Highlights of Belgium by category

Most pleasant cities

This category takes into account the city's atmosphere, the beauty and size of its historical centre, the people, the relaxing pace, the safety, the natural setting (river, canals, hills, cliffs), and so on.

1. Namur
2. Bruges
3. Mons
4. Ghent
5. Leuven

Bets cities to wine & dine

This ranking is based on the quantity and quality of restaurants available in each city.

1. Brussels (211 restaurants recommended by GaultMillau, over 300 listed by Michelin among which 20 stars attributed)
2. Antwerp (46 restaurants listed by GaultMillau, 73 listed by Michelin among which 6 stars attributed)
3. Bruges (28 restaurants listed by GaultMillau, 41 listed by Michelin among which 8 star attributed)
4. Knokke-Heist (19 restaurants listed by GaultMillau, 29 listed by Michelin among which 3 stars attributed)
5. Ghent (16 restaurants listed by GaultMillau, 34 listed by Michelin among which 1 star attributed)
6. Liege (14 restaurants listed by GaultMillau, 38 listed by Michelin among which 1 star attributed)
7. Hasselt-Genk (14 restaurants listed by GaultMillau, 20 listed by Michelin among which 2 stars attributed)
8. Namur (10 restaurants listed by GaultMillau, 15 listed by Michelin among which 3 stars attributed)
9. Leuven (10 restaurants listed by GaultMillau, 15 listed by Michelin among which 3 stars attributed)
10. Kortrijk (10 restaurants listed by GaultMillau, 17 listed by Michelin among which 1 star attributed)
11. Charleroi (12 restaurants listed by GaultMillau, 17 listed by Michelin among which 2 stars attributed)
12. Ostend (10 restaurants listed by GaultMillau, 12 recommend by Michelin)
13. Mons (8 restaurants listed by GaultMillau, 9 listed by Michelin among which 1 star attributed)

Best gardens

1. National Botanic Garden of Belgium
2. Castle of Groot-Bijgaarden (Spring only)
3. Enghien

Best Medieval fortress

Given the number of castles in this category and the difficulty to rank them in an objective manner, the castles are just listed by alphabetical order. The interior decoration (or lack of it) is not taken into account here. Ruins are not listed as a well-preserved castle will always be better than a ruined one.