Tips for Visiting Belgium: 12 Dos & Don’ts
Planning your first trip to Belgium?
Here are 12 tips for your upcoming trip to Belgium! Relaxing in cafes along idyllic cobblestone streets, savoring chocolate and cheese that are as rich as Belgium’s history or enjoying a night out with local beer and crispy frituurs. Follow these tips for visiting Belgium, and you’ll have a smooth trip!
Belgium is a delightful place to visit, and knowing these 12 “Dos & Don’ts” in advance will make your trip even better! Keep reading for 12 useful tips for visiting Belgium.
Table of Contents
12 Useful Tips for Visiting Belgium!
The first 6 ‘Dos & Don’ts’ will help you plan your travel to and around Belgium.
First, let’s talk trains. Geographically, Belgium is a pretty small country, and you can easily travel between destinations using the Inter-City train service. In my experience, the train system was easy to navigate, and an affordable way to move throughout towns and cities. If you’ll be arriving to Belgium from another Western European city, I highly recommend considering the train instead of flying, especially if you’re visiting from or heading to London, France, the Netherlands or Germany.
Even if you’re flying into Brussels, the train may still be your best bet! There is a train station located in the Brussels airport, directly below the arrivals and departures halls. After landing, you can make it to central Brussels, Antwerp, Mechelen and other destinations in less than hour!
Tip #1: Do arrive early for cross-border trains.
If you’re taking the Eurostar or Thalys train to Belgium, make sure to arrive an hour before your train departs! Brussels is a quick trip on the Eurostar from London, Paris & Amsterdam, all under 2 hours away! Or, if you’re traveling between Belgium and Germany, the Netherlands or France, consider Thalys. Even though it is a short ride, all passengers go through passport control before boarding, and the gates close a ½ hour before departure time.
Connecting trains within Belgium
This is straightforward when traveling to and from Brussels, but if you are connecting to the Eurostar from another city in Belgium, scheduling takes a bit more consideration. Make sure your train to Brussels arrives with at least an hour to 45 mins of transfer time in order to make it to your connection on the Eurostar.
I recently traveled from Antwerp to London. My Eurostar train from Brussels to London was scheduled for 8:52 am, so I had to make sure my Inter-City train from Antwerp to Brussels left early enough to arrive in Brussels by 8 am, leaving me time to find the connecting platform and make it through passport control.
Tip #2: Do know the names of the cities you'll be visiting in French, Dutch & German.
Belgium has three official languages, and being familiar with the name of your next destination in all three will be helpful for your travels. (Especially if you are using Inter-City trains or other public transportation.) Many destinations are similar, but I was initially caught off guard when taking a train from Antwerp to Mechelen, and realized that Anvers to Malines was the same route!
Location Names & Translations
Tip #3: Do know that 'Bruxelles Midi', 'Brussel Zuid' & Brussels South are the same train station in different languages.
Midi or Zuid Station in Brussels is Belgium’s busiest train station and the primary connection point for the Eurostar. Do not be confused because there is also a Brussels Central Station, which is different and NOT where you should transfer to and from the Eurostar. Note that you can still transfer to many Inter-City trains from Central Station.
Mini-tip: There is a charge to use the restrooms in most of Belgium's train stations. Use the bathroom before getting off the train to avoid the extra 1 EUR charge.
Trains are great for getting to your destination,
but once you've arrived
Belgian cities are best explored by bike or foot!
but once you've arrived
Tip #4: Do bring your walking shoes,
and stay clear of the bike lanes and tram tracks!
Meandering through picturesque cities and towns will be a highlight of your visit to Belgium. But, make sure you’re not walking or standing in the bike lanes or tram tracks!
Belgium’s infrastructure encourages cyclists, and sauntering along in a bike lane is not a good idea. Along some streets the bike lines will be very clearly indicated, but not always. For example, in Antwerp there are red-hued sections of the sidewalk that are actually bike lanes. They are obvious if you know what to look for, but I didn’t realize until almost getting run over by an understandably annoyed cyclist. So, when walking around, remember as you’re taking photos of the historic architecture or a selfie with your frituurs, it is just as important to look down every once in a while.
Tip #5: Don't cross the street when the walk signal is red.
Okay, this seems obvious, but hear me out. Seriously.
If you’re from the US, you probably cross on red all the time, but while visiting Belgium it is best to not. Note that in Belgium there is no transition time between a green crossing signal and a red signal.
On my last visit to Antwerp I had an embarrassing encounter when I was pulled over by a police officer for crossing on red. When I started to cross the signal was green, and by the time a car turned in front of me and I began walking, the light was red. Not noticing until ½ way across the street, I was startled by the sirens and flashing lights of a police van ready to give me a fine. Luckily, they let me go with just a warning, but don’t make the same mistake! In many countries there will be buffer time when the signal flashes for a few seconds before transitioning to red. Not in Belgium!
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Tip #6: Outside of Brussels, don't count on using Uber or another rideshare app to get around.
*Update* – As of 2020 Uber and Uber Eats are available in Brussels, but still not outside of the capital.
Even though Uber may not be an option, there are many bikeshare or electric scooter options around instead! Better for you and the environment! Just watch out for the cobblestones. Also, wear a helmet.
12 Tips for Visiting Belgium: The "Dos & Don'ts" You Need to Know for a Smooth Visit!
Now that you're prepared to navigate travel in and around Belgium like a pro, the next 6 tips will help you plan for the day-to-day details of your agenda.
Tip #7: Do build in time to sit and enjoy a drink while in Belgium. But, don't assume a 'cafe' means a coffee shop!
In continental Europe ‘cafe’ is also used to describe a space to sit and enjoy beer, wine or an alcoholic drink.
If you’re looking for a place to get your AM caffeine fix, make sure you determine if the cafe you’re headed to is open in the morning and is the vibe you’re looking for. From a U.S. perspective, many spots with ‘cafe’ in their name that I walked by felt more like a pub or bar.
No matter which type of you ‘cafe’ you’re looking for, do build time into travel agenda to sit and enjoy a drink in one of Belgium’s numerous coffee shops or bars. Belgium is full of outdoor squares and public spaces that are great for people watching and are ready to accommodate tourists weary from sightseeing all day. In 2016, UNESCO even officially recognized Belgium’s beer culture as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Tip #8: Don’t trust the opening and closing hours listed on Google Maps!
I made the mistake of believing the hours of operation listed on Google Maps, and multiple times it led me astray!
For large museums and cultural sites, hours of operations were pretty accurate, but for restaurants, coffee shops and small retail stores opening and closing times were often incorrect. Make sure to check the store or restaurant’s actual website for accurate information. CityMapper is a good option for Brussels, but none of Belgium’s other cities are on the app.
Tip #9: Don’t expect to go shopping or sightseeing before 10 am.
Many of Belgium’s commercial centers will start coming to life after 10 am, so don’t be in a rush to get your day started too early.
If you are an earlybird, take some time in the morning to explore a nearby park or sit and enjoy a leisurely morning coffee. Also, if you’re visiting Belgium during the winter months (especially December & January ) sunrise will not even be until after 8 am!
If you’re visiting Antwerp,
here are my morning activity recommendations:
Stadspark:
Located just south of Antwerp’s Central Station and the Diamond District, Stadspark makes for a lovely morning stroll. There are plenty of benchs, a skatepark and even a large playground if you’re visiting with young children!
https://www.visitantwerpen.be/en/antwerps-central-park
Stadspark in Antwerp, Belgium
My two favorite coffee shops in Antwerp both open early during the week.
Caffe Mundi: www.caffemundi.be
Opens at 7:30 am on weekdays, closed Mondays
Offering responsibly sourced coffees, locally roasted, including single origin options. Visit Cross Roast next door to buy fresh beans and teas.
Caffenation: https://caffenation.be/pages/antwerpcitycenter
Opens at 8 am on weekdays
Another great artisanal coffee spot with plenty of seating, delicious food options and jars of Biscoff cookies!
Need a little sweetness to start the day?
Kleinblatt Bakkerij
Kleinblatts Bakkerij – www.kleinblatt.be/en
Family-owned bakery
located just south of Antwerp’s Central Station serving breads, cookies, danishes and more!
Opens at 6 am Sunday – Friday, closed Saturday
Panos – https://www.panos.be/
Belgian / French chain offering baked goods, sandwiches and coffee drinks with multiple locations across Belgium. The pastries here do not receive a 5-star review, but if you’re looking for a morning treat, the hours and multiple locations of Panos may serve you well.
Tip #10: Do Carry Some Cash
Many stores will take credit card, but not all. It is best to have some cash on you for your visit. If you need to withdraw cash from your bank account, look for a KBC branch or ATM. KBC is the largest bank in Belgium, and transactions can be made using foreign debit cards.
Tip #11: Do keep an extra 1€ coin in your pocket for visiting museums or using public restrooms.
Each museum I visited to had lockers where I could conveniently store my backpack and coat. These lockers were super useful, but they require inserting a 1€ coin to remove the key. I always got my 1€ back upon returning the key, but having it ready when you enter the museum makes the experience that must easier. Also, as mentioned earlier, there will probably be a small charge to use public restrooms, so it is best to have some EUR coins.
Tip #12: Do Join a Free Walking Tour
No matter where I travel, I ALWAYS recommend taking a walking tour when you first arrive.
This a great way to get your bearings and an overview of the destination that you’re visiting. Also, guides often have fantastic tips to share about local spots to help get you a bit off the tourist track. I’m sure there are many great paid options, but if you’re visiting Bruges or Antwerp check out Legends Tours to start. There is no cost to the tour itself, so each attendee decides how much they would like to tip the guide at the end.
I hope these 12 ‘Dos & Don’ts’ leave you feeling better prepared for your upcoming visit to Belgium! Or, have you recently been to Belgium and have another tip to add? Let us know in the comments to help make this post even better!
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Can we just not talk about the most known Belgian cities for once? As a Belgian who travels a lot within his country, I’ve seen so many hidden gems. For example, Kortrijk is very underrated and it’s just one of many examples. Cities like Veurne, Sint-Niklaas, Leuven, Oostende, Nieuwpoort, Ieper. The whole North Sea coast and the coastal tram line. There’s a lot to see in a country that is relatively small.
Hi, J – great point! I agree that I would love to visit more cities in Belgium, and one day I hope to return with my wife and son. I only had a few days tacked onto a work trip, but I did really enjoy a checking out Mechelen while visiting a friend living in Antwerpen. Hope myself and other travelers can visit more of Belgium, too!
Thank you for your insight and your tips they will be helpful for our trip to Belgium next month .
Great article, thanks for sharing. i also use this travel app constantly while being on the road – ATM Fee Saver. it shows ATMs with their fees and limits for withdrawing cash. I found it super useful for being abroad =)