Top Things to Do in Belgium
20 must-see attractions and experiences
Belgium packs an improbable density of excellent attractions into a country smaller than Maryland. Three distinct regions -- Dutch-speaking Flanders, French-speaking Wallonia, and bilingual Brussels -- each bring their own architectural, culinary, and cultural character, connected by a rail network so efficient that you can reach any corner of the country within two hours. The medieval cloth-trading cities of Bruges and Ghent, the Art Nouveau streets of Brussels, and the river citadels of the Meuse valley represent entirely different Belgiums, all within easy day-trip distance of each other. The country punches far above its weight in art, food, and architecture. The Grand Place in Brussels is routinely ranked among the most beautiful squares in Europe. Bruges preserves a medieval city centre so complete it earned UNESCO protection as a single entity. And the culinary tradition -- from frites and waffles to Trappist ales and Michelin-starred restaurants -- operates at a level that belies the country's modest size and international profile. First-time visitors should base themselves in Brussels for transport convenience, but dedicate full days to Bruges and Ghent. The Wallonian south, with its fortress towns and forested river valleys, rewards a separate trip. Belgium is not a country you pass through; it is one you return to, discovering new layers each time.
Don't Miss These
Our top picks for visitors to Belgium
Grand Place
Historic SitesThe central square of Brussels and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, ringed by ornate guild houses from the 17th century, the Gothic town hall, and the neo-Gothic King's House museum. The facades are among the most elaborate in Europe, their gilded details and allegorical sculptures reflecting the wealth of the merchant guilds that rebuilt the square after French bombardment in 1695. Every two years in August, the square is carpeted with a million begonias in a geometric floral display.
Grote Markt, 1000 Brussel, Belgium · View on Map
Atomium
Museums & GalleriesA 102-metre steel structure built for the 1958 World Exposition, representing an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. Connected spheres house exhibition spaces, a restaurant, and a panoramic viewing platform at the top, reached by escalators running through the connecting tubes. The building is both a relic of mid-century optimism and a striking piece of architecture that photographs well from every angle.
Pl. de l'Atomium 1, 1020 Bruxelles, Belgium · View on Map
Manneken Pis
Notable AttractionsA small bronze fountain sculpture of a boy urinating, standing just 61 centimetres tall at the junction of Rue de l'Etuve and Rue du Chêne. Despite its diminutive size, the statue has been a Brussels landmark since the early 17th century and is dressed in elaborate costumes several times per week -- the wardrobe collection numbers over 1,000 outfits, displayed in rotation at the nearby GardeRobe MannekenPis museum. Expect crowds and manage your expectations about scale.
1000 Brussels, Belgium · View on Map
Parc du Cinquantenaire
Natural WondersA grand public park in eastern Brussels, built for the 1880 National Exhibition and anchored by the triumphal arch that marks its eastern gateway. The park grounds include formal gardens, lawns used for weekend sports, and three major museums housed in the exhibition halls: the Art & History Museum, Autoworld, and the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces. The scale and ambition of the 1880 layout is still impressive.
1000 Brussels, Belgium · View on Map
Castle of the Counts
Historic SitesA 12th-century stone fortress in the centre of Ghent, built by Philip of Alsace and modelled on Crusader castles he encountered in Syria. The castle retains its moat, fortified walls, and keep, and houses a museum of medieval judicial practices including an uncomfortably complete collection of torture instruments. The rooftop walkway provides panoramic views over Ghent's medieval skyline.
Sint-Veerleplein 11, 9000 Gent, Belgium · View on Map
Walibi Belgium
EntertainmentBelgium's largest theme park, located in Wavre, about 30 kilometres southeast of Brussels. The park features major roller coasters including the Kondaa, one of the tallest and fastest mega coasters in Europe, alongside family rides, water attractions, and seasonal events. It draws visitors from across the Benelux region and northern France.
Bd de l'Europe 100, 1300 Wavre, Belgium · View on Map
Belfry of Bruges
Historic SitesAn 83-metre medieval bell tower overlooking the Markt square in Bruges, built in the 13th century to house the city's treasury and municipal archives. Climbing the 366 narrow steps rewards you with a sweeping view over Bruges' red-tiled rooftops, canals, and surrounding Flemish countryside. The 47-bell carillon still plays at regular intervals, filling the square below with centuries-old melodies.
Markt 7, 8000 Brugge, Belgium · View on Map
Citadelle de Dinant
Historic SitesA fortified citadel perched on a cliff 100 metres above the Meuse River in Dinant, accessible by cable car or a steep 408-step staircase carved into the rock face. Originally built in 1051 and rebuilt by the Dutch in 1821, the citadel now houses a military museum and offers dramatic views down the Meuse valley. The approach from below, with the citadel towering above the onion-domed Collegiate Church, is one of Belgium's most photographed scenes.
Chem. de la Citadelle 1, 5500 Dinant, Belgium · View on Map
Royal Palace of Brussels
Historic SitesThe official palace of the Belgian king, fronting the Place des Palais with a neoclassical facade that is wider than Buckingham Palace. The palace opens its state rooms to the public for free each summer (late July through early September), revealing opulent reception halls, a throne room, and the Mirror Room whose ceiling is covered in 1.6 million beetle wing-cases by artist Jan Fabre. The surrounding Royal Park provides a formal green backdrop.
Rue Brederode 16, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium · View on Map
Mini-Europe
Museums & GalleriesA miniature park at the foot of the Atomium displaying 1:25 scale models of over 350 buildings and monuments from EU member states. Working models include erupting Vesuvius, a TGV train, and cable cars, and the detail level on major landmarks is impressive. It provides an unexpectedly educational overview of European architecture and works well for families.
Av. du Football 1, 1020 Bruxelles, Belgium · View on Map
Notable Attractions
The Manneken Pis and Jeanneke Pis provide Brussels' signature quirky charm, while The View has a modern perspective on a city built across centuries.
Jeanneke Pis
Notable AttractionsA small bronze fountain sculpture of a squatting girl, installed in 1987 as a feminist counterpart to the Manneken Pis. Tucked in a dead-end alley off Rue des Bouchers, the sculpture is protected behind iron gates (reportedly to prevent theft) and is easy to miss entirely. Like its male counterpart, it is smaller than expected but has become a quirky point of civic pride.
Imp. de la Fidélité 10-12, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium · View on Map
The View - Bruxelles
Notable AttractionsA modern observation platform and rooftop bar offering panoramic views across Brussels from the top of the Finance Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the city centre. The 360-degree views take in the Grand Place, the Atomium, the basilica at Koekelberg, and the suburban sprawl stretching to the horizon. The space also hosts temporary exhibitions and events.
Rue des Quatre Bras 1914, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium · View on Map
Museums & Galleries
The Royal Museums of Fine Arts hold Belgium's definitive art collection from Bruegel through Magritte, while the Atomium, Mini-Europe, and Train World offer distinctive museum experiences that go well beyond conventional galleries.
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Museums & GalleriesA complex of interconnected museums in central Brussels housing one of Europe's finest art collections, spanning Flemish Primitives through Magritte's Surrealism. The Old Masters section holds works by Bruegel, Rubens, and Van Dyck, while the dedicated Magritte Museum presents the world's largest collection of the Belgian Surrealist's paintings. The Fin-de-Siècle Museum covers Art Nouveau and Symbolism.
Rue de la Régence 3, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium · View on Map
Train World
Museums & GalleriesA railway museum in the Schaerbeek district of Brussels, housed in a beautifully restored 19th-century station building. The collection traces Belgian railway history from the 1830s to the present through original locomotives, carriages, and immersive recreations, including a full-scale recreation of an early station platform. The staging and lighting are exceptionally well done, making this one of Europe's best transport museums.
Pl. Princesse Elisabeth 5, 1030 Schaerbeek, Belgium · View on Map
Cultural Experiences
Religious architecture is a major draw, from the Holy Blood relic in Bruges to the world's largest Art Deco basilica in Koekelberg. These sites blend artistic achievement with centuries of living devotion.
National Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Koekelberg
Cultural ExperiencesThe fifth-largest church in the world and the largest Art Deco building in existence, this basilica took 65 years to build (1905-1970) and occupies a commanding hilltop position in the Koekelberg commune. The interior combines Art Deco geometry with stained glass and terra cotta, while the viewing gallery at the top offers panoramic views across Brussels. It is architecturally unique and oddly under-visited.
Basiliekvoorplein 1, 1083 Brussel, Belgium · View on Map
Basilica of the Holy Blood
Cultural ExperiencesA 12th-century church in Bruges's Burg Square that houses a venerated relic believed to contain a cloth with the blood of Christ, brought from the Holy Land during the Crusades. The church is split between a stark Romanesque lower chapel and an ornate Gothic upper chapel, creating a striking architectural contrast within a single building. The relic is displayed for veneration daily, and the annual Procession of the Holy Blood has been held since 1304.
Burg 13, 8000 Brugge, Belgium · View on Map
Historic Sites
Belgium's historic sites range from the Grand Place's gilded guild houses to Bruges' complete medieval city centre, with fortresses, palaces, and citadels concentrated along the river valleys of Wallonia. The preservation quality, in Bruges and Ghent, is extraordinary.
De Burg
Historic SitesThe historic administrative square of Bruges, adjacent to the Markt, surrounded by a concentration of civic and religious buildings spanning from Romanesque to Renaissance. The square includes the ornate Gothic town hall (the oldest in the Low Countries), the Basilica of the Holy Blood, and the neoclassical courthouse. The architectural range across a single small square is remarkable.
Burg 15, 8000 Brugge, Belgium · View on Map
Triumphal Arch
Historic SitesThe monumental triple arch at the eastern entrance of the Parc du Cinquantenaire, commissioned by Leopold II and completed in 1905. The arch is crowned by a bronze quadriga (four-horse chariot) and flanked by allegorical sculptures representing the Belgian provinces. The roof of the arch is accessible and offers views down the park's central axis toward the city centre.
Tun. Loi 27, 1040 Bruxelles, Belgium · View on Map
Historic centre of Brugge (Bruges)
Historic SitesThe entire medieval city centre of Bruges, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding preservation of medieval urban architecture. Canals thread between brick facades, stone bridges, and church spires, creating one of Europe's most photogenic cityscapes. The centre is compact enough to explore entirely on foot, with every turn revealing arched doorways, hidden courtyards, and canal reflections.
Grote Markt, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium · View on Map
Black Tower
Historic SitesA remnant of Bruges' medieval city walls dating to 1399, the Black Tower stands along the canal near the Jan van Eyckplein. The squat stone tower is one of the few surviving pieces of Bruges' original fortifications and provides a tangible reminder that the postcard-perfect canal city was once a walled, defended settlement. It is viewable from the outside and from the adjacent bridge.
Pl. Sainte-Catherine 29, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium · View on Map
Planning Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
May through September offers the warmest, driest weather and the longest days. December is worth considering for Christmas markets in Brussels, Bruges, and Ghent. The biennial flower carpet on the Grand Place (even-numbered years in August) is a specific draw.
Booking Advice
The Belfry of Bruges limits visitors and queues can exceed an hour -- arrive early or buy timed tickets if available. The Royal Palace of Brussels is only open late July to early September. Major exhibitions at the Royal Museums benefit from online ticket purchases.
Save Money
The Brussels Card includes free public transport and admission to over 40 museums for a flat daily fee, making it excellent value for museum-heavy itineraries. Belgian rail offers weekend discounts and multi-ride passes that make day trips to Bruges, Ghent, and Dinant very affordable.
Local Etiquette
Belgium has three official languages -- default to French in Brussels and Wallonia, Dutch in Flanders. Tipping is not expected (service is included) but rounding up is appreciated. Remove hats in churches, and do not refer to Belgian frites as 'French fries' -- it is a point of national pride.
Frequently Asked Questions
What cities should I visit in Belgium?
Brussels, Bruges, and Ghent form the classic trio and are all connected by trains that run every 30 minutes or so. Antwerp is worth visiting for its fashion scene and Rubens heritage, while Leuven offers a lively university atmosphere. If you have time, Mechelen and Ypres provide quieter alternatives with well-preserved medieval centers and significant WWI history respectively.
What are the best places to visit in Belgium?
The Grand Place in Brussels, Bruges' medieval center, and Ghent's Gravensteen castle are the most visited attractions. Beyond cities, the Ardennes region offers forests and caves, while the Belgian coast has beach towns like Ostend and De Panne. The Atomium, Manneken Pis, and various chocolate museums are popular stops, though we recommend balancing famous sites with wandering the quieter béguinages (historic communities) found in most cities.
Where should I visit in Belgium?
Start with the triangle of Brussels, Bruges, and Ghent—they're all within an hour of each other by train. The Flemish region in the north has most of the tourist infrastructure and medieval architecture, while Wallonia in the south offers the Ardennes for hiking and towns like Dinant along the Meuse River. Belgium is small enough that you can base yourself in one city and day-trip to most places.
What are the main tourist attractions in Belgium?
The Grand Place in Brussels (free to visit), Bruges' Belfry tower (€12 entry), and the Menin Gate in Ypres where the Last Post plays daily at 8pm are among the most significant. Art lovers should visit the Ghent Altarpiece at St. Bavo's Cathedral and Brussels' Royal Museums of Fine Arts. For something different, the Caves of Han (€16-20) and the Mini-Europe park offer family-friendly options.
What are good places to visit in Belgium with family?
Pairi Daiza zoo near Mons is one of Europe's best (around €35-40 for adults), and Mini-Europe in Brussels lets kids see the continent's landmarks in miniature. Bruges and Ghent are walkable and have boat tours that keep children engaged, while the Belgian coast has beaches and the Plopsaland theme park. Many cities also have chocolate-making workshops where families can make their own pralines—we recommend checking ahead for English-language sessions.
Book Your Experiences
Guided tours, tickets, and activities in Belgium