Practical Information

Essential travel information for your stay.

Liège © visitbelgium.net

Arrival

Airplane: The most important and largest airport is Brussels Airport, located in the center of the country. From Brussels, all destinations can be quickly reached by train or rental car.

Train: Belgium boasts the densest railway network in Europe. Trains run frequently to all corners of the country, with moderate ticket prices. The international connections are equally excellent, with the main train station being Bruxelles-Midi / Brussel-Zuid. In addition to regional and national trains, high-speed trains like Thalys, Eurostar, TGV, and ICE operate here. Travel times to Brussels are 2 hours from Amsterdam, 1:50 hours from Cologne, 3:15 hours from Luxembourg, 1:20 hours from Paris, and 2:20 hours from London.

Bus: Belgium is regularly and frequently served by many travel companies.

Car: Belgium has one of Europe’s densest motorway networks, and there are no tolls. Driving times to Brussels are 2 hours from Amsterdam, 2 hours from Cologne, 2:30 hours from Luxembourg, 3:30 hours from Paris, and 5:30 hours from London. Note: Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent have environmental zones (LEZ) that require free online registration.

Ferries: There is a ferry connection between the United Kingdom and Belgium, from Kingston upon Hull to Zeebrugge. The French city of Calais, with its Eurotunnel and ferry port to Dover (UK), is only 50 kilometers from the Belgian border. The distance from Calais to Dover is just 40 kilometers. There are also ferry connections to Dunkirk, which is only 15 kilometers from the Belgian border.

Public Transport

Belgium’s cities have very well-developed public transport systems, including commuter trains, metros, trams, and buses. In some cities, also cable cars.

Taxis are widely available, can be hailed on the street, found at taxi stands, or booked by phone. Additionally, various car rental companies offer app-based booking options.

Weather

The best time to travel to Belgium is from May to September, with the peak vacation season in July and August. However, Belgium can also be charming in autumn and winter, especially during the Christmas season in the cities and when there is snowfall in the Ardennes. January to March is generally rather bleak. In summer, temperatures typically range between 20-25 degrees Celsius, while in winter they are around 0-10 degrees Celsius.

Tourist Information

Visiting the official tourist information office in each city is highly recommended. They provide staff assistance, brochures, and often discounted combination tickets for public transport, museums, and other attractions.

Safety

The security level in Belgium is comparable to that of other Western European countries. Generally, Belgium is a friendly and safe country, particularly in smaller towns and rural areas. In larger cities, petty crime such as pickpocketing is not uncommon, especially at train stations and in busy areas. In metropolitan areas, there are issues with gang-related crime and Islamism. These problems are most pronounced in Brussels (where some problem areas are close to the city centre*) and Antwerp, as well as in the two old industrial regions Charleroi and Liège.

* around the Gare du Midi, west of the inner ring road (Anderlecht-Cureghem and Molenbeek-Saint-Jean), and the east side of the Gare du Nord (Schaerbeek-Brabant)

Emergency Contacts:
Police: 101
Card Stop: +32 78 170 170
Ambulance and Fire Brigade: 112
On-call Doctor: 1733
Pharmacies: pharmacie.be

Communication

Brussels is bilingual (French/Dutch), but English is also widely understood. In northern Belgium (Flanders), Dutch is spoken, and English and French proficiency is generally good. In southern Belgium (Wallonia), French is the main language, with weaker English and Dutch skills. In eastern Belgium, along the German border, there is a German-speaking region where French and reasonably good English are also spoken.

Opening Hours

Shops in Belgium are generally open from Monday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with some extending their opening hours. On Sundays, some owner-operated shops in tourist areas are open, as well as certain larger supermarkets.

Restaurants and bars have variable opening hours and are often closed or operate with reduced hours on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Museums usually open from 10 AM to 5 PM (last entry). Most museums are closed on Mondays, with some closing on Tuesdays instead.

Currency and Payment

The currency in Belgium is the Euro. Foreign currencies are typically not accepted. EC and credit cards are widely accepted but confirm in advance.

Tipping

In restaurants, a 10% service charge is always included in the bill. Otherwise, a tip of around 10% is customary.

Time Zone

In Belgium the standard time is Central European Time (UTC+01:00). Belgium observes Summer Time from the last Sunday in March (02:00 CET) to the last Sunday in October (03:00 CEST).