Flights from Florence to Belgium from 39EUR*

Flights to Belgium from Florence

Vueling flies direct from Florence to Brussels in around 2 hours. It is the only route into the country from Florence, and that works well, because everything in Belgium is close together: Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp are all less than an hour from the capital by train.

That turns a weekend into a trip across several cities without changing hotels. With 3 or 4 days there is time to see something of each one at an easy pace.

What documents you need to travel to Belgium

Belgium and Italy are both part of the European Union and the Schengen Area, so Italian and other EU citizens only need a valid national ID card or passport, with no visa or further formalities.

Check the expiry date before you book: you will not be able to board with an expired document, and there is no way to fix it at the airport. The European Health Insurance Card covers public healthcare during your stay and is worth taking with you. If you are travelling with children or on a passport from a non-EU country, check your case on the travel documents page.

What to know when you land in Belgium

From the airport to the centre. You land at Brussels-Zaventem, the country’s main airport. Trains leave from the terminal itself and reach central Brussels in around 20 minutes, and from Central Station there are connections to Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp.

The train covers everything. The Belgian network is dense and frequent, and distances are short: the four main cities are no more than 60 km apart, and trains from Brussels to Bruges run every hour and take under 60 minutes. That is what lets you stay in one place and see the rest on day trips.

Three official languages. French in Brussels and Wallonia, Dutch in Flanders, home to Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp, and German in the east. Signs change from region to region, and Brussels is bilingual, which can be confusing at stations. English works without any trouble.

Rain all year round. The climate is oceanic, with mild summers between 18 and 25°C and damp winters of around 5°C. It rains in every season, so a waterproof jacket will see you through the whole trip, July included.

Belgium uses the euro, and plug sockets are types C and E, at 230V.

What to do in Belgium

Brussels

In Brussels, the Grand Place, the Atomium and the European Quarter are the obvious stops, but Ixelles and Saint-Gilles show a more everyday side of the city, with the Horta House and the art nouveau of Victor Horta. The food scene goes well beyond the clichés the country tends to be known for.

Bruges

Just over an hour by train. Canals, bell towers and cobbled streets that have survived almost untouched, with the Belfry and the Basilica of the Holy Blood in the medieval centre. It is the most photogenic place in Belgium and also the most visited, so come on a weekday or stay the night and you will find a different city.

Ghent

Half an hour from Brussels and far less crowded than Bruges. The Graslei quay, the Castle of the Counts and the Ghent Altarpiece in St Bavo’s Cathedral draw most visitors, while university life gives the city a pulse quite unlike that of a museum town.

Antwerp

45 minutes by train. Belgium’s capital of diamonds and fashion, with the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, the Cathedral of Our Lady and its Rubens paintings, and the Zuid district. Central Station is one of the most spectacular in Europe in its own right, and you see it the moment you arrive.

Luggage for your flight to Belgium

What you can take depends on the fare you choose when booking. The simplest fare includes a personal item that fits under the seat in front, and from there you can add cabin or checked luggage.

For a weekend moving between Belgian cities, cabin luggage is usually enough, and travelling light pays off when you are hopping from one train to the next. Sorting it out when you book avoids surprises at the check-in desk. Check the current conditions in Vueling’s luggage policy.