A photograph of Belgium

Country guide

Places to visit in Belgium — page 5

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...

Photograph · Naval S from Berlin · CC BY 2.0

3,688 Places
1Cities

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

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.

Checked 2026-08-25

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

Seasonal closures come from recorded opening hours.

  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.

  1. Karreveld Castle Karreveld Castle
    82 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
  2. Linthout Castle Linthout Castle
    83 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
  3. Rivieren Castle Rivieren Castle
    84 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
  4. Wemmel Castle Wemmel Castle
    85 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
  5. Wittouck Castle Wittouck Castle
    86 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
  6. Wolvendael Castle Wolvendael Castle
    87 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
  7. Botanical Garden of Brussels Botanical Garden of Brussels
    88 1 hour

    Botanical Garden of Brussels

    Jardin botanique - Kruidtuin

    The Botanical Garden of Brussels, also called Jardin botanique or Kruidtuin, is a historic green space in the Belgian capital. Established in the nineteenth century, it combines urban parkland with the architectural heritage of botanical cultivation.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Brussels
  8. Duden Park Duden Park
    89 1 hour

    Duden Park

    Parc Duden - Dudenpark

    Duden Park, or Parc Duden and Dudenpark, is a wooded public park on a hillside in southern Brussels. Its slopes and mature vegetation give it a more naturalistic character than the city’s formal flat parks.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Brussels
  9. Academy Palace Academy Palace
    90 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
  10. Autrique House Autrique House
    91 1 hr 30 min

    Autrique House

    Maison Autrique - Autrique-huis

    The Autrique House, known locally as Maison Autrique or Autrique-huis, is a historic residence in Brussels. This building holds significance as an early work by the renowned Belgian architect Victor Horta, predating his more famous Art Nouveau creations.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Brussels
  11. CINEMATEK CINEMATEK
    92 1 hr 30 min

    CINEMATEK

    CINEMATEK is Brussels’ cinematheque: a cinema and film archive devoted to preserving, studying, and showing film heritage. Its programme centres on classic, rare, and historically important works rather than the newest commercial releases.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Brussels
  12. Cauchie House Cauchie House
    93 1 hr 30 min

    Cauchie House

    Maison Cauchie - Cauchiehuis

    Cauchie House, Maison Cauchie or Cauchiehuis, is an Art Nouveau townhouse in Brussels designed by architect and artist Paul Cauchie in 1905. It served as his residence and studio, allowing him to shape both the building and its decoration.

    • Notable
    • Museum
    • Brussels
  13. Egmont Palace Egmont Palace
    94 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
  14. Halle Gate Park Halle Gate Park
    95 1 hour

    Halle Gate Park

    Parc de la Porte de Hal - Hallepoortpark

    Halle Gate Park, also known as Parc de la Porte de Hal or Hallepoortpark, is a public green space beside Brussels' historic Halle Gate.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Brussels
  15. Palace of Charles of Lorraine Palace of Charles of Lorraine
    96 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
  16. Palace of National Industry Palace of National Industry
    97 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
  17. Palace of the Count of Flanders Palace of the Count of Flanders
    98 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
  18. Palace of the Marquess of Assche Palace of the Marquess of Assche
    99 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
  19. Royal Park Theatre Royal Park Theatre
    100 1 hour

    Royal Park Theatre

    Théâtre Royal du Parc - Koninklijke Parktheater

    The Royal Park Theatre, known locally as Théâtre Royal du Parc in French and Koninklijke Parktheater in Dutch, is a historic performing arts venue situated in Brussels.

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • 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.