Belgium is home to a variety of ancient ruins and interesting architecture. The country is known for its well-preserved medieval towns, such as Bruges and Ghent, which are filled with historic buildings, cobblestone streets, and picturesque canals. …
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Belgium
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Backpacking Belgium in 2025
A complete guide for backpacking in Belgium with best places to go, best time to visit, what to bring and safety advice.
Welcome to Belgium, a compact treasure trove of history, culture, and culinary delights for backpackers. Pros? Immerse in medieval charm, savor world-renowned chocolates and beers, and easily navigate the country's small size. Belgium offers a safe and well-connected environment for budget-conscious travelers. However, costs may be higher compared to some backpacker havens. For those seeking a blend of cultural richness, diverse landscapes, and gastronomic delights, Belgium stands out as a unique European destination, where each cobblestone street and historic site unveils a piece of its captivating heritage.
Best known for:Known for: architecture | food | safety
Best time to visit: April-June, September-October
Best known for:Known for: architecture | food | safety
Best time to visit: April-June, September-October
Why to go?
Why backpacking in Belgium
Architecture
Food
The food in Belgium is so good because of its rich culinary tradition and high-quality local ingredients. Belgian cuisine is known for its delicious chocolates, waffles, fries, and beer, as well as hearty stews and seafood dishes. The country’s …
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💡 Highlights
Top-5 things to do in Belgium
- Grand Place, Brussels: The central square of Brussels is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must-visit. It showcases stunning architecture and is surrounded by beautiful buildings, cafes, and shops.
- Bruges: Known as the ”Venice of the North,” Bruges is a picturesque city with charming canals, historic buildings, and cobblestone streets. It is perfect for a romantic getaway or a leisurely stroll.
- Ghent: This vibrant city is famous for its medieval architecture, stunning cathedrals, and picturesque canals. Don’t miss the Ghent Altarpiece, one of the most important artworks of the Northern Renaissance.
- Antwerp: Belgium’s second-largest city is a fashion and cultural hub. Explore the historic city center, visit the impressive Cathedral of Our Lady, and indulge in shopping at the fashion district.
- Ardennes: Nature lovers should head to the Ardennes region, known for its dense forests, rolling hills, and picturesque villages. Enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, and kayaking in this scenic area.
But Belgium offers more...
🏞️ National parks: Hoge Kempen, Hohes Venn-Eifel Nature Park, Meuse Valley Regional Park, Sonian Forest, Zwin Nature Park
🌤️ When to go?
Best time to go backpacking Belgium
The best time to visit Belgium for backpacking is during the spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October). During these seasons, the weather is mild and pleasant, with temperatures ranging from 10 to 20 °C (50 to 68 °F). This allows for comfortable outdoor exploration and sightseeing. Additionally, there are fewer crowds compared to the summer months, making it easier to navigate popular tourist attractions and find affordable accommodations.
Risk level: medium (50%)
Safety advice for Belgium
- The threat level for Belgium, including Brussels, remains at level 3 of 4, meaning there's a possible and imminent threat. (A threat level of 3 is identified as 'Serious' by the Belgian Coordination Unit for Threat Analysis).
- There's an ongoing threat of terrorism in Belgium. Terrorists have staged attacks and may plan more. Crowded places, such as music and cultural events, festivals, tourist areas, shopping areas, transport hubs, major sporting events and other public areas, are possible targets. Be vigilant in public places and follow the advice of local authorities. Report anything suspicious to the police.
- Petty crime, such as mugging, pickpocketing and bag snatching, occurs. Thieves often try to distract you. Take care of your belongings and passports, particularly at tourist spots, on public transport, train stations and other crowded areas.
- Demonstrations are common. Belgium hosts large international meetings. Increased security can disrupt transport. Avoid affected areas.
source: smartraveller.gov.au
Belgium
My tips to get you on the way!
Does Belgium sound like your next backpacking destination? Use these steps to get you on the way.
Get inspiration 📚
While guidebooks used to be the backpacker’s holy grail for finding accomodation, nowadays that’s more conveniently accomplished online. However, guidebooks remain an excellent resource for familiarizing oneself with the country, gaining inspiration, and discovering itineraries. I enjoy reading them before my travels and then leaving them behind at home when I embark on my journey.
While guidebooks used to be the backpacker’s holy grail for finding accomodation, nowadays that’s more conveniently accomplished online. However, guidebooks remain an excellent resource for familiarizing oneself with the country, gaining inspiration, and discovering itineraries. I enjoy reading them before my travels and then leaving them behind at home when I embark on my journey.
Prepare your trip ✅
Before embarking on your journey, several essential checks are crucial: passport, visa, vaccinations and insurance. Some countries mandate that your passport remains valid for 3 to 6 months post your return. Additionally, it is important to verify the specific visa requirements for Belgium. These differ per country of origin. While you can handle visa arrangements independently, online visa services streamline the process as they know exactly what’s needed for each country. Belgium may require certain vaccinations. Make sure to timely check which ones you still need. Lastly, if you don’t have a travel insurance yet, Safety Wing is a good choice as they are tailored for backpackers.
Before embarking on your journey, several essential checks are crucial: passport, visa, vaccinations and insurance. Some countries mandate that your passport remains valid for 3 to 6 months post your return. Additionally, it is important to verify the specific visa requirements for Belgium. These differ per country of origin. While you can handle visa arrangements independently, online visa services streamline the process as they know exactly what’s needed for each country. Belgium may require certain vaccinations. Make sure to timely check which ones you still need. Lastly, if you don’t have a travel insurance yet, Safety Wing is a good choice as they are tailored for backpackers.
Book your flight ✈️
The flight may be the most expensive part of your trip. Therefore it’s worth spending a bit of time finding the right one. Flight search engines like Skyscanner and Kayak are the best to compare all possible options. A good tip is to be flexible with your exact travel dates. Traveling one or two days earlier/later may save you some bucks. Also booking about three months in advance can help making the best deal for you (though I’m not the best one myself to follow this advice as I tend to decide last-minute). A final tip would be to check airports in neighbouring countries. Not necessarily for cost saving but it can be intriguing to journey into Belgium, travel overland to one of its neighbours and fly back home from there.
The flight may be the most expensive part of your trip. Therefore it’s worth spending a bit of time finding the right one. Flight search engines like Skyscanner and Kayak are the best to compare all possible options. A good tip is to be flexible with your exact travel dates. Traveling one or two days earlier/later may save you some bucks. Also booking about three months in advance can help making the best deal for you (though I’m not the best one myself to follow this advice as I tend to decide last-minute). A final tip would be to check airports in neighbouring countries. Not necessarily for cost saving but it can be intriguing to journey into Belgium, travel overland to one of its neighbours and fly back home from there.
Book your first night(s) 🛌
Depending on your travel style, you can either plan a detailed day-to-day route and pre-book your accommodations, providing peace of mind, or opt to book them spontaneously, offering greater flexibility to adjust your plan. Personally, I am a big fan of the latter approach, but I always ensure to book the first night(s) in advance.
Depending on your travel style, you can either plan a detailed day-to-day route and pre-book your accommodations, providing peace of mind, or opt to book them spontaneously, offering greater flexibility to adjust your plan. Personally, I am a big fan of the latter approach, but I always ensure to book the first night(s) in advance.
My personal packing list 🎒
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Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of packing minimally. It’s so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you’re headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.
Money & Documents
Clothing
Electronics
Health
Others
Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of packing minimally. It’s so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you’re headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.Money & Documents
Clothing
Electronics
Health
Others
Moneybelt
[Amazon]
“Best way to carry your important documents”
Quick dry pant
[Amazon]
“Nothing beats these quick dry and light pants when traveling”
Light rain jacket
[Amazon]
“Hiking in rainy season? These keep you dry”
Thermo underwear
[Amazon]
“Less weight and volume than bulky sweaters or jackets”
Quick dry towel
[Amazon]
“Normal towels get smelly and heavy when traveling”
Power bank
[Amazon]
“Pick a small and light one, with 10.000mAh or more”
Travel adapter
[Amazon]
“Needed as each country has its own electricity plugs”
Number lock
[Amazon]
“No chance of losing your key; handy for lockers in dormitories”
Packing cubes
[Amazon]
“Keep your wet or dirty clothes separate from the rest”
Travel pillow
[Amazon]
“Light and great for flights and long bus journeys”
last page update: 23 September 2024