Belgium

Belgium may be compact, but it packs in a lot: cosmopolitan Brussels, romantic Bruges, creative Antwerp, and laid-back Ghent can all be reached in under two hours by train from the capital. Think in terms of base cities rather than one whirlwind loop — for example, stay in Brussels and Bruges, and use day trips to nearby towns. Use Hello’s trip planning tools to map out rail connections, walking routes, and museum opening hours, then keep everything in one place for quick reference.

Peak season runs from July to August, especially on the coast, so book accommodation early or consider April–June and September–October for fewer crowds and milder weather. City tourist cards (like the Brussels Card or Bruges City Card) can offer free public transport and discounts on museums, great if you’re packing in a lot of sightseeing in 24–72 hours.

Belgium is generally very safe, but as in any major city, choose well-lit routes around big stations at night and keep valuables secure. Save emergency numbers and key reservations in your phone before you arrive — with Hello eSIM connectivity, you can activate an eSIM from Hello ahead of time and land with data ready to go, making it easier to navigate, adjust plans on the fly, and keep everyone in your group synced.

Belgium is made for public transport. The national rail network is dense, affordable, and fast, making it easy to base yourself in one city and hop to others like Leuven or Mechelen as day trips. Book intercity tickets in advance for popular times, but know that many regional trains don’t require seat reservations, so you can stay flexible with your itinerary.

In cities, you’ll find trams and buses everywhere. In Brussels, an STIB-MIVB day pass gives unlimited rides, while Antwerp and Ghent offer similar day tickets — handy if you’re zigzagging between museums, riverfronts, and nightlife spots. Validate your ticket as soon as you board, and keep a couple of €1 coins on hand: some public toilets and museum lockers still rely on coin-operated systems.

Many historic centres — especially Bruges and Ghent — are best explored on foot or by bike. Cobblestones and narrow lanes mean comfortable shoes matter more than fashion. Use live maps in the Hello app, powered by Hello eSIM data, to check tram routes and walking times, and pin important locations like your hotel or favourite café. If you’re travelling with companions, Hello’s expense splitting can keep shared transport costs clear, whether you’re buying group rail tickets or splitting a taxi from the station.

Belgium takes food seriously. Start with the classics: frites served with dozens of sauces at a frituur, golden waffles in Brussels’ streets, and rich moules-frites in coastal or canal-side restaurants. In Brussels, try the Marolles district for cosy bistros; in Bruges and Ghent, canalside terraces are perfect for lingering over dinner. Belgium’s famed beer culture ranges from Trappist brews at abbey-linked cafés to innovative craft beer bars in Antwerp and Brussels.

To eat well without overspending, look for lunch menus (often €15–25, roughly US $16–27) that include a starter and main, and browse local bakeries for a cheap breakfast of pastries and coffee. Reservations are recommended for popular spots on weekends. If you’re sampling multiple beers, remember many are strong — pace yourself and drink water.

Use Hello’s budget tracking to log meals in euros and see how your food spending compares to your daily target. When sharing dishes or ordering rounds of drinks, Hello’s expense splitting makes it easy to divide costs fairly at the end of the night. If you discover a favourite dish — like carbonnade flamande (beef stew in beer) or speculoos biscuits — jot it in your Hello trip planning notes so you can hunt it down again in the next city.

Belgium uses the euro (EUR), and prices are on par with much of Western Europe. A realistic mid-range daily budget is around €80–120 (roughly US $85–130) per person, covering accommodation, local transport, and a mix of restaurant meals and casual bites. Budget travellers staying in hostels and self-catering can aim for €50–70 (about US $53–75) per day. Cards are widely accepted, but it’s still useful to carry some cash and coins for toilets, lockers, and small cafés.

To stay in control of your spending, use Hello’s budget tracking to set a daily euro limit for each city and log your expenses as you go. You’ll quickly see if those extra beers or chocolate shop visits are adding up, and can adjust. Travelling in a group? Put shared apartment rentals, rental bikes, or dinner bills into Hello’s expense splitting feature so one person isn’t chasing everyone for reimbursement.

For hassle-free connectivity, purchase a Hello eSIM before you depart and activate it just before landing. You’ll arrive with data ready, which makes mobile banking, map use, and translation apps far smoother — especially when buying train tickets or topping up transport cards online. Keep important numbers like the general 112 emergency line saved, and back up key documents in the cloud so they’re accessible anywhere you can get online.