Belgium
Belgium is compact, easy by train and full of beer, chocolate and Art Nouveau architecture. I went in late July 2025, starting in Brussels and finishing in Antwerp. It is a good short stop between bigger trips.
What I did
Flew into Brussels from London.
Stayed in Brussels near Avenue Louise, on the edge of Saint-Gilles.
Moved on to Antwerp for two nights in the Berchem district.
Where to stay
Saint-Gilles and Ixelles, Brussels: Art Nouveau houses, good restaurants and a walk to the Sablon. I stayed at the pentahotel Brussels City Centre here.
Grand-Place area, Brussels: best if you want to be in the middle of the sights.
Berchem, Antwerp: residential and next to the station, a short ride from the old town. I stayed at the Radisson Hotel Antwerp Berchem.
Het Zuid, Antwerp: a livelier base for bars and restaurants.
Where I stayed
Radisson Hotel Antwerp Berchem, Berchem, Antwerp: 8.7/10 on Booking.com (3,544 reviews). Modern 4-star by Berchem station with restaurant and strong breakfast.
pentahotel Brussels City Centre, Chaussee de Charleroi, Brussels: 8/10 on Kayak (4,878 reviews). Design hotel on Chaussee de Charleroi near Louise/Saint-Gilles, Brussels; good location and breakfast.
Getting there and around
Brussels Airport (Zaventem) is a 15 to 20 minute train ride to Brussels-Central or Brussels-Midi.
Brussels South Charleroi is not in Brussels. It is about an hour south, reached by the Flibco shuttle bus to Brussels-Midi, or by bus and train via Charleroi-Sud. Leave plenty of time.
Trains between Brussels and Antwerp take roughly 35 to 50 minutes. Antwerp-Berchem station is one stop from Antwerp-Centraal.
What to eat
Frites: twice fried, in a paper cone with mayo or andalouse.
Moules-frites: mussels with fries.
Waffles: light and rectangular in Brussels, dense and caramelized in Liège.
Carbonnade flamande: beef stewed in beer.
Chocolate: pralines from the shops around the Sablon.
What to drink
Beer: Belgium may be the best beer country in the world, and the variety is wild. Try Trappists such as Westmalle, Rochefort and Orval, plus Duvel, Delirium and fruity kriek.
Lambic and gueuze: sour, spontaneously fermented beers from around Brussels. The Cantillon brewery in Brussels is the place to taste them.
Antwerp: order a De Koninck, served in a round glass called a bolleke.
Spirits: genever, the juniper spirit that came before gin, is popular in Flanders and Antwerp.
Hot chocolate: Belgian chocolate makes the best hot chocolate on a cold day, and it goes well with a waffle.
Wine: Belgium is not known for wine, so stick with beer and the excellent French and Alsace bottles on most menus.
Day trips and side trips
Bruges for its canals and belfry, by train from Brussels.
Ghent for the Gravensteen castle and the Ghent Altarpiece.
Waterloo battlefield, south of Brussels.
Ypres and the evening Menin Gate ceremony for WWI history.
Festivals and events
Tomorrowland: Boom, usually in July. One of the biggest electronic music festivals in the world.
Gentse Feesten: Ghent, usually in July. Ten days of free street music and theater.
Flower Carpet: Grand-Place, Brussels, every two years in August. A giant carpet of begonias fills the square.
Brussels Beer Weekend: Grand-Place, usually in early September. A good excuse to sample dozens of breweries.
Carnival of Binche: Binche, usually in February or March. UNESCO listed, with the Gilles in feathered hats.
Rock Werchter: Werchter, usually in early July. One of the best known rock festivals in Europe.
Pukkelpop: Hasselt, usually in August. A huge alternative and electronic lineup.
Dour Festival: Dour, usually in July. Eclectic, with strong hip hop and electronic stages.
Graspop Metal Meeting: Dessel, usually in June. The big heavy metal festival.
Ommegang: Brussels, usually in late June or early July. A historical pageant on the Grand-Place.
Music and dance
Dancing out: Belgium has no signature dance, but Brussels and Antwerp clubs are where people go dancing, and techno nights run late.
Electronic: Belgium has a serious techno, house and EDM scene, with Tomorrowland the most famous result. Brussels and Antwerp clubs run late nights.
Jazz: Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, was Belgian, and jazz is strong in Brussels bars.
Indie and rock: the Ancienne Belgique and Botanique in Brussels and Trix in Antwerp are the main live venues.
Don't miss
The Grand-Place at night when it is lit up.
The Horta Museum and Art Nouveau in Saint-Gilles.
Antwerp-Centraal station, one of the most beautiful in Europe.
The Cathedral of Our Lady and the Rubenshuis in Antwerp.
The free rooftop view at the MAS museum.
Zurenborg and Cogels-Osylei for Belle Époque architecture.
Photography spots
Grand-Place: blue hour, shot from the corners of the square.
Mont des Arts: sunset looking toward the town hall spire.
Antwerp-Centraal: the station hall in soft daylight.
MAS rooftop: sunset over the city and port.
Drones: Belgium follows EU rules with large no fly zones around Brussels. Check current rules.
My experience
Belgium was easy and comfortable. Brussels and Antwerp each have their own feel, with Brussels more grand and mixed, and Antwerp more relaxed and stylish. Trains make it simple to do both in a week. I would recommend it to anyone who likes good beer, architecture and cities that are easy to walk.
Cost of living
Overall: Brussels and Antwerp: $$$, about 15% cheaper than New York. Bruges runs higher.
Coffee: about $4
Local lunch: about $15
Dinner for two at a nice restaurant: about $100
Beer or cocktail: about $5 / $12
Ride across town: about $12
Mid-range hotel: about $140 a night
Furnished one-bedroom in a good area: about $1,400 a month in Brussels' Ixelles, $1,300 in Antwerp's Zuid
Daily budget: about $90 budget, $180 comfortable, $350+ luxury in Brussels or Antwerp
Belgium is moderately priced for Western Europe. Beer is a bargain for the quality, while restaurants in central Brussels and Bruges cost more. Antwerp is a bit cheaper than Brussels. Prices are approximate in US dollars as of 2026.
Working remotely
Wi-Fi: Reliable and fast, typically 50 to 200 Mbps in hotels and apartments, with good Wi-Fi in most cafes.
Coworking and cafes: Brussels has the most coworking, including Silversquare, and good cafes in Ixelles. Antwerp is creative and slightly cheaper, and Ghent is a calm alternative.
Time zone: UTC+1, 6 hours ahead of US Eastern (the gap shifts briefly with daylight saving).
Visa for longer stays: Belgium is in the Schengen Area, so US citizens get 90 days in any 180 across Schengen countries. There is no digital nomad visa. Check current rules.
Nomad rating: 3 out of 5. Well connected and central, with decent internet, but it is not cheap and the nomad scene is small.
Good to know
Language: Dutch (Flemish) in Flanders, including Antwerp, and French in Wallonia. Brussels is officially bilingual but mostly French speaking. English works almost everywhere.
Currency: The euro. Cards are accepted nearly everywhere, but some frites stands take only cash or Bancontact.
Plugs: Type C and E, 230V.
Entry for US citizens: Belgium is in Schengen, with 90 days in 180 visa free. Check current rules.
Best time to visit: May to September.
Getting around: Trains between cities are fast and frequent. Uber and Bolt work in Brussels.
SIM/eSIM: An eSIM is easy, or buy a prepaid SIM from Proximus, Orange or Base. EU roaming applies.
Apps: Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Takeaway.com for delivery.
Water: Tap water is safe to drink.
Tipping: Service is included. Round up or leave a few euros for good service.
Useful phrases
Hello: Bonjour (French) or Hallo (Dutch)
Thank you: Merci (French) or Dank je (Dutch)
Please: S'il vous plaît (French) or Alsjeblieft (Dutch)
How much?: C'est combien? or Hoeveel kost het?
The check, please: L'addition, s'il vous plaît or De rekening, alstublieft
Nightlife
Belgian nightlife is beer first. Most nights are spent in cafes working through a long list of local beers rather than at clubs, and the pace is slower than a typical American bar night.
When people go out: Dinner is around 7 or 8, cafes stay full until midnight, and clubs run from about midnight to 5. Thursday to Saturday are the big nights.
Where the action is: In Brussels, the area around the Grand Place, Sainte-Catherine and Saint-Géry, with Ixelles for a younger crowd. In Antwerp, the old center, Eilandje and the Zuid district.
The music: Mixed at cafes, with electronic music and house at the clubs.
Good to know: Cover is rare at cafes and modest at clubs, and prices are moderate to high. Belgian beers are strong, so drink slowly. Dress is casual to smart casual, and trams and the metro stop around midnight, so plan on a licensed taxi or ride app.
Meeting people
Social scene: Brussels is the easiest place to meet people, with a large international community, coworking spaces and a busy bar scene. Ghent and Antwerp have a younger, relaxed crowd. Locals are polite and a bit reserved at first.
Apps: Tinder, Bumble and Hinge are common. Meetup, InterNations and Facebook expat groups are active in Brussels.
Etiquette: Friends greet with up to three cheek kisses, but a handshake is safer with new people. Be punctual. Plans are made in advance. Bills are commonly split.
Stay smart: Meet in public, watch your drink and keep your belongings close around Brussels Midi and Central stations.
Staying safe
Belgium is generally safe. Watch for pickpockets around Brussels-Midi, Brussels-Nord and the Grand-Place.
Some areas around the big stations feel rough at night, so take a taxi or ride app late.
Keep your bag zipped on crowded trams and trains.