Belgium attractions: the 12 top attractions – 2020 (with photos)

Belgium sights – these are the 12 highlights in our neighboring country

Our beautiful neighboring country has more to offer than delicious chocolate. Belgium has a long history, thanks to which it has a large number of beautiful historical buildings and churches. Visit Bruges, which is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world and you in one medieval cityscape kidnapped. In Brussels you will experience world politics up close and in Antwerp you will find wonderful street art and exciting museums.

Experience Belgium on a weekend trip and get to know the best of Belgium sights.

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1. Manneken Pis

He is probably that Landmarks of Brussels and all of Belgium: the little Menneken Pis. The 61 centimeter high bronze statue that pees down on passersby can be found in the Belgian capital on the corner of Rue de l’Etuve / Stoofstraat and Rue des Grands Carmes.

The original dates from 1619 and was made by the Brussels sculptor Hieronimus Duquesnoy. Over time, however, little Manneken became Pis stolen several times. Today’s figure is from 1965. A Manneken Pis was first mentioned in records from 1388. Mannekin Pis means in Brabant "little man watering".

by the way: There is also a Jeanneke Pis. It represents a girl urinating in a crouching position and is in the Impasse de la Fidelité. It was inaugurated in 1987.

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2. Gravensteen Castle

The impressive Gravensteen Castle is one of the largest water castles in Europe and a popular tourist attraction in Belgium and is located in the city of Ghent. The traces of the castle date back to the year 1000, when it was probably here viking built a simple wooden castle.

Thanks to the efforts of the city of Ghent, it has been owned by the city again since 1887. Today is one here Force Museum housed with the typical weapons of the Middle Ages. You can also use one instruments of torture– and visit the judicial museum.

Address: Sint-Veerleplein 11, 9000 Ghent

Opening hours: from April to October from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., from November to March from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Entry: Adults pay 10 euros, young adults between 19 and 25 years pay 6 euros, seniors over 65 pay 7.50 euros admission. Children and young people under the age of 19 have free admission

>> You can find cheap hotels in Ghent here

3. Holy Blood Basilica

The Holy Blood Basilica can be found in the Belgian city of Bruges. she is that oldest building of the Bruges Castle, an important place in the old Hanseatic city. The Holy Blood Basilica was completed in 1149. Your predecessor buildings were probably already here in the 9th century.

One is stored here Ampoule with the blood of Christ.

The relic is said to have come to Bruges after the Second Crusade. she will since 1291 always to Ascension Day during the Holy Blood Procession carried through the city.

Address: Burg 13, 8000 Brugge

Opening hours: daily from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Entry: Entry to the Holy Blood Basilica is free of charge. If you want to visit the treasury or the museum, an entrance fee of 2.50 euros is due

>> Find cheap hotels in Bruges here

4. Pairi Daiza

The zoological garden with the sonorous name Pairi Daiza was opened in 1993 and is one of the Top sights of Belgium. You embark on a journey to different continents like Africa, Australia or Asia.

All in all 4000 animals you can marvel at the zoo. Real highlights in Pairi Daiza are koala bears, White tigers and giant pandas.

This makes the Belgian zoo just one of 17 zoos worldwide that house these animals.

Our tip: Book your tickets online. So you save up to 2 euros.

Address: Domaine de Cambron, 7940 Brugelette

Opening hours: from April to October daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission (online tickets): Adults pay 32 euros, children between 3 and 11 years pay 27 euros, children under 3 years have free admission, people over 60 years pay 30 euros

5. Warandepark

The Royal Park of Brussels is the one largest park in the Belgian capital. In medieval times, the park served as a hunting ground for the Dukes of Brabant. When the park and the associated fire in 1731 Castle destroyed, the area remained an overgrown corner until 1775.

Today you can stroll between the Belgian Royal Palace and the Parliament building. A boulevard leads through the 13 hectare park, past fountains and statues. There is a large pond in the heart of the park. From here you also have one beautiful view of the Palace of Justice.

Our tip: In summer, the Warandepark hosts a variety of open-air events such as Concerts or theater instead of. Enjoy such an event in the shade of the old trees.

>> Find cheap hotels in Brussels here

6th Groeninge Museum

And another Belgian sight that you can find in Bruges. The Groeninge Museum is known for its collection of "Flemish Primitives". This art direction of Flemish painting continued in the second quarter of the 15th century and lasted about a hundred years. The artists were concerned with a realistic representation. Even with the portraiture they set new standards.

The origins of the Groeningemuseum’s exhibited collection date back to 1716. Today you can see around 15 showrooms see old Flemish art and works from the 17th to 20th centuries.

Works by Jan van Eyck, Gerard David, Hans Memling or Joos van Cleve.

Address: Dijver 12, 8000 Brugge

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Entry: Adults pay 12 euros

>> Find cheap hotels in Bruges here

7th Rubens House

The place of work of the famous painter Peter Paul Rubens is now one of the most popular museums in Antwerp. On one Original location you get a deep insight into the life of the artist. For 32 years he lived and worked in the spacious villa that he had designed himself.

Today you can Living and working spaces of the artist, who originally came from Siegen. By the way, he wasn’t just one great painter, but also diplomat and illustrator.

Address: Rubenshaus, Wapper 9-11, 2000 Antwerp

Opening hours: The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Entry: Visitors between the ages of 26 and 65 pay 8 euros admission. Visitors from 12 to 25 years and over 65 years pay 6 euros, children under 12 years have free entry.

  • We have more information about the cityAntwerpput together for you

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8. St. Salvator Cathedral

The next Belgium sight takes us back to the picturesque small town of Bruges. Here you should definitely have a look at the St. Salvator Cathedral. The Gothic church building dates from the 13th century and is still in very good condition.

The church’s special art treasures are exhibited in the museum. There you will find Shrines, reliquaries and other goldsmith’s work. You will also find paintings by Hugo van der Goes and Dierick Bouts there.

Address: Sint-Salvatorskoorstraat 8, 8000 Brugge

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., on Saturday the St. Salvator Cathedral closes at 3.30 p.m., on Sundays the cathedral opens from 11.30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

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9. Autoworld

There the hearts of the car lovers beat faster among you. The Autoworld is another Belgium tourist attraction in Brussels and shows more than 250 cars, motorcycles and buses. So you can vividly experience the evolution of automotive history here. From the late 19th century to the modern era, cars from the USA, England, France, Belgium and Germany were exhibited there.

Our tip: If you use the Brussels Card for your stay in Belgium or Brussels, you will get free entry to Autoworld. The special exhibition is currently dealing with the history of the VW Beetle.

Address: Parc du Cinquantenaire 11, Brussels 1000

Opening hours: from April to September from 10am to 6pm, from October to March from 10am to 5pm, on weekends always until 6pm

Entry: Adults pay 10 euros, seniors over 65 years pay 8 euros, people with disabilities and students pay 7 euros, children from 6 to 11 years pay 4 euros, children under 6 years have free entry

  • you want moreBrussels landmarks?We have more information about the Belgian capital

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10. Han-sur-Lesse cave

This attraction of Belgium takes you out into nature. The Han-sur-Lesse caves are one of them most famous show caves in Europe and are without question a nice destination for the whole family. In addition to the Stalactite cave you can also visit a wildlife park. This Belgian sight is located in the south-east of Belgium, in Rochefort.

The cave has been open to tourists since 1857. A first exploration of the rear part of the cave is said to have taken place as early as 1771. Over a length of around two kilometers you can walk through the cave today. Via stairs you can get through the impressive halls the underground stalactite cave.

In the associated wildlife Park you can either cover the 2.5 or 5.5 kilometer route with the Safari bus or on foot. The path leads you past wolves, brown Bears, Wild cats, Przewalski horses or the European buffalo.

Our tip: You should take a day for the stalactite cave and wildlife park. There is a combined ticket for both sights. You should also buy your tickets online. You save up to 9 euros

Address: Rue Joseph Lamotte 2, 5580 Han-sur-Lesse

Opening hours: Depending on the season, the grotto is open between 11.30 a.m. and 7 p.m. You can find more detailed information on the homepage

Entry: The combined ticket costs 21 euros online for adults, children between 4 and 11 years pay 15 euros, children under four years have free entry

11. Steen Castle

It is one of the mostly photographed buildings from Antwerp and should therefore not be missing from the list of the most beautiful Belgium sights. The city castle of Antwerp: Steen Castle.

The castle is currently being renovated. By 2020 it should be here tourist center arise. The plan envisages that Steen Castle will become the arrival terminal for tourists to the mooring cruise ships. In an information point you can find out about that new building projects and inform about future use.

Until 2008 was in the castle, whose origins date back to that 12th Century reach back, housed the National Maritime Museum. This has now moved to the modern Museum aan de Stroom. By the way, before the castle was a museum, it was called jail, Fish storage and sawmill used.

Address: Steenplein 1, 2000 Antwerp

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12. St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral

It is one of the most important historical buildings in Brussels. The Gothic Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula. The current form of the church dates back to the 13th Century. During renovation work in the 1980s, traces of a Roman were also found 11th century church discovered. The history of the church goes back even further. A church is said to have stood here as early as the 8th century.

Our tip: Also look at the remains of the Roman church. They are located under the choir and can be visited for an entrance fee of 3 euros.

Address: Place Sainte-Gudule, 1000 Bruxelles

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 7.30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 7.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Entry: Entry to the cathedral is free. For the Romanesque crypt and the treasury, an entry of 2 to 3 euros is due

>> Find cheap hotels in Brussels here

More questions and answers about Belgium

1. What is Belgium known for??

French fries, chocolate and beer – Most people think of that when they think of Belgium. And that’s not entirely wrong. French fries are indeed one of the national dishes Belgium and were even invented here. By the way, they become traditional fried in beef tallow and not in vegetable oil, which gives the original Belgian fries a very special taste. In contrast to Germany, you can often choose not only between ketchup and mayonnaise, but from many sauces. Very popular in Belgium: Moules-frite – Mussels with french fries.

And that too beer has one in Belgium high priority, after all, Belgian beer is sometimes the most diverse. So if you are on holiday in Belgium, you should definitely try it. But be careful: Belgian beer often has more alcohol than German and tastes much stronger. Well-known brands are Leffe, Affligem, Chimay and Duvel.

Belgian chocolate has one particularly good reputation – worldwide. And that is no coincidence, because the Belgian chocolate manufacturers have committed themselves to a code that puts the chocolate on one consistently high taste level holds. In addition, in Belgian chocolate Cocoa content much higher and that makes it more tasty. Definitely try and take something as a souvenir.

2. What sights in Belgium are on the coast?

The coast of Belgium and the coastal towns also have some attractions to offer. Most are in the picturesque port city of Ostend in West Flanders near Bruges. Not only that Oostende with its port and the Spa is already a beautiful Belgium attraction, there is with the Atlantic Wall Museum also one of the most important museums for the Second World War.

Furthermore, it is a place that the Graffiti art and street art has prescribed. Painted house walls can be found all over the city; some are works of art by internationally known artists. The Art Walk "The Crystal Ship" leads you to everyone.

3. Which Belgium sights are for children?

The best sights for children – also in Belgium – are without a doubt Zoos and animal parks. In Belgium there are two great zoos with rare animals such as pandas, elephants and even white tigers: the zoo and aquarium in Antwerp and the Pairi Daiza in Brugelette in southern Belgium.

The Manneken Piss in Brussels should also be an attraction for children loud laughing enchants in face. Or you can walk along the comic strip route and meet Lucky Luke, Tintin or her Smurfs. A short vacation in Brussels is also an experience for children.

Our top 6 Belgium attractions for kids

  1. Pairi Daiza (Brugelette)
  2. Antwerp Zoo
  3. Manneken Pis (Brussels)
  4. Comic Strip Route (Brussels)
  5. Canal cruise in Bruges
  6. Autoworld (Brussels)

4. Which Belgium sights are free?

For all bargain hunters, there are great sights for a lukewarm holiday in Belgium. Most of them Parks, gardens and churches you come in free of charge and if you don’t value guided tours, you can of course always look at the buildings from the outside for free. Street art and public comic art like you can find in Belgium in some cities, are also freely accessible.

Here comes our top 5 best free Belgium sights

  1. Comic Strip Route (Brussels)
  2. Manneken Pis (Brussels)
  3. Holy Blood Basilica (Bruges)
  4. Warandepark (Brussels)
  5. Grote Markt (Antwerp)

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