Belgium
Brussels · EUR · Dutch (Flemish), French, German
Hub airports: BRU, CRL · Suggested stay: 3–5 days
Belgium is small, dense, and underrated — Bruges and Ghent are storybook medieval, Antwerp is design-forward, Brussels is gritty-cosmopolitan. The beer scene is unmatched: 1,500+ varieties, served in custom glasses by locals who care.
Trappist beer at Cantillon brewery, then frites with mayo.
Where to go
Best time to visit
April–June and September–October. The Bruges canals are loveliest in spring. Christmas markets in Brussels and Bruges (Dec) are charming. Belgium is rainy year-round — bring a jacket regardless.
Score combines weather, crowds, and price (1–5). See the full matrix across all countries.
US-citizen tips
Service is included; round up or 5%. Brussels has 3 train stations — Brussels Midi/Zuid for Eurostar/Thalys, Central for tourists. Buy chocolate at Mary, Pierre Marcolini, or Wittamer (skip Godiva — it's American-owned).
Local etiquette
Brussels and Wallonia speak French; Flanders speaks Dutch. Default to French in the south, Dutch in the north, English in Brussels. Frites are a meal, not a side.
Getting around
SNCB trains link everywhere within an hour. Brussels–Bruges 60 min. Get the Eurail Belgium Pass if you'll do 4+ trains.
Daily budget (USD)
Common pitfalls
- ⚠Brussels train stations have aggressive pickpockets — bag in front.
- ⚠Don't eat waffles in Grand Place; head to Maison Dandoy instead.
- ⚠Mussels are out of season May–July — eat them August onward.
🆘 Emergency reference
Works from any phone (locked, no SIM), free, multilingual operators, dispatches police/fire/medical.
Lost passport, arrested, hospitalized, victim of a crime → contact embassy first, then home insurer. After hours: the main line routes you to a duty officer.
🗣️ Essential phrases
Dutch (Flanders) / French (Wallonia / Brussels)