Belgium travel itinerary

Planning a trip to Belgium? Here you'll find our day-by-day itinerary (Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Leuven, Wallonia (Dinant, Namur)), plus all the practical info to organise your journey: currency, visa, e-SIM, health, plugs and useful numbers.

When to go to Belgium

The climate is oceanic, mild but very rainy and changeable all year: always bring a waterproof jacket and an umbrella. Summers are cool (20-23 degrees), winters wet and grey. The best times are spring and summer; December brings the lovely Christmas markets in Brussels and Bruges.

Practical info for travelling in Belgium

Updated: June 2026

Documents and visa

Belgium is in the European Union and the Schengen area: EU citizens only need a valid ID card or passport, no visa, and there are no border checks arriving from other Schengen countries. Citizens of other countries should check their own rules.

Currency and payments

Belgium uses the euro: no exchange for those from the Eurozone. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; cash is needed only for small purchases. The country is fairly expensive, especially restaurants and accommodation in tourist cities.

Language

Belgium has three official languages: Dutch (Flemish) in Flanders (Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp), French in Wallonia, and German in a small eastern area; Brussels is officially bilingual (French/Flemish). English is widely spoken, especially in cities and among young people. Communicating is easy everywhere.

Health and vaccines

No mandatory vaccines. Healthcare facilities, public and private, are excellent and medicines easily available. EU citizens with the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) are entitled to necessary care, but insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation is still recommended. Tap water is drinkable.

eSIM and connectivity

Mobile coverage is excellent and WiFi widespread. As Belgium is in the EU, EU SIMs roam at no extra cost, just like at home. Travellers from outside the EU can buy a local SIM or eSIM (Proximus, Orange, Base).

Electricity

Power is 230V/50Hz with type E (and C) sockets, as in France: European two-round-pin plugs fit without trouble (the type E socket has an earth pin). No adapter needed for travellers from Italy.

Time zone

Belgium is at UTC+1 (UTC+2 with daylight saving time), the same as Central Europe.

Good to know

Everything by train — The best (and cheapest) way to tour Belgium is by train: the SNCB network is extensive and the four main cities (Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges) are less than an hour apart. It is worth buying tickets in advance or considering multi-journey passes; the cities are then comfortably walkable. No car is needed for this itinerary.
Pickpockets and safety — Belgium is generally safe, but in the big cities (Brussels, Antwerp, Charleroi, Liege) bag-snatching and pickpocketing are common, especially in railway stations, on transport and in crowded areas: keep an eye on bags and documents. In the evening, use caution in some outlying areas and near stations. The terrorism alert level is kept high: follow the authorities' guidance during major events.
Chocolate, beer and fries — Belgium is a foodie paradise: try the artisan pralines, the hundreds of beers (Trappist, lambic, gueuze, each in its own glass), the mussels with fries (moules-frites), the waffles and the fries (frites/frieten) from the dedicated stands, to be enjoyed with mayonnaise. In restaurants a tip is not compulsory (service is included), you just round up.
If you rent a car — Not needed for this itinerary, but if you drive: Italian licence valid, alcohol 0.5 per mille, reflective vest, warning triangle and first-aid kit compulsory on board, motorways free. BEWARE of the Low Emission Zones (LEZ) of Antwerp, Brussels and Ghent: foreign-plated vehicles MUST register online before entering, even if compliant, on pain of a 150-euro fine.

Useful numbers

112 — Emergencies: police, ambulance, fire brigade (112 BE app)
+32 2 643 3850 — Italian Embassy in Brussels (emergencies: +32 477 278680); Consulates in Brussels and Charleroi. For other nationalities, contact your own country's embassy

💡 Tour Belgium by train: the four art cities are less than an hour apart and tickets are cheap, no car needed. And do not leave the country without trying a praline, a Trappist beer and a cone of fries with mayonnaise: the holy Belgian food trinity.

Belgium