Our beautiful country boasts a unique heritage and an incredible wealth of culture. Let’s get away from the capital for a moment and visit 5 major Belgian cities that are well worth a visit. Because, yes, there’s more to life than Brussels… Here’s our selection of must-see monuments, historic walks and unusual architecture.
1. Bruges
Why is it worth the detour?
With its medieval past dating back to the 13th century, Bruges has retained all its old-world charm and architectural finesse. Cobbled streets, ancient buildings, canals, bell towers, atypical squares… Bruges has a rare poetic quality, giving the impression of an open-air fairytale world, dominated by its fantastic belfry, its carillon of almost 50 bells and its majestic 83-meter tower offering a splendid view of the city.
What to see
Bruges Belfry, Church of Our Lady of Bruges, Market Square, Groeninge Museum, Minnewaterpark, French Fry Museum, Beer Museum.
How to get there?
1h20 by car from Brussels (or approx. 1h by train from Brussels-Central).
2. Antwerp
Why it’s worth a visit
Belgium’s most populous city (and second largest after Brussels), Antwerp is a remarkable example of the bourgeois merchant city of the late Middle Ages. Long the capital of international trade (its port is the 2nd most commercial in Europe), it is home to the continent’s oldest skyscraper and boasts exceptional charm combined with the quintessence of Flemish Baroque art.
Places to visit
Museum aan de Stroom, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Rubens House, Grote Markt, St. Charles Borromeo Church, Plantin-Moretus Museum, Antwerp train station
How to get there
1 hour by car from Brussels (40 min by train from Brussels-Central)
3. Ghent
Why it’s worth a visit
Situated at the confluence of the Lys and Scheldt rivers, Ghent is a magnificent, picturesque city typical of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Its vast Baroque mansions with Flemish gables, rococo mansions, neoclassical opera house and St. Anne’s Church are all reminders of its rich past as a cloth-making and trading city. Today, the city has lost none of its appeal, as it continues to enjoy a thriving cultural life.
Sightseeing
Castle of the Counts of Flanders, Belfry of Ghent, St. Bavo’s Cathedral, Church of St. Nicholas, Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Contemporary Art, Citadelpark…
How to get there
1 hour by car from Brussels (40 min by train from Brussels-Central)
4. Liège
Why it’s worth a visit
Although best known for its delicious waffles, the city of Liège also boasts a remarkable historical and spiritual heritage, earning it the nickname “city of a hundred steeples”. With over fifty churches, a cathedral, a basilica and four chapels, Liège has nothing to be ashamed of in terms of cultural wealth when compared to the other cities in this ranking. Festivals, celebrations and markets take place all year round.
What to visit?
Marché de la Batte (probably the longest market in Europe), Grand Curtius, La Boverie, Montagne de Bueren, Cathédrale Saint-Paul, Place Saint-Lambert, Opéra Royal…
How to get there
1h15 by car from Brussels (or 1h by train from Brussels-Central).
5. Namur
Why Namur is worth a visit
Famous for its medieval citadel and Baroque church of Saint-Loup, Namur is a dazzling example of a city steeped in history, having been occupied since the Neolithic era! Loaded with heritage, Namur is a true cultural jewel, with its meandering relief between the Meuse and the Sambre giving it the appearance of an open-air museum. The city plays host to numerous festivals, putting it at the forefront of the European music scene. It richly deserves its place among Belgium’s top cities to visit.
What to visit?
Citadelle de Namur, Musée Félicien Rops, Jardins d’Annevoie, Église Saint-Loup, Cathédrale Saint-Aubin, Musée Archéologique, Halle al’Chair, Théâtre Royal…
How to get there
1h by car from Brussels (or 1h by train from Brussels-Central).