Belgium was one of those countries I didn’t really know what to expect from before visiting. I had always imagined it as something like a smaller version of France with a strong Dutch influence, but once I arrived I was surprised by how much character the country had on its own.
The architecture, history, and food all stood out immediately. Belgium is famous for beer, chocolate, waffles, and fries, but there is much more to the country than that. For such a small place, it has an impressive number of historic cities and regional differences packed into a relatively short distance.
So far I’ve visited Brussels and Bruges, and both felt completely different from one another. I’d still like to return to see places like Antwerp and Ghent, explore more of Wallonia in the south, and visit some of Belgium’s important World War I and World War II sites.
Explore Brussels
Brussels is the capital and largest city in Belgium, but it also plays a much larger role in Europe as one of the main centers of the European Union. Beyond politics, though, the city is full of historic architecture, restaurants, cafes, museums, and neighborhoods that each have their own atmosphere.
Brussels also happens to be an excellent place to experience some of the things Belgium is most famous for. Beer and chocolate shops seem to be everywhere, and the city has a much stronger food culture than I expected before visiting.
Explore Bruges
Bruges is one of the best-preserved medieval cities I’ve visited in Europe. Narrow streets, canals, stone bridges, churches, and old merchant buildings make much of the historic center feel like it was designed centuries before cars ever existed.
The heart of the city is the Markt, or main market square, where some of Bruges’ most recognizable buildings surround a large open plaza. From there, the best way to explore is simply to wander through the old streets and along the canals, which is exactly what makes Bruges so enjoyable.
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