhere.

What practical safety details should I save for Belgium?

Belgium uses 112 for emergencies and Type C or E plugs at 230 V. The recorded national guidance says mains tap water is safe.