When it comes to sheer beauty and architectural splendour, few cities in the world can match Bruges. Wander the twisting streets and canals of its UNESCO World Heritage listed historic centre, visiting the Basilica of the Holy Blood, marvelling at the Belfry of Bruges and stopping for refreshments at a cafe in the picturesque Markt square.
BELGIUM
TRAVEL IN BELGIUM
With its incredible architecture and unique blend of French and Flemish culture, Belgium is a country of abundant charm. They do things differently here, as you can tell from famed landmarks like the Manneken Pis statue and the bizarre Atomium. A trip here is a chance to explore the ancient streets of cities like Bruges and Antwerp, gorge yourself on wonderful waffles and fabulous fries and work your way through the country's spread of over 700 beers. Sounds good, right?
FAST FACTS
Language: Dutch, French, German
Currency: Euro
Electricity: 230V
Visas: Click here to see if you need a visa to enter Belgium.
Dialing Code: +32
Time Zone: (GMT+01:00)
Currency: Euro
Electricity: 230V
Visas: Click here to see if you need a visa to enter Belgium.
Dialing Code: +32
Time Zone: (GMT+01:00)
ABOUT CONTIKI
From quick breaks to epic journeys, Contiki exists to connect young travellers with the time of their lives.
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See more about Contiki
THINGS TO DO IN BELGIUM
Belgium offers a winning mix of culture, fantastic food and world-beating beer, along with some of Europe's most incredible architecture. Read on for our pick of the top attractions in Belgium.
STROLL THROUGH THE HISTORIC CENTER OF BRUGES
DRINK SOME BELGIAN BEER
Belgium is famed the world over for its excellent beers, and with around 180 breweries in the country you can imagine there's quite a variety to sample. Head to Orval abbey to learn about Trappist beer production, visit the Cantillon Brewery in Brussels or simply hole up at the famed Le Trappiste cafe in Bruges and work your way through a few of the classics.
MARVEL AT THE GRAND-PLACE IN BRUSSELS
In terms of city squares, Grand-Place is up there with the very best in the world. Once a bustling market place and the central focus of the city, it's now a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to some of the very finest buildings in the country. These include various ornate guildhalls, the Broodhuis and the magnificent Brussels Town Hall, whose 96m Gothic tower dominates the skyline.
SEE THE CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY IN ANTWERP
Located in Antwerp's old town, this magnificent Gothic cathedral is one of the most beautiful structures in Belgium. Construction started in 1352 and by the time it was completed in 1521 its tower topped out at a staggering 123m, making it the tallest building in the Low Countries. It's now a UNESCO World Heritage site and visiting it is a Belgium travel 2016 essential.
VISIT QUIRKY MINI-EUROPE
Located in Brussels beside the Atomium, this huge and perennially popular miniature park contains scaled down reproductions of some 350 famous buildings and monuments from around Europe. Here you'll find everything from the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Mount Vesuvius to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, all at 1:25 scale.
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TOP 5 FESTIVALS IN BELGIUM
Belgium is host to a huge range of festivals taking place throughout the year, so whether you're looking for culture, traditional folklore or cutting edge dance music you'll find something to please. Here's our rundown of the top 5 Belgian festivals.
PUKKELPOP, HASSELT
This festival of alternative music was founded in 1985, and is one of the most keenly anticipated music events on the Belgian calendar. It features a wide-ranging lineup of rock, pop, hip-hop, electronica and dance music, with the likes of Nirvana, Green Day, Metallica and Björk past headliners.
For more information on Pukkelpop, click here.
TOMORROWLAND, BOOM
This annual festival of electronic music is one of the largest of its kind in the world. It takes place annually over a weekend in late July in the small town of Boom near Antwerp, with a list of acts that reads like a who's who of cutting edge electronica and dance music.
For more information on Tomorrowland, click here
CARNIVAL DE BINCHE
This historical festival of folklore is held annually over the three-day period leading up to Ash Wednesday, during which the town of Binche comes alive with colourful processions of marchers in traditional dress. Proceedings come to a climax with the marchers pelting spectators with oranges, considered a sign of good luck.
For more information on the Carnival de Binche, click here
ZYTHOS BEER FESTIVAL, LEUVEN
Famed as the home of Stella Artois, the city of Leuven is a Belgian brewing powerhouse, so it's quite fitting that it should host this annual festival of beer. It's held over a weekend in late April and offers up the chance to try a wide range of Belgium's most prized tipples.
For more information on the Zythos Beer Festival, click here
GENTSE FEESTEN, GHENT
This gigantic festival of music and theatre takes place over a 10-day period in July, with a program of free performances taking place across the city. Established in 1843, it now attracts nearly 2 million visitors making it one of the biggest cultural festivals in Europe.
For more information on the Gentse Feesten, click here
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TOP 5 MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES IN BELGIUM
Belgium is one of Western Europe's cultural heavyweights, so you'd expect there to be an excellent crop of museums and galleries to be found here. Happily it doesn't disappoint - read on for our pick of the country's must-see museums and galleries.
ROYAL MUSEUMS OF FINE ARTS OF BELGIUM, BRUSSELS
Also known as Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, this collection of four museums houses some of Belgium's most prized artistic treasures, including an extensive body of works by Flemish masters.
For more information on the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, click here
MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF BRUSSELS
This museum is dedicated to the history and heritage of Brussels, and offers visitors a wonderful collection of paintings, tapestries, sculptures, photos and models from throughout the ages. Housed in a magnificent Gothic building on Brussels' Grand Place, it's worth a visit for the architecture alone.
For more information on the Museum of the City of Brussels, click here
ROYAL MUSEUM OF THE ARMED FORCES AND MILITARY HISTORY, BRUSSELS
Located in beautiful Cinquantenaire Park in Brussels, this excellent military museum houses an impressive array of weapons, uniforms and miniatures, but it's the collection of tanks and various aircraft - one of the world's largest - that really steals the show.
For more information on the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History, click here
IN FLANDERS FIELDS MUSEUM, YPRES
Housed in the impressive medieval Cloth Hall building in Ypres, this museum covers the history of World War I as experienced in Belgium. It's home to a fascinating collection of exhibits, as well as various videos and interactive installations to guide you along the way.
For more information on In Flanders Fields Museum, click here
PLANTIN-MORETUS MUSEUM, ANTWERP
This excellent museum of printing is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Established in 1876, it's located in a former 16th century printing house in Antwerp, and amongst its many highlights you'll find two of the oldest printing presses in the world.
For more information on the Plantin-Moretus Museum, click here
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FOOD IN BELGIUM
With legendary beer, incredible chocolate and the best waffles to be found anywhere on the planet, Belgium is a place with plenty to offer the wandering gastronome. Of course, there's more to Belgian cuisine than these A-listers: choose from hearty stews, traditional soups and a host of refined dishes made from fresh, seasonal ingredients, with strong regional variation meaning there's a new local specialty waiting round practically every corner.
MOULES-FRITES
Belgium's national dish consists of a pan of fresh mussels, gently steamed in broth - white wine, shallots, butter and parsley is the classic - and then served with fries. Simple and delicious, it's a Belgium travel essential.
Best eaten at - Le Chou de Bruxelles, Florencestraat 26, Brussels
CARBONADE FLAMANDE
This hearty stew of meat and onions is also known as stoverij. It's cooked in Belgian brown beer, which helps give its signature sweet and sour flavour. Served with French fries on the side, it's a staple of Brussels restaurants and a Belgium travel 2015 must-try
Best eaten at - Fin de SiecleRue des Chartreux 9, Brussels
WATERZOOI
This traditional Belgian stew originated in Ghent. It contains either fish or chicken, cooked in a rich and creamy sauce with a variety of vegetables and herbs, and can be found in many Ghent restaurants.
Best eaten at - Restaurant Du Progres, Korenmarkt 10, Ghent
WAFFLES
It's difficult to believe that something made from batter could be this delicious, but try a waffle in Belgium and then tell us it's not so! They come in many varieties here, but the rich and chewy liège waffle is the place to start.
Best eaten at - Maison Dandoy, Rue au Beurre 31, Brussels
CHOCOLATE
Belgium is world famous for its chocolate, and rightly so. Nowhere else in the world will you find chocolate so rich, creamy and delicious, nor so exquisitely crafted. Sorry Switzerland.
Best eaten at - Chocolaterie de BurgBurg 15, Bruges
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WHAT TO PACK?
A GPS enabled phone - It's easy to get lost in Belgian cities, particularly in the twisty streets of Bruges’s historic center. Pre-load a map on WIFI, then your phone's GPS will keep you right.
A camera - Belgium is almost unbelievably picturesque, and it's home to some of Europe's most incredible buildings. You could fill several SD cards in Bruges alone, so make sure you have some spares!
A waterproof coat - Belgium is notoriously rainy, so don't be surprised if you see a few showers, even in summer!
An adapter plug - Belgium uses European-style 2-pin plug sockets. The voltage is 230V, so you'll need a step-down transformer to use appliances that run on 110V.
Comfortable shoes - You'll clock up some serious miles wandering around Belgium's beautiful cities, and the last thing you want is a blister. Make sure your shoes are up to the job.
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