Rick Steves Belgium: Bruges, Brussels, Antwerp & Ghent

by Rick Steves

Stroll through medieval squares with soaring bell towers and along quiet with Rick Steves on your side, Belgium can be yours! Inside Rick Steves Bruges, Brussels, Antwerp & Ghent you'll Comprehensive coverage for spending a week or more exploring BelgiumRick's strategic advice on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of his must-see favoritesTop sights and hidden gems, from the European Parliament and Flanders Fields to wafel trucks and popular breweriesHow to connect with local Lose yourself in the art of the Flemish masters, taste fish fresh from the North Sea at the Vismarkt, and sip Trappist ales with friendly locals Beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps with Rick's candid, humorous insightThe best places to eat, sleep, and relax while you indulge in a chocolate truffle (or two) Self-guided walking tours of lively town squares and inspiring museumsDetailed mapsfor exploring on the goUseful resources including a packing list, Dutch and French phrase books, a historical overview, and recommended readingOver 300 bible-thin pages include everything worth seeing without weighing you downComplete, up-to-date information on Bruges, Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, and moreMake the most of every day and every dollar with Rick Steves Bruges, Brussels, Antwerp & Ghent.

Genres: Travel, Belgium, Nonfiction, Reference

364 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 7, 2015

About the author

Rick Steves is an American travel writer, television personality, and activist known for encouraging meaningful travel that emphasizes cultural immersion and thoughtful global citizenship. Born in California and raised in Edmonds, Washington, he began traveling in his teens, inspired by a family trip to Europe. After graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in European history and business, Steves started teaching travel classes, which led to his first guidebook, Europe Through the Back Door, self-published in 1980.
Steves built his Edmonds-based travel company on the idea that travelers should explore less-touristy areas and engage with local cultures. He gained national prominence as host and producer of Rick Steves' Europe, which has aired on public television since 2000. He also hosts a weekly public radio show, Travel with Rick Steves, and has authored dozens of popular guidebooks, including bestselling titles on Italy and Europe at large.
Beyond travel, Steves is an outspoken advocate for drug policy reform, environmental sustainability, and social justice. He supports marijuana legalization and chairs the board of NORML. He has funded housing for homeless families and donates to anti-hunger and arts organizations. In 2019, he pledged $1 million annually to offset the carbon emissions of his tour groups.
Steves is a practicing Lutheran with Norwegian ancestry and continues to live in Edmonds. He has two adult children and is in a relationship with Reverend Shelley Bryan Wee. Despite health challenges, including a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2024, Steves remains committed to his mission of helping Americans travel with greater purpose, empathy, and understanding of the world. His work reflects a belief that travel, done right, can be both transformative and a force for peace.

Reviews

[Michael Huang · Rating 5 out of 5]

To me, Rick Steves’s travel books are a must for any European field trips — I call them field trips as opposed to vacations because the former focus on cultural discovery while the latter just relaxation. The rule of thumb for a successful field trip is 1:1 ratio: for every day of field work, you need one day of in-office preparation to make the in-field time count. In this regard, RS is your best research assistant money can buy. This particular book is so useful to my recent field trip that I have to give it 5-star for a travel book. Just one anecdote to highlight the usefulness of such preparation I’m a sucker for Flemish paintings from the old masters. My recent favorite has been Pieter Bruegel (Elder). In day-tripping to Antwerp, RS points out that there is a tiny museum not far from Rubens’s house had one major Bruegel painting (Mad Mag). Moreover, he explains that adding €2 when buying ticket at Rubens house will get you the combo ticket. Gold nuggets like that abound in the book.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I downloaded this book on my Kindle in preparation to my first trip to Belgium - specifically for touring the wonderful, humble city of Brussels. As in any of his travel books, it's filled with so much useful information in preparing for and planning for your trip. Armed with the Kindle, my friend and I completed Rick's Walking tour which ends at the city's cutest celebrity: Mannekin-Pis. We would stop at various points and enjoyed reading out loud his descriptions. The best part of the walk are the off-the beaten-path places. We almost missed one of the churches, Saint-Nicolas Church, because there was absolutely no one outside and only 3 folks inside. It was a quiet and beautiful oasis from the sea of tourist outside. The church is over a thousand years old and holds The Virgin and Child painting by Rubens - what a special treat that was. This time of year, the church featured a 10-foot Brussels-esque Nativity scene. I highly recommend this book and look forward to using it as we further explore Belgium's other great cities in the future.

[Sia Karamalegos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn't my favorite Rick Steve's guidebook. I thought it overplayed the typical tourist spots and underrated some of the more unique and interesting experiences. The Brussels restaurant suggestions were good, but the Bruges ones were a bit lacking.

[shadesofwords · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you don't have time to do a whole lot of research or read a lot of books or blogs - then Rick Steve's guides to Europe are your best bet.

[Barbara Switzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful information. Steves is brutally honest; if a tourist sight is not worth the money, he will say so. I'll be taking this book with me.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit shorter book, but still full of all the good tidbits. Excited for Brussels!

[reveurdart · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was sadly disappointed in this. Rick Steves doesn't capture the "soul" of Belgium, I think. I usually like his travel essentials and basic selections, but this was just too off the mark for me. Even when he talks about art in a mainstream way (aka for everyone), one of his strengths, I didn't feel like he captured the bare essentials in a succinct enough way, like he usually does. Some essential things were just missing, and that was a problem for me. His trademark Walks are still fairly useful here.

The book does have its moments, so I recommend supplementing this with another guide:
- Lonely Planet (I've previously read the 2016 edition and recommend!)
- DK Eyewitness Travel (known for their visual guides, but I haven't yet read their Belgium one)
- Michelin (2019 edition, excellent!)

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a good source for lots of travel information. I wish thé coastal towns and Ypres in West Flanders were included. Completely disagree with Rick’s negative comments about the Friet Museum in Bruges. We visited there and went back and took friends before I bought this book and found the museum delightful. When the hotel concierge/clerk said he didn’t recommend it, I explained that we really enjoyed it and asked if he’d been there. He hadn’t. Funny thing was that I was back at that hotel five months later and he told me that he started telling guests that we (guests) loved the Friet Museum and found that they came back saying they loved it too.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rick Steves has the very best travel books for Europe. He gives helpful recommended itineraries, prioritizes the sites in each city, includes helpful museum highlights. I got around my entire Belgium trip with just his book, an app for train tickets, and my credit card. It's helpful whether you read it ahead of time for planning your trip or just take it along with you and crack it open once you're there.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am thoroughly convinced that Rick Steves' European guides are the best out there, and will continue to use them for all my trips on the continent. His Belgium guide focuses on the county's four major cities, three of which I visited this past month. I found his advice invaluable, particularly in Brussels, where we were on our own.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rick Steves books are so informative. However, in this book, the chapter on Brussels is doesn't seem as coherent and one will find tidbits on a particular site in different places in the chapter rather than being in one place. That makes its difficult to remember and find where one originally read a segment of info.

[Bobsie67 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, basic information. Mr. Steve's steers you in the right direction in terms of food, lodging, and top sites. Having followed the advice given in several of his travel books, I find that he sincerely guides you to less touristy spots in these heavily touristed cities, letting you have a more local experience. Find his appraisals more on the mark than any social media site.

[Katie Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very detailed

I read this book before traveling to Belgium and I am also referring back to it during my travels throughout the country. I appreciate how detailed the author is and how he includes bits of relevant history for each town.

[Margery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful guide to Belgium!

[Barbara Turecky]

Good information about the area

[Marko Mravunac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely country, lovely cities!

[J.R. Dodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great guide to the major cities in Belgium. After using several of Rick Steves' guides on trips, this edition did not disappoint and his takes on food, accommodations and sites has proven completely trustworthy and for the most part spot-on.

Rick does spend a lot of time on churches (which is understandable considering their context in history within the region) and it felt like it would be nice to have other options either culturally or environmentally, but I know that's just a minor quibble with a guide that provides and interprets so much for the traveler.

[Highjump · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't end up going to Brussels but these guidebooks are always excellent.

[Sundar Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book needs an update, which i believe i ccoming in 2017.

[Rachel Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, Rick Steves guidebooks is a big help when traveling.