Travel in Belgium

Experiences play an integral role in the so-called connected trip, where travelers want to seamlessly plan, book, and manage in real time all aspects of their trip in one place. And TUI, the world’s largest tour operator, has just done a soft launch of what can best be described as its own flexible version of a connected trip with TUITours.com.

The U.S. Department of State has just raised its travel advisory for Germany to Level 2: Exercise Increase Caution due to the risk of terrorism. “Terrorist groups keep planning attacks in Germany,” says the State Department’s advisory. “Terrorists may attack with little or no warning. They target tourist locations and transportation hubs.”

Travel advisors report that the luxury travel market is booming. Among the top travel trends for these high-end clients are those that focus on spending time with loved ones, including Family travel (immediate family), Celebration travel, and Multigenerational travel, according to the 2024 Virtuoso Luxe Report. Active/adventure trips are also among the top trends reported in the study. In addition, travel advisors are booking more off-season trips and are seeing requests for cultural immersion. The desire for personalized amenities and services is also important to upscale travelers, say advisors.

How far would you go – and how long would you take – to avoid flying and thoroughly embrace the idea of slow travel? In my case, it was 3,167 miles over three weeks. For nearly a decade I had wanted to do a road trip to Croatia, and to get as much out of the journey as the destination itself. Rather than bomb down the motorway for marathon stretches, the idea was to slow down and see new things.

In the 16th century, Antwerp, Belgium, with its busy docks along the river Scheldt, was a booming center of trade and one of Europe’s most influential cities, attracting artists, intellectuals and entrepreneurs. In 1576, Christophe Plantin ran a prestigious printing business (one of the continent’s largest) in the center of the city, a half-mile from where, a few decades later, the painter Peter Paul Rubens would build his own studio and semicircular sculpture hall, modeled after the Pantheon. Over the years, while other long-established port cities like Venice and Barcelona evolved into throbbing tourist centers, Belgium’s second city largely kept far away from the spotlight, yet it’s always quietly maintained a reputation as a place for innovation and creative expression. In the 1980s, it became an important fashion hub with the emergence of the Antwerp Six: a group of young designers, including Ann Demeulemeester, who had been educated at the city’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts.

The European Commission has introduced a new visa “cascade” regime for Indian nationals applying for Schengen visas in India. This regime looks to offer longer-term, multi-entry Schengen visas, based on the applicant’s travel history.

Backroads, a longtime leader in adventure travel, has made its reputation by catering to changing traveler needs and shifting demographics. In 2024, that means focusing on the increasing number of multigenerational families eager to travel together.

Northern France’s counterpart to the famed Côte d’Azur, one insanely scenic stretch of coast has it all.

Google said Wednesday that it is releasing new features that share options for traveling in ways that are more environmentally friendly.

From crystalline karst lakes in Croatia to soaring sandstone columns in Greece, UNESCO has announced the addition of 18 new sites to its Global Geoparks network. The list of geographical areas with international geological significance now numbers 213 locations across 48 countries.

Booking platforms including Airbnb, Expedia, Tripadvisor and Booking sold about 678 million nights in short-term rentals in Europe last year. That was up 14% over 2022. 

As World Heritage Day on 18th April approaches, the spotlight turns on renowned landmarks across the globe. UNESCO sites like Stonehenge in the UK, Pompei in Italy and the Acropolis in Greece get no shortage of visitors. But there are plenty of designated destinations in Europe that still fly under the radar. Here are some of the best in Europe from remote archaeological wonders to untamed natural landscapes.

Many of Florence’s most iconic sights are iconic precisely because they haven't changed in hundreds of years.

Even as Dutch entrepreneur Alex Mulder found success as part of a diversified investment firm, he always kept the idea of giving back. And so, when he and his colleagues at the parent company of the hospitality upstart Pillows Hotels saw that a historic property in his childhood neighborhood on the east side of Amsterdam was for sale—one with a hotel permit already attached to it—he went for the opportunity.

LiveWell by Zurich and BODDY partner to provide seamless access to digital & physical wellbeing experiences on the go.

The Single European Railway Area (SERA) can be a cause of our common prosperity – and introduce new cross-border rail options.

Fully decarbonising air transport by 2050 will require funding in excess of 820 billion euros.

Meet Paul van Frank, a seasoned hotelier with 30 years of experience in luxury resorts worldwide. Known for his integrity, guest-centric approach, and adeptness in operations and sales marketing

The Air&Rail Terminal is open daily from 5:30 am until 6:30 pm. 

“Night trains are the future,” says Georges Gilkinet, Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Mobility.

Wildly creative in a refined way. That’s how a local Swiss journalist hailed Dutch chef Jeroen Achtien during his previous job. “Wildly creative” is one of those phrases that get thrown around a lot (guilty here), but in this case it’s apt. It’s what the chef is now doing in his native Netherlands, where he’s stepped into some pretty big shoes.

New photos and footage have emerged of the northern lights putting on a show in the background as a volcano erupts in the foreground.