Belgium Traveler Essentials
- Capital
- Brussels
- Currency
- Euro (EUR €)
- Best time to visit
- April to June and September to October — mild weather, lower prices than peak summer. December for Christmas markets (Bruges' market is among Europe's most beautiful). Summer (July–August) for outdoor festivals.
Visa requirements
Part of the Schengen Area. EU/EEA citizens enter freely. USA, Canada, Australia, UK enter visa-free for up to 90 days.
Getting around
Compact Belgium has a dense SNCB rail network linking Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges in under an hour, plus easy international connections. Cities offer trams, metro (Brussels), and buses on integrated tickets, and taxis and apps like Uber and Bolt operate in the main centres.
Safety
Generally safe. Brussels has higher petty crime than most Belgian cities — watch bags in busy public squares and metro stations. Bruges and Ghent are very safe. Tap water is safe to drink.
Tipping customs
Service is included by law, so tipping is optional and modest. Round up the bill or leave about 5–10% in restaurants for good service, round up taxi fares, and a euro or two for hotel porters or housekeeping is appreciated.
Travel tips
Belgian beer culture is UNESCO-listed — try Trappist ales (Chimay, Orval) in their monastic context. Bruges is a day-tripper destination but magical when you stay overnight as crowds thin. Fries (Belgians invented them, not the French) with andalouse sauce from a friterie are mandatory. Belgian waffles are very different north/south — Liège vs Brussels style.