Belgium

Belgium is a small but strategically positioned country in Western Europe, serving as the de facto capital of the European Union. Brussels Airport (BRU) is the main international gateway and the hub for Brussels Airlines, a member of the Lufthansa Group and Star Alliance.

Despite its compact size (smaller than Maryland), Belgium plays an outsized role in European aviation due to Brussels' status as the EU capital. Business travelers frequently fly to Brussels for EU institutions, NATO headquarters, and major corporate headquarters. The country also draws tourists to historic cities like Bruges, Ghent, and Antwerp.

Belgium's small size means domestic flights are unnecessary. The excellent rail network connects all major cities within 1-2 hours, and high-speed trains link Brussels to Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Cologne.

International Gateways

Airport	City	Role	Major Airlines
BRU	Brussels	Brussels Airlines hub, EU capital gateway	Brussels Airlines, TUI fly
CRL	Charleroi	Low-cost hub, Ryanair base	Ryanair, Wizz Air
ANR	Antwerp	Regional business travel	TUI fly
LGG	Liege	Cargo hub, limited passenger	TUI fly

Brussels Airport (BRU)

Belgium's main international airport and Brussels Airlines' hub:

• Location: Zaventem, 12 km northeast of Brussels city center
• Terminals: Single terminal with two concourses (A for non-Schengen, B for Schengen)
• Direct rail: Train to Brussels-Central (17 min), Brussels-Midi/Zuid (25 min)
• Minimum connection: 40 min for Schengen, 60 min for non-Schengen connections
• Notable: Primary gateway for EU institutions traffic, strong African network via Brussels Airlines

Brussels Airport serves over 26 million passengers annually and offers direct flights to most major European cities, North America, Africa, and the Middle East.

Brussels South Charleroi (CRL)

Belgium's second busiest airport, dominated by low-cost carriers:

• Location: 46 km south of Brussels (misleading name—closer to Charleroi)
• Airlines: Ryanair (major base), Wizz Air
• Destinations: European leisure and city break routes
• Transport: Shuttle bus to Brussels-Midi (50-60 min, €17)
• Use for: Budget European flights, but factor in transfer time to Brussels

Important: Despite the name "Brussels South," this airport is significantly farther from Brussels than the main airport. Budget extra travel time.

Antwerp Airport (ANR)

Small regional airport serving business travelers:

• Location: 3 km from Antwerp city center
• Airlines: TUI fly (limited destinations)
• Destinations: Primarily holiday destinations
• Best for: Visitors to Antwerp wanting convenient access

Liege Airport (LGG)

Major cargo hub with limited passenger services:

• Location: Eastern Belgium, near German border
• Role: One of Europe's busiest cargo airports (e-commerce hub)
• Passenger flights: Limited seasonal/charter services
• Best for: Cargo operations, not typical passenger travel

Flag Carrier

Brussels Airlines (SN) is Belgium's flag carrier:

• Member of Star Alliance
• Part of Lufthansa Group (since 2017)
• Hub: Brussels Airport (BRU)
• Strong African network (former Sabena routes to ex-Belgian colonies)
• European network connects Brussels to major cities
• Miles & More frequent flyer program (Lufthansa Group)

Belgian Airlines

• TUI fly Belgium — Leisure carrier, holiday destinations from BRU, ANR, LGG

Low-Cost Carriers

• Ryanair — Major presence at Charleroi (CRL), base airport
• Wizz Air — Eastern European routes from Charleroi
• easyJet — European routes from Brussels Airport

International Airlines

Major airlines serving Brussels:

• Lufthansa — Frankfurt connections, group partner
• Swiss — Zurich connections, group partner
• United — Washington Dulles, Star Alliance partner
• Delta — Atlanta, New York-JFK
• Emirates — Dubai service
• Ethiopian Airlines — African connections via Addis Ababa

Schengen Area

Belgium is part of the Schengen Area, meaning:

• EU/EEA citizens: Free movement, ID card sufficient
• Schengen visa holders: Valid for Belgium
• 90-day rule: Non-EU visitors can stay 90 days in any 180-day period

ETIAS (Coming 2025/2026)

Non-EU citizens from visa-exempt countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, etc.) will need ETIAS authorization:

• Online application, approximately €7 fee
• Valid for 3 years
• Pre-travel authorization (similar to US ESTA)
• Expected implementation in 2025/2026

Visa Required

Citizens of most other countries need a Schengen visa:

• Apply at Belgian embassy/consulate
• Fee: €80 (short-stay)
• Processing: 15 calendar days typical

Passport Requirements

• Valid for at least 3 months beyond intended stay
• Issued within the last 10 years

Official information: diplomatie.belgium.be

Domestic Flights

Not needed. Belgium is small enough that trains are always faster door-to-door:

Route	Distance	Train Time
Brussels ↔ Antwerp	45 km	35-45 min
Brussels ↔ Ghent	55 km	30-35 min
Brussels ↔ Bruges	100 km	55-65 min
Brussels ↔ Liege	100 km	55-65 min
Brussels ↔ Charleroi	60 km	50-60 min

No domestic flight routes exist—the country is too small.

Trains (NMBS/SNCB)

Belgium has an extensive rail network centered on Brussels:

• IC (InterCity): Fast trains between major cities, hourly or more
• L (Local): Slower trains with more stops
• Thalys/Eurostar: High-speed international services

From Brussels Airport (BRU):

• Brussels-Central: 17 min
• Brussels-Midi/Zuid: 25 min
• Antwerp: 35 min
• Ghent: 55 min

International high-speed trains from Brussels-Midi:

• Paris: 1h 22m (Thalys)
• London: 2h (Eurostar)
• Amsterdam: 1h 50m (Thalys)
• Cologne: 1h 50m (Thalys/ICE)

Booking: belgiantrain.be

Car Rental

Available at airports and cities:

• Right-hand traffic
• Motorways free (no tolls)
• Heavy traffic around Brussels, Antwerp
• Parking limited and expensive in city centers
• Good for: countryside, smaller towns

Cycling

Flat terrain makes cycling practical:

• Bike rental at major stations (Blue-bike)
• Good cycling infrastructure, especially in Flanders
• Popular for exploring Bruges, Ghent

Peak Season (June-August, December)

• Summer: Best weather, outdoor events, festivals
• December: Christmas markets in Brussels, Bruges, Ghent
• Highest hotel prices, advance booking essential for Bruges

Shoulder Season (April-May, September-October)

Best overall value. Good weather, fewer crowds:

• Spring flowers in bloom
• Comfortable temperatures for walking
• Major cities less crowded than summer

Off-Season (November-March)

Lowest fares except Christmas/New Year:

• Cold and damp weather
• Museums and indoor attractions still excellent
• Hotel deals in major cities

Weather Considerations

Season	Temperature	Notes
Spring (Mar-May)	8-16°C	Variable, occasional rain
Summer (Jun-Aug)	17-23°C	Warmest, some rain
Autumn (Sep-Nov)	7-15°C	Increasing rain
Winter (Dec-Feb)	2-7°C	Cold, damp, short days

Note: Belgian weather is changeable. Pack layers and rain gear year-round.

Major Cities

City	Nearest Airport	Known For
Brussels	BRU (17 min)	EU capital, Grand Place, Art Nouveau
Bruges	BRU (1h train)	Medieval center, canals, UNESCO site
Ghent	BRU (55 min train)	Historic architecture, vibrant culture
Antwerp	ANR/BRU	Fashion, diamonds, Rubens
Liege	LGG/BRU	Walloon culture, stairway, waffles
Leuven	BRU (25 min train)	University town, beer heritage

Regions

• Flanders: Dutch-speaking north—Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp
• Wallonia: French-speaking south—countryside, castles, Ardennes forest
• Brussels-Capital: Bilingual region, EU institutions
• Ardennes: Forested hills, castles, outdoor activities
• Belgian Coast: Seaside towns (Ostend, Knokke)

Day Trips from Brussels

• Bruges: Medieval gem, UNESCO World Heritage (1 hour)
• Ghent: Historic city, fewer tourists than Bruges (35 min)
• Antwerp: Fashion, art, diamond district (45 min)
• Leuven: University town, beer culture (25 min)
• Waterloo: Napoleon battlefield (30 min by car)

Money

• Currency: Euro (EUR)
• Cards: Widely accepted, contactless common
• Cash: Some smaller establishments, markets may prefer cash
• ATMs: Widely available
• Tipping: Not expected (service included), round up for good service

Connectivity

• Mobile: Major carriers Proximus, Orange, Base
• eSIM: Supported by major carriers
• WiFi: Good at airports, hotels, cafes
• EU roaming: Free for EU mobile plans

Language

Belgium has three official languages:

• Dutch (Flemish): Spoken in Flanders (north)
• French: Spoken in Wallonia (south) and Brussels
• German: Small community in eastern Belgium

English widely spoken, especially in Brussels, tourist areas, and Flanders.

Safety

Very safe for tourists. Main concerns:

• Pickpockets: Brussels tourist areas (Grand Place, Midi station)
• Cycling awareness: Watch for cyclists in cities
• Standard precautions: Keep valuables secure in crowded areas

Electrical

• Voltage: 230V, 50Hz
• Plug types: Type C (Europlug) and Type E (French-style with grounding pin)
• UK/US/Australian plugs need adapter
• Most modern electronics (laptops, phones) are dual-voltage

Food & Drink Highlights

Belgium is famous for:

• Beer: Over 1,500 varieties, Trappist ales, lambics
• Chocolate: World-renowned pralines and truffles
• Waffles: Brussels (rectangular) and Liege (denser, sweeter) styles
• Frites: Belgian fries with mayonnaise
• Mussels: Moules-frites, especially in season (September-April)

• Tourism: visitbelgium.com
• Brussels Tourism: visit.brussels
• Visa: diplomatie.belgium.be
• Rail: belgiantrain.be
• Brussels Airlines: brusselsairlines.com
• Brussels Airport: brusselsairport.be
• Public Transport: mobib.be (Brussels), delijn.be (Flanders), letec.be (Wallonia)