Belgium on a budget – Lonely Planet

Located at the intersection of England, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany, Belgium is both a favorite stopping point for European travelers ticking countries off their must-see lists and home to the wealthy diplomats and military who call the capital Brussels and its surrounding towns home.

That doesn’t mean that navigating the Flemish country on a budget is an impossible feat – in fact, it’s quite the opposite. The de facto capital of the European Union, Brussels caters to those with the money, but thanks to its affordable street food, brasseries, bars and more, you can experience the best of Belgium without paying through your nose.

Enjoying local culinary specialties and cultural offerings while making the most of eco-friendly transportation, such as cycling, walking, and train travel, can easily cut your costs in half. Here’s how to see the beating heart of Belgium without going over your budget.

Major Belgian cities like Brussels are extremely easy and pleasant to explore on foot © Somyot Techapuwapat / Getty Images

Don’t wave at a taxi – get in instead

Major Belgian cities such as Brussels and Brugge are extremely easy and pleasant to navigate on foot, with most of the major attractions clustered in one area. Not only is exploring on foot a great way to learn about the lay of the land and admire the centuries-old architecture along the way, but it will also save you at least €10 (US$10.50) per day, if not more, that you would otherwise have to spend on public transit or short taxi rides between attractions.

Three stemmed beer glasses on a ledge overlooking a Belgian street with colorful houses
Beer and Chocolate at Market Place on April 28, 2018 in Bruges, Belgium. ©Kit Leong / Shutterstock

Consider making beer your beverage of choice

Beer lovers will have no trouble finding a cheap drink when exploring Belgium – the country is famous for its Gueuze, Trappist and Lambic beers, with over 300 breweries currently in operation. Most local beers cost around €3 to €4 ($3.10 to $4.20) a glass, so a pint or bottle is the most economical choice with dinner, or enjoying a few drinks at the bar.

Don’t worry if you’re not the biggest beer drinker at home. With thousands of unique concept beers on tap here, you’re bound to find something to suit your palate, especially at long-established beer-focused bars and cafes like Delirium Cafe in Brussels or beer center in Antwerp.

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Stock up on Belgian treats on the go

Belgian food prices are often notoriously high, and prices for mid-level dinners or coffees for two can easily exceed €100 ($105) if you’re not careful. Belgian street food is a great way to circumvent excessive restaurant costs, with chip stands, waffle carts and machine gun (a foot-long baguette stuffed with french fries and falafel or fried meat) with stores being some of the cheapest – and tastiest – places to stock up.

Many cities in Belgium also have a thriving outdoor market culture, ranging from fresh fruit and vegetable stalls to seafood counters with mussels or clams for as little as €5 ($5) per serving. In Brussels, Noordzee is one of the best places to sample fresh fish and local wines for less than €10 ($10.40) per person.

Make lunchtime your biggest meal of the day

Surviving on street food alone might not be possible for a longer stay, but that’s where the lunch menus come in. Most of the restaurants sitting here offer fixed prices for lunch and seasonal specialties that are a fraction of the cost of the dinner menu – usually around €15-€20 ($16-$21) per person for multiple courses.

Going big at lunch lets you sample high-end or top-rated restaurants without the price tag (and also gives you plenty of time to get by). Keep an eye out for rotating daily or weekly promotions in places like Restaurant Breydel De Coninc in Bruges, which offers two seafood-focused dishes and a glass of wine for €25 ($26) per person.

Historic houses along the Lys of Ghent at dusk
Venturing beyond Brussels and Bruges to Ghent and beyond? Spring for a rail pass to save money © Westend61 / Getty Images

Invest in a rail pass to visit multiple cities

Travel inside Europe is relatively affordable, thanks to budget airlines like EasyJet and RyanAir, but it’s the cost of taxiing between airports and city centers that can really add up.

Fortunately, traveling by train in Belgium is both efficient and economical. There are stations in the heart of most major citiesand the SNCB rail system costs €8.40 ($8.75) each way, no matter where you go; Transferable 10-trip passes are also available for €87 ($91). It may also be worth timing your trip for a weekend or holiday, when tickets are half price.

Check into a hostel or Airbnb if possible

Top-rated hotels and accommodation in Belgian hotspots, such as Brussels and Bruges, can easily cost hundreds of euros per night, but downtown hostels and Airbnbs in up-and-coming neighborhoods offer amenities similar for a fraction of the price. . Private Airbnb bookings cost around €75 ($78) per night, while private hostels or dorms in the city center will set you back around €30 to €50 ($31 to $52).

Shop outdoor flea markets for budget souvenirs

One of Europe’s top destinations for flea markets and antiques, Belgium has dozens of open-air flea markets across the country dating back hundreds of years – and they all offer deep discounts on unique memories if you’re willing to dig.

Most major cities have designated parks and plazas where flea markets filled with bric-a-brac and trinkets take place on Sunday mornings. Among the most important are the International Flea Market in Waterloo and the Ball gamewhich takes place every day in the trendy Brussels district of Marolles.

Visit during off-peak hours to keep costs down

During the shoulder season in Belgium, flights and accommodation are much cheaper, trains are less crowded and restaurant terraces always have a free place. The best off-peak time to visit is between March and May and September and October, when the weather is still mild enough to enjoy outdoor activities.

Two young women in summer dresses strolling the sunny streets of Mont des Arts, one pushing a bicycle
Belgium is full of free and budget-friendly walking tours, some self-guided © Werner Lerooy / Shutterstock

Get to know the city centers on a self-guided walking tour

Belgium is full of free and budget-friendly walking tours, from food-focused market excursions and architectural discovery walks to niche and special-interest tours showcasing history and culture Belgian pop.

The most famous self-guided walking tour is the comic book wall trail in Brussels, the comic book capital of Europe. Note that although you can find detailed maps of the best The Adventures of Tintin and Smurfs free online murals, the Brussels tourist information office sells a comprehensive booklet covering the city’s best comic book walls, along with relevant history and fun facts, for €2.50 ($2.60 ). Well worth the cost.

Enjoy free museums and galleries

There are a handful of museums across Belgium that are free at all times, including the Antoine Wiertz Museumthe Parliamentarium and the House of European History. Looking to visit a paying site? Save it for the first Sunday of the month, when most of the country’s museums are completely free for locals and visitors.

Daily costs in Belgium

Hostel room: €30 to €100 ($31 to $104) per night
Basic room for two: €50 to €150 ($52 to $156) per night
Self-contained apartment (including Airbnb): from €75 ($78) per night
Public transport ticket: €2.40 ($2.50)
Coffee: €3 to €5 ($3.10 to $5.20)
Sandwich: €5 to €10 ($5.20 to $10.40)
Dinner for two: €30-70 ($31-73)
Beer/pint at the bar: €4 to €8 ($4.20 to $8.30)
Belgian waffle: €2 to €5 ($2.10 to $5.20)
Belgian fries: €2 to €4 ($2.10 to $4.20)

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