Bruges is Belgium’s most well-known tourist destination. It’s a town you should visit because it is as beautiful as it is in the pictures. But there are many other cities in Belgium with fewer tourists, and they are similar to Bruges.
Most of these cities are not that far from each other. You can easily travel from one to the other. There are often nice biking routes connecting these small towns. And there is often good public transport as well.
County of Flanders
This was one of Europe’s most densely populated areas during the early Medieval ages. It’s mostly known for Bruges and Ghent, but other smaller medieval cities are nearby as well.
Duchy of Brabant
This area was the hub of the Burgundians during the late medieval ages. Brussels and Antwerp are its most well-known cities, but Malines/Mechelen and Louvain/Leuven are definitely worth a visit.
Prince-Bishopric of Liège
Some of Belgium’s oldest cities (Tongeren, Liège, Spa) are in this area. After the Romans left, the area maintained a rural character, and its cities stayed small.
Ardennes
Many small cities in the Ardennes seem to rise from the forest. There are a lot of ruins, old castles, and abbeys in the area as well.