Spending time in Belgium’s capital city of Brussels tops the list of things to do in the country. The city is home to the European Union and architecturally is a wonderful mix of the old and new.

Marvel at the views from the hilltops, explore its remarkable history and must-see sights. Head for the Grand Place to spot the tiny bronze statue of a small boy weeing – the Mannequin Pis - which is the city’s famous mascot. Check out the Tintin memorabilia in the Comic Arts Museum and the work of the great Flemish painters at the Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique and enjoy crispy fries from a stall in the popular flea market.

The magical small cities of Bruges and Ghent have to be high on the list even if you are in Belgium for a few days. With more time, you might want to enjoy a day at the beach in Oostend, or go on an adventure, kayaking or climbing in the Ardennes.

If you like chocolate, no trip to Belgium is complete without a visit to a local chocolatier. Even the smallest towns have their own independent producers and you will discover just why Belgian chocolate is world-renowned.

With an Avis hire car in Belgium you have the option to travel between historic cities of culture like Brussels or Bruges and explore the surrounding countryside as well as creating your own Belgium road trip.

A hire car enables you to follow your own timetable, to divert off the main routes and stop off along the way. You might also want to explore further afield while you are in this part of Europe.

Belgium is also well placed with neighbouring countries France in the south, Luxembourg to the southeast, Germany to the east, and the Netherlands to the north.

As well as its bustling capital Brussels with its grand royal palace, there are fairytale medieval cities to visit such as Bruges and Ghent with their gabled houses and waterways and awe-inspiring castles like Gravensteen or the craggy fortified Chateau de Bouillon.

Although it is a low-lying country, if you are on a Belgian road trip you’ll find open roads and varied and interesting countryside. The landscapes change as you head east stretching from the sand dunes of the coastal plain around the North Sea to the undulating central belt with its rivers and lakes to the hills and mountains of the heavily forested Ardennes.

So, whether its touring its historic cities, enjoying a long weekend in Brussels or exploring the Ardennes, a hire car in Belgium will give you the freedom and flexibility to travel between venues at your own pace.

Hiring a car is a popular and easy way to explore Belgium. The country has a good, well-maintained road network and is largely flat with a temperate climate.

Country driving laws

• Be aware that in Belgium and across mainland Europe, you’ll be driving on the right-hand side of the road.
• Mobile phones may only be used with a hands-free device. Do not use headphones or earpieces
• Bus lanes are reserved exclusively for buses, taxis and bicycles
• In towns and rural areas, on minor roads and where there is no clear indication of right of way, it may be prudent to give way to traffic coming from the right.
• It is recommended that drivers use dipped headlights at all times.

​​​​​​​If you have not driven in this part of the world before, we’d advise familiarising yourself with the road rules for driving in Belgium before you travel.

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