Brussels

Grand Place

The Grand Place is Brussels’ vibrant and beautiful central square. For almost a thousand years the square has been buzzing with activity and is still one of Belgium’s most visited tourist destinations. Lined with amazing shops, cafés and architecture, the square offers visitors plenty of choice to make it a truly great day out.

Grand Place, Brussels, Belgium by ChrisO

Ghent

St Michael’s Bridge

St Michael’s Bridge is one of the most famous tourist spots in Belgium. Renowned for its chocolate box beauty, the bridge and surrounding area is perfect for that romantic stroll or spot of watercolour painting. Many thousands of tourists who pass through Ghent make the small trip to visit St Michael’s Bridge and have their picture taken in the tranquil surroundings as a memento of their time visiting one of the most beautiful sites in Belgium- something you will never want to forget.

St Michael’s Bridge, Ghent, Belgium by Alexandra Lee

Bruges

Boudewijn Theme Park

If you’re looking for something with a little bit more adrenalin then Boudewijn Theme Park in Bruges is a must. There are plenty of attractions and rides to keep both the kids and adults entertained- though some may prove a little daunting. Plus there’s the unique opportunity to get up-close and personal with the park’s resident dolphins. With dolphin shows throughout the day the Theme Park is sure to put a smile on the face of any animal lover.

Photo by admin

Ostend

Kursaal Casino

One of the jewels in Belgium’s casino crown is the Kursaal Casino situated in the beautiful coastal town of Ostend. The casino itself is more than one hundred and fifty years old but was rebuilt after the Second World War. It’s a popular gambling destination for locals and visitors alike with thousands pouring through its doors every year. Like most of the casinos in Belgium it offers a wide variety of games at a range of stakes all set in amazing surroundings. Unlike most casinos in Belgium it has strong ties with Britain being that in the 1920’s many British gamblers visited the casino on holiday whilst gambling was prohibited in the UK. Of course, if you don’t make it to Ostend to visit this fabulous casino you could always visit Golden Palace Poker Texas Hold’em and try your luck there, if the gambling bug bites!

Casino Kursaal, Ostend, Belgium by Wasily

Antwerp

Rubens’ House

Rubens is one of the most famous artists that Belgium has ever produced. His awe-inspiring paintings can be seen in many of the top galleries around the world and the house that he built in Antwerp is almost as breath-taking. In it, visitors can find a large collection of Rubens’ work amongst the works of many other prominent artists and Rubens’ own collection of statues. This house is a must-see for any art lover visiting Belgium.

Rubens’ House, Antwerp, Belgium by Velvet

The post 5 Top Places to Visit in Belgium appeared first on Europe Explored.

Norfolk Broads, UK by Russell Smith

But of course, this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Millions of travellers prefer to find locations which offer a more tranquil way of life, surrounded by beautiful scenery and with plenty of peace and quiet thrown in. For them, one of the most welcoming destinations of all is located in Eastern England, and it remains one of those places in which time appears to have, if not stood still, been meandering along in a sedate manner for many decades.

The Norfolk Broads isn’t a hidden gem or a closely-guarded secret, it’s a vibrant and extremely popular tourist destination that attracts visitors from all over the world. It’s a location that is something of a rarity in the modern world; somewhere which offers tourists all the up to date facilities that contribute to a wonderful holiday, but in a quiet and understated way that underlines something that East Anglian people have known for centuries – that life is not a race.

Smell the flowers, taste the coffee, enjoy the scenery

Dotted throughout the area are picturesque villages and hamlets that would not look out of place on a chocolate box, and which have changed little over the passing years. The Broads themselves are waterways that provide boat-users with a golden opportunity to soak up some truly spectacular scenery at a pleasantly slow place. Locations such as Horning and Ranworth are stunning, and have become popular bases for tourists from across the globe.

The local pubs and restaurants offer visitors an old-fashioned warm welcome from the moment they arrive. There are plenty to choose from, providing a wonderful selection of Norfolk beers and of course a superb choice of freshly-cooked food. Cromer, a town that’s on the coast to the north of the region, is famous all over the world for the quality of its crab, so be sure to give it a try.

As you might expect from an area that’s well-known for its slow pace, driving around the Norfolk Broads isn’t suitable for boy racers. The roads are fine and allow for easy passage between locations, but you should expect to take it at a leisurely rate. After all, there is some wonderful scenery to take in along the way and, of course, it really isn’t a race!

David Showell is a regular visitor to the Norfolk Broads. He works for www.carhiredirect.co.uk

The post The Unspoilt Beauty of the Norfolk Broads | United Kingdom appeared first on Europe Explored.

Loket has 3 000 inhabitants and it is located in the Sokolov District in the Karlovy Vary region of the Czech Republic. Most people visit Loket as a day trip from Karlovy Vary, but it’s also a sleepy place to ease off the travel accelerator for a few days.

Loket means “elbow” in English. The town is named this due to the town centre being surrounded on three sides by the Ohře River, and the shape the river takes is similar to that of an elbow. The town centre itself features Loket Castle, a 12th century gothic castle. The town centre is a national monument and as such is preserved from modern developments.

There is an annual opera festival in an open air amphitheatre with the castle as a backdrop.

View 12th century gothic Castle Loket with historical village in Czech republic in a larger map

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