Travel to Belgium

Bruges is a perfectly preserved medieval town in the Western-Flanders region of Belgium. Its idyllic setting of cobbled stone streets, 16th century architecture and winding canals made it a favorite romantic destination in Europe. In fact, it is considered by many as the most beautiful city in this part of the world. Moving around is as uncomplicated as going to your local park because it is small enough to be explored on foot. If you want to glam it up, you can easily hail a charming horse-drawn carriage. But, if you want to do it the traditional touristy way, there is also an hourly City Bus Tour waiting at the Market Square. Despite its small egg-shaped size, the city is a treasure trove of quaint and interesting attractions that will keep its visitor occupied for hours.

Bruges takes pride in the beauty of its cathedrals and churches. The Basilica of the Holy Blood is one major attraction. It features the 11th century St. Basil's Chapel and a museum housing the bejeweled gold and silver Holy Blood Shrine. Other famous cathedrals include the Our Lady's Church, whose tower is one of the most prominent features of the city's skyline. The Jerusalem Church is also worth checking out for its fine-looking stained glass windows. City halls may seem like boring places to visit, but not in Bruges. It dates back to 1376 and features remarkable workmanship. Take time to visit its gothic council chamber and once you are in the middle of the room, look up and be amazed with its stunning high ceiling adorned with elaborate medieval carvings. If you are interested in governance and things like that, you can head on to the adjoining chamber where government documents and some pieces of art are placed on exhibit.

For a birds eye view of this picture perfect medieval village, climb up the 272 foot-high Belfry Museum. It is believed to have been built way back in the 13th century. But, more than its rich history, what is most exciting for me is getting a good look at the internal mechanism of the Belfry Tower clock. It's not just a good photo opportunity but also an interesting piece of artwork to look at. Along the way to the top, you will also pass by a carillon of 47 bells. If you get excited with just one tower bell, what more with more than 3 dozens of them? If you are interested in local crafts, visit the Lace Centre at Peperstraat. It is a museum dedicated to Bruges most celebrated lace-making industry. 

You can get acquainted with the process of this delicate craft and how it evolved throughout the years. Of course, you can buy some of the exquisite handiwork if you can't resist the temptation of a good purchase! Finally, Bruges is not called Venice of the North without reason. Take advantage of its meandering canals and the picturesque scenery along the way. There are plenty of tour boats in the area. You can choose one with a multi-lingual guide if you want more insight to the city's history or you can do away with a guide and just enjoy the scenic view in peace and quiet.

Even though Belgium is smaller than many other countries you can visit, it is filled with activities, restaurants, and much more. Getting from place to another is easy for travelers in Belgium because the towns are close together. There are trains and buses that will take you where you want to go. Whether it is Antwerp to see one of the largest collections of diamonds, or to Ghent to visit botanical gardens and visit castles. Brussels, the capital of Belgium is another fascinating city you should visit when you are traveling.

Many people visit Belgium for the food as much as for the countries two diverse cultures. In Belgium, people either speak Dutch or French depending on which part of Belgium you want to visit. Food and drink come in all forms. If you enjoy tasting home brewed beer, then Belgium is a great place to start. There are many breweries and pubs that you can visit during your stay. Chocolate is also a tourist attraction for many people. There are also many restaurants, cafés, and small inns where you will find fresh seafood, potato dishes, and much more.

Some of the more popular tourist attractions include: The Atomium, which is a life size model of an atom. Featured in the 1958 Science Expo, you can walk around inside the atom. It contains restaurants and beautiful views of Brussels. Another attraction is the The Grand Place, which is a town square that is home to markets, people, and history. The Manneken Pis, which is a famous statue of a small boy peeing is another attraction that people enjoy seeing.

These attractions are very easy to get to and are open during the day and in the evening. You should make a list of attractions that you want to see before taking your trip. You will be able to modify the list later if you need to.

Belgium also has a lot of interesting architecture dating back to the Middle Ages. You will be able to visit castles, small villages and towns that have a lot of history. Visit popular town centers, halls, and museums that pay homage to artists and other creative people. Belgium is home to many who have contributed to art, music, and literature.

While in Belgium, you will be able to take day trips to London and other cities. Staying in Belgium is less expensive than staying in other cities, so you will be saving money while being able to see more of Europe. People who visit Belgium are not looking for thrills, they are looking to relax and enjoy the people they meet in small towns along the way. If you want to go on vacation to relax in a slow paced atmosphere, then a trip to Belgium is one vacation you should look into.

Belgium has population of 10.8 million with 354.7/km2. It located at northwest Europe and official called Kingdom of Belgium. Belgium is home to two main linguistic groups, the Dutch-speakers, mostly Flemish, and the French-speakers, mostly Walloons.

The climate of Belgium is maritime temperate with significant precipitation in all seasons. Belgium is all-year-round destination, but peak time is fall and spring. Travelers visiting in July and August are likely to find warm temperatures and some of the lowest prices of the year.

Based on seasons, there are classification for months.

    High season: May, September to October
    Low season: July to August, mid-December to early January
    Shoulder season: mid-January to April, June, November to early December

Weather in Belgium is whole year appreciated with snowfall between November and March. Belgium is crowded from all Worlds' tourist. Airfare are cheap in winter, in contrast hotels are cheap in summer. In July and August hotels don't get full and you can have discount at weekends'. In Belgium weekends are cheaper than weekdays.

In Belgium, you have many cities where you can enjoy their lifestyle.

Bruges: Bruges can be considered as the most popular city of Belgium and its historic center is recognized by the UNESCO as World heritage center. There are narrow ways and covered by cobblestones. So it is difficult to drive and park the car. You cannot miss boat trip which is 30 minutes travelling where you have most beautiful places.

Antwerp: This is second largest and city of fashion and diamond. There is World Diamond located in Antwerp and 70% of all diamonds arrive through Antwerp in Belgium. The Cathedral of Our Lady is the most important building in Antwerp and can be considered as one of the most famous gothic.

Brussels: Brussels is capital of Belgium and highlighted with many travellers for seeing historical building, museums and monuments. The most famous statue is Manneke Pis. It is bronze statue which is dressed in different costumes, while celebrations are held.

Belgium has a rich history from its humble beginning to a prosperous nation in the heart of Europe. Belgium is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters, as well as those of other major international organizations, including NATO. Belgium has a population of about 10 million. Belgium is home to two main linguistic groups, the Flemish and the French-speakers, mostly Walloons, plus a small group of German-speakers.

Belgium's two largest regions are the Dutch speaking region of Flanders in the north, with 59% of the population, and the French speaking southern region of Wallonia, inhabited by 31%. The Brussels Region, officially bilingual, is a mostly French speaking enclave within the Flemish Region and has 10% of the population. A small German speaking Community exists in eastern Wallonia. Belgium's linguistic diversity and related political and cultural conflicts are reflected in the political history and a complex system of government.

The name 'Belgium' is derived from Gallia Belgica, a Roman province in the northernmost part of Gaul that was inhabited by the Belgae, a mix of Celtic and Germanic peoples. Historically, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg were known as the Low Countries, which used to cover a somewhat larger area than the current Benelux group of states. From the end of the Middle Ages until the 17th century, it was a prosperous center of commerce and culture. From the 16th century until the Belgian revolution in 1830, many battles between European powers were fought in the area of Belgium, causing it to be dubbed the battleground of Europe. Upon its independence, Belgium eagerly participated in the Industrial Revolution and, at the end of the nineteenth century, possessed several colonies in Africa. The second half of the 20th century was marked by the rise of communal conflicts between the Flemishand the Francophones ffueledby cultural differences on the one hand and an economic evolution of Flanders and Wallonia on the other hand. These still active conflicts have caused far-reaching reforms of the formerly unitary Belgian state into a federal state.

The 1830 Belgian Revolution led to the establishment of an independent, Catholic and neutral Belgium under a provisional government and a national congress. Since the installation of Leopold I as king in 1831, Belgium has been a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. Although the franchise was initially restricted, universal suffrage for men was introduced in 1893 and for women in 1949. The main political parties of the 19th century were the Catholic Party and the Liberal Party, with the Belgian Labour Party emerging towards the end of the century. French was originally the single official language adopted by the nobility and the bourgeoisie. It progressively lost its overall importance as Dutch became recognized as well. This recognition became official in 1898 and in 1967 a Dutch version of the Constitution was legally accepted.

After World War II, Belgium joined NATO as a founding member and formed the Benelux group of nations with the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Belgium became one of the six founding members of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951 and of the European Atomic Energy Community and European Economic Community, established in 1957. The latter is now the European Union, for which Belgium hosts major administrations and institutions, including the European Commission, the Council of the European Union and the extraordinary and committee sessions of the European Parliament.

Belgium is a fantastic country to visit and see the immense culture displayed in the wonderful cities and towns. Ask anyone who has been to Belgium and you will find that they love this little country with a big history.

Leuven is a small city in Belgium, and the capital of the Flemish Brabant province located just 16 miles east of Brussels.  Belgium is a popular European destination for many travellers as it shares borders with France, Germany, the Netherlands and Luxemburg. The popularity with student backpackers may also be because Leuven is considered a "student city" with most of the residents being students during the academic year. The University (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) offers an extensive range of courses, with a lot of them being in English and only at Masters level and higher. Being a student city it is perhaps no surprise that the Leuven has a very lively night scene, with a large number of bars and cafes all in close proximity. Leuven is also proud to say that it has the "longest bar" in Belgium, which is actually a long row of bars in the old market (The Oude Markt).

Leuven is also very famous for its architecture, with many places of note that really have to be seen to be believed. The Old Town Hall, built in the 14th Century is a stunning example. It has simply breathtaking detail to its Gothic design (apparently it has a Brabantian late-Gothic style) and is a very popular attraction with tourists. Other locations include St Peter's Church, Saint-Anthony's Chapel, the Linen-Hall and the University Library. A lot of the popular architecture in Leuven includes Churches and Chapels, so it is worth speaking to a tour guide that knows the area so you can create a varied itinerary as there is a lot to see.

When looking a Leuven Hotel, there is plenty to choose from depending on your budget. There are plenty of cheap locations based on the high percentage of students and student visitors, but this is very basic. If you're looking for more of a luxury weekend or a romantic break, there are lots of traditional styled hotels. Alternatively, you can select a very modern hotel with sleek interior designs and lots of facilities.  All these hotels have a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere and most if not all the staff speak excellent English.

Leuven may seem like an unusual choice for a destination, but there is so much to see and do. Not only is there jaw dropping architectural masterpieces, but there are clusters of interesting bars, market places, museums and parks. If your planning on visiting, make sure you check to see if there any exhibitions or events on so you can experience the vibrant and lively city at its best.

Antwerp is one of the most important economic centres of Belgium. It is the fifth largest harbour in the world and probably the most productive one. This is no wonder, as the Belgians are the most productive workers of the world per working hour. And the Antwerp harbour workers also score high with yearly productivity.

Apart from the economic importance Antwerp has always been and still is one of the most important cultural and artistic cities of the country and of Europe. Old masters like Peter Paul Rubens an P. Van Dyke lived and worked there. The city’s cathedral is among the most famous and beautiful of the world. The cathedral and a number of places of the city play a very important role in the famous story “The Dog of Flanders” which is extremely popular in Japan.

When you visit this city, be sure to visit the famous Antwerp cathedral one of the important masterpiece of European Gothic.. Its construction began in 1352 as a church. But only in 1559 it became known as the Antwerp cathedral of Our Lady. It is among the finest and exquisite gothic constructions of Europe. Famous architects worked on it: Jean Appelmans, Herman de Waghemakere, Domien de Waghemakere, Antoon Keldermans II and Rombout Keldermans. What you can see now as a beautiful architectural masterpiece is indeed the work of centuries. The central nave is flanked by three aisles. Each aisle has 48 pillars. The total length of the Antwerp cathedral is 117 m. Its interior height is 40 m.

Spanish emperor Charles V also had his influence on some parts of this magnificent construction. The Antwerp cathedral suffered a lot from water damage, wars and plundering, but it has always kept its unique grandeur. When you visit the place, you’ll be able to see three paintings of Peter Paul Rubens, Antwerp’s most famous painter. They are: the Descent from the Cross , the Elevation of the Cross and the Resurrection. 

Antwerp has a lot of museums, art schools, cultural centres and academies. It is , like Paris, London and Milan, one of the most important fashion cities of Europe. In the old beautiful city centre you can find great restaurants, excellent hotels in every price range and typical Belgian bars and cafés with the world famous Belgian beers.

Ghent, Belgium is a friendly university town that is full of ancient buildings and history. If Bruges is a city filled with tourists looking for a time warp, Ghent is a city full of students and locals just living life... Like Bruges it started as a port, but unlike Bruges, it still is an important port. It's a city of flowers with a flourishing flower export trade.

It has museums and ancient architecture, but it's a modern city. True, the city center is a pedestrian area that is like a museum to early Flemish architecture... and a testament to the city's medieval might, but it's surrounded by a real life city. The tourist brochures say it has more historic sites than Antwerp and is more down-to-earth "real" than Bruges. While I love Bruges, I think I agree with them.

It's not high on a lot of tourists lists, but it deserves to be. Though I admit, the only reason we went to Ghent in the first place was because we had hosted a student from the university one summer in the U.S. As a tourist, it's the old city center you want to visit. You'll find a wealth of history to explore within the outline of the old city walls. You'll see impressive Gothic sites, such as dramatic St. Bavos's Cathedral and the Castle of the Counts. The city's medieval core is cradled within a loop of the River Leie, which surrounds the old town like a moat.

It's a big city... Belgium's fourth largest, but you'll only be dealing with the center. The historical center is divided into "areas". To find your way around on the tourists maps you need to become familiar with these areas.... don't worry, there's no quiz and it's not hard. The historical city center is in the area called Toren-site. To the north is Patershol, which contains a lot of the best restaurants. To the south is the Kunstenkwartier, where most of the universities' 50,000 students congregate. There are numerous waterways passing through the city center. The city started as a settlement on the Scheldt and Lys (Leie) Rivers. But you don't need to know all the rivers and canals.... just know that all this water makes the city pretty.

Castle of the Counts is an imposing fortress type castle in the heart of the city -- The Gravensteen area or "Gravensteen-site". This imposing castle was RE-built in 1180 (and then restored in the 19th century). It overlooks the city from it's battlements high up on the keep and you get a great panoramic view of the city from the tower. There is an authentic medieval district in the shadow of the Castle ... It is still partially surrounded by a medieval moat. The area called Toren-site is the historical heart of the city. This is where you'll find Saint Bavo Cathedral with the Ghent Altarpiece - The Mystic Lamb by Hubert and Jan Van Eyck. This famous multi-section altarpiece was completed in 1432, and is worth a look whether you're an art lover or not.

Walk over St. Michael's Bridge, also in the heart of town... in the Graslei-site. The Graslei is one of the most scenic places in Ghent's old city center. From the bridge, you'll have a wonderful view of the skyline of Ghent with the three impressive towers of St Nicholas' Church, the Belfry with its bell tower, and Saint Bavo Cathedral. If all of these areas make the city sound spread out... it's not; at least not the historical center. You won't get lost in Ghent... pedestrian signposts are everywhere. So stop and explore this historic Dutch city; you'll be glad you did.