Belgium Tours & Holidays

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

The short answer is maybe, depending on where you're from. Belgium is part of the Schengen Area – the world's largest visa-free zone made up of 26 European countries – and nationals from Schengen countries can move freely within the zone without a visa.

Belgium has visa-free travel agreements with over 50 non-Schengen and non-EU countries including Brazil, Singapore, Malaysia, the United States, Japan, the UK and Canada. Nationals from these countries do not need a visa to travel to Belgium (or anywhere else in the Schengen zone) for stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period for tourism, business travel or transit purposes.

Passport holders from over 100 countries will need to apply for a Schengen visa including Bolivia, Cambodia, Jordan, Sri Lanka and Thailand. We recommend getting in touch with your nearest embassy or high commission for the latest advice on Schengen visa requirements. 

Bordered by Germany, France, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, Belgium is well connected with its neighbouring countries and wider Europe. It's a small and compact country and getting around once you're there is easy thanks to an excellent public transport system. The rest of Europe is on your doorstep, with affordable flights and great interrail and bus travel options if you have more time to spare or are looking for a greener way to travel.

Restaurants will include a service fee within the bill and tipping extra is generally left up to the discretion of the consumer. It's common to round up the bill or leave spare change if the service has been good. You're welcome to tip a little bit more if the service has been particularly good, or if you’re feeling generous.

Internet access is generally very good in Belgium, with internet cafes and Wi-Fi hotspots easily found in most cities and major towns.

Mobile phone coverage is generally very good in most parts of Belgium. Make sure you activate global roaming on your phone before you arrive.

Modern, flushable toilets are the standard in Belgium.

• Can of soft drink = 2 Euro
• Coffee in a cafe = 3-4 Euro
• Bottle of beer = 3-5 Euro
• Lunch in a cafe = 10-15 Euro
• Nice dinner with drinks = 30-50 Euro

Tap water in Belgium is considered perfectly safe to drink unless otherwise marked. Make sure you bring a reusable water bottle with you so you can re-fill and stay hydrated throughout the day.

Major credit cards are widely accepted by stores and hotels in Belgium. Smaller cafes and shops may not accept credit cards, so ensure you carry enough cash to cover small purchases.

ATMs are very common in Belgium, so finding one won't be a problem in most towns and cities. You can also tap and pay in most establishments. As well as your credit or debit card, we recommend having some spare change in your purse for small purchases such as a coffee or beer.

Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

• 1 Jan New Year's Day
• Easter Monday
• 1 May Labour Day
• Ascension Day
• Pentecost Monday
• 21 July Belgian National Day
• 15 August Assumption of the Virgin Mary
• 1 November All Saints' Day
• 11 Nov Armistice Day
• 25 Dec Christmas Day

Please note some of these public holidays are not fixed. For a current list of public holidays in Belgium, check out the World Travel Guide.

Yes, Belgium is a safe destination for LGBTQIA+ travellers. In fact, it's considered to be one of the safest and most welcoming destinations for queer travellers in the world. Belgians are generally forward-thinking and accepting of queer couples, and queer travellers can be open about their identity and do not need to worry about public displays of affection.

Intrepid takes the health and safety of its travellers seriously, and takes every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and enjoyable for everyone. We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure:

From Australia?

Go to: http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/

From Canada?

Go to: https://travel.gc.ca/

From the UK?

Go to: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/

From New Zealand?

Go to: http://www.safetravel.govt.nz/

From the US?

Go to: http://travel.state.gov/

The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.