Most Beautiful Places in Belgium

Most people come to visit Belgium for our famous historical cities such as Bruges, Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp... . But there's so much more to explore in our tiny country. We might not have the biggest mountains, but we do have some impressive nature and other beautiful sights outside the big cities. During the corona lockdowns, we were able to explore some of the hidden gems of our country. ​In this guide, you find some of the most beautiful places in Belgium, that are not cities.

Overview

The province of Limburg​

Limburg is one of the five Flemish provinces in Belgium and can be found in the northeast of the country. This province has something for everyone. The entire region is a combination of pleasant cities and beautiful nature. It is a true cycling paradise with many different and unique bike paths, such as:

  • Cycling through the trees
  • Cycling through water
  • Cycling through the heath

Not only can you cycle here, but you will also find a lot of artworks spread across the region. Most of them are located in and around Borgloon, but also in other places in the area.

"Helsheaven" in Helshoven, Borgloon
"Helsheaven" in Helshoven, Borgloon
Cycling through the heath in Limburg
Cycling through the heath in Limburg

Limburg is also home to Terhills, the main gateway to the Hoge Kempen National Park Hoge Kempen. It is located on the former site of the Eisden coal mine. In this National Park, you can enjoy a beautiful landscape of green hills with some spectacular panoramas. It is even home to the most beautiful view of Belgium and the perfect place to go for a walk. There are still a few buildings left from the mine, including the two head-frames of the mine shafts. In the meantime, the remaining mining heritage has been protected as a monument.

Terhills in National Park 'Hoge Kempen', Limburg
Terhills in National Park 'Hoge Kempen', Limburg
Terhills in National Park 'Hoge Kempen', Limburg
Terhills in National Park 'Hoge Kempen', Limburg

Botanic Garden - Meise​

50° 55' N, 04° 19' E​

If you are a plant lover, the Botanic Garden of Meise is the place to be. With its 92 hectares full of plants, it is one of the largest botanical gardens in the world. There is always something to do, whether the sun is shining or it’s raining outside. You can immerse yourself in the tropics in the Plant Palace, do some research in the WOODlab, get to know more about the over more than 200 years of history of the Botanic Garden in the castle… and so much more.
Take a walk through the immense diversity of plants in the gardens and collections and enjoy the beautiful landscape of this Botanic Garden.

Practical

Prices

Adults (+18): € 12
Students: € 6

Opening Hours

November to February: daily 10 am - 05 pm (last entry: 04 pm)
March to October: daily 10 am - 06 pm (last entry: 05 pm)
Closed on December 25th, January 1st and 3rd, and exceptionally in the event of stormy weather.

Botanical garden, Meise
Botanical garden, Meise
Botanical garden, Meise
Botanical garden, Meise

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The most beautiful places in Belgium

The Solvay Estate – Solvay Castle - La Hulpe​

50° 55' N, 04° 19' E​

The Solvay Estate is a vast estate of over 200 hectares on the outskirts of Brussels. It is a listed Exceptional Heritage in Wallonia. It features a part of the Sonian Forest and the magnificent Solvay Castle.

This castle is a beautiful French-inspired castle, formerly owned by Count Solvay. It’s not possible to visit the inside of the castle, but it can be rented for events like weddings, seminars, receptions, and more. The estate was laid out in this English romantic style, with an enormous variety of trees. Here, you can enjoy some strolls, rest on big lawns, and dream away in these beautiful verdant surroundings. There’s also a big lake with alleyways and vantage points.

It is the perfect place to take a break from the hustle of the city when you spend a day in Brussels.

Solvay Castle, La Hulpe
Solvay Castle, La Hulpe

Flight deals

Fly to Belgium at the best price and save your budget for some unforgettable experiences!

Villers Abbey - Unique place in Belgium

50° 35' N, 04° 32' E​​

Villers Abbey or Abbeye de Villers is an ancient Cistercian abbey, located in the small town of Villers-la-Ville. These majestic ruins are one of the most prestigious testimonies of the life of the Cistercian monks. The abbey was founded in 1146 and is now considered one of the most beautiful architectural sites in Europe. Everything is so well preserved here! It’s truly a hidden gem and one of the most beautiful places in Belgium.

Villers Abbey, one of the most beautiful places in Belgium
Villers Abbey

Practical

Prices

Adults: € 9
Students and senior citizens: € 7

Audio guides: € 1,5 (60-90min) 

Opening Hours

1st November to 31st March: daily 10 am - 05 pm
1st April to 31st October: daily 10 am - 06 pm

Closing: December 24, December 25, December 31, and January 1.

Station Chateau d'Ardenne - Houyet​

50° 11' N, 05° 01' E​​

This beautiful little castle is actually an old abandoned train station. You can find this hidden gem in Houyet in the province of Namen.
In 1874, King Leopold II built the Château Royal d’Ardenne. It was a castle, that was used as a luxurious hotel for kings and the rich people in the world. In 1896, a railway was built between Celles and Houyet. This railway station, called Château d’Ardenne, was built to receive guests in front of the luxury hotel. The station was closed in 1919 when the hotel suffered a lot of damage during WWI and was closed. The hotel reopened in 1921, but the station was closed for good.

UPDATE: We’ve been informed that this site is now under surveillance due to the risk of collapse. You can still walk past the building, but we do not recommend entering it for your own safety!

Château Royal d’Ardenne, Houyet
Château Royal d’Ardenne, Houyet

High Fens

50° 32' N, 06° 04' E​​

The High Fens are one of the most beautiful pieces of nature in the Ardennes. They are a part of the High Fens-Eifel nature park in the east of Belgium. Here, you can take numerous beautiful walks in every season.

Some paths are paved, while others consist partly of wooden decking paths. These ensure that the soil remains untouched and the plants also remain unharmed.

When everything is covered in snow during winter, various cross-country trails are set out here. This makes it the ideal place for your nature (day)trip in any season.

Belgium - High Fens
Belgium - High Fens
Belgium - High Fens
Belgium - High Fens

Hotels in the Ardennes

Discover the best places to sleep in Belgium and enjoy a comfortable trip!

Ninglinspo Valley - Aywaille​

50° 27’ N, 05° 45’ E​​

The Ninglinspo is a 3,5 kilometer long stream, tributary of the river Amblève and it’s the only ‘mountain’ river in Belgium. The valley of Ninglinspo is classed as an outstanding heritage area of Wallonia and has been protected since 1949. In this valley, you can enjoy several sing-posted walks of different lengths and degrees of difficulty. You will walk over bridges and forest trails past some beautiful viewpoints.

Practical

Parking

Balade du Ninglinspo, N 633, 4920 Aywaille


Ninglinspo river
Ninglinspo river
Pablo on the Ninglinspo hike
Pablo on the Ninglinspo hike

Fondry des Chiens - Nismes​

50° 04’ N, 04° 33’ E​

Fondry des Chiens, also known as the ‘Grand Canyon of Belgium’, is a sinkhole in the Viroin-Hermeton Natural Park. It’s a protected and one of the most unique places to visit in Belgium. The sinkhole was created by the seepage of rainwater through the limestone soil. These natural pits are called Fondries. You can enter the 20-meter-deep Fondries and enjoy the beautiful fauna and flora.

Fondry des Chiens
Fondry des Chiens

Want to see more of Belgium? We have put together a detailed guide with all our recommendations for Belgium!

There are over 70 interesting places and we have created 3 itineraries you can follow on your next visit to Belgium.

This guide includes information about the places, the exact locations, both city and nature locations and it comes with an interactive map. You can get your Belgium guide here.

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However, you still pay the same and therefore have no extra costs! So a win-win for everyone. This way, we can continue to add even more travel inspiration and tips to this blog for your next adventure. Thanks a lot!

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Last updated: November 5, 2024

Win-Win for everyone

Did you know that, if you buy or book something through our links, we receive a small commission?

However, you still pay the same and therefore have no extra costs! So a win-win for everyone. This way, we can continue to add even more travel inspiration and tips to this blog for your next adventure. Thanks a lot!

Last edited: 24/07/2023

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2 Responses

  1. This is my second visit to this blog. I am thinking about starting a brand new blog in the same category. Your blog provided me with thoughts to work with. (Dont worry, I wont be copying you :)) You have done a fantastic job.

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