For the international wheelchair traveller, Belgium is a surprisingly well-chosen destination — small, packed with cultural heritage, equipped with an excellent public transport network and accommodations that have gradually adopted standards such as the VisitFlanders A / A+ label or Wallonia's CAWaB. But it does take some navigating as a first-timer to make the right choices: which cities are genuinely accessible, which trains, which places to stay?
This guide is written for the international tourist visiting Belgium for the first time in a wheelchair — with a focus on practical logistics, top destinations and Belgian wheelchair culture.
Arriving in Belgium: airports and stations
Brussels Airport (BRU) is the largest international airport, with 24/7 PRM assistance and a direct train link to Brussels-Central (17 min, NMBS (Belgian Railways)) and all main stations. Book assistance at least 24 hours in advance via b-europe.com.
Charleroi-Sud Airport (CRL) is the second airport, mainly used by budget airlines. Accessible shuttle to Charleroi-Sud station, with onward connections via NMBS.
Eurostar from London and Thalys / Eurostar from Paris and Amsterdam stop directly at Brussels-South (Bruxelles-Midi), with 24/7 accessible assistance.
If you arrive by private car from the Netherlands or France: Belgian motorways are toll-free, but accessible parking in city centres is limited — plan around public car parks with PRM spaces.
Belgian public transport 101
If you're travelling around Belgium, use our public transport master guide to understand NMBS (Belgian Railways trains), De Lijn (Flemish bus/tram), STIB (Brussels metro/tram/bus) and TEC (Walloon bus). Key points for international visitors:
- PRM assistance must be booked 24 hours in advance
- Low-floor trams in all major cities
- Accessible metro in Brussels: check real-time lift status via the STIB app
One important nuance: Belgian public transport is multilingual. In Flanders staff speak Dutch, in Wallonia French. English is reasonably well spoken at all major stations.
Top 4 cities to start with
Brussels — the most international-friendly
Brussels has the most developed accessible metro in Belgium (lines 1, 5 and 6 with lifts) and the largest selection of international hotels with accessible rooms. Top tip: pair our Brussels 2-day citytrip with an evening on the Grand-Place.
Accessible museums: Magritte Museum, BOZAR, Atomium, Train World, BELvue, MIM — all with lift and accessible toilet.
Accessible accommodation: Holiday Inn Brussels Schuman, Ibis Brussels Grand-Place.
Bruges — the UNESCO postcard
Bruges is the classic Belgian wheelchair paradox: stunningly beautiful, but the historic centre is entirely cobblestone. Top tip: plan a 2-day citytrip focused on the main routes, and use our Bruges citytrip guide for the smoothest path.
Accessible accommodation: B&B Buytenshuys Gits-Hooglede (A+ label), B&B Minnewater Bruges, Grand Hotel Casselbergh.
Ghent — cobblestones plus top-tier culture
Ghent combines historic heritage (St Bavo's Cathedral with the Ghent Altarpiece) and modern accessible museums (STAM, SMAK, MSK). Top tip: use low-floor tram lines 1 and 4 to avoid the cobblestones.
Accessible accommodation: B&B Het Volterras Ghent, Hotel Marriott Ghent.
Antwerp — modern and port-city energy
Antwerp is one of the most accessible city centres in the country, thanks to wide boulevards and a modern tram network. Top tip: combine Plantin-Moretus (UNESCO) with MAS (modern) and Stadspark for a varied day.
Accessible accommodation: Hotel Indigo Antwerp City Centre, Mercure Antwerp City Centre, Holiday Inn Mechelen.
Top themes for your first Belgian visit
Heritage route: combine our 13 beguinages (UNESCO) + 13 castles by province + 14 cathedrals for a 7-day heritage road trip.
Family: 13 theme parks for families + 10 provincial domains — especially Pairi Daiza, Bokrijk and Plopsaland.
Festival summer: our festival pillar covers Pukkelpop, Rock Werchter and Tomorrowland — book 3 months ahead for PRM access.
Senior holidays: our senior-friendly holidays pillar and three-generations pillar for anyone travelling with less mobile parents or grandparents.
Belgian wheelchair culture
Practical tips for international visitors:
Always ask up front when arriving at a new hotel, B&B or restaurant: "Do you have a wheelchair-accessible room / table / route?" Belgian hospitality providers genuinely want to help, but they often don't realise that 'accessible' means different things to different people — be specific about your needs (roll-in shower, raised toilet, wide door).
Verify by phone, not just through online booking. The accessible-room flag on booking platforms is not always reliable.
Small town vs big city: in major cities (Brussels / Antwerp / Ghent / Bruges), English is widely spoken. In smaller provincial towns (Tongeren, Halle, Mons), a few words of French or Dutch go a long way — a short "Bonjour, je voudrais..." or "Goedendag, kan ik..." often breaks the ice.
Accessible taxis are best booked through healthcare-recognised PRM transport operators, or via Uber/Bolt equivalents in the larger cities. For PRM taxis: call ahead, don't try to flag one on the street.
Tipping culture: a 5–10% tip for good service is appreciated, but not expected. Service is usually included in the price.
Accessibility labels explained
Belgium has three regional accessibility labels you can use to check accommodation:
- VisitFlanders A / A+ label (Flanders) — A = basic accessible, A+ = independently accessible. Check at visitflanders.com
- CAWaB / Gîtes de Wallonie (Wallonia) — the Walloon equivalent, with an "accessible PMR" filter
- Tourism for All Belgium — a national verified list spanning both regions
When booking via an international booking platform, always check whether the property also appears in one of these regional databases — that's an objective trust indicator.
Final thoughts
A first visit to Belgium as a wheelchair user is substantially different from travelling in other European countries — shorter distances, more accessible museums, a well-developed public transport system, but also plenty of cobblestones and historic thresholds. With the right preparation (Brussels Airport PRM assistance, accommodation verified through the regional labels, our public transport master guide for multi-modal journeys), Belgium turns into one of the richest culturally-accessible destinations in Europe.
Got a question about your first Belgian visit, or an experience you'd like to share? Get in touch — we love answering questions from international wheelchair travellers and helping with specific recommendations.