Best tips for a city trip in Belgium post-Covid-19 crisis
Covid-19 pandemic have finally been taken!
We have therefore prepared a (non-exhaustive) list of hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs and gîtes ideal for a 100% Belgian city trip.
Let's fill these hotels, museums and terraces out of appetite, generosity and solidarity!
BRUSSELS
Brussels reinvents itself and is reborn with time. It deserves to be rediscovered. Take the time to lose yourself in the Marolles district, visit the antique shops on Rue Blaes and the flea market on Place du Jeu de Balles, discover the Grand Place and the pretty windows of the Galeries Royales. Have a brunch at the Fabrique in Egmont Park, take a walk in the Cambre woods and have a coffee in one of the guinguettes or simply stroll through the pretty green streets of Ixelles and visit the Tenbosch Park. Go out in the evening and enjoy the long summer evenings at the châtelain and Saint-Gilles, which are full of restaurants with terraces. Where to stay?
Here are our favourite addresses:
Maison Haute
In the heart of Les Marolles, this charming guest house with its 4 authentic rooms is located in one of the trendiest and best-known streets in the area. Surrounded by vintage and antique shops, this typical Brussels townhouse is a perfect base for a visit to the historic centre of Brussels.
Hotel des Galeries
Nestled in the heart of the majestic Galeries Royales, this unique boutique hotel within the galleries has the feel of a grand Parisian house. Located just a stone's throw from the historic centre of Brussels, this boutique hotel offers bright, designer rooms with a view of the galleries. The hotel also offers its guests a gastronomic restaurant, Le Comptoir des Galeries, which serves tasty and refined local specialities.
Happy Guesthouse
This small guesthouse is ideally located between the Place du Sablon and the Grand-Place. A guesthouse on a human scale in a tall, narrow house, where a warm welcome and friendliness are the order of the day from the moment you enter the house. The decoration of the 4 rooms is nice and simple, the spaces are well thought out and there is a nice brightness. The breakfast is a moment of sharing and conviviality where generosity is the order of the day: Belgian and seasonal products, served by Sophie, the smiling manager and owner of the place.
Canopée Guesthouse
This Brussels design guesthouse is located a stone's throw from Place Flagey and Avenue Louise. Decorated and managed by Claire Mondy, the owner and interior designer inspired by the Danish style, this guesthouse is a bright and design haven. It also offers a large garden in the middle of the city, ideal for an aperitif or breakfast when the sun comes out.
NAMUR
Located 45 minutes drive from Brussels, Namur is a pretty town full of charm and authenticity with red bricks, offering various cultural activities and visits to museums, sports activities of all kinds, tourist discoveries such as the citadel or its underground passages, independent shops, walks on the banks of the Meuse, one or another gastronomic restaurant,...
MurmuresNamur
A mirrored cube in which an unusual luxury suite is located on the heights of Namur. This unique and unusual accommodation also offers an optional spa and gastronomic experience. Your hosts will take care of you, while giving you the privacy you are looking for. You will feel as if you are alone in a forest, overlooking the charming city of Namur. This is the ideal option for an unusual and romantic night in a unique setting on the heights of the Citadel of Namur.
Le Bec dans l'o
Le Bec dans l'O: If you are looking for a holiday home to stay with your family or friends near Namur, this lovely 8-person gîte is just what you need. Located on the banks of the Meuse, this holiday home is spacious, modern and bright. Everything is there to make you feel comfortable and to keep you busy after a cultural day: board games, cultural books, comics,... The 4 bedrooms are spacious and the bedding is of high quality, which will allow you to recharge your batteries. Our favourite feature of this house is the walled garden at the back of the house, which gives you the opportunity to sit in peace and quiet.
GHENT
Ghent, this mythical medieval city that attracts more and more people for its beauty and dynamism, is a must-see. Within its thousand-year-old walls, there is a wide range of cultural and tourist activities. After the Covid-19 hibernation period, you will enjoy rediscovering the narrow historic streets, visiting the castle of the Counts of Flanders, browsing through the many museums and discovering the magnificent mystic lamb triptych by the Van Eyck brothers. Or enjoy a walk along the canals and sit on a terrace and taste the latest culinary concepts.
1898 The Post
The post: boutique hotel in Ghent in the old post office buildings. It has been recently renovated with taste and respect for the heritage of the place. Simply sumptuous and intoxicating, this hotel is unique in Belgium. Its "masculine" style and dark colours, its woody and warm character are very special. The "must": the Cobbler Bar, a famous cocktail bar located within the hotel, where the locals are in full swing from 5 pm onwards.
ANTWERP
Antwerp is probably the most dynamic and forward-looking city in Belgium. Known for its art and contemporary museums, for its fashion and numerous boutiques and for its many trendy addresses. If you want to go out with your friends or your lover and have a good time, Antwerp is your destination.
Pilar hotel
Boutique hotel in the Zuid, Antwerp's trendy district. You can't miss it: if you arrive at a nice round square and see a beautiful white building with a generous, crowded and trendy terrace, then you have probably reached Pilar. Sam and Christophe, the owners of the hotel, transport us into their artistic and eclectic world with taste and style. Each room is unique and designer, the restaurant offers classic specialties revisited, the hotel shop sells local branded products that you can find in the rooms. All this creates a magical universe.
Hotel Julien
Luxurious boutique hotel located in the centre of Antwerp, a stone's throw from the Meir (shopping district). At the Julien Hotel, quality is the only thing that counts, whether in the choice of materials or in the beauty and food products. A sober and elegant decoration in an authentic building, a beautiful linen bedspread and Aesop products, works of art in every corner of the hotel,... This is what makes the place a little gem in the heart of the diamond city.
Hotel August
Hotel August: In Antwerp, Julien's little brother is August. Even though the style and design is somewhat similar, August has managed to create a certain euphoria among its clientele. Located in the city's 'Groen Kwartier', a vibrant new district of Antwerp, this former convent was designed by the famous architect Vincent Van Duysen. The result is sumptuous: a perfect harmony between modernity and the heritage of a historical building.
YUST
Let yourself be tempted by a "Young Urban Style" experience, a unique and trendy hybrid concept that brings together solo travellers, couples, but also families and groups of friends in various convivial spaces. Our favourite is certainly the huge rooftop where you can enjoy the delicious and famous Sunday brunch.
HASSELT
Hasselt is a city that deserves our full attention. It offers real diversity and has something for everyone: a museum of contemporary art, a cultural tour of the city, local and artisanal fashion and decoration shops. As an added bonus, as soon as the sun comes out, Hasselt turns into a large terrace. For the more sporty and nature lovers, cycling is king in this part of Belgium, the knooppuntenroute and the "hoge Kempen" National Park will have everything to seduce you.
Hemelhuys
Hemelhuys is a small charming hotel located in the historical heart of Hasselt. This one was a real favourite, with its walled garden and its warm and design decoration, it will allow you to discover Hasselt from its doorstep.
Amuse-couche
This charming and almost unusual bed and breakfast is located in a former gin distillery on the outskirts of Hasselt. Converted into a guest house by Jessy and her husband, the B&B offers bright and spacious rooms for a relaxing and unique stopover. Its location allows you to visit Hasselt or the nature reserves very easily.
LIEGE
Liège, sometimes too little known, is a city steeped in history with a real cultural heritage and is renowned for its many local and trendy craft shops. En Neuvice is a real jewel of creativity. The hotel we recommend is also located here.
Hotel Neuvice
Hotel Neuvice, a charming 12-room hotel located in Neuvice. It offers a nice and attractive inner courtyard, from where you can enjoy a drink or two. Indeed, the hotel also offers a wine bar with local (even street!) and organic specialities whenever possible.
BRUGES
The Venice of Belgium, its urban heritage is splendid and surprises us with each visit. The city is full of narrow streets and beautiful places to visit. Our favourite activities include a visit to the beguinage, lunch on the terrace, a walk through the maze of streets, just follow your instinct.
De Corenbloem
This bed and breakfast is located in a beautiful mansion in the heart of Bruges in the St Gilles district. It has been restored and converted into a bed and breakfast and has retained its authenticity. You will find high ceilings, creaking parquet floors and spacious bathrooms. The garden is maintained to a high standard and offers a picturesque view, a real haven of peace for the B&B residents.
Mr Ernest
Small and good value, this hotel is the perfect stop for a short city trip in the Venice of Belgium.
With its beautiful terrace by the canal, this hotel has everything to please its guests.
TOURNAI
A small town in the southwest of the country, Tournai is often overlooked but deserves some attention. If you go to discover Tournai, it is essential to visit the famous cathedral and the large triangular square lined with beautiful historical buildings and numerous terraces.
La Petite Fabriek
Located 5 minutes from the centre of Tournai, the former farm of the Château de Beauregard is home to La Petite Fabriek, a totally hybrid concept. Everything is possible at La Petite Fabriek: whether you want to stay (bed and breakfast for two, small gîtes for groups, authentic caravans), to work (large meeting room) or to celebrate and have a drink, everyone is welcome. Conviviality and authenticity are at the centre of everyone's interests, which creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere.