1.Take it slow on the heavy beers
Beer in Belgium is stronger than you think. No, really! 🍺
While the average alcohol-by-volume (ABV) of beer is 4.5%, Belgian beers are over 4.5% and half of them clock in at 8% or higher. For instance, the very popular Leffe beer reaches 6.6% while one of the Chimay beers can hit 9%.
2. No reason to rush: Belgium has no last call
Many bars will stay open all night if the atmosphere is thriving. You will have more than enough time to savor many of Belgium’s finest. And you will need time with over 1,000 different national and local beers on offer. Enough to spend a good evening with all your friends. 🍻
3. It’s easy to get around
Ghent, Antwerp, Liège, Brussels, Brugge, the forested Ardennes, the soothing seaside, and more…
They’re all within two hours or less of each other, which means more time to enjoy every city. You can easily reach all cities in Belgium by car but also by train. An ideal country for a road trip!
4. Don’t forget to pack a raincoat or an umbrella
Much like in Ireland or England, moderate rain is a regular companion to Belgian life. Rainfall is frequent but not particularly heavy, with about 140 rainy days per year in Brussels. ☔ If you get caught in a rainstorm this is the opportunity to warm up with a delicious hot chocolate or to taste the famous Belgian waffles. ☕
5. English? No problem
There’s really no need to learn the language(s) if you’re only going to be visiting for a week. Learning other national languages such as French or Dutch is not necessary and would be far too complicated. A lot of Belgians speak English well enough to carry on a conversation.
But that's not all. Stay tuned for more travel tips. 😉