My recent visit was not my first trip to Belgium, but I felt like there was so much that I had forgotten from previous visits. Belgium is a great country to visit, being both bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly, and boasting some pretty wonderful cuisine and the drinks to wash it down.

In between strolling quaint cobblestone streets in medieval city centers, I couldn’t help but jot down some notes of those key things you’ll want to know before you go – after making countless mistakes myself of course!

So (in alphabetical order), here are my top Belgium Travel Tips, with things you should know before you go:

Beer

Beer in Belgium is stronger than you think. No, really! While the average Alcohol-By-Volume or ABV of beer is 4.5%, most Belgian beers are over that amount, many at double the alcohol content or more. On this list of top Belgian beers, every beer listed is over 4.5% and half of them clock in at 8% or higher. Keep track of how strong the beer is that you ordered so you don’t drink too much, too quickly (unless you want to, of course) – this isn’t like your beer drinking back home.

Bicycles

Much of central and northern Europe is filled with bicycles, and this is true of Belgium as well. Even if you live in a bike-friendly city, bike riding in Belgium is likely on a whole other scale. Watch out, as some cyclists pedal so fast that you may not hear them coming. And remember to look both ways everywhere as I almost got run over on my recent visit by a bicycle going the wrong way on a one-way street. Bike lanes sometimes look similar to sidewalks, so you might find yourself unwittingly strolling in a bike lane if you’re not paying attention as you walk – this is definitely a country to remain aware of your surroundings!

City Cards

If there’s a city in Belgium, there’s likely to be a combination city card you can purchase that will gain you access to multiple attractions, like churches and museums, and at a discount compared to paying for each. While I expected the Antwerp Card and Bruges Card and Brussels Card and Ghent Card, I was surprised to learn that even many small towns have a pass of their own.

Do take the time to research which sights are covered, how long the pass lasts, and the cost, to decide if it makes sense for you. For me on my recent trip to Belgium, the small-town Leuven Card was worth purchasing but in Ghent I wasn’t planning to go to enough of the museums listed, so it made more sense for me to buy my entries one at a time there.

TIP! Buy the card in advance if it includes any public transportation you’re planning to take, otherwise it’s usually available for purchase at any of the included tourist sites without an extra stop.

Closure Days

If you’ve done a bit of travel around Europe already, you may be familiar with many attractions and museums being closed on a Monday. Something I also noticed in Belgium this time around is that quite a lot of things are *also* closed on Wednesday. I spent my latest Wednesday in Belgium in Ghent, and lots of museums there were completely closed, from the City Museum to the Design Museum. Even the restaurant where I tried to eat lunch (and is usually open for lunch!) had no lunch service on a Wednesday.

READ MORE: How to Spend One Day in Ghent, Belgium

TIP! Plan around closures for a multi-day visit

TIP! A walking tour is always a great way to see a city on a day many attractions will be closed.

Languages

Belgium is a country made up of many language regions, so what language will be primarily spoken and visible on street and highway signs will depend on where you are exactly. The north of Belgium is primarily Flemish speaking (also known as Flemish Dutch), similar to what is spoken in the nearby Netherlands. The southern half is typically French speaking, and there are a few German-speaking regions in the far eastern section of the country.

While you don’t need to learn all those language to visit, it is always helpful to practice some key words and phrases in the language that will be where you plan to travel. Even some basic vocabulary to aid with street signs, or learning the words for ‘Entrance’ and ‘Exit’ can help your travel go more smoothly, especially if you will be driving in Belgium.

READ MORE: Top Tips for Taking a Road Trip in Europe

And the good news is, English is spoken (at least a little) nearly everywhere. Even in the smaller towns, most restaurants are likely to have an English menu. If you don’t see one displayed, just ask.

Luggage Lockers

Depending on your exact itinerary and travel plans, you may end up wanting to do some sightseeing with your luggage in tow, either when you first arrive or are departing, or are in between cities. Fortunately, many train stations across Belgium – even in smaller towns – will have lockers at your disposal. And for my first destination after arriving at Brussels airport and heading to the small town of Leuven, I was able to check ahead of time online to confirm that lockers would be available.

TIP! Have Euro coins handy, as my luggage locker cost 5 Euros for the day and did not accept bills or cards.

TIP! I had issues getting my locker to work at first – and nearly gave up! – so would recommend trying a different section of the lockers if you have trouble at first and also reading the instructions listed (even if they’re in Flemish and you have to translate on your phone). In the end I had to hold the door shut for 3 seconds before it automatically locked and put the prompt up on the screen for me to insert payment and get my receipt.

Restaurant Meals

Even separate from the typical Monday and Wednesday closures across Belgium (see ‘Closure Days’ section above), I encountered a lot of restaurants that were only open for dinner during the week and had no lunch service. As my previous Belgium travel was centered around weekends, this was definitely a surprise of my most recent visit. Be aware that you may be limited in your dining options, especially on day trips, if you don’t stay through dinnertime.

Transit Tickets

The transit system in Belgium is quite convenient, but is centered around making your purchase with a debit or credit card, and you may have trouble using the automated machines unless you have a card with a PIN. While PIN-based debit cards are standard for Europeans, if you don’t have a PIN on your credit card from elsewhere, try your debit card instead (assuming it has a PIN). Otherwise, build in extra time to find a staffed counter and wait in what will likely be a longer line to be able to pay in cash.

TIP! Any train trip that is to or from Brussels airport will be higher than usual because it includes a surcharge that is added to all trips that begin or end there. So keep this in mind to determine your most economical option when planning your itinerary.

Waffles

Yes, Belgians may be known for their waffles – but these may be harder to find than you’d expect! Across my Belgium visits, I had the easiest time finding fresh waffles made-to-order in Brussels. During the week especially, fresh waffles were harder to come by. So be on the lookout if you’re looking to sample some during your trip.

TIP! When in doubt, if you haven’t found fresh waffles elsewhere, you can usually get some at a stand at the train station.

TIP! I am partial to the Liege style waffle which is a thick dough covered in sugar that gets pressed in a waffle iron. If you’re getting a waffle fresh in Belgium, be sure to try this one!

Belgium has a wealth of amazing sights and architecture to explore, plus there’s all that world-famous beer and chocolate and waffles wherever you go. There are wonderful towns and cities to visit and I’d definitely make another return trip to check out more.

From the many cities and towns I’ve already been to in my travels, these tips are pretty universal, so will be helpful regardless of where in Belgium you plan your trip.

Happy travels!

Lana

Have you been to Belgium before? Is there any other advice you would give to someone who is planning a visit? Anything else you’d like to know before you book a Belgium trip? Share your best Belgium travel tips and ask away in the ‘Comments’ below!

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