30 Belgium Travel Tips And Things To Know Before Visiting Belgium For First Timers

We will write about Belgium travel tips and all the cool facts about Belgium and things to know before visiting Belgium for first timers. This post will be your go-to guide to get to know more of Belgium and what awaits you from amazing history, places to visit, how to move around to delicious food to try in Belgium.

Read here how to get from Brussels airport to city center, Brussels airport to Bruges, breakfast in Belgium, best Belgian drinks and Belgian food.

Belgium Travel Tips And Things To Know Before Visiting Belgium For First Timers

1. IS IT SAFE BELGIUM?

Is it safe travel to Belgium? Yeah you should know that Belgium is one of the safest countries in the world. If you travel to Belgium, safety won’t be a problem. You can feel safe everywhere, literally. Make sure that you keep your valuables with you in crowded places especially in big cities (with pickpockets) and that should be more than enough.

2. VISA IN BELGIUM

US Citizens may enter Belgium for up to 90-days only for tourist and business purposes without visa. Staying more than 90-days needs visa. Passports should also be valid for at least 3-months beyond the period of stay.

If you are from a country of citizenship that is not covered under the Schengen Agreement, you’ll need a visa even if it’s just a short stay. Read here our article for the Schengen Visa Philippines where Rachel explained step-by-step how to get Schengen Visa Philippines.

3. CASH AND ATMS IN BELGIUM

The currency used all throughout Belgium is Euro just like all European country. The exact currency of Euro to dollar is A €1 = $1.13678 USD. You can use debit cards everywhere in Belgium. ATM’s are available and accessible in all part of the country.

Click here to know the exchange rate between the Euro and your currency!

4. BEST TIME TO VISIT IN BELGIUM

In Belgium every season brings out a different side. Summer takes place during the months of June-August in these months you’ll experience high temperatures. From September to December the temperature cools down quite a bit and it is the perfect time to enjoy long walks through stunning neighborhoods.

And Spring season during the months of March-May is the best time to visit Belgium. It starts out with chilly and gets warm, it is a perfect time to spend the day exploring the city’s beautiful garden, at night it remains pretty cold.

Click here to know more about the weather in Belgium.

5. HEALTH TRAVEL INSURANCE

Things to know before visiting Belgium we recommend always bringing travel insurance when traveling abroad just in case you have any problems. You can always have food Poisson, fever or any other kind of disease.

BOOK YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE

You can read Heymondo Vs Safetwing cheapest travel Insurance. You can get for $135 USD your Heymondo Travel Insurance with Heymondo discount code valid for 90 days. Read our full Heymondo Travel Insurance Review

You can get Safetywing Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads valid for 28 days Safetywing for $50 USD per month with kids until 10 years old included

FACTS ABOUT BELGIUM

6. Belgium Has 3 Official Languages

One of the things to know before visiting Belgium that has 3 official languages: Dutch 60%, French 40% and German less than 1%. You will find dialects and other languages in Belgium. Since Belgium is a small country is multicultural and English is spoken but not everyone will speak.

7. BELGIUM EXPENSIVE

Belgium is expensive. If you have been traveling around Europe prices are expensive for food and accommodation. Alcohol and restaurants are so expensive and there are entrance fees for most of the places to visit. Having a beer and snacks aren’t so expensive in bars and restaurants. Keep reading below we let you know things to know before visiting Belgium for budgeting.

8. ACCOMMODATION BUDGET TRAVEL IN BELGIUM

Accommodation in Belgium is very expensive than any other countries around Euro. You can access a dorm from that can go up to €18-30. And while a hotel that is double room in a budget can go up to €90. This prices vary depending on how much luxurious you want to. Also prices of accommodation can go up and down depending on what season you choose to go.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION IN BELGIUM BEFORE YOUR TRIP WITH BOOKING.

9. FOOD BUDGET TRAVEL IN BELGIUM

Food budget travel in Belgium can go €20 per day. You can get the most typical snack in Belgium fries for €2-3. For a meal in a local restaurant expect to pay €10-15 per person. You can go down your food budget travel in Belgium cooking in your hotel or Airbnb.

Click here to get a discount in activities in Belgium with Klook!

10. TOURS AND ENTRANCE FEES IN BELGIUM

For entrance fees in Belgium we have to say that most of the places are free of charge. Tours are expensive you can spend around €80 per person for a half-day tour. If you are planning to visit places like Brussels, Ghent and Bruges there are discount cards to visit museums, having guided tours and transportation.

11. WI-FI AND INTERNET CONNECTION IN BELGIUM

Internet in Belgium works great in big cities and you will have internet connection in most of the places you will have 4G except in remote areas. You can access free WiFi at hostels and hotels and there are lots of restaurant that are offering free WiFi.

We advise in our Belgium travel tips that you get a sim card in Belgium and best Belgium eSim if you need to catch up with some work online.

Best Option: Maya Mobile Unlimited Data for 30 Days for $49 USD

You can find the cheapest Belgian eSim with Airalo Belgium eSim prepaid for $4 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days (USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%). For $8 USD with 3 GB data, for $12 USD with 5 GB data valid for 30 days and for $28 USD with 20 GB data valid for 30 days.

Holafly Belgium eSim for less than $60 USD if you use our code GAMINTRAVELER you will have unlimited internet for 30 days in Belgium for just $2 USD per day. Ubigi Belgium eSim for $9 USD with 3 GB data valid for 30 days and for $22 USD with 10 GB data valid for 30 days.

12. ADAPTER IN BELGIUM

In our Belgium travel tips you should know they use 230 V and frequency 50Hz the European will fit. A few places make it possible to fit your American adapter in the plug because they provide adapters. If you are coming from American countries, we recommend you to bring an adapter to be able to charge everywhere.

13. LOCAL TRANSPORTATION IN BELGIUM

For traveling around the cities, there are tram and public buses in big cities where you can ride and you will have to buy the tickets in the stand or kiosk. To move around the country trains are so efficient and the cheapest way is by bus. You can also use sites as BlaBlaCar where you can rent a seat for similar prices than the bus.

BELGIUM TRAVEL TIPS FOR BUDGETING

14. RENTING A CAR IN BELGIUM

Renting a car will be our favorite option for transportation in Belgium. The prices for renting a car in Belgium can be around €30–40 the cheapest one good enough up to 4 people. Especially if you are planning to explore outside the cities where you can get better deals for accommodation.

15. BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION OUTSIDE CITY CENTER

If you book your accommodation outside the city center in the cities in Belgium you will save a lot of money. Prices are so expensive in touristic areas and you will find better places to stay for hotels or Airbnb outside talking about budget. Anyway the cities aren’t so big in Belgium and the transportation works great.

16. CYCLING EVERYWHERE IN BELGIUM

Cycling everywhere in Belgium to move around since is flat and it’s not hilly. The best way to explore the cities are by bicycle and you will find parks everywhere. Even the weather is so rainy locals are ready. Old people and young people find the bicycle the best way for transportation. As myself did a few years ago traveling around Belgium and Europe by bicycle during 5 months.

17. KEEP ALWAYS SOME CASH FOR SMALL PAYMENTS

You can pay with credit card almost everywhere in Belgium especially in restaurants or supermarkets. But I found a few places where you will have to pay for parking, public toilets a small fee in cash since cards aren’t accepted. A great idea is always bringing small cash on you.

18. IT CAN RAIN ANYTIME OF THE DAY

In Belgium can rain anytime of the day. Make sure you are bringing a raincoat if you are planning to walk around or going with the bicycle. You will see locals are ready for this summer and winter doesn’t matter!

19. BELGIUM HAS BORDERS WITH 4 COUNTRIES

Since Belgium is a small country you will have easy access for a day trip or continuing your trip to the neighboring countries. There are 4 countries sharing the border with Belgium: France, Germany, Luxembourg and Netherlands. We recommend in our Belgium travel tips to visit at least one of them.

20. FREE WATER EVERYWHERE IN PARKS

You will find free water everywhere in Belgium. I was able to refill my bottle anytime in fountains in parks, parking and even in the middle of city center. You can drink tap water tastes great and it will not be a problem for your health since is safe!

21. BEER CULTURE

Beer culture in Belgium. You will find many different beers to try in Belgium. If you are a beer lover like me you will find Trappist beers, Blonde Beers, Strong Beers and Fruit Beers. They have beer culture and they will be serving in unique glasses

MORE THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING BELGIUM FOR FIRST TIMERS: FACTS ABOUT BELGIUM FOOD

Facts about Belgium food that the most popular are: Belgian chocolate, waffles, fries and beer. You will find meat, cheese, potatoes in the traditional dishes.

22. MUSSELS

Mussels have a delicious salty briny sea flavor and are much less pricey than oysters and clams. Belgium beer really does have a pleasant earthiness to it. Mussels are a popular dish in Belgian cuisine.

23. BELGIAN FRIES

Belgian fries are produce from potatoes that were cut vertically and fry in hot oil. They consume it as a side dish or a snack on a regular basis, and pommes frites shops, known as frietkots or fritures, could be spot all over the country. Belgian frites are produce on the spot, chop into thicker strips and cook.

24. BELGIAN CHOCOLATES

Belgian chocolates come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, including pralines, truffles, and chocolates fashion like eggs, animals, or other figures. They’re hugely common around the holidays. The Belgian chocolates business, which is famous around the world, began by adapting some of the techniques used by Swiss chocolatiers to create new chocolate mixes by blending rich, high-quality chocolate with nuts, liqueurs, and fruits.

25. BELGIAN WAFFLE

The most well-known Belgian culinary hallmark is the Belgian waffle. The cakes are bake in a specifically construct waffle iron, which generates a distinctive checkerboard pattern on the top and bottom of each cake, using thick dough or thin batter. However, this distinction is only acknowledged in Belgium; everywhere, this renowned dessert is simply refer to as a Belgian waffle.

PLACES TO VISIT IN BELGIUM

26. BRUSSELS

Brussels is the capital and largest city in Belgium. Brussels is usually the arrival city if you are coming by plane to Belgium. There are few spots to see around the city, local restaurants and local beers to try is a must. You can also do a day trip to Leuven if you like nightlife since is only 20 minutes by bus.

27. GHENT

Ghent is my favorite one in the list of places to visit in Belgium. Ghent is located in the Flemish region. Ghent is a port an university city with a beautiful river and really nice historical city center to walk around.

28. ANTWERP

Antwerp is the second largest city in Belgium but the most populous in the country. Antwerp is located in the Flemish Region and my favorite one for sightseeing after Ghent in Belgium. Antwerp is always crowded and the nightlife is great if you are looking for bars and restaurants. During the day you will have a lot museums and nice architecture for walking around the city center.

29. BRUGES

Bruges is one of the most touristic places to visit in Belgium. Bruges is popular because of the tour boats around the canals, buying chocolates for souvenirs and there are a lot of bars and restaurants for such a small city.

30. LEUVEN

Leuven is a popular destination in Belgium because of the University. Since it’s the largest city for students the nightlife is great just 20 kilometers far from Belgium. You will find a lot of bars to try Belgian beers at affordable prices. Most of the people are moving around by bicycle and the atmosphere is great!

Hope you liked our Belgium travel tips. Let us know if we missed things to know before visiting Belgium and facts about Belgium in the comments below.

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Happy Travels!