20 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Belgium

This under-the-radar beautiful gem of a city sits on the banks of the river Meuse in Belgium’s Walloon region.

The picturesque town is backed by a spectacular sheer cliff face and protected by the ancient fortified citadel. The city’s historic buildings are steeped in legend – as you meander through the narrow streets, you can sense this place has many stories to tell.

Perhaps the city’s most famous connection comes from it being the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, the man who invented the Saxophone whose house you can now visit.

I would suggest trying the delicious Flamiche (a bit like a Tarte Flambe) or Couques de Dinant, which are delicious brittle honey biscuits.

Bruges – the perfectly preserved medieval city – is the place for couples wanting to head out on a romantic European getaway.

Thousands of visitors can’t be wrong and I was personally a huge fan. I couldn’t quite believe it existed. With a collection of attractive market squares, steep-gabled houses lining dreamy canals, and winding cobbled streets all tied up in a compact, primarily traffic-free package Bruges, the suspended-in-time canal-side city is very romantic and it’s also undeniably photogenic.

I would recommend visiting Burg Square, the 14th-century Stadhuis (City Hall), which has an ornately carved ceiling, Market Square, which features a 13th-century belfry with panoramic views, and of course, one of the critically acclaimed restaurants (of which there are many)! 

Forget the dull image that one of Europe’s premier cities seems saddled with; Brussels is beautiful and trip-worthy. The city has become a thriving cosmopolitan metropolis in the last few decades.

The historic architecture (including a perfectly-preserved late seventeenth-century center) is genuinely superb and add in a fine collection of art galleries, museums, a famous foodie scene – consisting of everything from chocolate and waffles to Michelin star adorned fine cuisine – and of course the delicious beer, then Brussels easily deserves a place on this list! 

I loved Ghent. While most head for Brussels or Bruges, the small but beautiful port city is arguably Europe’s best-kept secret. Ghent was, in fact, the most powerful in Europe, but today, it’s a very relaxed, picturesque place with more than a whiff of bohemian air.

Beautiful Ghent is also story-book pretty with a collection of canal-side medieval architecture, Michelin-starred restaurants, quirky boutique stores, and a rich calendar of cultural events.

To get the feel of the place, skip the touristy canal boat trips and discover all the local hotspots instead.

The spa is a beautiful and elegant place to visit in Belgium, which, yep, you’ve guessed it; it’s famous for being an ‘original’ spa.

Located in the Ardennes region of eastern Belgium, it’s naturally blessed with abundant mineral-rich thermal waters. Tourists flock here to relax and enjoy the water’s and hot springs’ health and wellness benefits.

It’s also easy on the eye with beautiful buildings, thermal baths, a historic casino, an array of luxury hotels, and an endearing 19th-century retro charm. 

With its low-hanging mist and miles of untamed, rugged wilderness, this park has a mystical and almost other-worldly beauty. The beech forest-covered conversation area lies mainly in Germany but also borders Belgium.

It also happens to be home to some incredible wildlife – wild cats, wild boars, wildcats, black grouse, red deer, and eagle owls all call this beautiful place home; since the new millennium, the lynx has again been sighted in this remote and highly protected area for the first time in three centuries.

Part of the park’s moors dates back to the last Ice Age – a must-see place in Belgium!

The accolade of the smallest town on earth and a population of just 500, Durbury – located just 2 hours from Brussels- proves that the best things come in small packages.

It’s maintained in its charming medieval setting. Today, its pedestrian streets are flowered, narrow, and cobbled, winding between the old bluestone homes and buildings, attracting curious visitors to its shops, fine restaurants, and hotels.

Shop for artisanal produce, gaze at half-timbered houses, visit the beautiful Topiary Park, and stop to quench your thirst at La Ferme du Chêne, which brews beer using a 14th-century method. Sporty types can also kayak or raft the Ourthe River that passes through the city.

France isn’t the only country boasting fairytale castles; Gium’s finest is truly exquisite.

Located in the municipality of La Hulpe in the Walloon Brabant and less than an hour away from Brussels, this beautiful chateau was modeled after the castles in the Loire Valley in France and served as Marquis Maximilien de Béthune’s home.

The castle itself is not open to the public. Still, you can visit the garden, which is littered with sculptures and brimming with colorful flowers, and also the surrounding park, which is known for its rolling lawns, small ponds, and fragrant rhododendrons where you can take a walk, take a picnic and or kick back and relax.

Part of this magnificent forest has just been awarded a UNESCO heritage status. Beginning in the Iron Age, the 4,000 hectares of woodlands used to be part of a long natural border of beeches and oaks stretching from Brabant to the north of France.

It’s a treasured, peaceful, and unspoiled place in Belgium and a perfect naturally picturesque destination to spot roaming and wild boars, foxes, and roe deer.

With more than a whiff of Provence, this idyllic little village is often cited as one the most beautiful in Belgium. Lying on the southernmost tip of Belgium lies Torgny in the Gaume region in the province of Luxemburg, south of the Ardennes and surrounded by France on three sides.

The dwellings consist of ochre-colored, hand-hewn stones and red curved tiles, reminiscent of the south of France.

The village also enjoys a microclimate, which is well-suited for vineyards. It’s a quiet place, so don’t expect too much going on but kick back, relax, and take in the rolling hills, the honey-colored houses and the abundance of flowers, the local restaurants’ gastronomy, and walks and bike rides in the countryside, as well as a visit to the Abbey of the Trappist Cistercian monks of Orval.