Belgium Tour Packages

Belgium sits between France, Germany and the Netherlands, and it borrows a little from each. It is a small country that you can cross from end to end by train in under three hours. Yet it holds four cities, Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, and Antwerp, that feel like countries themselves.

You can walk a medieval square in Bruges by breakfast and stand beside the Atomium in Brussels by dinner, all on the same day. While larger countries often dominate European itineraries, Belgium offers a dense concentration of art, history, and culinary heritage. The main highlights of Belgium tour packages are the Gothic cathedrals, old canal towns, and chocolate workshops. 

This guide covers what to see, what to eat, where to shop, and how to plan a Belgium trip that actually matches how the country works.

Why Visit Belgium?

Many international tourists treat Belgium as a transit stop between Paris and Amsterdam. However, dedicating time to this country reveals well-preserved architecture and a vibrant food and drink culture.

Add Belgium to your bucket list for:

The Crossroads of Europe

Belgium acts as the ideal geographical base for broader European tour packages. The high-speed rail network connects Brussels to London, Paris, and Amsterdam in under two hours. This means you can establish a base in Brussels or Antwerp and take day trips across borders.

Intact Medieval Cities

Unlike many European cities that required post-war reconstruction, cities like Bruges and Ghent retained their medieval parts. The cobblestone streets, towering belfries, and step-gabled guildhouses remain intact even today. Walking through these areas feels like stepping backwards in time.

The Chocolate Capital of the World

Belgium's chocolate story runs back to the 1600s, when Antwerp's port first brought in cocoa beans from Africa and South America. Neuhaus invented the filled praline in Brussels in 1912. Chocolate here is less a souvenir category than something close to a local language.

The Comic Book Heritage

Belgium treats comic books as a serious art form. The country gave the world Tintin, the Smurfs, and Lucky Luke. Brussels celebrates this heritage with giant comic strip murals painted directly onto the sides of city buildings. You can spend an entire afternoon simply walking the comic book route in the capital.

A Front-Row Seat to European History

The fields around Ypres, immortalised in the poem "In Flanders Fields," hold some of the most significant World War I memorials anywhere. You walk from a 900-year-old guild hall to a battlefield memorial in a single day trip. Travellers building multi-country Belgium, France and Germany tour packages often find this the most moving stop on the whole itinerary.

What Makes Belgium Special?

Most Belgium holiday packages focus on Brussels and Bruges. Yet, the country holds several distinct characteristics that set it apart from its immediate neighbours.

Here is what gives the destination its unique character:

The Linguistic Divide

The country splits neatly into Flanders in the north and Wallonia in the south. In Flanders, people speak Flemish, which is a local variant of Dutch. In Wallonia, they speak French. Brussels operates as a bilingual capital. You will notice the architecture, the food, and the general atmosphere change noticeably when you cross the linguistic border.

The Trappist Monasteries

Only a handful of monasteries in the world still produce authentic Trappist beer, and the majority reside in Belgium. Monks brew these ales within the abbey walls to fund their charitable works. Visiting a monastery cafe to sample a Westmalle or Orval directly at the source offers a truly local experience.

Canal Networks

Waterways define the northern cities of Belgium. Bruges and Ghent relied on these canals for trade during the Middle Ages. Today, they provide the best vantage points for viewing the architecture. A boat ride offers angles of ancient stone bridges and hidden gardens, ideal for romantic honeymoon tour packages.

The Most Stolen Painting

St Bavo's Cathedral in Ghent houses the Ghent Altarpiece, painted by Jan van Eyck in 1432. It is considered one of the most influential paintings in Western art history and also one of the most stolen. Napoleon's troops took panels from it, and Nazi forces looted it again during the Second World War before it was eventually recovered. 

Diamonds, Denim and an Old District

Antwerp's Diamond District has run for centuries and remains the world's leading diamond trading hub, home to more than 1,600 diamond traders. The same city produced the "Antwerp Six," a group of designers who put Belgian fashion on the world map in the 1980s, a legacy still visible around Nationalestraat and Kammenstraat.

The Belgium Experience

From participating in chocolate-making workshops to spending evenings with romantic canal walks, there are many reasons to visit Belgium. The country offers the perfect mix of modern art, fashion districts, and political history:

Brussels

The capital city demands at least two days of your time. The Grand Place serves as the central hub, surrounded by opulent guildhalls coated in gold leaf. A short walk away stands the Manneken-Pis, a tiny bronze statue that locals dress in different costumes every week. Outside the historic centre, Atomium is one of the highlights of Brussels tour packages. Engineers built this giant stainless steel atom that offers panoramic views of the city.

Ghent

Ghent shares the medieval charm of Bruges but adds the energy of a massive student population. The Gravensteen is a 12th-century castle complete with a moat that sits right in the middle of the city. St. Bavo's Cathedral houses the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, which historians consider one of the most important and frequently stolen paintings in European history.

Bruges

Bruges represents the quintessential medieval European city. The historic centre restricts car traffic, allowing pedestrians to dominate the cobblestone streets. You must climb the 366 steps of the Belfry for a clear view of the red rooftops. Most Belgium tour packages dedicate a full day here so travellers can take a canal boat tour and visit the Basilica of the Holy Blood.

Antwerp

If Bruges is historical, Antwerp is modern and stylish. The Antwerp Central Station often ranks among the most beautiful railway stations in the world. The city features a famous fashion district, a massive port, and the historic home of the painter Peter Paul Rubens. Travellers looking for shopping and modern design usually prefer Antwerp over the other cities.

Leuven and Day Trips

Leuven is a lively university town 25 minutes from Brussels by train. It has a town hall carved with more than 230 statues and a buzzing student bar scene around Oude Markt. Further south, Dinant and the wooded Ardennes hills offer a completely different Belgium. You will find river valleys and citadels that make a solid add-on to weekend tour packages in Belgium. 

Food and Beer Culture in Belgium

The country claims the invention of the fried potato, locally known as frites. You will find friteries in every town square serving thick, crispy fries in paper cones. The street food experience is not complete without trying a freshly baked Belgian waffle. Beyond these daily treats, the nation produces thousands of unique chocolate varieties and brews over a thousand distinct beers.

Shopping in Belgium

Chocolate leads every shopping list here. There are Neuhaus and Mary inside the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, Pierre Marcolini near Sablon, and Laurent Gerbaud close to Central Station. For fashion, there are Antwerp's Meir and Nationalestraat and Brussels' Rue Antoine Dansaert. Antique hunters should head to the Sablon district for polished galleries or to the Marolles for the daily flea market at Place du Jeu de Balle.

Planning Your Belgium Trip

You can cover the main highlights of the country in less than a week due to its small size and efficient trains. If you are planning your first international trip, Belgium offers a very soft landing because the infrastructure is very organised.

A Short 6-Day Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive in Brussels, settle in, walk the Grand Place at night when the guild houses are lit.
• Day 2: Brussels sightseeing, Atomium, Manneken-Pis, Comic Strip Route, a proper Brussels waffle.
• Day 3: Day trip to Bruges, Belfry climb, Church of Our Lady, a canal boat ride.
• Day 4: Ghent, Gravensteen Castle, St Bavo's Cathedral, an evening walk along Graslei.
• Day 5: Antwerp, Cathedral of Our Lady, Rubens House, the diamond district.
• Day 6: Free morning or a Waterloo half-day trip, departure.

How to Reach Belgium

• By Air: Brussels Airport (BRU) serves as the primary international gateway. Currently, Indian travellers do not have direct flights from Delhi or Mumbai. You will typically fly via Middle Eastern carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways, or European airlines such as Lufthansa and Air France.
• By Train: If you are already in Europe, the train offers the best route. The Eurostar connects London to Brussels in exactly two hours. The Thalys high-speed network links Paris to Brussels in about 90 minutes.
• Visa: Indian citizens require a Schengen visa to enter the country. You must apply through VFS Global, providing bank statements, flight itineraries, and travel insurance. 

Getting Around Belgium

• Belgium's domestic rail network, run by SNCB/NMBS, is frequent and reliable. It connects Brussels to Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp every 30 minutes or less throughout the day. 
• Within cities, trams and buses cover Brussels and Antwerp well, while Bruges and much of Ghent's old centre are easily walkable on foot.

Budget

Belgium costs less than Switzerland or Scandinavia but requires a larger budget than Eastern Europe. Many travellers look for comprehensive Belgium tour packages to bundle these costs and secure better rates on hotels in Belgium.

• Return flights from India: ₹55,000 to ₹75,000.
• A standard three-star hotel room: ₹8,000 to ₹12,000 per night.
• A mid-range restaurant meal: ₹1,500 to ₹2,500 per person.
• A standard domestic train ticket: ₹800 to ₹1,500 per journey.

What to Carry

• Comfortable and broken-in walking shoes for cobblestone streets.
• A compact umbrella or light raincoat.
• Layered clothing for a temperate, changeable climate.
• A European two-pin plug adapter.
• A local eSIM or data plan.
• A cross-body bag with secure zippers.

Best Time to Visit Belgium

If you are planning to book Belgium holiday packages, late spring and early autumn provide the best balance of good weather and manageable crowds. Summer tour packages remain the standard for enjoying the Euro summer in Belgium, though you must prepare for larger crowds. Late November through December also remains popular for the elaborate Christmas markets.

Here is a breakdown of what to expect in Belgium throughout the year so you can time your visit: 

Things to Know Before You Go

One wrong move and you could be backtracking, overpaying, or standing in a queue in Belgium. With a few easy tips, these traveller mistakes can be avoided, making your experience even better:

• Carry small coins at all times. Public restrooms at train stations and even inside some fast-food restaurants charge an entry fee of 50 cents to 1 Euro.
• Book Bruges' canal boat tickets or a combined Musea Brugge pass ahead of time in peak season to skip queues.
• Waiters will almost always bring you expensive bottled water. If you want tap water, you must ask for it explicitly, and some places still refuse to serve it.
• Do not limit your chocolate shopping to large tourist stores. Seek out small, independent chocolatiers for better quality and more unique flavours.
• Non-EU residents can claim a VAT refund on chocolate and other purchases above a minimum spend, provided the goods leave the EU in personal luggage.
• Bike lanes run parallel to sidewalks in most cities. Always check both directions before stepping off the curb, as bicycles move quickly and have the right of way.
• Ghent and Antwerp both work well for family retreat tour packages, since neither city requires long walks between major sights

Plan Your Belgium Trip with EaseMyTrip

Belgium tour packages offer you four different cities in one country. A capital built on politics and comic book murals, a medieval town, a university city, and a diamond district. Add chocolate, beer, and history, and you get a trip that you will cherish for a lifetime.

At EaseMyTrip Holidays, we plan your holiday as smoothly as the Belgian rail network. We bring your flights, hotel stays, and local activities together in one place so you do not have to juggle different bookings across multiple websites. Take a look at our current itineraries, pick the one that matches your travel style, and let us help you turn those plans into confirmed tickets.