The 10 best activities in Belgium. Visits | Excursions (2023)

CultureAtomium Museum

Visit the Atomium in Brussels

The Atomium isBruxelleswhat the Eiffel Tower is to Paris… Built during the Universal Exhibition of 1958 and representing an iron crystal enlarged 165 billion times, it has today become the symbol of the capital of Belgium. Visiting the interior allows you to discover its surreal architecture of tubes and spheres. At the top, 95m high, you will have a superb panorama of Brussels and its surroundings. Right next to the Atomium, you can also visit the Mini-Europe park, a huge garden with models representing the most famous European monuments.

CultureBelgian Comic Strip Center

Follow in the footsteps of comic book heroes

What do Tintin, Lucky Luke, Gaston Lagaffe or Boule et Bill have in common? These comic book heroes were all born from the pen of Belgian authors. The essential site to discover, if you are a fan of the 9th Art, is the Belgian Comic Strip Center in Brussels. You can also take a guided tour of the street-art frescoes representing comic book heroes. The other city of comic strips in Belgium is Charleroi, where the so-called Marcinelle school was born, made up of the authors of the newspaper Spirou. Statues and a metro station pay homage to Fantasio, the Smurfs and Natacha.

DétenteBoats on the Bruges canal

Navigate the canals of Bruges

Taking a boat trip is really the essential activity to do during aorganized stay in Bruges, which is nicknamed the " Venice of the North ". The canals allow you to discover many points of view that you cannot see from the mainland. In addition, you will benefit from the guide's comments to learn more about the city. Alternative: if you prefer a slightly less touristy destination, then go toThinking, halfway between Bruges and Brussels. The city is equally beautiful and its vast network of canals also offers plenty of opportunities for boat tours.

DétenteBinche carnival participants

Celebrate at the Binche carnival

The Binche carnival is one of the biggest popular festivals in Belgium. Every year for Mardi Gras (and the two days before it), the city is invaded by thousands of visitors to attend this folkloric event. The highlight of the event is the parade of the "Gilles", this traditional male character in a red and gold costume topped with a white collar and cap. They dance all over the city and distribute oranges to the spectators. The party ends with a spectacular fireworks display. Remember to book your stay well in advance because everything fills up quickly.

gastronomyBeer terrace in Gent

Taste local beers

Leffe, Grimbergen, Affligem, Hoegaarden, Duvel… Nowhere else in the world are there as many varieties of beer as in Belgium. The " Belgian beer culture " has even been listed as a UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage. Throughout the country you can visit breweries to understand the process of making this famous beverage, from the germination of barley to fermentation, including the brewing of malt. Do not hesitate to take tasting tours to discover new flavors!

gastronomyBelgian chocolates

To eat chocolate

The Belgian chocolate tradition was born at the end of the 16th century, when merchants from the ports ofAntwerpand ofUsedbegan to import cocoa from the West Indies and then from Africa. Today, the country can boast of having some of the best chocolatiers in the world, from Godiva to Leonidas, including Côte d'Or and Neuhaus. To taste high-quality chocolates and not tourist traps, consider booking a tour with a guide.

gastronomyBelgian traditional waffle

Enjoy the gastronomic specialties

Belgium is a country of bon vivants, and gastronomy is not just about beer and chocolate! There are the fries of course, which we must be careful not to call " french fries " so as not to offend the susceptibility of our Belgian friends. Eat them with mussels, or on the go in a "mitraillette", this famous Belgian sandwich with meat, fries and a good dose of sauce. For dessert or afternoon tea, the unmissable specialty are waffles, rectangular and thin like in Brussels, or thick and with round ends like in Liège. And to finish, a small glass of juniper digestive, the famous " peket ", very popular in Wallonia.

SportLandscape of the Ardennes massif

Hiking in the Ardennes

Belgium is better known for its cities of art and architecture, but the natural landscapes are not left out, especially with the Ardennes massif, a huge playground for hiking enthusiasts. For those who dream of wild spaces, head for the Hautes Fagnes plateau, with its landscapes of moors and peat bogs reminiscent of the horizons of Lapland. For those who prefer forests and a bucolic nature, go to the Meuse valley or the Lesse valley with superb panoramas from the top of the cliffs that run along the rivers.

SportCyclist in Antwerp

Discover Belgium by bike

Belgium is not the " flat country " for nothing... It is an ideal destination for travelers by bike! Many marked trails allow you to explore the country. In Wallonia, it is the Autonomous Network of Slow Lanes (RAVeL), with in particular the RAVeL38 cycle path, which connects Liège to Germany on the route of a former railway line (42km). On the Flanders side, many cycle routes have been developed on the old towpaths, such as the loop of the Dyle valley which connects Mechelen and Louvain (57km).

SportSand yachting on the beach

Sailing

Enjoying the pleasures of the beach during a trip to Belgium? Yes it's possible ! The country includes 70km of coastline along the North Sea, with many seaside resorts from La Panne, near the French border, to Knokke-Heist, near the Netherlands. Swimming will still be reserved for those who are not chilly because the water temperature rarely exceeds 18°C, even in the middle of summer. On the other hand, the sports activities on the immense white sand beaches are legion, in particular sand yachting. You can practice atOstend, Westende and De Panne.