Belgium

What to Do in Antwerp on a Day Trip: 7 Top Picks If Brussels had a trendier younger sibling, it would be Antwerp. When people search for the best things to do in Antwerp, they often expect a quick list of attractions. What they find instead is a city with fashion credentials, a world-famous diamond district, striking architecture, and a laid-back atmosphere that feels different from Belgium's capital. The truth? You won't see everything in a single day. And that's perfectly fine. Think of this guide as a menu rather than a checklist. Pick the experiences that match your mood, leave room for a long coffee break, and let the city surprise you. One of the things I love most about Antwerp is how easy it is to explore. The historic centre is compact, many highlights are within walking distance of each other, and the journey from Brussels is surprisingly short. Whether you're here for art, shopping, chocolate, history, or simply to wander through beautiful streets, Antwerp makes it easy to fill a day with memorable moments. Getting to Antwerp One of the reasons Antwerp works so well as a day trip is how easy it is to reach. Whether you're coming from Brussels or arriving in Belgium by plane, getting into the city is straightforward and doesn't eat up half your day. By Train from Brussels When I travel from Brussels to Antwerp, I usually take a regular SNCB InterCity (IC) train. It's the most practical option for a quick day trip. The journey takes around 35 to 45 minutes, with the fastest connections taking about 33 minutes. Trains run throughout the day, often every 15 to 30 minutes, which means you rarely [...]

London to Brussels in 2026: Train, Plane, Car or Coach? Planning a trip from London to Brussels is easier than many travellers expect. But many people discover that travelling from London to Brussels is only part of the journey. Your train or flight may bring you to Brussels. Yet, your actual destination could be a hotel in the city centre, a business district on the outskirts, or another Belgian city altogether. There are several ways to make the journey. The most popular option is the Eurostar, which connects London St Pancras International with Bruxelles-Midi in just a few hours. You can also choose from various flights to Brussels, travel by car via the Channel Tunnel or ferry routes, or take a long-distance coach. This guide covers every major transport option, comparing travel times, convenience and costs. More importantly, it looks at what happens after you arrive. From reaching your hotel to continuing your trip beyond Brussels to destinations such as Bruges, Ghent or Antwerp, we'll walk you through the entire journey from start to finish. From London to Brussels by Eurostar For most travellers, the Eurostar to Brussels is the easiest and most comfortable way to make the journey. Trains run directly from London St Pancras International to Bruxelles-Midi, the city's main international railway station. Because both stations are located in the centre of their respective cities, the train often feels faster than flying, especially on shorter trips. Quick Facts Route: London St Pancras International → Bruxelles-Midi (Brussel-Zuid) Journey time: from around 1 hour 55 minutes Frequency: multiple departures daily Typical fares: from around £39 when booked well in advance Best for: city breaks, business travel, travellers with luggage One of the biggest advantages of [...]

Top Airport Transfer Options in Belgium: A 2026 Comparison Choosing an airport transfer is rarely about finding the cheapest option. Most travellers are trying to balance three things: price, reliability and coverage. A premium chauffeur service may look impressive, but that does not automatically make it the best choice. The same goes for a well-known ride-hailing app that seems convenient until prices jump during a busy arrival period. This is especially true when flying into Brussels (Zaventem) or Charleroi Airports, the two main gateways for international travellers visiting Belgium. Some passengers are looking for a simple ride into the city centre. Others need a private transfer to a smaller town or business destination. The service that works perfectly for one traveller may not be the right fit for another. That is why finding the best airport transfer Belgium offers is not just about choosing the biggest brand. A reliable airport transfer Brussels travellers can depend on may prioritise different things than a service focused on international luxury travel. The same applies to a Charleroi airport transfer, where coverage and predictable pricing often matter just as much as convenience. For this comparison, we looked beyond marketing claims and brand recognition. In fact, we deliberately did not place our own service at the top of the ranking. The goal is simple: help you choose the option that best matches your trip. Quick Comparison Table Not every traveller is looking for the same thing. Some prioritise price, others want premium service, and some simply need reliable coverage outside the biggest cities. This quick comparison table highlights the key differences before we look at each service in more detail. Service Price Model Flight Tracking Belgium Coverage Support Language Advance [...]

    Table of Contents Is Belgium Actually Worth It? Which Belgian City Is Right For You? The Best Time To Visit Belgium How Many Days Do You Actually Need? Getting Around Belgium Flying Into Belgium: Choosing The Right Airport Travel Costs, Mistakes & Itineraries Belgium Made Easy: A Guide to Cities, Travel Costs and Stress-Free Arrivals For a country you can cross in a few hours by train, Belgium packs an impressive amount into a small space. Most people arrive expecting chocolate, waffles and a quick stop in Brussels. Many leave wishing they had stayed longer. The difference between a relaxed trip and a frustrating one often comes down to a handful of practical details that many travel guides barely mention. This guide takes a different approach. At Airport-Taxis, we help travellers arrive, move around and explore Belgium every day, so we know which details matter most. Alongside the cities, food and famous sights, we focus on the things that often determine whether a trip feels easy or stressful. From choosing the right airport to understanding costs and the latest 2026 travel rules, we'll help you get the basics right from the start. Is Belgium Actually Worth It? (The Honest Answer) Yes — but probably not for the reasons you expect. Belgium sometimes gets dismissed as a country people pass through on the way to Paris or Amsterdam. It also suffers from a strange marketing problem: photos rarely capture what makes it enjoyable. If your ideal trip means a dramatic new landmark every hour, endless sunshine, or constant adrenaline, Belgium may feel surprisingly understated at first. What Belgium does exceptionally well is atmosphere. It rewards slowing down rather than racing through a checklist. [...]

The Historic Cities of Medieval Belgium: A First-Timer’s Guide Most people experience medieval Belgium without really noticing it. They rush through on a train between Paris and Amsterdam or change platforms in Brussels on the way somewhere else. That is a mistake. Few places in Europe preserve so much of their medieval past so densely and so naturally. This is not history locked behind museum glass. It is history that still functions as a city. Merchants' squares remain gathering places, centuries-old towers still dominate skylines, and streets laid out hundreds of years ago continue to shape everyday life. Add to that Belgium’s 16 UNESCO World Heritage properties, many of them spread across multiple historic locations, and a different picture of the country begins to emerge. At Airport Taxis, we see this every day - travellers arriving in a hurry, heading straight for Bruges or Brussels without realising what's actually around them. The key is knowing how to look. The best way to understand Belgium's medieval cities is not as a checklist of attractions, but as chapters of a larger story. How These Cities Got So Rich and So Beautiful To understand Belgium’s historic cities, you have to follow the money. Between the 11th and 13th centuries, the towns of medieval Flanders. became some of the richest places in Europe. Their wealth did not come from royal courts or military victories. It came from cloth. Ships crossed the North Sea carrying fine English wool from regions such as the Cotswolds and Lincolnshire. In cities like Ghent and Bruges, that wool was transformed into one of the most valuable products on the continent. A single bale could set an entire urban economy in motion: merchants imported raw [...]

Visiting Belgium in 2026: Key Entry Changes You Need to Know Belgium is introducing new digital border procedures that may affect how non-EU travellers enter the country. With the Entry/Exit System (EES) being rolled out and ETIAS expected to launch in the future, visitors should understand what these changes mean before travelling. Here's what you need to know before planning a trip to Belgium in 2026. Travelling to Belgium in 2026: What Has Changed? If you're travelling to Belgium in 2026, you'll notice that border procedures are becoming more digital than before. While the overall travel experience remains straightforward, several new systems are changing how non-EU visitors enter the country and the wider Schengen Area. One of the biggest changes is the Entry/Exit System (EES), which is being introduced to record border crossings electronically. Instead of relying on passport stamps, travellers' entry and exit information will be stored digitally. This means that some visitors may spend a little longer at border control, particularly during their first registration. Another change travellers should be aware of is ETIAS, a new travel authorisation system expected to launch later in 2026 for visa-exempt visitors. Before your trip, it's a good idea to review the latest Belgium entry rules 2026, check that your travel documents meet all Belgium travel requirements, and allow some extra time after landing. A little preparation can help make your arrival smoother and more predictable. What Is the Entry/Exit System (EES)? The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a new digital system that records when non-EU travellers enter and leave countries in the Schengen Area, including Belgium. It is designed to modernise border procedures and replace the traditional method of stamping passports. Under the system, border authorities may [...]

Slow Down and Explore: The Soft Travel Experience in Belgium Travel does not always have to be about seeing more. Sometimes, the most memorable trips are the ones that leave space for unexpected moments, slow mornings and meaningful experiences. Belgium, with its compact size and distinctive cities, is the perfect place to embrace this softer way of travelling. The New Way People Want to Travel Travel used to be about fitting as much as possible into a few days. One city after another. A long list of attractions. An itinerary packed from morning until night. Somewhere along the way, many trips started to feel more like projects than experiences. More people are beginning to rethink the way they travel. They are moving away from checklist tourism and looking for something slower and more meaningful. Instead of rushing to see every landmark, they want time to wander through a neighbourhood, sit a little longer at a café, or discover a place that was never on the itinerary in the first place. Some trips are remembered not because everything was planned perfectly, but because nothing felt rushed. That idea sits at the heart of soft travel, a growing trend that values comfort, flexibility and genuine experiences over packed schedules. It is about enjoying the journey as much as the destination. The train ride, the quiet morning, the scenic drive and even the moments in between become part of the story. In a world that constantly encourages us to move faster, soft travel offers something refreshingly different. It invites us to slow down, pay attention and connect more deeply with the places we visit. And few destinations make that feel as effortless as Belgium. What Soft Travel Really [...]

Planning a Trip to Europe in 2026: What Has Changed? With extensive transport networks, countless flight options and an endless choice of destinations, Europe remains one of the world's most popular regions for travellers. Yet the way people plan their trips is changing. Travellers are paying closer attention to booking conditions, airport connections, arrival logistics and overall costs. Understanding these changes can make a trip smoother and less stressful. Why European Travel Feels Different in 2026 European travel in 2026 remains as appealing as ever. The continent offers an extraordinary variety of destinations, extensive transport networks and more accommodation choices than ever before. As a result, travellers can easily explore both famous cities and lesser-known places. What has changed is not the opportunity to travel, but the way people approach it. A few years ago, many travellers could book a flight, reserve a hotel and leave most other decisions until they arrived. Rising travel costs and changing transport options have encouraged people to plan more carefully. Online tools have also made it easier to organise more of a trip before departure. Today, travellers pay closer attention to the full picture. They compare not only flight prices but also baggage fees, airport locations, local transport costs and booking conditions. Arrival times matter more than they used to, especially when flights land late at night or at airports located far from city centres. Even small logistical details can influence both the budget and the overall experience. European travel remains flexible and enjoyable, but thoughtful planning can help travellers avoid unnecessary costs, reduce stress and make the most of their time. Travel Is No Longer Only About Flights and Hotels For a long time, planning a trip was [...]

Why Belgium Is More Impressive in Real Life Than on Instagram Some destinations seem made for Instagram. One photo of a beach, a skyline, or a famous landmark is enough for people to understand why they should visit. Belgium is different. It’s not a country that can be summed up in a single image. That’s why the experience of being there often feels far richer than anything you see online. A photo can show Grand Place in Brussels, a canal in Bruges, or the impressive station in Antwerp. But images rarely capture what makes Belgium so special in real life: the smell of coffee after a rain shower, the sound of a tram rolling through wet streets, the warm glow behind old windows in Ghent, or the atmosphere of centuries-old buildings that don’t need to be perfect to feel beautiful. People who only see Belgium through social media often expect it to be smaller, quieter, or less impressive than it actually is. Yet that’s exactly where its charm lies. Brussels feels lively and unpredictable, Antwerp reveals itself through grand avenues and historic station halls, Ghent flows with its canals and bicycles, and Bruges becomes at its most beautiful when the crowds fade and evening slowly settles over the city. Perhaps that’s why Belgium stays with people long after their trip ends. Not because of perfect photos, but because of the atmosphere, the small details, and the unexpected moments that happen along the way. Brussels Needs a Second Look Brussels is not a city that reveals itself instantly. At first glance, it can feel busy, chaotic, or even a little contradictory. French and Dutch blend together, historic façades stand beside modern buildings, and tourists share [...]

Visiting Belgium on July 21: What to Expect During National DayEvery year on July 21, Belgium celebrates its National Day, a public holiday that turns Brussels into the heart of the country’s festivities. For visitors, it’s one of the most vibrant days of the summer, with military parades, live concerts, Belgian flags throughout the city, family-friendly activities, and a packed evening program.At the same time, July 21 brings larger crowds and a busier atmosphere than usual. Thousands of people gather in central Brussels, certain streets are closed to traffic, and getting around the city can take longer than on a normal day. Travellers arriving on this date should allow extra time for transfers and transportation.For first-time visitors, however, it’s a unique opportunity to experience Brussels at its most festive. From the military parade near Place des Palais to the evening fireworks display in the historic city centre, National Day offers a glimpse of Belgium’s national pride and celebrations at their very best.What Is Belgium’s National Day?Belgium’s National Day is celebrated every year on July 21 and is an official public holiday across the country. The date commemorates July 21, 1831, when King Leopold I took the constitutional oath as Belgium’s first king. This moment is widely regarded as the beginning of the modern Belgian state.Today, the day is best known for its national celebrations, official ceremonies, and public events held throughout the country. However, Brussels remains the undisputed centre of the festivities. The capital hosts the largest events of the day, including the military and civil parade, live performances, family activities, and an evening program that traditionally ends with a fireworks display.For visitors, National Day offers a unique opportunity to experience Belgium in a festive [...]