When looking for a holiday destination, Belgium is not the first country that springs to mind. In many ways this is unfair, for Belgium is one of the most interesting and attractive countries on the continent. And thanks to the Eurostar, Belgium is surprisingly easy to get to. Starting your journey at the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras may even allow you to spend a cheap weekend in London beforehand. Taking the train to Brussels – Belgium’s fascinating capital – should be the first step on your tour.
Brussels
Belgium is famous, among other things, for its beer, and there are many stops along the way where you can try out some of the local delights. With Superbreak.com cheap breaks are easy to plan and there is plenty of choice. Brussels has plenty to offer the visitor, from the beautiful Grand Palace to the famous Mannekin Pis statue, and it is a city with many surprises.
- Brussels Tripsaigneurdeguerre / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA
Don’t be afraid to take a trek off the beaten track for there is plenty to be enjoyed in the old city, with excellent restaurants and cafes to experience.
Charleroi
From Brussels you can take a trip to Charleroi, with its superb Rene Magritte museum containing the best selection of the Belgian master’s work, and then on to the old city of Chimay, which is a truly delightful destination. Here you must visit the Abbey Notre-Dame de Scourmont, where the Trappist monks famously brew beer and make cheese that is revered the world over. Chimay is an architectural delight and a very refreshing place to visit.
Dinant and Rochefort
The next stop should be the picturesque town of Dinant, where you can find the spectacular Maredsous Abbey – another famous beer producing site – and then on to Rochefort, with its truly beautiful landscape and many fascinating buildings. Of course, this suggested itinerary makes for a fabulous road trip, but there is much more to see in Belgium. The historic city of Liege is always worth a visit, and beautiful Bruges is another famous tourist stop. While in Bruges enjoy a meal at the superb Restaurant de Stove, a delightful venue offering local produce at excellent prices.
If a lengthy itinerary such as that above is not to your liking, Belgium is the ideal country for a weekend break. Eurostar allows you to travel to many different cities, and with a selection of attractions in each there is plenty of choice. Furthermore, each year the Spa Francorchamps racing circuit in the beautiful Ardennes hosts a number of races, including the Formula One grand prix, making it an ideal place to plan a weekend break in Belgium for the motor sport fan. It truly is the most spectacular circuit of the calendar, and is a delightful location.
Belgium is a country that has been overlooked for too long and, with its spectacular mix of mountain scenery, old cities and wonderful monasteries it is certainly a place worth considering for a weekend or city break. Easy to get to and surprisingly affordable, it could be the ideal place for that romantic break or a great road trip with friends.
