BELGIUM

 

Why visit Belgium? For starters, their cuisine! The list of food items Belgium is known for is long and ranges from chocolates to fries to beers to waffles. They also host a variety of world-famous events such as: Zythos Beer Festival (April), Tomorrowland (July), Zinneke Parade (July), and Brussels Flower Carpet (August). Still think Belgium is lacking? Explore a few of their thirteen properties on the UNESECO World Heritage List - namely Bruges’ historic city center! I love me some Belgium!

  • Updated COVID-19 Travel Information:

  • Currency:

    • The official currency of Belgium is the Euro (EUR) (€)

      • $1 USD = €0.85

  • Pricing for Leisure Travelers:

    • Average Hotel Expenses = €83-€95/Night ($100-$115 USD/Night)

    • Average Food/Drink Expenses = €25-€37/Day ($30-$45 USD/Day)

  • Pricing for Backpackers:

    • Average Hostel Expenses = €14-€23/Night ($17-$27 USD/Night)

    • Average Food/Drink Expenses = €14-€23/Day ($17-$27 USD/Day)

  • Communication:

    • There are many languages spoken in Belgium - the main two being Dutch and French. Other languages spoken here are English, German, and Flemish. I didn’t have any difficulty getting by here with my English.

  • Transportation:

    • Train: If you are traveling to Belgium from another country, I would suggest traveling by train. Brussels is a big travel hub so there are plenty of trains coming in and out. The Rail Europe website is very user-friendly and if you’re looking to travel across Europe for a few months, it’s worth looking into the Eurail Global Pass.

    • Bus: If traveling between countries, you can book through your hostel or use Busbud. Once inside Belgium, I suggest traveling the country by bus. The country isn’t big so journeys aren’t long. Additionally, Belgium has a great bus system. The region you are looking to explore will determine the bus company you use. If you are traveling in:

      • Brussels metropolitan area, use STIB.

      • Northern Belgium (Flanders), use De Lijn.

      • Southern Belgium (Wallonia), use TEC.

    • Airplane: The airport in Brussels is very busy. You can likely find inexpensive flights in and out of here. If you are traveling for at least a few weeks, I think you’re better off traveling by bus or train though.

    • Taxi/Uber: This will be your most expensive option when traveling from city to city but since the country is small, the prices are reasonable. There are plenty of Ubers and taxis everywhere. If you do take a taxi, make sure they run their meter!

  • Miscellaneous:

    • You won’t find a better country for beer! Yes, I think it’s better here than Germany! In fact, my favorite beer of all-time is brewed in Bruges (Brugse Zot). Belgians also brew Stella Artois, Duvel, Leffe, and Hoegaarden.

    • Don’t let my photos of Bruges dissuade you from visiting. I got unlucky and went on an overcast day. Cloudy or not, it’s much prettier in person; pictures don’t do it justice!

BRUGES

BRUSSELS

Thank you, Antoinette and Brent, for your respsective photos of Bruges and Brussels!