Belgium Family Travel Guide 2025
Everything families need to know for a successful trip to Belgium with kids.
Belgium captivates visitors with its medieval cities, world-class chocolates, and rich artistic heritage. From the grand canals of Bruges to the vibrant Art Nouveau architecture of Brussels, this compact country offers an unforgettable blend of culture, cuisine, and historic charm.
Top Family Activities
The best experiences for families in Belgium.
Atomium Brussels
Belgium's most iconic structure, built for the 1958 World's Fair, represents an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. Children are fascinated by the giant silver spheres connected by tubes. The interior has interactive science and design exhibits, and the top sphere offers panoramic views over Brussels. A special children's exhibition runs permanently in one of the lower spheres.
Mini-Europe Park
Located beside the Atomium, Mini-Europe features 1:25 scale replicas of 350 famous European monuments including the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, the Acropolis, and the Colosseum. Many exhibits have interactive elements - children can trigger Vesuvius to erupt, watch windmills turn, and operate miniature trains and ships. The full circuit is 2.5 km and takes 1.5-2 hours to walk.
Pairi Daiza
Consistently rated one of Europe's best zoos, Pairi Daiza is set in a historic 19th-century abbey with 55 hectares of themed gardens. Home to giant pandas, African elephants, Komodo dragons, orangutans, and over 5,000 animals. The park is designed as a series of immersive themed worlds including a Chinese garden, African savannah, and Oceanian world with meerkats and penguins. The on-site water park adds an extra attraction in summer.
Bellewaerde Park
Belgium's most action-packed family theme park combines rollercoasters, water rides, and a wildlife safari park with over 1,500 animals including tigers, bears, and gorillas. The park has separate sections for thrill rides (teens and adults), milder rides for younger children, and a dedicated toddler area. Bellewaerde Aquapark adds water slides and splash zones in summer.
Plopsaland De Panne
Belgium's most popular children's theme park, based on the Studio 100 TV characters (Maya the Bee, Bumba, K3, Samson & Marie). Perfect for younger children aged 2-10. Features over 50 attractions including rollercoasters, dark rides, water rides, and live shows. Combine with a day on the nearby De Panne beach for a perfect coastal family day.
Walibi Belgium
Belgium's largest theme park with major rollercoasters, water rides, and a dedicated children's area (Walibi Junior). The park features the Kondor (suspended rollercoaster), Pulsar (Europe's biggest water ride), and Terror HQ haunted house experience for older children and teens. Annual Halloween Fright Nights in October are hugely popular. Aqualibi water park is adjacent and included with some tickets.
Technopolis Science Center
Flanders' leading hands-on science center with over 350 experiments and interactive exhibits children can operate themselves. Covering physics, biology, technology, and engineering, Technopolis makes science genuinely exciting. Highlights include a wind tunnel, earthquake simulator, high-wire bicycle, and sports science lab. Everything is participatory - children learn by doing rather than looking.
Activities by Age Group
Find activities suited to your children's ages.
👶 Toddlers (0-3)
- Parks with shaded play areas
- Short, stroller-friendly walks
- Swimming pools at family hotels
- Animal encounters
🧒 Young Kids (4-7)
- Interactive museums
- Easy outdoor adventures
- Cultural shows and performances
- Market explorations
🧑 Older Kids (8-12)
- Historical site tours
- Adventure activities
- Cooking classes for kids
- Nature excursions
👦 Teens (13+)
- Adventure sports
- Photography walks
- Cultural immersion experiences
- Food tours
Complete Family Travel Guide
Family itineraries, packing checklists, and activity planning tips.
Family-Friendly Accommodations
Where to stay with kids.
Radisson Blu Royal Hotel Brussels
Central 5-star hotel with large interconnecting family rooms and suites. Features the famous bar designed by Victor Horta. Walking distance to Grand Place and Belgian Comic Strip Center. Children's menu available in restaurant. Babysitting service available on request.
Novotel Gent Centrum
Family-reliable Novotel brand in the heart of Ghent with a dedicated children's play area and outdoor terrace. Children under 16 stay free in parents' room. The swimming pool is a major bonus for families. Walking distance to Gravensteen Castle and the Graslei waterfront, making it ideal for exploring Ghent with children.
Hotel Dukes' Palace Bruges
Beautiful 5-star hotel in the historic Prinsenhof palace with spacious rooms and suites ideal for families. Centrally located in Bruges with gardens where children can play. The hotel's excellent breakfast keeps families fueled for a day of canal tours and museum visits. Junior suites offer extra space for families with young children.
Ibis Styles Brussels Centre Stephanie
Budget-friendly family option on the prestigious Avenue Louise with good-sized family rooms and all-inclusive breakfast. Close to Ixelles shops and a short metro or tram ride to Grand Place, Atomium, and Mini-Europe. The colorful, playful design of the hotel appeals to children. Free WiFi and an inclusive breakfast make it practical for families.
B&B De Orangerie Bruges
Romantic canalside B&B with a warm, welcoming atmosphere that suits families with older children. Set in a 15th-century former convent with beautiful gardens running down to a private canal. The exceptional breakfast featuring local Belgian products sets the day up perfectly. The peaceful garden is a genuine highlight for families.
What to Look For
- Family rooms or connecting rooms
- Swimming pool (supervised)
- Restaurant with kids' menu
- Babysitting/kids' club services
- Safe, enclosed outdoor spaces
- Proximity to attractions
Kid-Friendly Dining
Where to eat with children.
Belgian friteries (fry stands) serve the world's best pommes frites cooked in beef fat - universally beloved by children. Order with mayonnaise (the Belgian way) or ketchup and eat from the paper cone. Look for friteries with long local queues - those are always the best ones.
Waffles are available everywhere in two main styles: the lighter Brussels waffle (rectangular, crispy) and the denser Liege waffle (oval, with caramelized sugar). Children typically prefer the Liege waffle as a sweet snack. Avoid tourist traps near Grand Place - walk one block away for better prices.
Most Belgian restaurants are child-friendly and high chairs (kinderstoel/chaise haute) are almost always available. Ask for the children's menu (kindermenu/menu enfant) which usually includes pasta, chicken, or a burger with frites at around 8-12 EUR. Restaurants rarely rush families with children.
Belgian chocolate shops and chocolatiers often offer children's chocolate-making workshops lasting 45-90 minutes where children learn to make and decorate their own Belgian pralines to take home. Book in advance in Bruges, Ghent, Brussels, and Antwerp.
For family picnics, Belgian supermarkets (Delhaize, Colruyt, Carrefour) are excellent and affordable - stock up on local cheeses, deli meats, fresh bread, and Belgian chocolate for park lunches in places like Bois de la Cambre (Brussels) or Minnewater park (Bruges).
Belgian brasserie culture means restaurants are open continuously from noon until late - ideal for families who eat at irregular times. Moules-frites (mussels and chips) are excellent family sharing dishes available at most brasseries from August through April.
Family Travel Tips
Make traveling with kids easier.
Belgium's National Rail (SNCB/NMBS) offers excellent deals for families - children under 6 travel free, and children 6-11 pay a flat reduced rate. On weekends the 8 EUR Weekend Ticket gives adults unlimited travel across Belgium, making day trips to Bruges, Ghent, or Antwerp very affordable.
The Brussels Card (24/48/72 hours, 35-58 EUR per adult) covers entry to 40+ museums and unlimited public transport. Children under 12 receive free entry to most covered museums when accompanied by a card-holding adult, making it excellent value for families.
Download the Stib-Mivb app (Brussels public transport) and the De Lijn app (Flanders buses and trams) before your trip for real-time journey planning. Most Brussels metro stations have lifts and wide gates for pushchairs and strollers.
Belgium is extremely pushchair/stroller-friendly in cities. Bruges' historic cobblestones can be challenging - consider a carrier for younger children in the very center. Ghent and Brussels have better surfaces and wide pavements.
The Belgian coast (Ostend, De Panne, Blankenberge) offers excellent sandy beaches and is only 1-1.5 hours from Brussels by train. The coastal tram (Kusttram) runs the full 67km Belgian coastline and is a fun, inexpensive way for children to see the sea. De Panne combines beach access with Plopsaland theme park.
Belgium has excellent pharmacies (apotheek/pharmacie) stocking major international brands of baby formula, nappies/diapers, children's medicines, and sunscreen. Most pharmacy staff speak English. A pharmacie de garde (emergency pharmacy) operates 24/7 in all cities.
Health & Safety
- Check recommended vaccinations for children
- Pack enough prescription medications
- Bring sun protection and stay hydrated
- Research nearest hospitals/clinics
- Get travel insurance covering the whole family
Plan Your Family Adventure
Get our complete family travel guide with kid-friendly itineraries, packing lists, and activity recommendations.
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