Travel and Tourism Information

Travel - International

AIR

Following the bankruptcy of Belgium’s international carrier, Sabena, in 2001, Belgium’s regional airline, DAT (Delta Air Transport), has launched its new European airline SN Brussels Airlines (SN). 58 European destinations are served as well as others worldwide. For further information, check online (website: www.flysn.com). Several other airlines operate to Belgium.

International Airports

Brussels Zaventem (BRU) (website: www.brusselsairport.be) is 12km (8 miles) northeast of the city (travel time – 35 minutes). To/from the airport: The Airport City Express train connects all three main railway stations (Brussels North, Central and South) with the airport, running every 15 minutes, 0600-0000 (travel time – 15 to 20 minutes). The airport station is located on level one below the terminal. Other trains also depart frequently for the city and for destinations all over Belgium. Coaches depart from the airport bus station on ground level for major cities in Belgium, France and The Netherlands. Buses run regularly to and from the city and the bus station is located below the Arrivals Hall. Taxis to the city cost approximately €30, and are only available from outside the Arrivals Hall; all licensed taxis are recognisable by their yellow and blue licence emblems. A tip is generally included in taxi fares. Hotel courtesy coaches go to Holiday Inn, Novotel and Sofitel. Facilities: Car parking (website: www.carparkhotel.com or www.worldairportguide.co.uk), car hire, post office, banks, bureaux de change, bars, restaurants, incoming and outgoing duty-free shops, medical facilities, computer and fax facilities and conference and business facilities
Brussels South Charleroi CRL) (website: www.charleroi-airport.com) is 5km (3 miles) from Charleroi and 46km (29 miles) from Brussels. Airlines serving the airports include Ryanair, which operates cheap flights to several European destinations from Charleroi. To/from the airport: Buses depart every 30 minutes to Charleroi (travel time – 10 minutes). There are regular coaches and trains to Brussels (travel time – 45 minutes). Facilities: Automatic money changer, car hire, cafe, business lounge and duty-free sho
Antwerp (ANR) (Deurne) (website: www.antwerpairport.be) is 2km (1.2 miles) east of the city. To/from the airport: There is a regular bus service (no. 16) to Central Station. Taxis are available. Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shop, car hire, bank and bar/restaurant. The airport offers three lounges, the Jero Business Centre. There is also an auditorium.
Ostend (OST) (website: www.ost.aero), 5km (3 miles) from the city. Facilities: Car parking, car hire, bureau de change, restaurant, bar and duty-free shop.
Liège (LGG) (website: www.liegeairport.com). To/from the airport: There are taxis and a regular bus service to the centre, 5km (3 miles) away.

SEA

The Main ports: Ostend, Belgium's largest passenger and car-ferry port (website: www.portofoostende.be/info/index.htm), and Zeebrugge (www.portofzeebrugge.be).

RAIL

The Belgium national railway, Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Belges (SNCB) (website: www.b-rail.be), operates frequent day and night trains to destinations in Andorra, Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland and the UK. High-speed trains – Trains à Grande Vitesse or TGV – operate between Belgium and France, connecting Brussels with destinations in Brittany, on the French Atlantic coast, the Côte d’Azur and the French Alps. Cities that can be reached from Brussels by TGV include Bordeaux, Cannes, Chambéry, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Perpignan, Rennes and Valence. TGV trains depart from Brussels and need to be booked in advance. Further high-speed trains are operated by Thalys (website: www.thalys.com), a service jointly run by the the Belgium, French, German and Dutch national railways. The main international Thalys trains link Brussels to Amsterdam (The Netherlands), Cologne (Germany) and Paris (France).
Rail passes: International rail passes include the Eurodomino card permitting three to eight day unlimited travel within a period of 30 days in any European country. Several Eurodomino cards can be purchased by people wishing to travel in more than one country. It is available to people who have resided for at least six months in a European country, a European CIS country, Algeria, Morocco or Tunisia. The InterRail pass permits unlimited travel for 16 days, 22 days or 30 days on 28 European networks, the Moroccan network and the Turkish network to people who have resided for at least six months in a European country, Algeria, Morocco or Tunisia. The Benelux five-day Tourrail ticket offers five days of unlimited travel within a period of 30 days by rail in Belgium, Luxembourg and The Netherlands. The European travelcard Railplus entitles the buyer to a 25 per cent reduction on all international conventional trains, on condition that the journey crosses at least one frontier. There are different Railplus cards available: for young people aged 12 to 25 years, for adults aged 26 to 60 years, for seniors over 60. For further information, contact Rail Europe (tel: (08708) 302 008; website: www.raileurope.co.uk) or International Rail Ltd (tel: (0870) 751 5000; website: www.international-rail.com).
Eurostar: Eurostar, a service provided by the railways of Belgium, France and the UK, operates direct high-speed trains from London (Waterloo International) via the Channel Tunnel to Brussels (Midi/Zuid). The travel time from London to Brussels is two hours 20 minutes. For further information and reservations, contact Eurostar (tel: (0870) 160 0052 (travel agents) or (0870) 518 6186 (public; within the UK) or (+44 1233) 617 575 (public; outside the UK); A £5 booking fee applies to all telephone bookings; website: www.eurostar.com); or Rail Europe (tel: (08708) 302 008). Complaints and comments may be sent to Eurostar Customer Relations Travel Centre, 1-1-G Eurostar House, Waterloo Station, London SE1 8SE, UK; (tel: (01777) 777 879; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

ROAD

There are good road links from most of the European countries. Eurolines, departing from Victoria Coach Station in London, serves destinations in Belgium. For further information, contact Eurolines (52 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1; tel: (08705) 143 219; website: www.eurolines.com or www.nationalexpress.com).
Channel Tunnel: Eurotunnel runs shuttle trains for cars, bicycles, motorcycles, coaches, minibuses, caravans, campervans and other vehicles over 1.85m (6.07ft) between Folkestone in Kent, with direct road access from the M20, and Calais with links to the A16/A26 motorway (Exit 13). All road vehicles are carried through the tunnel in shuttle trains running between the two terminals. Terminals and shuttles are well-equipped for disabled passengers. Passenger Terminal buildings contain a variety of shops, restaurants, bureaux de change and other amenities. The journey takes about 35 minutes from platform to platform and around one hour from motorway to motorway. There are up to four passenger shuttles per hour at peak times, 24 hours per day and services run every day of the year. Motorists pass through customs and immigration before they board, with no further checks on arrival. Fares are charged according to length of stay and time of year and whether or not you have a reservation. The price applies to the car, regardless of the number of passengers or size of the car. Promotional deals are frequently available, especially outside the peak holiday seasons. Tickets may be purchased in advance from travel agents, or from Eurotunnel Customer Services in France or the UK with a credit card. For further information, brochures and reservations, contact Eurotunnel Customer Services UK, Customer Relations Department, Saint Martin's Plain, Cheriton, Folkestone, Kent CT19 4QD (tel: (08705) 353 535; website: www.eurotunnel.co.uk). For further information about departure times of shuttles at the French terminal, contact Eurotunnel Customer Information in Coquelle (tel: France (3) 2100 6543).

Travel - Internal

AIR

As Belgium is such a small country, there are no internal flights. Bus services operate between Brussels airport to Antwerp, Ghent and Liège; see Travel – International section.

RAIL

SNCB operates a dense railway network with regular trains on most lines. On the main lines there are more frequent trains. For more information contact Belgian Railways (tel: (2) 528 2828; website: www.b-rail.be) or Rail Europe (tel: (08708) 302 008; website: www.raileurope.co.uk). Fares: First- and second-class, single and return tickets are available. However, a return ticket is double the single fare and is only valid on the day of issue. Children under 12 travel for free in second class (restrictions apply).
Discount travel: Weekend return fares are available from Friday (after 1900) to Sunday for the outward journey and on Saturday and Sunday for the return journey (on long holiday weekends, these periods are extended). A 50 per cent reduction card is also for sale. It entitles the holder to buy an unlimited number of half-price single tickets. Go Pass offers preferential tariffs for 10 second-class trips within one year to people aged under 26. The Rail Pass offers preferential tariffs for 10 second-class trips within one year to people over 26. People aged 65 and over benefit from special tariffs.

ROAD

There are many different brands of petrol available, and prices vary. Traffic drives on the right. Main towns are connected by toll-free motorways. It is compulsory for seat belts to be worn in the front and back of vehicles. Children under 12 are not permitted to travel in the front seat of a car. A warning triangle must be displayed at the scene of a breakdown or accident. It is compulsory to carry a fire extinguisher or first aid kit in all vehicles. The speed limit on motorways and dual carriageways is 120kph (75mph) with a minimum speed of 70kph (45 mph), on single carriageways outside built-up areas is 90kph (55mph), and in built-up areas is 50kph (31mph). Trams always have priority on roads. Bus: Extensive regional bus services are operated by the bus companies which publish regional timetables. There are long-distance stopping services between towns. Taxi: Plentiful in all towns. The tip is included in the final meter price. If there are no taxi stands, taxi companies may be telephoned for an extra charge of about €2.5. Car hire: Both self-drive and chauffeur-driven cars are available. The minimum age is 23 and the person must possess a valid full licence with at least one year of validity (and which will be required upon collection of the car). Documentation: A national driving licence is acceptable. EU nationals taking their own cars to Belgium must obtain a Green Card. The Green Card tops insurance cover up to the level of cover provided by the car owner’s domestic policy.

URBAN

There is a good public transport system in all the major towns and cities, with underground, tram and bus services in Antwerp and Brussels, bus and tramways in Charleroi, Ghent and Ostend and bus systems elsewhere. There is a standard flat-fare system, with discounts for 5- and 10-journey multi-ride tickets. 1-day tickets and multi-mode tourist travelcards are also available.

Resorts & Excursions

BRUSSELS

The anachronistic images of 'boring Belgium' have been well and truly banished over the last decade as the country promotes its key destinations, along with a string of new attractions. Belgium always had a lot more going for it than the faceless political and bureaucratic buildings that litter its capital, Brussels, with a string of engaging cities in Bruges, Ghent, Liège, and Brussels itself, that offer impressive architecture, lively nightlife, first-rate cuisine and numerous other attractions for visitors. Then there is reinvented Antwerp, now a hotbed of fashion and modern design, and the more bucolic charms of the chocolate box beauty of the mountainous Ardennes region to the east, as well as the sweeping sand of the coastline resorts of the western seaboar
Brussels is home to the European Union and NATO, amongst many other institutions, but beyond their facelessness the city's architecture is a smorgasbord, with the gothic Grand Place the undoubted highlight. Other key sights in Brussels include St Michael and St Gudule's Cathedral and the Mont des Arts park, which links the upper and lower parts of the city. Then there is the elegant Place Royale, built between 1774 and 1780 in the style of Louis XVI, the Museum of Ancient Art and the Museum of Modern Art. The Manneken-Pis, and his less heralded sister the Janneken Pis, are statues that hint at the exuberance and irreverence of the 'Bruxellois', a spirit that reaches its zenith in the city's numerous bars which, along with the 1000 types of Belgian beer, are not to be missed. Among other areas worth exploring are the Ilot Sacré, the picturesque area of narrow streets to the northeast of the Grand-Place; the fashionable boulevard de Waterloo; the administrative quarter, a completely symmetrical park area commanding a splendid view of the surrounding streets; the Grand Sablon, the area containing both the flamboyant Gothic structure of the Church of Our Lady of Sablon and the Sunday antique market and lastly the Petit Sablon, a square surrounded by Gothic columns, which support 48 small bronze statues commemorating medieval Brussels guilds. A more modern attraction is the bizarre Atomium, a futuristic, atom-shaped aluminium tower built for the 1958 World Fair. One important out-of-town attraction is the Battle of Waterloo site, 18km (11 miles) to the south of Brussels, commemorating the battle that shaped the future of both Belgium and modern Europe, of which Brussels is now such a crucial h

FLANDERS

ANTWERP: Although still Europe's second-largest port the city of Antwerp has moved on from its purely industrial past. Today the inhabitants, or Sinjoors as they are known, are at the cutting edge of fashion and design with countless boutiques and shopping outlets across the city. This energy also surfaces in the trendy bars and hip nightclubs that have now joined the more traditional charms of the beer and gin bars that still pull in the more reserved drinkers. Beyond modern Antwerp the more traditional attractions complement the new, with the impressive Grote Markt, containing the Town Hall and the Brabo Fountain, which commemorates the legend of the city's origin and also the eighteenth century Groenplaats, with its Rubens statue. The work of local artistic luminary Peter Paul Rubens surfaces all over Antwerp, most notably at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, home to what is arguably the world's finest collection of his work. The Rubens' House, the magnificent 17th-century house where the painter lived and worked, contains works by the painter and his associates as do many other museums and churches. Antwerp's maritime heritage can be explored on tours of the port and also at the the Steen, a 12th-century fortress now housing the National Maritime Museum, that overlooks the buzzing new city of today
BRUGES: Bruges is a pure picture postcard with a perfectly preserved 'medieval heart' that can be explored from the comfort of a canal boat ride, which takes tourists around the myriad of waterways that lead to the city often being referred to as the 'Venice of the North'. Bruges offers a variety of attractions such as the Lake of Love, which in the Middle Ages was the city's internal port, the 14th-century Town Hall featuring a façade decorated with bas-reliefs and statues of a Biblical nature; the Cathedral of the Holy Saviour, a fine example of 13th-century Gothic architecture and home to many treasures; and the Grote Markt which was formerly the commercial hub of the city. Bruges boasts several good museums, including the Groeninge Museum which houses a comprehensive and fascinating collection of six centuries of Flemish paintings, from Jan van Eyck to Marcel Broodthaers. The Memling Museum, housed in the medieval Saint John's Hospital, is dedicated to the painter Hans Memling. The city is close to some excellent beaches and the fertile Polder region, dotted with abbeys and parks. The year 2002 is a big one for Bruges as its lively cultural and artistic scene is being recognised with the award of European City of Culture
GHENT: Bruges' perennial poor cousin has plenty to offer visitors today, with the lack of tourist crowds an attraction in itself. This old cloth centre was once the largest medieval city in Europe after Paris. The medieval heart of Ghent boasts many historic buildings, including three abbeys. Key attractions include St Bavo's Cathedral, place of Charles V's baptism and home to The Adoration of the Mystical Lamb, the Van Eyck brothers' masterpiece; the Town Hall, where the Treaty of Ghent was signed in 1576; the Castle of the Counts, a medieval castle surrounded by the Lieve canal; the 15th-century Cloth Hall; the medieval town centre with its old guild houses; the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Museum of Industrial Archaeology
THE COAST AND WEST FLANDERS: The Belgian coastline is a largely sandy affair that stretches for 67km (42 miles) from Knokke near the Dutch border to De Panne on the French border with over a dozen resorts. Bathing in the sea is free on all beaches and there are facilities for sailing, sand yachting, riding, fishing, rowing, golf and tennis. Some of the best resorts are De Panne, Nieuwpoort, Westende, Lombardsijde, Bredene, De Haan, Wenduine and the town of Ostend, where Queen Victoria once took to the waters. Ostend, Knokke and Middelkerke are the liveliest resorts.
Visiting the World War I battlefields is an increasingly popular activity, with a number of sites open with varying degrees of facilities. The killing fields of Ypres are the most accessible with a war museum, monuments, military cemeteries and the battlefields themselves all located around the town.

WALLONIA

LIÈGE: Liège opens up the other half of Belgian culture as it is the capital of Wallonia, the French-speaking portion of Belgium. A major city, situated on the banks of the Meuse, with many reminders of a colourful and affluent past, Liège was independent for much of its history, ruled over by prince-bishops for 800 years. The view from the Citadel covers the old town, the most impressive part of the city. Liège boasts many fine museums with the highlights The Museum of Wallonian Life, showcasing the unique culture of Wallonia; the Museum of Wallonian Art; the Museum of Modern Art, displaying the works of Corot, Monet, Picasso, Gauguin and Chagall to name but a few and the Curtius Museum, housing a large collection of coins, Liège furniture and porcelain. Liege's most notable buildings are the Church of St James, an old abbey church of mixed architecture, including an example of the Meuse Romanesque style, with fine Renaissance stained glass and the 18th-century Town Hall
TOURNAI: The second-oldest city in Belgium dates back to the days of the Romans. World War II damaged much of the old town, but the Cathedral of Our Lady (12th century), boasts an impressive Belfry, which is the oldest in Belgium. The Museum of Fine Arts is one of the finest in Belgium, with works by Rubens and Bruegel, while the Natural History Museum is also worth visiting. Minibel, 28km (17 miles) outside the city at the Château of Beloeil, offers a display of scaled-down reproductions of many of Belgium's most interesting treasures and curiosities
THE ARDENNES: This mountainous area is famous for its cuisine, forests, lakes, streams and grottoes. The River Meuse makes its way through many important tourist centres. The town of Dinant, in the Meuse valley, boasts a medieval castle, while its most famous landmark is the Gothic church of Notre-Dame. Annevoie has a castle and some beautiful water gardens, while Yvoir Godinne and Profondeville are well known for watersports. The old university town of Namur, with cobbled streets in its centre, has a cathedral, castle and many museums. Houyet offers kayaking and other assorted outdoor activities. The River Semois passes through Arlon and Florenville; nearby are the ruins of Orval Abbey, Bouillon and its castle, Botassart, Rochehaut and Bohan. The Amblève Valley is one of the wildest in the Ardennes and the grottoes in the Fond de Quarreux are one of the great attractions of the region. Among these is the Merveilleuse grotto at Dinant and the cavern at Remouchamps. There are prehistoric caverns at Spy, Rochefort, Hotton and Han-sur-Lesse