Despite being a small European country Belgium packs in plenty of culture. Visit the quirky Cantillon Brewery to taste their lambic beer, which spontaneously ferments with wild yeast – a real craft.

Bruges’ central Grote Markt is a UNESCO World Heritage Site rimmed with decorative 17th-century guildhalls and the ornate town hall. Climb the 83-meter belfry tower to see all of the city from the observation deck.

Antwerp

Belgium’s port city is a prime destination for history and culture. In addition to being a fine place to walk around and take in the gorgeous buildings that still surround the town center’s marvelous Grand Place, there are great museums, including one dedicated to surrealist painter Magritte.

The city’s quaint medieval district of La Batte is a wonderful place to wander, and the Cathedral of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal) is one of the city’s major sights. It’s a beautiful Gothic structure and includes a rich art treasury.

Another church to visit is St. Paul’s, which features an 18th-century Calvary with 60 life-sized statues and is impressive both inside and out. There are also great art pieces here, including paintings by the likes of Rubens and Van Dyck.

For beer lovers, the Cantillon Brewery is a must-visit. This historic brewery makes only lambic beers, which are brewed spontaneously with wild yeast, unlike most beers that have a tightly controlled fermentation process.

Other architecture sights include the city hall (Lokeren), a superb example of northern Gothic style, and Havenhuis, a building designed by the late world-famous architect Zaha Hadid. You can also see a good sampling of the city’s fashion history at the fashion museum.

It is impossible to get acquainted with the sights of Belgium in one day, as well as in a week, but you can see the maximum number of new places with the help of a rented car at one of the country's airports. For example, in Antwerp Airport you can rent a car from 17 euros per day, in Liege - from 18 euros per day.

Brussels

Brussels, the self-proclaimed capital of Europe, offers a great mix of historic landmarks and modern attractions. Wander around the Grand Place and visit a few of the city’s great museums, like the Magritte Museum. Then, check out a few of the restaurants and bars. The Belgians love beer, so you should definitely try some of their local brews.

The famous belfry of Bruges is one of Belgium’s most recognizable landmarks. The soaring medieval era tower is attached to a city hall and is a magnificent example of the architecture from this period. Another Bruges must-see is the Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, which houses a vial said to hold a drop of Christ’s blood. The church’s upper chapel is a dazzling riot of gild work and is well worth a look.

If you’re an art aficionado, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts is one of the best things to do in Brussels. It’s one of the largest art galleries in Europe and showcases a jaw-dropping collection of works by masters such as Rubens, Van Dyke, Rembrandt, and Magritte.

You’ll also want to make sure to visit the European District, which is where all the European Union offices are located. This is a fun area to explore at night, when EU workers hang out in the many parks and bars near the buildings.

Ghent

In Ghent, the UNESCO–listed medieval streets rimmed by tranquil canals lure flocks of tourists. The dazzlingly preserved city center is one of Belgium’s most popular attractions, and its churches host outstanding works of art such as Rubens’ Saint Bavo Enters the Convent at Ghent and De Crayer’s Adoration of the Mystic Lamb.

The Groeninge Museum, or MSK, has an expansive collection that traces Flemish artists from the early 14th century to the mid-20th. Its highlights include works by Hieronymus Bosch, Van Dyck, and Magritte. The 83-meter-high belfry tower, the Basilica of the Holy Blood, and the preserved relics in the Basilica of the Sacred Blood are also not to be missed.

Foodies can get their fix at a variety of chocolate shops and beer cafés, or visit the Choco-Story chocolate museum. And a stroll through the charming Patershol neighborhood, with its twisting cobbled lanes, is a must.

For a touch of history, the battlefields at Waterloo and the graveyards around Ypres are major drawcards for many visitors. And for culture buffs, the Bruges Cathedral is another must-see, with its impressive towering spires and exquisite stained glass windows.

The dazzling medieval streets and canals of Bruges are the main reason to visit, but there’s plenty more to discover in this enchanting city. Check out the Guild Houses (Gindenhuis) lining the Korenmarkt square, including the Gildehuis der Onvrije Schippers from 1739 and the Gildehuis der Metselaars from 1527 in Brabant Gothic style.

Bruges

Belgium’s relatively small size makes it easy to explore, even for a short trip. Bruges is a quaint city that’s a pleasure to stroll through, especially along its canals. It’s crowded with tourists during the day, but once the crowds leave, it’s a fairytale-like setting.

The highlight of the city is the Grand Place (Grote Markt), a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s rimmed by guildhalls and other grand buildings showing off vernacular architecture at its best. In the middle sits the ornate medieval town hall, which is a masterpiece of Gothic design. The Basilica of the Holy Blood (Heilig-Bloedbasiliek) is also worth a visit for its striking mix of Romanesque and Gothic features. It’s home to a sacred phial that supposedly contains a shred of the cloth used to wipe Jesus’ body after his crucifixion.

Don’t miss the Boniface Bridge (Bonifaciusbrug). It looks medieval, but it’s actually one of the city’s newer bridges. It leads to the Gruuthuse Museum, which houses a tiny window that’s reputed to be the smallest gothic window in Europe.

For a break from the sightseeing, head to Chocolatier Dumon, a chocolate shop in a higgledy-piggledy building that’s an experience in itself. It’s a great place to taste some of Belgium’s finest chocolates.

Oud Reken

Belgium’s small size makes it easy to visit a great mix of historic places and modern attractions. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Grand Place, with its decorative 17th century guild houses and impressive Town Hall, then cruise the canals of Bruges (which has been nicknamed “the Venice of the North”).

Brussels was at the center of Europe’s 19th-century Art Nouveau movement, and neighborhoods designed by Belgian architect Victor Horta are still in evidence throughout the city. Other architectural highlights include the futuristic Atomium, which attracts 600,000 visitors each year, and the 91-meter-high Ghent Belfry, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Belgian beer lovers should make sure to tour the Cantillon Brewery, a landmark that produces only lambic beers—which spontaneously ferment with wild yeast instead of being brewed with controlled temperatures like most other beers. History buffs will enjoy the Groeninge Museum, where the collection of Flemish masters—including works by Brueghel and Hans Memling—is worth a look-see.

Tourists can also take in the spectacle of a Brussels carnival, which is famous for its originality and color, or head to the Waterloo battlefield to see where Napoleon met his demise. And, of course, a trip to Belgium isn’t complete without indulging in some mouth-watering moules frites and Belgian waffles.

Ypres

If you’re looking for things to do with kids in Ypres, the town has plenty of fun activities to offer. There’s even a water park and a theme park. There are also loads of interactive museums, so the kids can get a well-rounded education while having some fun.

You can see Ypres’ past come to life in the town’s many museums and memorials. One of the best is the In Flanders Field Museum, where you can walk through original trenches and bunkers and learn about some of the most significant battles in history.

Alternatively, visit the Merghelynck Museum for more about the town’s history. It’s housed in the old home of Frans Merghelynck, who was once a treasurer for the Empress Maria Theresa. Some of the rooms are filled with art treasures that survived the war, such as a brass font from around 1600 and a picture of Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-van-Thuyne, who is thought to have miracle-working powers.

While a lot of the attractions are located in Belgium’s cities, you can see some of its stunning countryside on a river cruise. The Meuse River is lined with picturesque towns like Namur and Dinant, which have a wealth of Gothic buildings. There are also a number of beautiful gardens to explore, including the botanical garden in Brussels and the stunning Bosbeek Abbey in Mechelen.