Galloping across Europe. Traveling around Belgium by train. How to travel cheaply A trip to Belgium on your own

Traveling around Belgium is very easy and simple by train.
There are three major train stations in Brussels - North, Central and South (Midi\Zuid). International trains usually arrive at South Station, where there are connections with Paris, Amsterdam, Cologne (Thalys, TGV, ICE trains) and London (Eurostar).
South Station: Avenue Fonsny, 1060 Saint-Gilles, Belgien (Brussels-South railway station)
North Station: Rue du Progrès 76, 1030 Bruxelles, Belgique (Brussels-North railway station)
Central Station: Brussels-Central, Parochiaanstraat 15 – 23, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Official website of railway stations http://www.b-rail.be/
Trains run quite often, all schedules are on the website. Please note that travel times vary depending on the type of train. Next, I want to talk about some features that may be useful...

Tickets can be bought at the station at the ticket office or from a machine (including with cards).

There is no need to compost anywhere; tickets are checked by conductors on the train.
The seats are not indicated on the tickets, take any, but the “class” category must be respected.
The train carriages consist of 1st and 2nd class carriages (respectively, different ticket prices and comfort))). The class level is written on the carriage in large numbers. Typically, 1st class on a train consists of several carriages and not necessarily the first ones.
If you are seated in the wrong class by mistake, the conductor will advise you to take your class. Some comrades deliberately “make mistakes,” but let that be on their conscience.

On signs in Belgium, city names are written in the official languages ​​of the country - French and Dutch, and English spellings are often found on the Internet. Here are the main cities.

From Brussels to Ghent (30 minutes).
The most convenient way to get there is from Brussels (south station - Brussels Midi or Zuid) by train to the Sint Pieters station, which looks more like a fortress.)) The historical center is quite far away (it took about 45 minutes on foot!), so the best way to get there is by tram ( No. 1, stop Korenmarkt (10 minutes on the way).

From Brussels to (55 minutes)
The most convenient way to get from Brussels to Bruges is from the Central or South (Midi\Zuid) train stations, whichever is more convenient, to Station Brugge. 10 minutes walk to Beguinage and Lake of Love.

From Brussels to (50 minutes)
The most convenient way to get from Brussels is from the South Station (Brussels Midi or Zuid) to the main train station of Antwerp (Centraal Station). The historical center is 1.5 km from the station. Antwerp train station is very beautiful, both inside and out. Around the station there is a diamond district, shop windows are bursting with “friends of girls” diamonds.)))

!!By the way, keep in mind that children under 12 years old, accompanied by their parents, do not need train tickets.)))

Independent trip to Belgium: how to get there, what to see, how to save on transport and food. A selection of useful information for the traveler.

Belgium breathes prosperity and tranquility. This small country has a large number of medieval monuments, exquisite cuisine, delicious beer and chocolate - for all this, travelers come to Belgium.

How to get to Belgium on your own

You can travel from Moscow to Brussels independently on board Brussels Airlines (direct flight). The average price for a round trip ticket is 9-10 thousand rubles. It’s easy to fly from the Northern capital for about the same amount. Much more expensive get to Belgium from the regions: from Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk and Ufa, tickets cost from 15 thousand and above.

Where to look for cheap tickets? The most convenient way to do this is with the help of search engines and Skyscanner. To find the best price, check in both and see tickets for different dates. Read also the instructions. Don't forget about the map and calendar of low prices - be flexible when searching for air tickets and planning your own trip to Belgium!

Transport in Belgium

Brussels - transport hub of the country, from the main station you can go to any city in Belgium. The most developed transport is railway. The country is covered by a network of railways, so traveling by train is more convenient than by bus. In addition, the fare is not that expensive by European standards.

If you are traveling to Belgium on your own, on the railway website you can plan your trip and calculate travel prices. For example, from Brussels to Ghent a standard return ticket costs 17.80 euros, and from Bruges to Ghent - 13 euros.

(photo © Hunter-Desportes / flickr.com)

It is beneficial to use the so-called Weekend Ticket - with it you can take weekend trips (from 19:01 Friday to Sunday) to any city in Belgium with a 50% discount. The only condition is that the trip must be a round trip. So, with the help of Weekend Ticket, a ticket Brussels - Ghent - Brussels will cost only 10 euros, and Bruges - Ghent - Bruges - 7.40 euros.

In addition, for young people under 26 years of age, it is often profitable to travel by purchasing Go Pass 1 - such tickets are cheaper, but are sold exclusively online. You can also often find promotions on the site: for example, from October 7 to November 2, there is a Web Deal promotional rate, at which you can purchase a one-way ticket for 6 euros (purchase online). If your goal is to travel around Belgium independently and cheaply, it makes sense to monitor promotions on the website in the Deals section.

You can also travel around Belgium by bus, but this is not as convenient, since comfortable and fast trains run between major cities, and buses are provided with suburban and regional services. Major bus carriers: and.

From Belgium it is convenient to reach cities in Germany, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Luxembourg both by train and by bus. These destinations are served by high-speed trains, and the UK can be reached by Eurostar.

(photo © OliverN5 / flickr.com)

The cheapest return tickets for the Eurostar train to London are from 88 euros (without refund or exchange). For youth under 26 years old - from 84 euros in both directions. Travel time is a little over two hours.

Naturally, you can also travel on comfortable Eurolines buses - please note that they often have profitable promotions and special offers, so you should not forget about this when planning your trip. For example, with a promotional rate you can travel from Brussels to Paris for only 18 euros (round trip) instead of the standard price of 27 euros.

Food in Belgium

Many people travel to Belgium to experience the exquisite local cuisine, because food in Belgium is an art. The choice is huge: from street food - French fries and waffles with various additives - to traditional dishes such as croquettes or mussels. What should you try in Belgium?

Just like chocolate and beer, Belgian waffles are the country's calling card. Waffles are served warm, dusted with powdered sugar, along with soft fruit, whipped cream or chocolate. The two most popular types of waffles are Brussels and Liege. Brussels waffles are soft and rectangular in shape, while Liege waffles are oval or round, often sprinkled with vanilla and cinnamon.

(photo © Pabo76 / flickr.com)

Beer in Belgium

There are no less than 650 types of beer in Belgium! Impressive, isn't it? Each region has its own types of beer. There is even a Beer Route: Brussels - Chimay - Dinant - Maredsous - Rochefort. The "beer" city of Belgium is Leuven; the local university even had a special beer department.

The most famous (and delicious) beer in Belgium produced in the so-called abbey breweries according to ancient recipes that are not disclosed: Abbaye de Maredsous (Rue de Maredsous 11, Namur), Abbaye de Val Dieu (Val Dieu 225, Aubel), Abbaye de Leffe (Place de l "Abbaye 1, B -5500 Dinant) and others.

In addition to traditional beer, it is worth trying fruit beer (raspberry, cherry, sweet cherry), as well as with unusual herbal additives.

Several brasseries in Brussels:

• Brewers House (10 Grand Place);
• Les Brasseurs de la Grand Place (Rue de la Colline 24);
• Brussels Gueuze Museum and Cantillon Brewery ( Rue Gheude 54).

Chocolate

Everyone has heard that Belgian chocolate is one of the best in the world. Belgian chocolate was glorified by Jean Neuhaus Jr., the creator of pralines and owner of the famous Neuhaus company.

Be sure to visit the numerous chocolate shops that are scattered in large numbers throughout the cities - there are more than 500 small private confectionery shops in Belgium. The most famous brands at the moment are Leonidas, Godiva and Wittamer.

Belgian chocolate is famous for its unsurpassed taste and quality - it is prepared without artificial additives or preservatives, exclusively from natural ingredients. Belgium loves to experiment: here you will find chocolate with a variety of fillings - from traditional to innovative. What can I say, just eat some more of this delicious Belgian chocolate and drink some tea.

(photo © LinksmanJD / flickr.com)

Several chocolate shops where you can try and buy chocolate in Brussels:

• Chocolatier Jean Philippe Darcis (Petite rue au Beurre, 14);
• Wittamer (Place du Grand Sablon, 6);
• Mary Chocolatier (Rue Royale, 73);
• Passion Chocolat (Rue Bodenbroek 2/4).

In addition, you can taste chocolate and even see how it is made in factories and museums. At La Maison des Maitres Chocolatiers Belges you will be shown the production process, where you can also taste chocolate. Take a look at the Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate (Musee du Cacao et du chocolat) - you will definitely like it!

Note: in November Brussels hosts events dedicated to chocolate - Chocolate Fair and Chocolate Week, but the real city of chocolate is Bruges.

Mussels

Mussels in Belgium are a national dish; you can try them from September to February. They are usually served in their own juice with French fries and homemade mayonnaise, but may be served differently in different regions. Restaurant Chez Leon in Brussels it is considered one of the best restaurants serving fresh mussels.

Accommodation while traveling. Look for hotels at the best price on Roomguru.ru - it compares prices of a variety of booking systems and finds the best one. If you prefer to live in private apartments and houses when traveling, then it is better to look for them on the popular rental service from Airbnb.ru owners - there you can find very cozy apartments at any price!

What to see in Belgium?

Look for interesting excursions on the Sputnik and . Individual and group, without crowds of tourists and in Russian.

Those who come to Belgium on their own need to formulate a program for getting to know the country and its culture. Next, we will talk about must-see places in the four main Belgian cities.

Brussels

What to see in Brussels? This is, firstly, the historical Grand Place with the town hall and the King's House, where 17th-century architecture and modern life are harmoniously intertwined. Secondly, this is the Royal Palace in Brussels Park and the Royal Museum.

In addition, you need to see the sculpture of the Manneken Pis and find his “friend” - the Girl Pis, visit Brussels Cathedral, St. Michael's Cathedral and the Royal Galleries of St. Hubert (Galeries Royales St-Hubert). As for the informal attractions of Brussels, these include the Atomium, the European Parliament and the Red Light District.

(photo © saigneurdeguerre / flickr.com)

The place to start your sightseeing in Bruges is from the heart of the city - the Grote Markt (market square), whose history dates back to the 10th century. The beautiful Belfort Tower is located here. Religious architecture includes the oldest hospital in Europe, St. John's Hospital, the Beguine Monastery, the Church of Our Lady and the Church of the Holy Blood of Christ.

You should also look into fascinating museums: learn about the history of chocolate at the Chocolate Museum, and about the history of beer at the Brewery Museum, and admire the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts and the Lace Museum. And it’s just worth taking a walk along the ancient streets and canals of perhaps the most romantic city in Belgium.

(photo © b-leam / flickr.com)

Antwerp

In the city of Rubens, of course, you should first of all pay tribute to the Flemish artist and visit the Rubens House. Next in line are the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, the town hall on the Grote Markt, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Antwerp and, of course, Sten Castle.

For those who are interested in diamonds, let us remind you that Antwerp is the city of diamonds; it was here that diamonds were appraised, cut and sold, so you can get acquainted with the history of jewelry making at the Diamond Museum.

Ghent

In Ghent, in addition to its wonderful architecture, you will find many pubs where you can have a great time with a glass of Belgian beer. The city is home to one of the largest universities in Belgium, so there are many students here.

Must see Ghent: St. Bavo's Cathedral, the Bell Tower and the Church of St. Nicholas, the impressive Gravesteen Castle and the Castle of Gerard the Devil, the beautiful St. Michael's Bridge over the Lys Canal and the covered market of Lakenhalle. Also worth visiting are the Vrijdagmarkt and St. Peter's Abbey.

(photo © rwfreund / flickr.com)

Ghent is also famous for its daily bazaars and flower markets, where locals buy fresh produce and tourists enjoy strolling.

And, of course, the charming medieval streets of Ghent will appeal to everyone - walk along the pedestrian street Veldstraat, where shops coexist with ancient mansions of the 18th century, and swim along the canals of the city - Ghent will definitely not leave you indifferent.

By the way, very close to the city are the defensive castles of Laarne, Van Oeydonk and Vondelgem - they will be a worthy end to an independent trip to Belgium.

Introductory image source: © Fr Antunes / flickr.com.

Bruges is the most famous city in Belgium, after the capital. The second name of the city is “Venice of the North”. It is definitely worth taking a ride along the many cozy canals. And to see the city in all its glory from above, you need to climb the Belfort Tower (Belfry of Bruges). All seekers of medieval romance will be interested in strolling along the streets of Stanina. The city is simply created for peaceful walks around the sights of Bruges. City residents always treat tourists kindly and help them learn the history of the city.

3. "Mini-Europe"

If you want to see the most famous sights of all of Europe in one place, then it is worth visiting Mini-Europe park, which is located in Brussels. The feeling simply cannot be expressed in words. The park was opened in 1989. More than 350 1/25 scale replicas of landmarks are located next to each other on an area of ​​24,000 m².
The Eiffel and Leaning Towers of Pisa, Big Ben, the Doge's Palace and Chenosseau Castle, the Grand Place, the eruption of Vesuvius and the fall of the Berlin Wall, bullfighting in Seville Square and many other memorable places from 80 European cities will not leave any visitor indifferent. Every year the mini-park is visited by more than 300,000 tourists.
They spent 200 thousand euros on design alone. The entire budget at the time of opening was about 10 million euros.
Dwarf trees and shrubs grow around each attraction, and there is a lawn.
Visiting hours 9:30-18:30. For adults, a ticket costs 13 euros, for children - 10 euros.

4. Carnivals

Every spring, in the ancient park of Annevoie, which is located between the two small towns of Namur and Dinan, you can visit a carnival in Venetian costumes. A real holiday for all visitors.
In addition to the carnival, the park is famous for its fountains and waterfalls, decorative ponds, a palace with an impenetrable moat, and gardens in English, Italian and French styles.
Entrance to the park is paid. For adults - 6 euros, for children - 3 euros.
On which days the carnival will be held can be found on the city’s official website www.annevoie.be/?page=event/venise.
A real Belgian carnival can be seen in the city of Binche. At the end of February, a few days before the start of the great Catholic fast, they organize a big holiday with dressing up in a variety of costumes. The carnival has been held since the 14th century, and every year it attracts thousands of Belgians and tourists from many countries. On the last two Sundays before the carnival, a dress rehearsal of the holiday takes place on the city streets, but only in last year's costumes.

One of the main natural attractions of the country is the caves of An-sur-Lesse. The excursion begins in the villages, then a red tram takes tourists to the caves. Inside, the tour continues on a boat through the cave lakes. The air temperature in the caves does not rise above 13 °C.
The main cave with stalactites is 5 meters high. A light show awaits tourists in one of the caves. All the stones shimmer with multi-colored lights and fairy-tale characters, exotic plants and animals come to life on the walls. In the last cave, all visitors can hear the powerful underground echo of a shot from the Maria cannon.
The cost of a tour ticket for an adult is 25 euros, for children - 13 euros. You can visit the caves from 10 am to 5 pm.
Almost everything in the village is aimed at tourists: hotels, cafes, car rentals, souvenir shops.
Every year, about half a million tourists come to visit the famous caves.

6. Unusual monuments

Belgium is one of the first places in Europe in terms of the number of unusual monuments. The most famous monuments of the capital are a boy, a girl and a dog peeing.
Huge model of an iron molecule - Atomimum. The monument is 102 meters high. Inside you can see nuclear energy exhibits, visit a café, and even spend the night.
There are many monuments in the pop art style in the country. A striking example is a cat on a bicycle in Brussels.
On one of the embankments of Bruges there is a bronze bouquet in a marble vase. This is a symbolic meeting place for lovers of the city.
Another interesting group of sculptures are four naked girls with large crows perched on their heads.
The funniest sculptures are “A Joke on a Policeman”, “Zeus, Leda, Prometheus and Pegasus Visit Bruges”, “The Dog of Flanders” in Hoboken, “Man Measuring Clouds” in Ghent, “The Head of Salvador Dali on a Silver Platter”.

7. Small towns

Don't limit your trip to Belgium to just the big cities. The country is full of small towns that will undoubtedly be of interest to tourists.
For example, the city of Durbuy was considered the smallest town on the planet until 1977. The landscapes here are amazingly beautiful. Natural diversity attracts a large number of tourists here.
For lovers of mountainous terrain, the city of Dinan is worth a visit. And to admire the beautiful embankments, go to Antwerp. The city of Leuven is the “heart” of the Stella Artois beer empire. The most famous Belgian beer was born in local breweries. The city of Spa is considered the ancestor of all water resorts in the world. The town of Bouillon attracts with its medieval castle. The most fashionable town in the country is Knokke. Beach, sea and shopping are the main attractions of the city. Only the capital can boast such a large number of boutiques.

To have fun, you can take a ride on the beer car. This is a mobile beer bar. All passengers turn the pedals of the vehicle, which is why it begins to move. For this, everyone receives a reward - a glass of beer.

This will be an interesting activity for all beer lovers. You can kill two birds with one stone - see the city and drink your favorite drink.

9. Tasty symbols of Belgium

Since ancient times, chocolate has been considered a symbol of Belgium. The wide variety of flavors will make anyone who tastes the local chocolate have a sweet tooth. Many shops offer a variety of chocolate options. Also, famous sweets from Belgium - Brussels And Liege waffles. Very often they are sold with additives: hot chocolate, cream, strawberries, nuts.

If you decide to have a snack on the street, be sure to try Frites. Before serving potatoes, add vegetables, pieces of meat and ketchup.
In the restaurant you should try the famous Flemish Carbonade (Carbonnade a la Flamande) - this is beef cooked in beer.
Cheese gourmets should try such Belgian varieties as Limburger, Orval and Remudu.
More than 600 types of beer are produced in Belgium. Traditionally, beer sets are brought as souvenirs.

10. Shopping

In Belgium you can buy exquisite jewelry, luxury perfumes, high-quality clothes and shoes, stylish accessories, and antiques. There are two main trading groups in the country - Delhaize and GB. They offer their customers a compromise between range, price and quality.
Most often people go shopping in July and January. During these months, most stores have solden sales. During this period, you can purchase luxury items (Louis Vuitton, Versace, Christian Dior, Hugo Boss, Hermes, Chanel, Armani) at affordable prices.
To buy antiques you should visit Rue des Sablons in Brussels. There are a large number of antique shops on this street, and fairs are held on weekends.
Outlet villages, popular in Europe, also exist in Belgium. The most famous is Maasmechelen Village outlet. About 100 boutiques offer items from famous Belgian and world brands at reasonable prices. Often discounts reach 60%. The outlet is open every day from 10 am to 6 pm.

The slow pace of life, the openness of the local population, and colorful landscapes turn every day in Belgium into a holiday. Tourists will always find something to see. To feel the flavor of the country, you need to travel around it, and then you will definitely find your favorite place.

Do Russians need a visa in Belgium? Yes, because it is part of the Schengen zone. The list of documents to be received is standard for Schengen. Among the special conditions is the mandatory presence of one completely blank sheet (2 pages) in the international passport, or two 4 pages) if you are planning a trip with a child). But there are practically no queues at visa centers, so many people go to Belgium to open entry into the Schengen countries. Documents are reviewed within 5 to 7 days.

To obtain a visa, it is necessary to have medical insurance with a coverage amount of 30 thousand euros.

The cost of registration is standard for Schengen - 35 euros, plus 1900 rubles - consular fee.

How to get there?

Considering the popularity of this country, it is easy to get to, which means traveling around Belgium on your own will be successful. Planes, trains and buses go here from every European country.

You can fly from Moscow to Belgium by plane in just 3 hours. Direct Moscow-Brussels flights are operated by Aeroflot and Brussels Airlines. You can also get there with a transfer through the Baltic countries and Europe. It will be cheaper, but longer: connecting flights, depending on variations, take from 6 to 60 hours. Ticket prices are not fixed and vary depending on the season.

The country has 5 airports of international importance. The largest is Brussels International Airport, which is the best in Europe. It was originally built by the Germans in 1914 after invading the country as part of the First World War, as a hangar for their airships. During the hostilities, the airport changed hands several times, and after the war it became a passenger airport. Now about 20 million passengers a year pass through it. Now its territory has everything you need - from cafes and shops to rooms for meditation and prayer.

How to get from the airport to Brussels:

• By train, the station is located in the main terminal building. From here, trains depart at intervals of 15 minutes to three railway stations of the capital (Brussels North, Brussels Midi, Brussels Central).
• By bus - there are several of them here. There is a direct flight to Antwerp that runs every hour. De Lijn's luxury buses take passengers to Roodebeek metro station. Buses are simpler - MIVB/STIB deliver those arriving to the EU building in Brussels.
• By taxi - cars painted blue and yellow are waiting at the exit from the airport. This is a licensed taxi service, so you don't have to worry about being scammed or shortchanged. The cost of a trip to the center of Brussels is about 45 euros.

How to get to Belgium if you are afraid of flying? You can use the railway and train. By rail you will have to travel with transfers through almost any major city in European countries. It will be more expensive than a direct flight. And it will take several days.

There is no direct bus from Russia, but you can get from Moscow to Belgium with transfers in Minsk and Warsaw.
Belgium climate not cold, but not hot either. In winter, on the Ardennes Highlands the average temperature drops to -1, on the plains - about +1, on the coast - +3 degrees. Summer is warm, but not hot. The summer season begins at the end of May and ends with the onset of September. It often rains in summer. The average temperature practically does not exceed 30 degrees.

It's quite cloudy in Belgium. The most sunny days are observed in April and September.

Where to stay?

The hotels here are cozy and provide maximum amenities. Even the most budget ones are always clean and have all the necessary amenities.

There are the best chain hotels in Belgium: Hilton, Radisson (SPA hotel in Spa), Hyatt and others. But the majority are authentic hotels. Among these is Martin's Petershof, a hotel located in a former Gothic cathedral built at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. It has five types of rooms with different designs: from ancient style, with Gothic columns in the bathroom, to modern ones, equipped with the necessary appliances.

Hotel “Walk of the Gnomes” (La Balade des Gnomes) – for lovers of everything unusual and exclusive. Its interior is designed in a fairytale style. A curved vault of heaven instead of a ceiling or a floating wooden bed in a room are quite ordinary things. And the hotel building itself was built in the shape of a wooden Trojan horse.

Euro Space Center is a high-tech hotel where you can see with your own eyes the rocket launch mechanism. Technical shows are often held here, and guests feel like residents of an intergalactic space station.

You can rent a small hotel house in the countryside, but rural tourism is not in demand here.

Of course, in 2-3 days you will only have time to see the main attractions. Do you want to get to know this country better? Come here for at least two weeks. And be sure to visit all three regions.

Transport

Rail transport in Belgium is the most developed: it is a fast, convenient and inexpensive way to get from city to city. Travel time is about 30-40 minutes. And in three hours you can drive through the entire territory of the country. Trains are almost silent and do not deviate from a clear schedule.

Trains are divided into three categories:

1. Intercity - intercity, connecting large cities in Belgium;
2. InterRegio - Interregional;
3. Daytime trains.

The ticket price depends on the distance and day of the week. The exact price of tickets can be found on the website of the Belgian National Railway System (www.belgianrail.be).

Buses operate within cities, and fares vary from city to city. You can buy both a ticket for one trip and passes for a period of 1 (day and night) day and from 3 to 10 days.

With a bus ticket you can use the metro. You can also purchase a tourist pass for both types of transport. It's called BrusselsCard and costs 30 euros. You can ride all day long. A nice bonus is that this pass gives you free access to some museums and exhibitions.

There are about 800 taxi services in the country, and all of them are controlled by the Ministry of Transport, thanks to which the price for travel is fixed - 1.15 euros per kilometer, at night - a quarter more expensive. Taxis can be taken at parking lots near museums, hotels, and restaurants. It is not necessary to tip the taxi driver - they are already included in the price.

To plan your trip to Belgium yourself, you can use the popular car rental service. You can rent a car directly at the airport or from a special company. This is beneficial because fuel prices here are among the lowest in Europe and the roads are in excellent condition. To rent a car you need:

• National driving license;
• International rights;
• Medical insurance;
• Passport;
• Credit card.

The rental cost is about 60 euros per day, plus paid parking will cost 10-15 euros. It is better not to leave your car on the side of the road: it can be picked up by a tow truck, which is fraught with troubles and fines. Violating traffic rules is highly undesirable: the fines are substantial. Important: the police transmit all data on fines to the general system of the Schengen area. Therefore, the next Schengen visa with such a reputation may not be issued.

You can also rent a bicycle - it will cost only 3 euros per day.

His network here is very well developed. All major cities in Belgium are connected by rail, and trains run frequently. The longest trip on our proposed route will be two hours. In addition, when traveling around the country by train, you can safely enjoy the variety without worrying about the strength of the drink in your glass.

We offer two options for traveling around Belgium, depending on whether you are arriving in or coming from.

If your journey starts at Brussels Airport

The first day. Arrival in Belgium and check-in to a hotel in Ghent

You fly into Brussels National Airport and go down to the train station located underneath. Now you need to buy a train ticket, but not to Brussels, but to Ghent.

Our choice when getting to know Belgium fell on this city not by chance. Ghent is a very beautiful place where you can spend a wonderful couple of days. It is safer than the capital, and here you can calmly walk in the evenings, enjoying the beautiful lighting of ancient buildings. The city is well located - from it it is easy to reach Bruges, Antwerp, Ypres, Brussels or Lille if you want to visit France. Accommodation in Ghent will cost you less than in Bruges, and the center here looks much more interesting in the evenings.

Find yourself a room for the next three days in local hotels. If the flight was during the day, then you will have time for an evening walk around the city.

Second day. Ghent

Our detailed guide to the city will help you spend your second day in Ghent interestingly. Be sure to take a boat ride along the canals and have dinner at a local restaurant in the evening.

Day three. Trip to Bruges

From early morning you go to. The train journey from Gent Sint Pieters station takes between 25 and 40 minutes. It is better to arrive in the city before 9 am, before there is an influx of tourists on the streets. Climb the Belfry and get a bird's eye view of the rooftops of the gingerbread houses. Explore the narrow canals on foot or join a boat tour. Just don’t feed the local swans, they are already not very easy to climb. And of course, look at the windows of numerous shops in search of.

Day four. Trip to Antwerp

Spend your fourth day in and compare medieval, laid-back Bruges with one of Belgium's most dynamic cities. The train journey from Gent Sint-Pieters Station to Antwerpen Centraal Station takes 55-65 minutes. on and find out its history. If the weather is good, be sure to enjoy the sunset while sitting on the promenade or the rooftop of the MAS Museum.

Day five. Moving to Leuven. Trip to Liege or Hasselt

Change your location to Leuven. The train journey to it from Ghent will take about an hour.

Leuven is a small city in Flanders, located 15 minutes from Brussels. Today it is best known for its local university, KU Leuven. A third of Leuven's population are students, which is why there are many original coffee shops and inexpensive restaurants. Among the attractions it is worth visiting the central square with the beautiful city hall building, the library, as well as the suburb of Heverley. Here is Arenberg Castle, which is now not only a tourist site, but also part of the university campus.

It is not necessary to devote the whole day to Leuven; it is good primarily for its location - from here you can quickly get to Brussels, Liege, Hasselt, Antwerp and Namur. After checking into hotel, it is better to go to explore neighboring settlements, and take a walk around the largest educational center of Belgium in the evening or early morning the next day. For example, you can learn everything about Leuven in 3 hours.

On your fifth day in Belgium, we suggest you visit Liege in Wallonia or Hasselt in Flanders.

• The path from Le Vienna to Liege by train takes 33 minutes. This Walloon town has an interesting train station, designed Santiago Calatrave oh, staircase street “Mountain Buren” of 400 steps, a wonderful weapons museum, cathedrals and churches that architecture lovers will appreciate.
• The journey from Leuven to Hasselt will take you have between 39 and 51 minutes, depending on the train you choose. IN this city you can visit the museum-factory that produces local alcoholic drink , one of the largest in Europe Japanese garden , fashion museum, and just stroll along the quiet central streets.

Day six. Trip to Brussels

From Leuven station you can reach Brussel Centraal station in 25 minutes. We have allocated 1 day to get acquainted with everything, since this time will be enough to visit all the main attractions. But this is provided that you are not interested in visiting the city’s many museums. It will be easier and more fun with a guide; you can choose and book an excursion.

Day seven. Trip to Namur

To get to know Wallonia better, it is worth visiting Namur. The easiest way is to get from Leuven to the northern or central stations of Brussels, and then change to a direct train to Namur. The journey will take approximately 1 hour 40 minutes. It’s worth coming to Namur if only because of the citadel - a huge ancient fortress where you can wander around for about 5 hours, enjoying the views of the city.

If you love castles, are able to walk long distances and are not afraid of steps, then make the seventh day of your trip to Belgium even more eventful. Go early in the morning not to Namur, but to Dinan, which takes 2 hours 10 minutes. Walk around the city, see the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, climb the 19th century citadel. And be sure to take a boat ride on the Meuse to enjoy the views of Dinan. Then return to the station and take a 30-minute train ride to Namur, stroll around the city and decide which citadel you like best.

• The first day. Arrival in Antwerp (1 night). City tour.
• Second day. Moving to Ghent (2 nights). City tour.
• Day three. Trip to Bruges.
• Day four. Transfer to Leuven (3 nights). Trip to Liege or Hasselt.
• Day five. Trip to Brussels.
• Day six. Trip to Namur.
• Day seven. Departure.

If you are flying from, you can easily get there from Leuven by train with 1 or 2 transfers. M The maximum travel time will be 2 hours 40 minutes.

What should you consider before visiting Belgium?

• U Know if public transport strikes are planned during your visit to Belgium.
• A 10-day music festival takes place in Ghent every July. At this time the city is packed with tourists to capacity. And rest easy or take a walk around the center will not work.
• In April, bluebells bloom in the Hallerbos forest. This is just a fabulous place for his visits definitely worth highlighting day. You can track information about the beginning of flowering on the official website.

Happy Travel!