Belgium Complete Travel Guide
Overview
Belgium is a relatively small country located in West Europe, bordering with countries like France in the South West, The Netherlands in the North, and Luxemburg and Germany in the East.
The country is famous for its amazing chocolates and its famous Belgian beer (reaches thousands of breweries around the country).
Personally I really enjoyed my time in Belgium and I will defiantly come back.
Quick Facts
- Capital: Brussels
- Official Languages: German, French, Dutch
- Population: 11.5 million people
- Location: Belgium is a Western European country bordered by France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Luxembourg
- Famous Places: Grand Place in Brussels, Atomium, Bruges canals, Ghent’s Gravensteen Castle, Ardennes Forest, Antwerp Cathedral.
- Currency: Euro (EUR) (Exchange Rate)
- Climate: Cool summers and mild winters
- Religion: Christian
- Visa: Part of the Schengen Area, allowing visa-free entry for many nationalities
- Time Zone: Central European Time (CET)
Flights
The main airport of Belgium is the Brussels Airport (BRU) as most of the International flights and most of the airlines are flying from and to there, it is located very close to the city center and very accessible by train and taxis (around 20-25 minutes from the city center).
There is another smaller airport located an hour south to Brussels and it is named Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL), it is located around 1-1:30 hours from the city and mainly serving the low cost airlines like Wizz air, Ryanair and more. take that in mind when booking a low cost flight to Brussels since it is less accessible from the city center.
Additional Airports in Belgium:
- Antwerp International Airport (ANR)
- Ostend–Bruges International Airport (OST)
Climate
Belgium has a typical mild European climate with four seasons, a mild spring from March to May, warm summer from June to August, cool autumn from September to November, and cold winter from December to February. It rains frequently in Belgium and sunny days are not very common especially during the winter time.
Budget
Belgium is a very typical western European country in terms of budget and it is similar to the neighbor countries like France and Germany.
Accommodation
Hostels in Belgium are available in a wide range of prices from around 20 EUR to 50 EUR per night.
Hotels in Belgium are available from around 60 EUR up to 150-300 EUR per night depends on the location.
Food
Food is options are available from 4-6 EUR for street food options and 12-30 EUR for a meal in a normal restaurant or bar and it can go up to 60-150 EUR for restaurants on the expensive side.
Transportation
The main transportation methods in Belgium (like most of the West European countries) are fast trains, buses and cars.
Safety
Belgium feels pretty much safe as any other European country, there are a few areas in some cities that you better maybe not to go at night (like many other places in the world).
The major risk today in most of Europe is mainly pickpockets in the streets and the public transportation like metro and trams.
Useful Apps
Today we barely can “survive” an hour without our smartphones and traveling is no exception! so there are a few apps that are must have when traveling in Belgium like Uber for taxis and Uber Eats and Takeaway.com for food deliveries.
Check this post for more apps you must have when traveling: 18 APPs You Must Have For Your Next Trip In 2024
Posts
My latest blog posts about Belgium
