About Belgium

Belgium is famous for it’s beer, chocolates and oil paints. However, there are also some great museums and beautiful scenery to see while you are here. The best places to visit are Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent and The Ardennes.

Brussels is the capital of Belgium and is a mixture of grand buildings and modern skyscrapers. The city is built along a pentagon of boulevards known as the Petit Ring. At its heart is the Grand Place, possibly Europe's most beautiful central square. Around the Grand Place are many museums, architectural gems and oddities. Do not miss the famous Manneken Pis, the Horta Museum, the Royal Palace, the Ancient Art Museum and the Modern Art Museum. The Falstaff pub is also a great place to sample some of Belgium’s finest beers.

Antwerp is Belgium’s second largest city and the world’s largest diamond industry. It is situated on the beautiful Scheldt River. Here lies a mixture of Art Nouveau mansions, Neo-Renaissance villas, and medieval castles. Antwerp is home to Belgium's largest Gothic church, the Royal Museum of Fine Art, Rubens' House and the Antwerp Zoo.

Bruges is Europe's best-preserved medieval city. It was abandoned five centuries ago because of the silting of its river. It is made up of two medieval cores, the Markt and the Burg. You are also able to see some of Belgium’s greatest art collections at The Groeninge Museum and Stadhuis.

Ghent is medieval Europe's largest city after Paris and is located between Brussels and Bruges. Ghent is home to many lively bars and is the continent’s largest clothing producer. While here you should climb the belfort for an astonishing view and visit the St Baaf’s Cathedral, Gravensteen and the Museum Voor Schone Kunsten.

The Ardennes is situated in Belgium’s south-east corner and houses some magnificent deep river valleys and high forests. The Ardennes are a great place for hiking.

Culture

Art is a huge part of Belgian culture, with early Belgian artists inventing oil painting. There are many masterpieces that have been created here, housed in art galleries all around Belgium.

Fascinating architecture can be seen almost everywhere in Belgium. At the turn of this century, the architecture of Art Nouveau was started in Brussels and included such architects as Henri van de Velde and Victor Horta. Comic strips are also huge in Belgium with one of the most famous ones being Tintin.

Belgian food combines the delicious styles of French and German. Meat and seafood are the main ingredients. It isn’t hard to find excellent beer and chocolate in Belgium, it is everywhere.

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Banks are the best place to change your money. All major credit cards are widely accepted. Tipping isn't obligatory.

Transport

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