Published 12 Oct 2026 · Updated 14 Oct 2026
The easiest first trip to Belgium is two nights in Brussels, two in Bruges, a day in Ghent and a last day in Antwerp, all by train from one base. Budget roughly ₹1.35 to ₹1.8 lakh per person for six days including flights, and start the Schengen visa at least six weeks before you fly.
Visa and entry rules for Indians
Indian passport holders need a Schengen short-stay visa (type C) for tourism in Belgium, applied for in advance. We checked the Belgian Embassy’s page Visa for Belgium if you live in India on 12 October 2026, and it says:
- Where to apply: fill in the form online on VisaOnWeb, print it and submit it with your documents at your chosen VFS Global application centre. The photo is taken live there. VFS only collects the file. The Belgian Embassy or Consulate General decides it.
- Fee: €90 for adults, €45 for children aged 6 to 12, nothing under 6, paid in rupees at the exchange rate the embassy communicates (it can change without notice). The visa fee is non-refundable, and without proof of full payment the application is not processed.
- VFS service fee: INR 2,750, including taxes, paid by every applicant, including those exempt from the visa fee.
- Form validity: the online form is valid for 30 days. If you do not confirm it at the centre in that time it is deleted.
- Fingerprints: you register ten fingerprints and a photo in person, except children under 12. They are stored in the EU’s visa system for 59 months, so a recent earlier Schengen visa may spare you a second visit.
- Insurance: travel medical insurance valid across the whole Schengen area, with cover of at least €30,000 for accident, illness, emergency evacuation and repatriation, from an insurer on the embassy’s approved list. The policy must be signed before you submit and cover the full trip.
- Documents: the harmonised Schengen checklist, the tourism form, and proof of your ties to India (family, employment, property, regular income). Official documents must be legalised, and documents not in English need a sworn translation.
- After arrival: since 10 April 2026 the embassy says you must declare your address within three days through the online “My Address in Belgium” form.
The embassy page does not state how early you can apply or how long a decision takes. Under the general Schengen rules you can apply up to six months before departure and a decision normally comes within 15 calendar days, but plan for longer. One visa covers other Schengen countries too, so Belgium pairs well with the Netherlands or Paris. More facts are on the Belgium hub.
Apply only through VFS Global or the embassy. Look-alike “Belgium visa” sites charge large fees for the same appointment. Book flights on a refundable or flexible fare until the visa is in hand.
What it costs in rupees
Per person, sharing a mid-range double room, for six days (two nights in Brussels, two in Bruges and one each in Ghent or Antwerp, or a day trip). These are our estimates for typical fares and rates, and they swing with season. One euro is roughly ₹100 to ₹105, so check the day’s rate.
| Item | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| Return flights Delhi or Mumbai, one stop | ₹55,000 – ₹75,000 |
| Visa fee (€90) plus VFS service fee (INR 2,750) | about ₹12,000 |
| Hotels, 5 nights (half a €120–160 room) | ₹31,000 – ₹42,000 |
| Food, about €35–45 a day | ₹21,000 – ₹28,000 |
| Trains and city transit | ₹5,000 – ₹8,000 |
| Attractions (Belfry, Atomium, Gravensteen, canal boat) | ₹6,000 – ₹9,000 |
| Travel insurance, eSIM, small extras | ₹4,000 – ₹6,000 |
| Total | ₹1.35 – ₹1.8 lakh |
Belgium costs about the same as Austria and more than Prague. The saving is hotels: Brussels is cheaper than Bruges, and many people stay in Brussels or Ghent and visit Bruges as a day trip.
Day-by-day itinerary
Days 1–2: Brussels
Day 1. Take the train from Brussels Airport to Brussels-Central, about 20 minutes, and drop your bags. Walk to the Grand Place, the guildhall square that is the reason most people come, then pass Manneken Pis and take the covered Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert to a waffle and chocolate stop.
Day 2: Atomium and the museums. Ride the metro to the Atomium and its views, then see the Royal Museums of Fine Arts or the Musical Instruments Museum, whose rooftop café overlooks the city. Finish at the Mont des Arts viewpoint at sunset.
Days 3–4: Bruges
Take a direct train from Brussels to Bruges, about an hour. The station is a 20-minute walk or short bus ride from the old centre. Walk the Markt square, climb the Belfry (366 steps, book a timed slot), and take a canal boat from the Rozenhoedkaai area. On day 4, walk the Minnewater lake and the Begijnhof, then cycle the canal path towards Damme if the weather is good. Bruges is best early morning and after the day-trippers leave, which is the case for staying a night.
Day 5: Ghent
Take the train to Ghent-Sint-Pieters, about 25 minutes from Bruges, then a tram to the centre. Ghent is less polished and less crowded than Bruges. See the Gravensteen castle, the Graslei and Korenlei quays, and the Ghent Altarpiece in St Bavo’s Cathedral. Walk back along the canals at dusk, when the quays are lit.
Day 6: Antwerp and departure
Take a train to Antwerp Central, one of Europe’s grandest stations, and spend the morning on the Grote Markt, Rubens House and the fashion streets. Return to Brussels in time for the flight, about 35 to 45 minutes by train, and allow at least four hours before an international departure. If you fly out of Amsterdam, Antwerp is on the train line north.
Eating in Belgium as an Indian traveller
The classic dishes are meat and mussels, but vegetarians do fine: frites in a paper cone with sauces, Liège and Brussels waffles, cheese croquettes, vegetable soups, pasta, pizza and plenty of chocolate shops. Ask whether soups use meat stock and whether croquettes contain ham. Supermarkets such as Delhaize and Colruyt are the cheap lunch option. Jain food is hard, so carry dry snacks. Brussels and Antwerp have Indian restaurants, and tap water is safe to drink.
Best time to go
April to June and September have mild weather and long days. July and August are warm and busy, with the highest Bruges hotel prices. December brings Christmas markets in Brussels, Bruges and Ghent, but short days and cold rain. For another market-focused trip, see our Germany Christmas markets plan. January and February are cheapest and grey.
Practical tips
- Money: Belgium uses the euro. Cards work almost everywhere, UPI does not. Use a bank ATM for cash.
- Transport: buy tickets on the SNCB app or at the station, and look for the multi-ride Rail Pass if you take several trains. Rail strikes happen, so check the day before you travel.
- Language: Dutch in Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp, French in much of Brussels and Wallonia. English works in all the places on this route.
- SIM: an eSIM bought before you fly saves queueing at the airport.
- Plugs: Belgium uses the two-round-pin Type C/E plug at 230 V, so pack an adapter.
- Cobblestones: bring comfortable shoes, and a light rain jacket in any month.
- Border check: you may be fingerprinted and photographed under the EU’s Entry/Exit System on arrival, so allow extra time at immigration.
Related guides
Want another Schengen trip on the same visa? See the Netherlands tulip season plan, the Paris 6-day plan, the Austria 7-day plan the Germany Christmas markets plan or the Luxembourg 4-day plan. All facts for Belgium are on the Belgium hub.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Belgium?
Yes. Indian passport holders need a Schengen short-stay visa (type C) for tourism in Belgium. You fill in the form online, then lodge it with documents and fingerprints at a VFS Global application centre, and the Belgian Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulate General in Mumbai decides it. The visa allows up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area.
How much is the Belgium Schengen visa fee for Indians?
The embassy lists a €90 handling fee for adults, €45 for children aged 6 to 12 and no fee under 6, paid in rupees at the rate the embassy communicates. VFS adds a service fee of INR 2,750 that even fee-exempt applicants pay. The visa fee is not refunded if the visa is refused.
How long does the Belgium visa take from India?
The Belgian embassy's India page does not state a processing time. The EU Visa Code sets 15 calendar days as the normal decision time and allows longer if more checks are needed, so apply at least six to eight weeks before you fly, and earlier for May, June and December.
How many days are enough for Belgium?
Five to six days is enough for Brussels, Bruges and Ghent, with Antwerp as an optional extra. The country is small and the trains between cities take 30 to 60 minutes, so most people base in two places. Add a day if you want Leuven, Mechelen or the Ardennes.
How much does a Belgium trip cost from India?
Roughly ₹1.35 to ₹1.8 lakh per person for six days, sharing a mid-range hotel room, including return flights from Delhi or Mumbai, the visa, trains, food and entry tickets. Flight prices and Bruges hotel rates in summer are the biggest swing.
Is Belgium good for vegetarians?
It is manageable. Fries with sauces, waffles, cheese croquettes, waterzooi-style vegetable soups, salads, pasta, pizza and Belgian chocolate are easy to find. Traditional dishes use meat, stock or lard, so ask. Brussels and Antwerp have Indian restaurants, and Jain food needs planning.
Can I use UPI in Belgium?
No. Belgium uses the euro and UPI is not accepted at shops or restaurants. Cards and contactless payment work almost everywhere, though some small cafés and market stalls prefer cash. Withdraw euros from a bank ATM rather than changing money at the airport.
