What Are The Best Cities In Belgium To Visit
Belgium is a smaller European country compared to most of the countries in the continent. However, we are also a country that is packed with a lot of cities and people full of love. The problem is some terrorist incidents in the past have also dissuaded some tourist from coming to visit our beautiful country and they are really missing out. Since this is the case, I have decided to share with everyone some of the best cities you can visit when you are in Belgium. Then you will not be missing out on anything and instead, will be having a great trip that will make you the envy of all of your friends.
How Did I Work Out My List Of Cities?
Well, I have to admit I am a little bit of a history buff, so this definitely played a huge role in the cities I was picking. However, I will also say the cities are ones that have something for everyone. From the famed art galleries, history museums, and even the cobbled paths that you can walk down. The cities I picked have something that at least one person you are traveling with will enjoy, but the chances are good that more people will enjoy the cities as well. I just hope the cities I have picked out live up to the hype I am giving you because I have to say I simply love these cities and enjoy them immensely.
Brussels
Brussels is a very beautiful city in Belgium and is easily one of the most likable cities as well. However, what you may not realize is Brussels is also the seat of power in Europe as well as it is the capital city of the European Union. This is going to make a tremendous difference in how well everyone is going to enjoy the city. The city is also one that has managed to survive the terrorist attacks and has bounced back from these attacks to be a great city that everyone is going to enjoy visiting. Brussels is also a town that has a river front on the Senne River. So this will definitely be a big attraction for people to go to Belgium and more specifically Brussels and know they will have a great trip. A great attraction that we love in Brussels is the Mini-Europe, which is all the attractions in Europe on a mini scale, definitely something to see and experience.
Antwerp
Antwerp is a city that can trace its roots back to the Middle Ages. The city is one that does have the older diamond district that you may have read about in some of the history books, which is still, for the most part, intact. However, the city also has some of the more modern feel you will enjoy as well. Not to mention this is a city that does have a couple of interesting points outside of the port. One of those points of interest will be the 17th-century Rubens House which is a period set home and it definitely has a very beautiful look for the art pieces that are present inside of the home. If you are a geek for the print world then you will like the 16th-century printing house that has been preserved in the Plantin-Moretus Museum. This is a place that has been set back in time and definitely will provide you with a unique perspective on how the beauty of the world has grown from the older printing presses to the modern printing presses and then to the Internet that we all use on a daily basis now.
Grimbergen
The Middle Ages definitely was a tremendous driving force in Belgium history and that is what has made it to our list. Look back the to history buff information that I provided earlier and it is easy to see why I have brought Grimbergen into my list of great cities in Belgium to visit. It is definitely a smaller city and one that is located just a little bit north of Brussels. So this makes it easier for you to access as well when you are in Brussels and want to get away from some of the crowds that are present. Grimbergen Abbey, yes a church, has definitely made it to one of the biggest attractions that we have found in Grimbergen. The Grimbergen Abbey actually dates back from 1128, but the building that you are looking at here is from the 1660’s and it does house the famed 49-bell carillon. What else the city of Grimbergen can use as a claim to fame is the Grimbergen Beer, which is one of the best beers and older beers that you can taste and enjoy.
Bastogne
Bastogne is a great city that has a lot of history. It used to be a very sleepy town that you never imagined would be around, but it is definitely a city that you will want to visit. The war memorial that you are going to find here is going to be amazing and it is definitely going to be something that you are going to enjoy. Remember I said I was a history buff and it definitely shows here. The city is famed because of the Battle of the Bulge during World War II, but also made even more to the forefront as the city was shown again as a war town during the show Band of Brothers that aired in America. If you want to start to explore some more of the region and history you will enjoy the fact that you can go out and see the Porte de Treves which is from the 14th-century and was erected by John the Blind, but also if you are an older church lover then you will enjoy seeing the tower of Saint Pierre church with the baptismal fonts that have managed to date back to the Middle Ages.
Ghent
Ghent is a beautiful city that has had a very rich history as it was a town that was in the Middle Ages one of the richest cities in Europe. This is a city that still maintains the huge population that it was known for then. The city is the second largest in Belgium after Antwerp. The city is well known for the festival they have in the town that lasts for 10 days and draws in almost 1.5 million visitors. This is a must stop if you are going to Ghent and want to do something that is unique and not going to be something that you are going to see in most of the other towns in Europe or anywhere else in the world for that matter. Cyclists are going to want to know about the city of Ghent because this is easily one of the best places to go biking on holiday. The place has the most bike trails in almost any other European city and this really will help the bikers out in avoiding any injury with a vehicle accident. The city does have a couple of museums that are going to make it easier for you to have a great trip and see some of the art works you may have missed before.
Bruges
Bruges is a city that is a canal based city and will remind some people of Amsterdam because of the canals. The city is one that is simply amazing with this fact and it definitely will be a great city for you to go and see if you want to get away from the crowds in Amsterdam, but still, have a chance to explore some of the beautiful canals and the beautiful canal cities that are here.What is really cool and little-known fact is this city is often called the Venice of the North. Now, as a history lover, like myself, you will enjoy the fact this is one of the best cities that is going to have some of the Medieval city center preserved. In fact, this is a city that has managed to get the city center listed on the UNESCO World Heritage sites. So this is definitely going to make it easier for you to know that you have found the perfect place for you to go and visit, but also have a chance to see how life in the Middle Ages would have felt like, but mind you the buildings have been updated to meet some of the modern standards.
What About The Other Cities In Belgium?
I do plan on covering each of these cities in depth and providing, even more, information about the cities in Belgium. The problem is I know from reading on the Internet myself, that everyone can only read so much information before they start to feel overwhelmed. So I have to say this is the list of cities that I found as some of the most attractive for all they offer for you to do and see. At the same time, I know everyone has their own choice of places they would love to go and that is completely fine, but for me, these are the cities that have captured my heart in the beautiful country of Belgium.
Other Important Information
Want to explore Belgium some more? Click here to visit our Belgium travel page.
Do you want to know more about Europe? Then visit our Europe page.
