Atypical travel destinations in Belgium

I live in Belgium and therefore would like to show you some destinations that aren't the the typical tourist-spots.

by rosanneAbout Me:Traveling from Belgium read more

EuropeBelgium4 days / January 2021

Highs & Lows

Beer, fries, chocolate of course. But also beautiful forests and historical cities.

The weather can be mediocre, it often rains or is gray.

Itinerary Overview

1 Night: Leuven
City of Stella beer, Historical city centre, Oude Markt aka 'the longest bar in the world' to try Belgian beers or to go out, good restaurants, botanical garden,...
1 Night: Maasmechelen
nature, sports, wellness
2 Nights: Houffalize
forests and beer

Q & A

What would you have changed?
Remember to make a reservation if you want to go kayaking because it can get crowded when the weather is nice.
How was the food?
Leuven: Optimist, all the restaurants in de Mechelsestraat and Muntstraat, Fatayer, Viavia, het strand, Palmyra, Otomat, Baracca, Raffat. All these restaurants have goog vegetarian options.
What tips would you give a friend?
Belgium is bilingual, so pay attention to the destinations you want to visit and see if they speak Dutch of French. In general, people in Belgium speak English as well.
Packing tips?
bring clothing according to the predicted weather, since it can be warm/cold/rainy/dry. Bring a refillable water bottle because the tapwater is healthy.
Transportation Tips?
Trains (nmbs) and buses (de lijn or mivb) are easy to use in or between cities. if you want to visit more rural areas you should rent a car.

Lodging

Leuven, Belgium
Hostels: Cube or Blauwput You can also try airbnb, or even visit leuven for a day from a hotel in Brussels, it's only 30 min by train.
Maasmechelen, Belgium
maasmechelen terhills resort or sleep on a raft in Dilsen-Stokkem, the neighbouring village.
Houffalize, Belgium
One of the many lodges that are being rented on www.ardennesetapes.be