10 Belgian Cities to Visit

Here are the 10 best cities in Belgium to visit your first time.

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Note that cities in Belgium have a French name and a Dutch name. Sometimes they are similar (Antwerp / Antwerpen), sometimes they are not (Mons/Bergen). Don't be alarmed. Belgium has a comprehensive train system that allows you to reach any large / mid city. Though, the trains are not always on time...

Brussels

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Of course, if you're in Belgium you have to spend some time in the capital, Brussels.

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Ghent

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Ghent is less busy than Bruges but still has a certain charm with the canals and city center. Worth spending a few hours here if you're taking the train from Brussels to Bruges anyway.

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Bruges

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Beautiful city known for its canals. The "Venice of the North".

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Antwerp

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One of the major cities in Belgium, and one of my favorite cities. Known for the diamonds, the beautiful train station, and good shopping streets.

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Namur

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A lively city with a citadel. Good for a day trip in combination with a visit to Dinant.

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Dinant

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Dinant is a picturesque town along the river that's a great day trip. Spend a couple of hours climbing up the citadel or riding the gondola up. Also home of the inventor of the saxophone.

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Durbuy

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A hidden gem of a town hidden in the mountains. If you take public transportation here, you will need to trek a bit through the forest. Awesome for a day trip or holiday weekend.

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Leuven

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Beautiful architecture and the Stella Artois Brewery!

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Ostend

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Experience the Belgian coast and seafood. Beware of the seagulls. They're vicious.

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De Haan

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Small coastal town with a very different vibe from the rest of Belgium. Highly recommend in the warmer months.

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Others to Consider

Tournai

Kortrijk

Liege

Hasselt

Ypres

Mons

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

OptimiCities

Hi there! I've lived in the US and Europe and often travel to Asia. I often travel alone on a moderate budget as a female, so my guides are created with that in mind. I also have a youtube channel focused on cool urbanist things I've noticed in different cities (transportation, city planning, sustainability, etc.) so I will create some guides around that as well. Safe and fun travels!

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