Belgium

Despite what you’ve heard, Belgium isn’t all about chocolate and beer. The well-rounded country also touts an impressive array of medieval time-warps, ornamental Art Nouveau, and passionate freedom fighters. Brussels is a must for its quirky Comic Strip Art Center, gothic architecture, and dizzying selection of monuments and museums. The Flemish town of Ghent is a fairytale-like maze of canals, best explored by boat. You can practice your French in Wallonia, hunt for antiques or diamonds in Antwerp, and pamper yourself in Spa, the home of Europe’s oldest health resort. There are more castles per square mile in Belgium than any other country in the world. For bibliophiles, the mind-boggling Castle of Beloeil has a library containing nearly 20,000 books. Freedom fries, or frites, are a cultural staple so order up, and don’t forget to ask for a side of mayonnaise.