Belgium, sandwiched between the Netherlands, France, Germany, and Luxembourg, is heavily influenced by its neighbors in terms of language, architecture, and food, but it truly is a country of its own. With countless cities to visit (Brussels, Bruges, Leuven, Antwerp, and Ghent), it definitely deserves more than just a weekend to see it all, but a weekend was all that we had. With only a few days, an interest in seeing new cities, and an amazing itinerary planned by a friend, we focused our weekend in Belgium on Antwerp and Ghent.

In both cities we easily explored on foot. Both had pedestrian zones throughout, beautiful squares and statues, and hidden alleyways to discover. Although they are both similar in that they are charming and lively cities, they each had their own distinct features. Antwerp with its magical Grand Place (Grote Markt), river at the edge of the city, and gorgeous train station, served as our home base. Ghent was the perfect day trip with the university city feels, a river running through the center with beautiful bridge vistas, and a pub that requires a shoe for collateral.

If you don’t have Belgium on your list of countries to visit, add it now.

Three reasons to add Belgium to your Europe itinerary:

Architecture in Belgium

Belgian architecture is unique and beautiful. From first glance, I know I’m somewhere different. Buildings with tall and skinny bodies and with their intricately designed roof lines mark the skyline. Viewing the architecture can be as easy as just looking up, but the best viewing spot is in the Grand Place. Almost every Belgian city has its own Grand Place providing a beautiful 360-degree space of buildings to admire. The Grand Place is also a great opportunity to people watch as locals and tourists alike cross through as they traverse the city.

Food in Belgium

In line with the stereotypes, we ate plenty of waffles and chocolate and drank our share of beer, but somehow we missed out on frites. Although stereotypes, all was the best I had ever had: the best chocolate, the best waffles, and truly the best beer (still dreaming about it). Stereotypes aside, we had great meats and cheeses, bread, pastries, soups and stews, fish, and beyond. Check out where to eat in Antwerp for some specific recommendations.

Lifestyle in Belgium

With their walkable city centers and their cafe cultures, I loved the vibes of both Antwerp and Ghent. I can’t put my finger on why, but I love pedestrian zones. It might be that it encourages locals and visitors to walk around and explore. It might be the decrease in noise and sound pollution without all of the cars. Ultimately, I get a sense of people connecting and enjoying life more when they use their own bodies to get them to where they need to go, and Antwerp and Ghent gave us just that.

I might also love pedestrian zones because they often contain lots of shops, cafes, and restaurants. The idea of sitting and having a drink or a coffee at any time of the day calls to me. As we walked down the street, we could pick from countless places to take a break, discuss what we’ve seen and what’s next, and have something nice to drink. I may be obsessed with these two things because they’re not so common in the US and so novel to me when I travel. The walkability is also encouraged by all of the charming streets and alleyways. We could happily get lost in either city and find beautiful views as we find our way back.

We loved every moment in Antwerp and Ghent, and visiting with friends made it even better. It’s a country that shouldn’t just be checked off a list but a country returned to often.

Planning a trip or want to know more, check out these other posts on Antwerp and Ghent.

Explore Belgium