Belgium Holidays

How to reach Belgium

• Flight time: Flights to Belgium (typically Brussels) from London take about an hour.

• Transfer time: From Brussels Zaventem airport, 13km northeast of the centre, trains to the city centre take 20 minutes (‚€8.50). From Charleroi airport, 55km south of Brussels, shuttle buses leave every 30 minutes for Bruxelles-Midi taking 1 hour.

• Price: The train from Brussels Zaventem to the city centre costs around ‚€9, while the shuttle bus from Charleroi costs around ‚€14. A taxi from Zaventem airport to central Brussels will set you back around ‚€45.

Best time to visit Belgium

This will depend on what you want to get out of your Belgium holidays, and the weather might influence your decision.

• March to May: A good time to visit any part of the country before the summer rush. Expect temperatures between 10°C and 17°C, and while the threat of rain is undeniably omnipresent, at least it keeps things green around the country.

• June to August: Towns like Bruges are inundated with tourists during the high season, so it's best to visit in winter or at least the autumn or spring, whilst the contrary applies in the Ardennes. Average temperatures hover around 20°C–25°C, rainfall varies from 60–80mm, and there are up to 8 hours of sunshine per day.

• September to November: Belgium's towns and cities offer a quieter experience as crowds thin and temperatures start to cool to between 8°C and 15°C. Rainfall increases slightly to 60–90mm, with sunshine averaging 4–6 hours daily.

• December to February: December and early January can be a lovely time to visit, thanks to the legendary Christmas markets in all the major towns. Temperatures are chilly, between 0°C and 7°C, and there'll be the occasional brutal blast of snow and ice in January and February.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: There are three official languages in Belgium: Dutch, French and German. Speaking French in the Flemish north is not appreciated, and vice versa. Most Belgians speak excellent English.

• Local habits and customs: It's nearly impossible to make a faux pas among the Belgians – they're a relaxed bunch who take life at a leisurely pace. Leave a 10 percent tip in restaurants, and greet acquaintances with three kisses, not two.

• Currency: Belgium uses the Euro. ATMs are plentiful, and most places accept credit and debit cards, though having a bit of cash on hand can be useful in smaller towns.

• Getting around: Belgium's railway system is comprehensive and efficient, and fares are comparatively low; a ticket from Brussels to Bruges costs around ‚€15–‚€20. In Belgium, buses are only really used for travelling short distances, or in parts of the Ardennes where rail lines fizzle out. Reusable transport cards like the Go Pass and Rail Pass are available for flexible travel.

• Electricity and plug types: Belgium uses the continental 220 volts and two-pin plugs, so UK travellers will need an adaptor.

• Time zone: Belgium is on Central European Time, which is 1 hour ahead of GMT, observing Daylight Saving Time.

• Required travel documentation: UK travellers can enter Belgium for up to 90 days without a visa.

Best things to do in Belgium

Belgium's highlights range from the ancient and quirky to the oh-so-cool: you can bank on centuries-old castles and boisterous carnivals as well as home-grown haute couture, comic book museums and street art.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Belfort, Bruges: Climb the 366 steps of this 83m tower, whereupon you emerge onto the roof and fabulous views, especially in the late afternoon when the warm colours of the city are at their deepest.

The best districts

• Grand Place, Brussels: Extraordinarily beautiful, this is one of Europe's most perfectly preserved Gothic-Baroque squares.

• The Begijnhof, Bruges: A rough circle of old and infinitely pretty whitewashed houses surrounds a central green, which looks a treat in spring when a carpet of daffodils pushes up between the elms.

• The diamond district, Antwerp: The anonymous streets just to the southwest of Centraal Station are home to the largest diamond market in the world. Behind these indifferent facades, precious stones pour from every continent to be cut or re-cut, polished and sold.

Historical monuments

• Menin Gate, Ypres: A simple, brooding monument, this massive war memorial towers over the edge of the town, its walls covered with the names of those 50,000 British and Empire troops who died in the Ypres Salient but have no grave.

• Antwerp Cathedral: Dominating Antwerp's skyline, this supreme example of the Gothic style is both magnificent and stunningly beautiful.

• St-Romboutskathedraal, Mechelen: A wonderful, almost imperial Gothic structure with soaring, canopied pinnacles and extraordinarily long and slender apertures, the cathedral's mighty square tower takes the breath away.

Museums

• Magritte, Brussels: Two museums – the unmissable Musée Magritte and the outlying Musée René Magritte – powerfully evoke the legacy of Belgium's most famous modern artist.

• Groeninge Museum, Bruges: Possessing the world's finest samples of early Flemish paintings, from Jan van Eyck to Jan Provoost.

• In Flanders Fields Museum, Ieper: Outstanding museum which focuses on the experiences of those caught up in the war rather than the ebb and flow of the military campaigns, though these are sketched in too.

• MoMu, Antwerp: Adventurous, brilliantly presented and thought-provoking, Antwerp's first-class fashion museum has an international reputation for the quality of its temporary exhibitions.

Parks and gardens

• Minnewater Park, Bruges: Often hyped as the city's ‚ÄòLake of Love', a footbridge spans the southern end of the Minnewater to reach the leafy expanse of Minnewaterpark – or you can keep on going along the footpath that threads its way along the old city ramparts, now pleasantly wooded.

• Japanese Tuin, Leuven: This peaceful garden, set over 6 acres, provides a glimpse into Japanese culture, with traditional buildings, waterfalls and pools of koi carp. April is the perfect time to visit as the cherry blossoms are in bloom.

Day trips in the area

• A day on the coast: Take in some sea air on Ostend Beach, the pearl of the Belgian coastline – and ride the world's longest tram line.

• Bruges: Explore the maze of cobbled streets, see fabulous Flemish artworks in the Groeninge Museum and St Janshospitaal, visit the Begijnhof and take a boat trip on the canals.

• Ghent: A vital, vibrant metropolis whose booming restaurant and bar scene wends its way across a charming cityscape comprising a network of narrow canals overseen by handsome classical mansions and antique red-brick houses.

Activities for families in Belgium

Belgium is jam-packed with family-friendly attractions, making it ever so easy to keep kids entertained.

• Interactive museums: Especially child-friendly attractions include the Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée; the Muséum des Sciences Naturelles with its dinosaurs; the Atomium; and the Euro Space Centre in St-Hubert.

• Ride the coastal tram: Fast and fun, the Kusttram travels the length of the Belgian coast from Knokke-Heist train station in the east to De Panne train station in the west, putting all the Belgian resorts within easy striking distance of each other. Fares are inexpensive too: a flat-rate, single-journey ticket costs ‚€2.50, or you can opt for unlimited tram travel for one day with the dagpas for ‚€7.50.

• Canal trips: Belgium is famed for its canals, and a guided canal tour is a terrific way for the family to experience its cities from a different perspective. In Bruges, tours run frequently, departing from a number of jetties south of the Burg. Similarly, boat trips explore Ghent's inner waterways, departing from the Korenlei quay.

• Aquariums and zoos: Antwerp Zoo is one of the oldest in the world, dating back to 1843. In recent decades, it has kept ahead of the animal welfare curve, enlarging and improving its assorted compounds.

Free things to do in Belgium

Belgium has an inexhaustible supply of free activities, from exploring historic sites to open-air festivals and carnivals and swimming off the coast.

• Carnival: Belgium's annual carnivals (carnavals), held in February and early March, are original, colourful and boisterous in equal measure. One of the most renowned is held in February at Binche, in Hainaut, when there's a procession involving some 1,500 extravagantly dressed dancers called Gilles.

• Beaches: The Belgian coast boasts numerous first-rate sandy beaches, of which Ostend has an especially fine slice.

Nature and outdoor activities in Belgium

Belgium's compact size doesn't limit its wealth of outdoor options. From forested hills to dramatic coastline, the country's natural landscapes offer a variety of activities to suit all interests.

• Kayaking: Paddle through picturesque valleys on the calm, cool waters of the River Lesse in the Ardennes – no previous experience required.

• Hiking: Belgium's highest terrain, the Hautes Fagnes in the Ardennes is a windswept expanse of moorland, woodland and deep forests offering fabulous hiking - and is, surprisingly, great for cross-country skiing in winter too.

• Cycling: Get warmed up with a gentle bike ride through the fruit orchards and small villages of the Haspengouw, between Tongeren and St-Truiden.

• Caving: Belgium's caves are a big draw for those seeking subterranean thrills. One such is the Grottes de Neptune near Couvin, a small network of caverns that can be partially explored by boat on an underground river – a journey enhanced by dramatic music and light shows.

Local dishes in Belgium

One of the great pleasures of holidays to Belgium is the cuisine, and if you stay away from tourist spots, it's hard to go wrong. Southern Belgian (or Wallonian) cuisine is similar to traditional French, with a fondness for rich sauces and ingredients. The Ardennes region is renowned for its smoked ham and pàté.

Some typical dishes

• Moules-frites: Effectively the national dish, no trip to Belgium is complete without tucking into a steaming pot of locally caught mussels and freshly cooked fries.

• Waterzooi: A delicious, filling soup-cum-stew, made with either chicken (van kip) or fish (van riviervis).

Meat dishes

• Stoverij: Stewed beef and offal (especially liver and kidneys), slowly tenderised in dark beer and served with a slice of bread covered in mustard.

• Boudin blanc: Pan-fried Belgian white sausage, flavoured with herbs and served with apple sauce or mustard on the side.

Street food

• Frites: Quite simply, chips. Served everywhere in Belgium from friture/ frituur stands or parked vans, with salt and mayonnaise, or more exotic dressings.

Sweets and desserts

Right across Belgium, there are stands selling waffles (gaufres/wafels), a mixture of butter, flour, eggs and sugar grilled on deep-ridged waffle irons and served steaming hot with jam, honey, whipped cream, ice cream, chocolate, or fruit. Belgium is, of course, famous for its chocolates: the big Belgian chocolatiers – Neuhaus, Godiva and Leonidas – have stores in all the main towns and cities, but all of Belgium's cities now boast at least a couple of small, independent chocolate makers.

Local drinks

• Belgian beer: Beyond the common lager brands – Stella Artois, Jupiler and Maes – there are about 700 speciality beers, from dark stouts to fruit beers, wheat beers and brown ales. The most famous are the strong ales brewed by the country's six Trappist monasteries.

• Genever: Similar to gin, it's made from grain spirit and flavoured by juniper berries. It's available in most ordinary and specialist bars, with several hundred varieties available.