Why Visit Belgium - our top 10 reasons

Why should you visit Belgium? Well there are hundreds of great reasons to visit this great country, but here’s our Top 10 reasons to visit Belgium:

1. Bruge

With its well preserved centre, romantic buildings and canal waterways there are few places in Europe as pretty and as romantic as Bruge (also called Brugge).

Beautiful Brugge in the North West of Belgium

Things to do in Bruge - As you walk around the historic centre of Brugge take in the smells from the chocolate shops and the excellent restaurants serving the traditional mussels and chips, take time out for a boat ride along the canals, stop for a drink or two from the excellent ‘Bier only’ menus in the stunning cafes on the vast squares, enjoy a few of the local chocolates, listen as the cathedral bells striking out their tunes, and last but not least feast your eyes on the stunning scenery around every corner.

2. Spa Francorchamps and the Ardennes

Driving through Belgium from the French coast at Calais you notice this is a very flat country (it neighbours Holland - a country not well known for its mountaineering facilities and ski slopes!). But this all changes as you get by Liege, and enter the Ardennes region.

A stunning area of rolling hills, valleys and greenery. A place where you can ski in the winter months. With fantastic pretty little villages like Stavelot, Spa, and the nearby smaller, Spa Francorchamps.

A favourite destination of mine, every motorsports fan should visit Spa Francorchamps to attend a race at least once in their life. But I warn you visit once and you will want to return to my favourite circuit in the whole world. Try to visit a 24 hour race – this gives you time to walk the whole of this amazing long and hilly circuit, stopping at each corner, taking a beer from the trackside stalls, and watching the cars or motorbikes screaming past flat out through some of the most amazing corners in the world. Corners like the flat out Blanchimont and the roller coaster like Eau Rouge are great to witness, and even more dramatic at dusk, and during the night.

And of course a country famous for its beer and chips tends to have a good party atmosphere at any event!

3. Beer

There are few countries in the world where most of the bars and restaurants you visit will present you with an entirely separate menu for the beers (biers).

Belgium is famous for beer, with hundreds of different biers for different tastes. Biers like the Kreik cherry beer, the dark beers, the light beers and the 'knockout' (brewed in monasteries) Trappist beers, like the Trappist Rochefort with over 11% ABV (Alcohol by Volume – above the levels found in many wines).

Visit a Belgian Brewery and take part in some enthusiastic tasting!

4. Brussels at Christmas

No not the acrid green vegetables we eat once a year, Belgium's capital city Brussels! Brussels is a great place to visit any time of the year, with attractions like the whacky Atomium, Mini Europe and its impressive central Grand Place. But it is an especially great place to visit at Christmas, when the city centre is alive with Christmas Markets, Ice Skating, laser illuminations and more.

Read this detailed article on things to do in Brussels at Christmas.

5. Waffles and Chips

The Waffles, or Goffres as they are known locally, are just one of Belgium's healthy eating obsessions. You will find fresh waffles (a pancake / batter mix in the shape of a flat brick) being sold in most built up areas with a wealth of choice of fillings and toppings! And some have fruit in them so its not all unhealthy!

Frites, or chips or French Fries, are another speciality in Belgium – mmmmm I wonder if this is anything to do with number 3 on this list! In Belgium you are never more than 6 feet away from some chips (actually I just made that bit up – but you rarely struggle to find chips!). And careful when they ask if you want 'Mayo with your chips' – there seems to be some EU directive (law) which ensures the minimum serving is about half a kilogram!

6. Belgian Chocolates

Belgium is famous the world over for its chocolates (this is not sounding a healthy country so far is it! - You may have put on half a kilo just reading this page! But its all great food for a holiday visit). Try a Belgium Chocolate Experience, learn about chocolate making on a chocolate course, or simply visit any of the numerous speciality chocolate shops.

7. War Memories

Along with many other countries Belgium suffered great losses in the two world wars, and a huge amount of the armed combat was fought in the harsh battlefields at places like Ypres on the Western Front. Visit these areas, remember the past and hope we have learnt from it sufficiently to never see such atrocities again in the future.

8. Ghent

See Brugge above – another stunning Belgium town with its canals and beautiful buildings.

9. The Locals

The Belgians are epically friendly and jolly people (maybe something to do with 3, 5 and 6 above!) and always willing to share a bier and chat. Welcoming and great fun!

10. The Beer

Belgium is home to hundreds of great biers, many of which are incredibly strong, …. Wait a minute have I already told you this…….

Top 10 Things to do in Belgium

10 great reasons to visit Belgium