Belgium is known for its chocolate, frites, waffles, and beer. Yet while these delicacies are must-haves when traversing the country, there’s much more to Belgium than just eating and drinking.
If you’re planning a trip to a nearby country such as the Netherlands, Germany, France, or even England (shoutout to the Chunnel!) you should definitely consider venturing to Belgium. But don’t just assume Brussels is where you need to go. You might be surprised that the nicest cities in Belgium to visit actually don’t include its capital.
So what are the best places to go in this unique, trilingual nation? Continue reading to find out.
The 8 Most Beautiful Cities in Belgium
8. Brussels
Brussels, the capital of not only Belgium but Europe as well, is far and away the country’s largest and most internationally recognized city.
Its main square, Grand-Place, lives up to its name. It’s one of the most distinct, memorable squares in Europe, completely surrounded by Baroque-style guildhalls from past centuries. It’s also a very green city, with trees galore and countless well-kept parks, adding to the beauty outside of the most touristic spots. Furthermore, its central location makes it easy to get to from places like Amsterdam, Paris and even London by train.
Given this, you might be surprised to find Brussels at No. 8 on the list.
While the square and streets diverting from it are certainly awesome, Brussels’ grand architectural remnants from medieval times is fairly limited in comparison with other Belgian cities once you leave the main area. Its importance as a global political hub makes it a very important—and livable—city, yet that’s also played a role in the city losing some of its Belgian authenticity in terms of not just its infrastructure, but its culture. Many neighborhoods in Brussels don’t exude as much of an authentic Belgium feeling as neighborhoods in other cities do, which is why a Belgium itinerary needs to include other places.
Still, Brussels has a lot to offer, and if you’re into global politics or prioritize nightlife, it should find itself higher up your list.
7. Antwerp
Antwerp is the 2nd-largest metropolitan area in Belgium, home to 1.2 million people. It’s an important port city located on the Schelte River and is just 15 km south of the Netherlands.
While some port cities aren’t all that picturesque, Antwerp generally bucks that trend. The central square is called Grote-Markt, and it’s only rivaled by Brussels’ Grand-Place in terms of grandeur.
Interestingly, one of the coolest buildings here is the Antwerpen-Centraal train station, which showcases Baroque, Neo-classical, and Art Nouveau style architecture. Antwerp also has great museums for a city of its size, and if you have kids, it would be hard to top a visit to Chocolate Nation.
With waterways, a beautiful square, and several interesting things to do and see, Antwerp is worth a day and night if you’re traveling between Brussels and Amsterdam, as trains between the two cities pass through Antwerp.
6. Namur
A proper trip to Belgium is incomplete without visiting at least one city along the Meuse River, the longest river in the country. A good destination to check this box is Namur, the capital of Walloon, located in the southeast quadrant of the country.
Unlike north and west Belgium, this part of the country has some fairly hilly terrain. Whereas many Belgian cities are beautiful for their architecture and historic squares, Namur’s beauty also comes in the form of its landscape.
When you go, you absolutely have to trek up the Citadelle de Namur for its panoramic views of the city, river, and surrounding areas. It’s not a steep walk, so everyone on the trip should be able to reach the top easily.
5. Durbuy
Durbuy is the smallest city on this list, with just under 12,000 residents. However, this small community is one of the nicest cities in Belgium. Perched in a small valley on the edge of the Ourthe River in the Ardennes Forest, Durbuy is surrounded by lush greenery, a setting that can’t be found in most other parts of the country. Its elegant charm is fairytale-esque.
The only problem with Durbuy is that it’s a bit tricky to get to without a car. If you’re coming from Brussels and up for an adventure, you can get to Durbuy by taking a 2-hour train to Barvaux-sur-Ourthe (the next town over) and then walk 3km on a pretty little trail through the forest. Alternatively, you can look into renting a bike from Barvaux-sur-Ourthe, or take a short bus.
4. Leuven
Leuven is a fun city. That’s because it’s home to Belgium’s largest university, KU Leuven, along with several other institutions that give the city a vibrant feel that you really don’t get anywhere else.
Nightlife in Leuven is great for a city of its size, but there’s a lot of other things to do in the city as well. Grote-Markt, the main square, is the hub for activity, but there’s also the Oude Market (old market), which contains trendy bars and restaurants. In fact, it’s been dubbed “the longest bar in the world,” given its seemingly endless row of bars.
If you’re into beer, make sure to visit the Stella Artois Brewery. Arguably the most internationally recognizable Belgian beer, this is the largest brewery in Belgium, but perhaps even more impressive is the fact that this brewery has roots dating all the way back to 1366!
Leuven is conveniently located just a short 30-minute drive or train from Brussels. If your home base is Brussels, it’s an easy day trip. Or, you could soak in the relaxing, smaller city feel and stay for a night or two to really get to know Leuven.
And with that, into the top three. In my opinion, the following three cities are by far the nicest cities in Belgium.
3. Ghent
The top three nicest cities in Belgium must include Ghent. It’s a perfectly-sized city —not too big, not too small. It’s just 30 minutes from Brussels by train, and visitors will quickly realize why so many prefer spending time in Ghent to Brussels. Belgians themselves often admit Ghent takes the cake as the most well-rounded city.
Ghent checks all the boxes. It’s a university city, so nightlife is a priority for its residents. There are rivers and canals intertwining the city as well, which adds to its distinctiveness. It’s historic too, and thanks to being mostly spared from bombings during World War II, you can still see that history in the architecture.
Speaking of architecture, the best thing to do in Ghent has to be spending some time in and around Gravensteen. This medieval castle, surrounded by a moat, is intersected by the Leie River and one of the city’s canals. It has three separate towers. Visitors can journey inside the towers, take a walking audio tour, and snap photos from the castle’s lookouts. Separately, Saint Bavo’s Cathedral and Saint Nicholas’ Church are both exceptional as well.
Taking a stroll in the Graslei and Korenlei neighborhood is another must-do when visiting Ghent. Here, you can dine and drink at a restaurant or bar along the Leie River, take a boat tour, or just roam around and let yourself be consumed by the charm that the setting provides.
What’s great about Ghent is that the beauty radiates throughout the whole city, not just one square or neighborhood. This is why so many consider it to be the nicest, most well-rounded city in Belgium. You can spend multiple days and nights in Ghent and not get bored.
2. Dinant
If you’re wondering where the most beautiful backdrop is in Belgium, look no further than Dinant. The main strip of the city is perched right on the shoreline of the Meuse River, with its massive citadel towering over both the city center and the river below.
Dinant is home to just 13,000 residents, and it’s not necessarily designed for flocks of tourists as it has only a couple streets worth exploring. But when listing off the most beautiful cities in Belgium, Dinant absolutely has to be near the top of the list. It has a super laid-back vibe that you don’t get in larger Belgian cities like Brussels, Antwerp, and Liege, with lovely nature that sets it apart too.
One great activity is hopping on a boat and floating down the Meuse, especially if the weather is cooperating. There are scheduled tours that leave from the main dock in the city center. You don’t need to worry about booking in advance since Dinant doesn’t get overwhelming crowds of tourists.
If you’re up for something a tad more exploratory, rent a kayak.
And you absolutely have to head to the pinnacle of the Citadelle de Dinant. It’s steeper than Namur’s, but the views at the top reward those who put in the effort to climb up the 408 stairs, which date back to 1577. There are also cable cars if the thought of walking hundreds of stairs on a potentially hot, sunny day is too much to bear! Note that the walk (or ride) conveniently starts right on the main street downtown.
A water activity and a march to the top of the citadel make for two great activities during a day trip to Dinant. Just make sure you’re not in a rush when you visit. Relax, wind down, and enjoy a day away from the bustling cities.
1. Bruges
It’s hard to believe that Bruges is one of the 35-most visited cities in Europe, with 2.5 million annual visitors, given it is home to only 100,000 people. Yet there’s no question that Bruges is the most beautiful city in Belgium and the best city in Belgium to visit.
Bruges has everything you’re looking for:
- Entirely walkable and not overwhelming in size
- Large historic center with centuries-old infrastructure that was unscathed in World War II
- Canals that web the city
- Great restaurants, beer, bars, and shopping
- Friendly locals
- Authenticity retained through its architecture and culture
There are so many things to do in Bruges that, in my opinion, it requires more than just a day trip to really get the full experience.
A Bruges itinerary isn’t complete without walking up the Belfry Tower, overlooking the city’s Markt-Square. If you’re into museums, obtaining the Musea Brugge card allows you to venture inside the city’s 9-best museums for an incredible discount of just 33 euros.
Getting to Bruges is easy if you’re coming from Brussels, as there are trains running all day every 30 minutes. It’s a relatively short 1-hour ride.
