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 food tours
Guided experiences that show you Belgium through its food.
Brussels Chocolate & Beer Walking Tour
The definitive Brussels food experience combining Belgium's two most iconic exports. Visit three master chocolatiers including Neuhaus (inventor of the praline), taste six different Belgian beers from Lambic to Trappist, explore the historic Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, and learn to distinguish genuine artisan chocolate from mass-market imitations. An expert local host explains the stories behind Belgium's world-famous food culture.
Includes: Neuhaus chocolatier praline tasting · Trappist and Lambic beer tasting · Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert visit · Brussels waffle comparison: Liège vs Brussels style
Bruges Medieval Beer & Food Tour
Walk Bruges' UNESCO-listed medieval centre while sampling the city's extraordinary culinary heritage. Visit the De Halve Maan brewery (one of Belgium's oldest still brewing in a city centre), taste artisan Belgian chips with traditional sauces, sample handmade pralines from family chocolatiers, try local Bruges speculoos biscuits, and finish with a tasting of regional beers including Bruges Zot. A feast for all senses in one of Europe's most beautiful cities.
Includes: De Halve Maan brewery visit · Artisan chocolatier tasting · Belgian chip culture explained · Bruges Zot beer tasting · Speculoos and local pastry tasting
Brussels Market & Moules Tour
Start at the vast Sunday Gare du Midi market - one of Europe's largest outdoor markets with North African, Mediterranean, and Belgian produce - and explore the stalls with an expert local host selecting the freshest ingredients. Then walk to a traditional Brussels brasserie to learn how to prepare authentic moules-frites (mussels and chips), try freshly made waffles at a street stall, taste fromage de Bruxelles, and finish with a flight of Belgian abbaye beers.
Includes: Gare du Midi market exploration · Moules preparation demonstration · Belgian waffle tasting · Abbaye beer flight · Fromage de Bruxelles tasting
Ghent Street Food & Vegetarian Tour
Ghent is Belgium's most vegetarian-friendly city and this tour showcases why. Explore the Vrijdagmarkt and Groentenmarkt food markets, sample locally produced Ghent-style mustard (a genuine regional specialty), taste waterzooi (the city's famous cream stew), visit an artisan bakery for couque suisse and local pastries, and try plant-based Belgian cuisine at Ghent's pioneering vegetarian restaurants. Even confirmed meat-eaters leave converted.
Includes: Ghent mustard tasting · Waterzooi demonstration · Groentenmarkt market tour · Artisan bakery visit · Vegetarian Belgian cuisine tasting
Tour formats
Different ways to experience Belgium's food scene.
Walking tours tours
Guided walking tours through city centres with food stops at markets, chocolatiers, breweries, and restaurants. Best format for Brussels Grand Place area and Bruges medieval centre.
Brewery tours tours
Belgium has over 200 active breweries. Dedicated brewery tours include De Halve Maan (Bruges), Cantillon (Brussels, lambic specialist), Duvel Moortgat, and Chimay Trappist monastery. Most include tastings and full brewing process explanation.
Market tours tours
Brussels Gare du Midi Sunday market, Place du Jeu de Balle flea market with food stalls, Ghent Groentenmarkt daily produce market. Best experienced with a local guide who knows the vendors.
Chocolate tours tours
Specialist chocolate tours visiting artisan praline makers (Neuhaus, Marcolini, Laurent Gerbaud in Brussels; The Chocolate Line and Dumon in Bruges). Learn bean-to-bar process and Belgian chocolate history.
Beer tasting tours tours
Belgium's brewing heritage is UNESCO-listed. Beer tours range from pub crawls to monastery visits. Brussels Cantillon lambic brewery, Trappist breweries (Chimay, Westmalle, Rochefort), and Ghent's beer café circuit are highlights.
Private tours tours
Most operators offer private tours for groups of 2-6 with customised itineraries. Typical price €120-200 per person for a bespoke 4-hour experience.
Cooking classes
Take a piece of Belgium home with you.
Cook & Discover Brussels - Belgian Classics
Brussels' most acclaimed cooking school specialising in authentic Belgian cuisine. A professional chef teaches you four classic Belgian dishes from scratch using seasonal local ingredients sourced from Brussels markets that morning. Classes conducted in English with hands-on participation throughout. You sit down to eat everything you've cooked with paired Belgian beers.
Bruges Chocolate Masterclass
Led by a qualified Belgian chocolatier in a working chocolate atelier in central Bruges. Learn the precise science of chocolate tempering, hand-dip truffles, pipe praline fillings, and create moulded chocolates. Each participant leaves with a box of their own handmade chocolates - the perfect edible souvenir. Suitable for beginners and all ages.
Ghent Waterzooi & Flemish Cooking Class
Intimate Ghent cooking experience in a beautiful canalside kitchen. A Ghent native chef shares the stories and techniques behind the city's most beloved dishes. Emphasis on locally sourced seasonal produce, Ghent's mustard and jenever traditions, and the difference between Flemish and Walloon cooking styles. Ends with a family-style meal with local Ghent beers.
DIY self-guided food tour
Belgium is one of the best countries in the world for self-guided food exploration. Armed with this guide, you can build your own memorable food tour across Brussels, Bruges, and Ghent without booking anything in advance.
Foodie tips
Get more out of every meal.
Belgian chocolate quality varies enormously - always look for chocolatiers using 100% pure cocoa butter (required by Belgian law for the 'Belgian chocolate' label) rather than shops selling mass-produced tourist chocolate in fancy packaging.
The Belgian waffle debate is real: Brussels waffles are rectangular, lighter, and eaten plain or with toppings; Liège waffles are rounder, denser, caramelised with pearl sugar, and eaten warm. Both are authentic - try both and decide your allegiance.
Moules-frites (mussels and frites) season runs September to April when Belgian and Dutch mussels are at their freshest. Eating them out of season means frozen or imported mussels - ask your waiter when ordering.
Belgian beer etiquette: each beer has its own specific glass designed to enhance flavour - a good bar will always serve in the correct glass. If it arrives in a generic glass, it's a bad sign for the establishment.
Friteries (chip shops) are a Belgian institution - never call them french fries in front of a Belgian. The Belgian claim to have invented the chip is a point of serious national pride. The best frites are fried twice in beef fat.
Food markets in Belgium are generally busiest 9am-12pm on Saturdays; arrive early for the best selection. Sunday markets at Gare du Midi (Brussels) and Place du Jeu de Balle are essential experiences.
Trappist beers (Chimay, Westmalle, Rochefort, Orval, Westvleteren) are brewed by monks and can only use the 'Authentic Trappist Product' label if brewed within a monastery. Westvleteren 12 is regularly voted the world's best beer and can only be bought at the abbey.
A 'plat du jour' (dish of the day) in a Brussels or Ghent brasserie typically costs €12-16 and represents excellent value - usually a proper Belgian main with bread and sometimes a small drink included.