Things to do in Belgium

Stand in the UNESCO-listed Grand Place, surrounded by gilded guildhalls, the Town Hall, and the King's House, one of Europe's most beautiful squares.

Visit the serene Orval Abbey grounds, explore the ancient ruins, then enjoy a glass of its famous Trappist ale at the adjacent café.

Glide through the medieval heart of Bruges under low stone bridges and past stepped gables, earning its nickname 'Venice of the North'.

Enter the giant stainless-steel crystal molecule, ride escalators through spheres, and enjoy panoramic views of the capital from the top sphere.

Join the queue at this legendary frituur near Place Jourdan for a paper cone of crispy, double-fried frites with your choice of sauce.

Admire Van Eyck's luminous 'Adoration of the Mystic Lamb', a masterpiece of early oil painting, in its specially lit chapel after years of restoration.

Every evening at 8 PM, buglers sound the Last Post under the colossal WWI memorial to missing soldiers in Ypres, a deeply moving ritual.

Walk the ramparts and torture museum of this imposing 12th-century castle with moat and arrow slits, right in the city centre.

Pedal under towering beech trees and past peaceful ponds like Rouge-Cloître on a network of car-free paths, breathing one of Europe's oldest forests.

Indulge in delicate Belgian chocolate pralines from iconic Neuhaus or other luxury chocolatiers beneath the glass-roofed arcade of this 19th-century shopping gallery.

Hunt for giant murals dedicated to beloved Belgian comic heroes like Tintin, Spike and Suzy on a self-guided walk through Brussels streets.

Step through a gate into a whitewashed cluster of 17th-century houses and a church around a lawn of poplars, once home to lay religious women.

Trek across boardwalks through Europe's largest raised bog, with heathland, moors, and misty spruce woods at the country's summit, Signal de Botrange.

In the days before Lent, see hundreds of Gilles in wax masks and ostrich-feather hats stomp through the streets, throwing oranges for good luck.

Walk through the painter's 17th-century palazzo, see his art collection, the vast studio where massive canvases were created, and the baroque garden.

Marvel at Rubens' masterpieces inside, then ascend 123 metres up the tallest Gothic church tower in the Low Countries for a sweeping city view.

Breathe the North Sea air on the belgian coast, dip your toes in the water, watch the horse mackerel fishing boats, or sip a drink at a beach bar.

Enter Victor Horta's own home and studio, a sinuous jewel of iron, glass, and flowing lines that defines the Belgian Art Nouveau style.

Ride a vintage tram to a gaping cave mouth, then walk through colossal galleries and hear the underground river echo in this karst wonder.

Scale 226 steps to a cast-iron lion atop an artificial hill that marks the spot where the Prince of Orange was wounded during Napoleon's final defeat.

Descend into ‘t Poatersgat, a dimly lit 13th-century cellar with vaulted brick ceilings and over 100 beers, a secret hideaway off a small street.

Conquer the spiral stairs and slight vertigo to be rewarded by the 91-metre tower's 54 bells and a sweeping view of the three towers of Ghent.

Walk through dark, echoing 16th-20th century passageways with a guide, imagining sieges and soldiers, then emerge to a panoramic view over the Meuse valley.

Visit in spring for the rare opening of King Leopold II's vast glass-domed winter garden, filled with exotic flora and sculptural architecture.

Find the tiny bronze boy endlessly peeing into a fountain, often dressed in one of his 1,000+ costumes, a beloved symbol of Brussels' irreverent spirit.