If you are looking for an authentic European Experience with old towns, castles and amazing snack foods, you will fall in love with Belgium.

From it's amazing waffles and fries to some of the best beers in the world there is so much delicious food in Belgium to discover. Add a bit of history on top of all of this and you have a great option for your Europe trip. Rather than the expensive alternatives of Amsterdam or London, Belgium offers the same vibe but at a cheaper rate.

Which Cities to Visit

There are a lot beautiful towns in Belgium which are worth the visit. Some more expensive than others. If you are looking for that city vibe your two best options are Antwerp and Brussels. Both cities have a lot of museums, shops and other activities to do.

If you want to explore the cute historic towns of Belgium you could go to the more expensive Bruges or the cheaper, just as beautiful alternative: Ghent. Both offer great views of the old towns by the water and have a more romantic feel. Ghent is also a student town and known for its alternative art.

Belgium does not only have a lot of big cities which are worth visiting, but also some smaller towns which are the gateway to Belgium's nature. In the Flemish Region of Belgium I can recommend both Leuven and Hasselt. Whilst in Wallonia you can explore Dinant, Namur and Liege which are all are worth a visit.

Where to Stay

A great option to find cheap accommodation in the bigger cities is staying in a Hostel. More and more towns in Belgium are hopping on this cheap alternative to hotels. At the moment (2021) the options are still limited in most cities, but you should always check hostelworld.com on what your options are.

Second to hostels, I always recommend people who are traveling in small groups (2-4 people) to look on Airbnb. There are so many amazing rentals to be found on this app. It is a great way to find beautiful apartments, houses or chalets for a small nightly rate per person. The best thing about Airbnb is that you can split the cost with more friends or family.

How to Get Around

You will pay so much money renting a car or taxi around Belgium. A better alternative is to use public transport! Most of Belgium is easily accessible by train or bus. I highly recommend each traveler to get a train pass for their stay in Belgium. If you are under the age of 26, you can get a discounted ticket, which is 10 journeys (1-way) for only 55EUR. That is only 5.5EUR per train, no additional costs. The Standard Multi ticket (older than 26y) costs you 86EUR, which is still a great deal.

Enjoy all the Snacks

If you enjoy street food & snack food, Belgium is the perfect place for you. It is not for nothing that the country is known for its Belgian Frites, Waffles and Chocolate. Not only are these foods delicious to eat, but they also have a small price tag. Some of the bigger cities try to capitalize on tourists visiting Belgium and will overcharge for these amazing snacks. Make sure to avoid these tourist traps and look for a regular "frituur" (=fries shop) rather than the promotional Belgian Frites Shops.

Average Prices:

Liege Waffle (plain): 2.50EUR
Liege Waffle (chocolate): 3.00EUR
BXL Waffle with Toppings: 8EUR-12EUR
Chocolate Pralines (300gr): 8.8EUR

Small Fries: 2.50EUR
Large Fries: 3.30EUR
Snack: 2.20-3.00EUR
Hamburger: 3.00-3.60EUR

Other than the Belgian Highlight street foods and snacks, there are also a lot of smaller takeaway food shops which have snack food and goodies from all over the world. Anything from Kebab to Pasta in a Box or some Thai Food. Takeaway goodies should not cost you more than 8 EUR-12 EUR per persoon per meal.

Looking for a bit more of a healthier option? Every week there are local markets all over Belgium (days vary in each city) where you can buy healthy foods, fruits and veggies and make your own delicious meals in your hostel or airbnb.

A taste of Belgium's Best Beers

Other than food, Belgium is also known for its beers. With over 1150 original Belgian Beers, this country has a great reputation all around the world when it comes to beers. Tourists love to get a taste of Belgium's greatest beers. Although going to a specialized beer shop in a touristy street might seem like the only option to try out all of these goodies. But no, most cafe's offer upwards to 20 different belgian beers which you can try without paying the premium prices. If you want to try some more specialized beers that not every cafe might sell, just head on over to your regular grocery store and pick up some beers.

When to Visit Belgium?

I hope this post has convinced you that Belgium can be done on a budget and you are now eager to visit. Like most places in Europe, the best time to visit is during the summer months: July & August. However, this is also the time when it is the busiest. If you want to avoid the crowds and enjoy cheaper prices all around... You should visit Belgium in May-June or September.