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Belgium has a lot to offer its visitors. If you are looking for a place to relax for a weekend or rejuvenate on a long trip, there are places to visit in Belgium that will let anyone have a great time as Belgium has something in store for everyone. You can immerse in nature’s lap and engage in activities like hiking, cycling, and camping on the canvas of beautiful flora and fauna. If you are into art, history, culture, or love aesthetic things and are a foodie, this place will impress you with its delicacies, beautiful castles, and rich history.
Top 15 Places To Visit In Belgium
Here is a list of the top places to visit in Belgium for a wonderful holiday experience including iconic landmarks, cultural hubs, and natural retreats.
1. The Ardennes
Photo: Guillaume Vandenneucker / Unsplash
The picturesque Ardennes is one of the best tourist attractions in Belgium, known for its immaculate nature. Its beautiful villages still have folklore and traditions, and the place has beautiful rivers, lush forests of firs, and broadleaf that you will enjoy. The place becomes a tourist hub, especially in the spring and you will see activities like cycling, fishing, and kayaking in its beautiful villages. Mountaineering and biking are popular sports that you can engage in and in winter, this place offers a wonderful skiing experience tobogganing, and snow scooter racing. There are also caves to explore and fairytale-like castles, art, and culture.
Major Attractions: Castles, Museum, caves, outdoor adventure
Nearest Airport: Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport.
Suggested Read: Top Beautiful Places To Visit Near Belgium For An Unforgettable Trip
2. The Belgian Coast
Photo: Gilles San Martin / Wikimedia Commons
This 65-kilometre coast is among Belgium tourist places with its many beaches and fun atmosphere, ideal for sunbathing, swimming, and outdoor activities like sailing, fishing, and ball games. The sandy beaches in Belgium are some of the cleanest and widest in Europe, and there are over fifteen resorts of all types on the coast, which take care of your accommodation needs. You can enjoy many things like a casino, bars, event halls, and amusement parks, where you can have a good time partying with your loved ones.
Major Attractions: Ostend Beach, Nieuwpoort, De Pannebeach
Nearest Airport: Ostend Burges Intl.Airport
3. Bruges
Photo: Peter Boccia / Unsplash
This city will enchant you with its canals, cobblestone streets, and medieval architecture. You feel like you are walking in a live storybook. It will make you love art even if you are not an art lover. The city’s charm makes its visitors enchanted after every visit. Known for its photogenic landmarks and gastronomic culture, this city will keep you entertained and enriched with beautiful memories. You will find cosy bars and breweries serving famous Belgian beer and tourists relishing a feast at world-class restaurants. This is indeed the city to eat, drink, and be mesmerized.
Major Attractions: Museums, Historical places, Outdoor Fun
Nearest Airport: Ostend Airport
Suggested Read: Things To Do In Bruges
4. Ghent
Photo: Michielverbeek / Wikimedia Commons
This city is one of the best places for satisfying your holiday needs, whether you love to row in a boat to exquisite dining places, enjoy the small-town vibes or stroll through historical monuments in Belgium. This city is known for magical light and shadows in the evenings. It promises a good life with over 500 restaurants offering delicious cuisines, beers, artisanal chocolatiers, and pubs for its amazing nightlife. This city is Europe’s best-kept secret waiting for you to explore.
Major Attractions: Mystic Lamb, historical places, Cathedrals, Belfry, Canals etc
Nearest Airport: Zavantem Airport
5. Ypres
Photo: Velvet / Wikimedia Commons
A city whose resilience speaks volumes to date, rises from the ashes after it was destroyed during World War I. This city is located near the French border and has rich historical value, surrounded by cemeteries, museums, and battlefield memorials of the 20th-century war. A walk through the cemeteries through beautiful gardens will make you remember the war and its brave soldiers, and a visit to the Kaffe bazaar which serves over 30 Belgian beers will keep you entertained. The famous Grote Markt will satisfy all your shopping desires.
Major Attractions: Churches, Museums, WWI Battlefields, Menin Gate, Ypres Cloth Hall
Nearest Airport: Brussels Airport
Suggested Read: Top Places To Visit In Brussels
6. Antwerp
Photo: Julien Grandgagnage / Wikimedia Commons
If you are a diamond lover, history buff, or love everything about art and fashion and enjoy the evening over delicious cuisines and beers, Antwerp is the place for you. This city was home to the famous painter Ruben and you will find a vibrant cultural scene that attracts Europe’s finest talent in art, writing, acting, and more. This city is also a fashion paradise so all those fashionistas will greatly enjoy the ultramodern and avant-garde designs of the two famous designer brands Margiela and Raf Simons that this city has produced.
Major Attractions: Museum Plantin-Moretus, Groenplaats, Middelheimmuseum, Vogeltjesmarkt
Nearest Airport: Antwerp Airport
7. Leuven
This place is the knowledge hub of Belgium, filled with local and international students, and has a different vibe of its own. This has been ranked in the top five cities in Europe. It is an offbeat location where you can enjoy without the touristy touch. It is one of the top tourist places in Belgium, offering relaxation in its lively atmosphere but without the crowds. Unlike other cities, the food and activities are affordable. One interesting thing about this city is that you won’t find cars as the city has been intentionally designed for walking. Hop in and take a train to Leuven for a relaxing time.
Activities: Gothic Town Hall, University Library, Stella Artois Brewery, Botanical Garden
Nearest Airport: Brussels Airport
Suggested Read: Explore The Most Beautiful Hidden Places Brussels That Go Beyond The Typical Tourist Trail
8. Mons
Photo: Alexis Mette / Unsplash
This city is in the French-speaking region of Belgium and is a unique town that offers the perfect lovely weekend with its rich history, beautiful architecture, and people. As you walk down the stone buildings, it is hard to imagine that this peaceful town has gone through such turbulent times in the past. The natural beauty and the historical places make the place more charming and will relax you immensely. Also, If you are looking for good fun, this town has everything in store for you in its festivities and celebrations which are frequent in this town.
Major Attractions: Grand Place de Mon, Parks, Grand Large, Escape Game
Nearest Airport: Brussels South Charleroi Airport
9. Mechelen
Photo: Hubert DENIES / Wikimedia Commons
Tourists can satisfy all art fetishes of exquisite art pieces, exclusive textiles, and tapestry handicrafts at Mechelen in Belgium. It is among the top places for Belgium trip offering great Belgian beers and a great shopping experience. This cozy modest art city with its rich history lessons makes it more fascinating. River Dyle flows through this city. One of the famous places to visit in Mechelen is St. Rumbold’s Cathedral, which is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Major Attractions: Museums, Historical Places, Outdoor Activities
Nearest Airport: Maastricht Airport
Suggested Read: Belgium Music Festival
10. Durbuy
Photo: Michael Maga-ao / Unsplash
This city was once the smallest in the world and is an interesting place on Belgium tourist places list not only because it is less crowded with its 400 residents but because you can walk from one side of the city to another in five minutes. This city has many historic places and the scenic views of the emerald hills at the backdrop with cobblestone streets and stone houses make it look like it’s out of a storybook. A fun weekend in this interesting city is not a bad idea.
Major Attractions: Durbuy Vieille, Parc des Topiaires, Adventure Valley
Nearest Airport: Brussels Bruxelles National Airport
11. Brussels
Photo: Ank Kumar / Wikimedia Commons
Brussels, the de facto capital of the European Union, is among the top places to see in Belgium. It is famous for having a mix of old-world grandeur and new-world energy. The Grand Place is in the middle of the city and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its beautiful Baroque guildhalls and long history as a medieval market. The Atomium is a famous building that was made for the 1958 World’s Fair. It looks like an iron crystal that has been magnified 165 billion times, and the top sphere gives views, exhibits, and a unique dining experience, making it one of the best things to do in Belgium.
Major Attractions: Grand Place, Atomium, Manneken Pis, Royal Palace, Magritte Museum, EU Quarter
Nearest Airport: Brussels Airport (BRU)
Suggested Read: The Ultimate Guide To Things To Do In Brussels
12. Dinant
Photo: Jiuguang Wang / Wikimedia Commons
Wondering where to go in Belgium, then Dinant is a great option. It is a beautiful town in Wallonia that sits on the banks of the River Meuse. It is known for its steep cliffs and long past. The Dinant Citadel is the most famous feature. It is a fortress high above the town that was built by the Dutch between 1818 and 1821 to protect the Meuse valley. People can visit its museum and enjoy wide views of the river and the land around it. The Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame stands out with its beautiful onion-shaped dome.
Major Attractions: Dinant Citadel, Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame, Adolphe Sax House, Caves of Han & Grotte La Merveilleuse, River Meuse Cruises
Nearest Airport: Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL)
13. Tournai
Photo: stephane martin / Wikimedia Commons
Tournai is one of the oldest towns in Belgium and has a wonderful collection of cultural and medieval artefacts. People love the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for its five towers and mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles. The Tournai Belfry is the oldest in Belgium. It has a view of the whole city and shows how the town looked in the Middle Ages. The Museum of Fine Arts has works by famous artists like Manet and Rubens that art fans can see. There are many ancient buildings and busy cafés all around the Grand Place, which is the city’s social and cultural centre.
Major Attractions: Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Tournai Belfry, Museum of Fine Arts, Pont des Trous, Grand Place
Nearest Airport: Lille Airport (LIL)
Suggested Read: Valentine’s Day In Belgium
14. Hasselt
Photo: Bent Van Aeken / Wikimedia Commons
The capital of Limburg province is Hasselt, which is known for its lively arts scene, beautiful parks, and museums. It has peaceful scenery, koi ponds, and traditional tea houses that make it a great place to relax. With hands-on displays and tastes, the Jenever Museum honours the area’s history of making gin. People who are interested in fashion can visit the Fashion Museum, which has exhibitions that change often and show new designs by Belgian designers. With its collection of old buildings, costumed interpreters, and traditional crafts, the Bokrijk Open-Air Museum takes tourists back in time.
Major Attractions: Japanese Garden, Jenever Museum, Fashion Museum, Bokrijk Open-Air Museum, Herkenrode Abbey
Nearest Airport: Liège Airport (LGG)
15. Namur
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / Wikimedia Commons
One of the best things to do in Belgium with family is exploring the capital of Wallonia is Namur. The impressive Citadel of Namur stands tall and offers a wide view of the city and the point where the Meuse and Sambre rivers meet. There are a lot of cute streets in the Old Town, with shops, cafés, and old buildings all along them. The Baroque style and large dome of St. Aubin’s Cathedral make it stand out. The Félicien Rops Museum celebrates the controversial artist born in Namur in the 1800s by displaying a wide range of his works.
Major Attractions: Citadel of Namur, Old Town, St. Aubin’s Cathedral, Félicien Rops Museum, Meuse & Sambre Rivers
Nearest Airport: Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL)
Suggested Read: Airports In Belgium
Belgium is a dream destination for many and if you ever get to fulfil your bucket list of visiting this captivating country, visit at least some of these places. Belgium offers diversity in its culture, cuisines, and history giving the best experience of travelling from one city to another. Plan a trip with TripXL and explore these places to visit in Belgium which are a paradise for all those art lovers.
Cover Photo: Alex Vasey / Unsplash
