Belgium is petite. Fall asleep on a Paris to Amsterdam train and you could miss it all together – well, maybe, if you’re a heavy sleeper.

But crammed into this fascinating little land are some of Europe’s great medieval cities (including Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp), the EU capital Brussels and no less than three national languages.

Fabulous chocolate, brilliant beers and baffling bureaucracy are all part of the mix in a place with a surprising range of cultural and practical quirks that are well worth knowing about before you arrive.

1. Local menus probably won’t include Brussels sprouts

Given the name, you might imagine Brussels sprouts heavily featured on many Belgian menus. Although sprouts were first cultivated in 13th-century Flanders, Belgians themselves more likely see endives as their most archetypal national vegetable.

Known as witloof in Dutch and chicons in Belgian French, the classic recipe wraps them in ham and slathers them in white sauce. However, over the last 30 years, a lack of interest in this labor-intensive farming practice has seen Belgian endive production nose dive.

Some fear that the vegetable might become virtually extinct within a generation, but scientists are working hard to save the popular vegetable.

2. You’ll pay for water but you don’t need to tip

Belgium has super standards of public health, a socialized medical system that’s the envy of neighboring countries and yes — despite occasional scares — most tap water is completely fine to drink.

But that’s not what you’re likely to hear if you have the bare-faced temerity to ask for eau du robinet in a restaurant. Eateries happily supply free bread, and there’s never a requirement to tip Belgian serving staff, but for H2O you’re expected to stump up for a bottle of mineral water. A beer is often cheaper.

3. Carry coins: you may need to pay to use the bathroom

Cash usage is plummeting in Belgium, and most places now expect plastic or phone money. But not everywhere. It’s especially worth keeping a few euro coins in your pocket in case you need to use older public toilets.

Yes, unfortunately, some motorway services still have a pay table guarding the facilities. Even some bigger restaurants charge you to go. Whether you classify McDonald’s as a “restaurant” or not, its central Ghent branch requires payment.

4. Cash payments are rounded up to the nearest €0.05

Unlike in the neighboring Netherlands, €0.01 and €0.02 copper coins are technically still legal tender in Belgium. However, in reality, you’re unlikely to find any because from 2019 Belgian merchants must round up or down for all in-person cash transactions to the nearest multiple of €0.05.

5. ATMs are hard to find

As cash usage wanes, so does the number of ATMs you’re likely to find. A spate of heavy-handed robberies has further reduced the attractiveness for banks to site ATMs in their exterior walls. So, in many Belgian urban centers, if you want cash, you’ll need to locate a branch of Bancontact, essentially a shop containing “bank-neutral” cash machines.

6. Eat frites not French fries

You may have learned about people in Holland putting mayonnaise on their fries from the 1994-movie Pulp Fiction, but it’s a custom that extends beyond those borders.

The idea is alive and well in Belgium where there’s a whole range of flavored mayo-based sauces to choose from when you order a portion of friets/frites from a frituur (fry shop). If in doubt, go for mildly spicy Andalouse and have it on the side rather than drenching your marvelously triple-fried beauties.

Most importantly, don’t even think of calling them “French Fries” – one thing that unites Flemish and Francophone Belgians is that it’s Belgium, not France, that really knows how to fry potatoes.

7. Cafes are more for beer than coffee

Belgium shares the third-wave caffeine passions that have swept the globe: many a maestro barista plies their trade here and there are some great urban roasteries. However, while a traditional Belgian cafe will serve you a decent coffee (typically with a square of chocolate or speculaas biscuit), don’t expect a flat white or a cold-drip brew.

Belgium’s classic cafes are, in reality, far more like pubs than coffee houses, with hardwood chairs, wooden wall paneling, brasswork and mirrors, though in a downbeat less showy fashion than a French brasserie. And the main point of a cafe is to pour beers. If you just order a bière (French) or pintje (Flemish) you’ll get a well-poured 25cl lager.

But any cafe worth its salt will also offer a range of alternative brews – typically in bottles – many with alcohol levels approaching those of wine.

Some beer-bars have a book-thick menu of options and each should be served in its own specific glass. For powerful, well-balanced brews it’s hard to beat the various Trappist beers, still brewed by monks. Some connoisseurs purport to love the sour, spontaneously-fermenting lambics.

If you don’t mind looking like a tourist, try ordering a Kwak, which usually comes in an Instagram-worthy round-bottomed glass held on a wooden stand like it’s part of a chemistry experiment.

8. Drink driving is not acceptable

While in a Belgian cafe, if someone asks you “Are you Bob?” that’s not because they think they know you. Bob, in Belgium, is a shorthand for the designated driver – the person in a group who has to stay sober and spurn that fabulous selection of beers.

Well into the noughties drink driving was seen as a minor misdemeanor – police sometimes urged the inebriated to hurry home rather than locking them up. However, things have changed radically in the last decade and the once-repeated Belgian maxim “if I wasn’t drunk I’d be too scared to drive” is no longer considered amusing.

Along with much of Europe, the blood alcohol limit is 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood (0.05%), which could be reached just drinking one strong beer.

9. When in doubt, speak English

Traveling anywhere it’s polite to speak the local language, right? Well yes if you know what “local” means. In central Belgium, that can be tricky.

Bureaucratic borders between Dutch-speaking Flanders, French speaking Wallonia and officially bilingual Brussels are essentially invisible. Then there’s also a German-speaking area of Wallonia too.

In general, speaking the wrong local language – maybe speaking French in parts of Flanders – can be seen as more insensitive than simply using English, or you just won’t be understood at all. Either way, especially in bigger cities, it’s best to just go with English.

10. Good with languages? French, Belgian French and Walloon are all different

Wallonia is the French-speaking half of Belgium, but the French spoken there has some peculiarities. So, if you speak the language of Voltaire, be prepared to say “septante” for 70 and “nonante” for 90… though not “octante” for 80 – that’s just too Swiss.

Don’t assume that this means you’re speaking Walloon – that is essentially a different language (with several highly variant dialects). These days Walloon is mostly heard only at folkloric festivals (like Les Macralles night of witches at Vielsalm) or at puppet shows (most famously featuring Tchanchès, the mascot of Liège).

For comic effect you might also spice your Belgian French with words of Bruxellois, the street patois of the capital which traditionally spices French with some fabulous hybrid words of Dutch origin to special effect. For example, un zieverer is a wind-up merchant prone to telling deliberately exaggerated tall tales.

And en stoemelings means doing something furtively, particularly a cash transaction in pursuance of the age-old Belgian passion for tax avoidance. Both terms have a humorous rather than negative connotation.

11. Place names on road signs are confusing

Where the language divide is likely to prove most baffling is when you’re driving. Many Flemish towns have entirely different Francophone names and vice versa, and it’s common to find that they’ll use their own version on regional road signs. Particularly baffling for tourists are Bergen (for Mons), Louvain (for Leuven) and Luik (for Liège).

Should you approach Jodoigne from the north it’ll be signed Geldenaken. Even foreign cities aren’t spared: in Flanders signs for Lille (France) might say Rijsel while in Wallonia, Aachen might be written Aix-la-Chapelle.

What are some of the things most tourists want to do when they visit a new place or even better a new country? Walk the streets and admire the architecture, visit monuments and museums, learn anything they can about the culture and history of the specific location and of course taste the local goodies and traditional dishes, are definitely some of the “must do” things in every visitor’s list. Well the single ladies and gentlemen often tend to have different priorities, but that’s not the topic of our list.

If you could combine some of these things, especially culture with food, then you would save valuable time and maybe money too, while your visit would get a lot easier and less tiring. We proudly present five of the best Restaurant-Museums combos around the world, where you can not only feed your spirit but your stomach too, with some of the most delicious cuisine.

Museo-Atelier Canova Tadolini in Rome

If you are looking for a truly unique place to feed your body and soul, the Museo Atelier Canova Tadolini is just the right place for you. Surrounded by huge sculptures, this graphic little place is a surrealistic cross between a library, art gallery, museum and restaurant; you probably have never seen something like this before.

As for the food? It’s Italian… is there a chance of it not being good? The highlight of this place is definitely the breakfast, and if you have ever been in Rome, then you know that every hotel receptionist will suggest it for your morning coffee. Cappuccino with latte, Panini, Croissants with praline, eggs with bacon and many different fresh juices will make your day and give you strength to continue your tour in Rome.

Some might complain about the rushed (and sometimes rude) staff, or how all food portions are disappointing and small for their price, but we still suggest it and think that the decoration and atmosphere alone is fascinating enough to make you forget about every other bad note.

Ray’s and Stark Bar at L.A. Museum of Art

With 100,000 objects dating from ancient times to the present, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art is the largest art museum in the Western United States. A museum of international stature and fame, as well as a vital part of Southern California, LACMA shares its vast collections through exhibitions, public programs, and research facilities that attract nearly a million visitors annually.

Very few know that LACMA has a gem hidden though, the restaurant known as Ray’s and Stark. It has neat modern decor that fits nicely into the museum setting, while the menu exceeds in ambition even the museum’s endless art collection. Squid Ink Pasta, Sage Pizza, Benedict Burger and Toffee are some of the restaurant’s specialties and if you want to combine good food with encyclopedic collection of art, special exhibitions, music, film and educational programs, then you know where to go.

Hermitage Restaurant in Saint Petersburg

The Hermitage Restaurant’s two menus and ten dining rooms, each with its own thematic décor inspired by the museum’s collection, allow visitors to choose their own adventure. The restaurant’s Russian and European food, prepared according to time-honored recipes but served in a modern style, will satisfy the most demanding gourmet taste.

During summer months the restaurant has one more open-air hall in Palace Square, which offers an amazing view of the already amazingly beautiful city of St. Petersburg. The only drawback is the price, as it’s possibly the most expensive restaurant on this list. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!

Le Georges at Centre Pompidou in Paris

Paris’ premier cultural center, Centre Georges Pompidou, has amazed visitors since it was inaugurated in 1977. On the ground floor, the Forum du Centre Pompidou has temporary exhibitions and information desks, while the 4th and 5th floors house the Musée National d’Art Moderne, France’s national collection of art dating from 1905 onward. A fraction of the 65,000-plus works by 5700 artists – including the work of the surrealists and cubists, as well as pop art and contemporary works – are on display.

For the ones who appreciate their stunning views with great cuisine, Les Georges restaurant might be the highlight of the museum. And how can it not be? The restaurant offers one of the most amazing views as you are looking out onto the rooftops of Paris, while at the same time you can sip some of the best French wine (they are famous for their great quality of wine), usually accompanied by salted almonds and olives. If you visit during the later hours, the view out to the Parisian skyline veiled in the light afternoon drizzle, makes it even a more memorable and romantic experience. This is an ideal destination for honeymoons.

Of course the menu includes way more dishes, and any of the salads and desserts cannot be missed, but the view and the good wine that the restaurant is offering you, is what takes your senses to another level.

Acropolis Museum Restaurant in Athens

The new Acropolis Museum of Athens needs no recommendations really; it has been voted as the best museum in the world for 2010 and 2011, while for 2012 and 2013 was included in the top 3. It has received nearly 4 million people from 70 different countries in the past 3 and a half years, while its sculptures, statues and coins are some of the most significant and valuable in the history of mankind as a whole.

What’s even better news? All this can be combined with good Greek food and an amazing view. The restaurant is actually the second floor of the unique Acropolis Museum, where you can admire the grace of Classical Greek sculpture. What you need to consider is that all these magnificent pieces of sculpture were found on the Sacred Acropolis Rock after so many ages of warfare destruction and looting. The view is amazing, the interior decoration is minimal and the menu offers a wide variety of Greek cuisine and healthy Mediterranean diet: Greek salad, boiled greens, pasta with chicken, broccoli and bulgur, moussaka, lamb with potatoes, various Greek cheeses & salads and of course Baklava for dessert and Greek coffee. If you want to dine next to Greek Gods and mythical heroes, then Acropolis museum is waiting for you.

Lost luggage can ruin your entire trip. Instead of enjoying nature and architecture, you’ll be on edge because of lost valuables and equipment.

Express tells you how to keep your luggage safe at the airport.

How not to lose your suitcase at the airport

Security expert Shahzad Ali shared his tips on how to protect your luggage while traveling. He advised choosing dark-colored suitcases to avoid attracting the attention of thieves.

“Although a new and colorful suitcase may look more fashionable, it won’t only be attractive to you. It’s best to choose a more common-looking suitcase, and if possible, a worn-out one — as to not stand out from the crowd — and with it, a high-quality padlock,” he says.

Shahzad recommends adding a distinguishing feature, such as a ribbon or sticker, to a plain black or gray suitcase, rather than a brightly colored accessory, so your luggage won’t be mistaken for someone else’s and go unnoticed.

The expert also advised travelers to keep track of all their belongings and to purchase a special tracking device to help locate their suitcase in case it is lost.

Everyone loves a good view, right? There are even entire TV shows dedicated to houses and buildings that provide the best views of the sea, mountains, or forests. Those not afraid of heights may enjoy their views of Earth’s most spectacular scenes from a viewing deck or observatory or while dangling from a harness between cliffs while ziplining from one point to the next.

However, if you get dizzy just standing on the first rung of a ladder, your acrophobia will thank you for looking away now…

1. The Flying Kiss

The Flying Kiss is already a weird name for a sky-high ride. The attraction, situated near Chongqing, features the two 170-foot-tall (81.8-meter) semi-naked figures of Prince Charming and his Fairy Woman. It was constructed beside a cliff that dropped nearly 2/3 of a mile (1 km) down.

The two figures lie horizontally next to each other before the ride starts. Once it’s fired up, the figures move away from each other in a circular motion until they are upright. All the while, each one holds up a platform of thrill-seeking riders. Eventually, with the arms vertical as they “lean in for a kiss,” the two platforms twist past each other as the statue’s arms seem to entwine.

Since the ride opened in 2020, it has garnered mixed reviews from netizens and visitors. Some find the figures charming, while others make sure to vote for it as one of the ugliest structures in China. At the very least, the ride offers a breathtaking view of the Wulong Baima mountains, so it’s not all bad.

2. The Strat

The Tower at The Strat, looking over the Las Vegas Strip, offers stunning views that might just make you forget how much you lost at the blackjack table.

At 1,149 feet (350 meters) up, the indoor and outdoor observation decks give you a front-row seat to the glittering Strip, the sprawling suburbs, and the stunning desert landscape beyond. As the sun sets, the city really comes to life, turning Vegas into a glitzy, larger-than-life spectacle.

If the sparkling skyline doesn’t take your breath away, stepping out onto the open-air SkyPod, where the breeze tousles your hair and the sheer height makes you question every decision that led you here, will definitely do the trick.

And taking things one step further, the thrill rides dangling you over the edge offer the perfect opportunity to question your life choices while screaming at the top of your lungs. Because, you know, Vegas never does anything halfway—even when it comes to views.

3. Ruyi Bridge

With its twisting, double-arched design and glass-bottom walkways, the Ruyi Bridge in Zhejiang, China, is a great way to test your bravery without wrestling a panda. Suspended high above the Shenxianju Scenic Area, this architectural wonder looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie.

As you step onto the transparent floor and glance down at the canyon below, you’ll either marvel at the engineering brilliance or question why you skipped breakfast.

The design resembles a jade ruyi—a traditional Chinese symbol of good fortune and power—and is a feat of modern engineering. One hundred meters in length and 140 meters above the ground, the jaw-dropping structure is built to withstand gale-force winds and pouring rain. The surrounding landscape of cliffs, waterfalls, and lush greenery adds a magic touch that’s hard to resist.

4. Pedra da Gavea

Pedra da Gávea in Rio de Janeiro is the perfect way to flirt with danger while feeling like a rugged explorer. This massive granite monolith rises 2,770 feet (844 meters) above sea level, offering some of the most incredible views you’ll ever behold—if you survive the hike.

The trail starts innocently enough. Strolling through the Atlantic Forest, you’ll be serenaded by a myriad of birds. But soon enough, you’ll be scrambling up steep inclines and gripping tree roots as though your life depended on it. And then, the pièce de résistance: the infamous Carrasqueira. That near-vertical rock face that turns hikers into rock climbers.

The panoramic views of Rio’s stunning coastline, Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, and the endless Atlantic make it all worth it. But be warned: that thrilling sense of accomplishment might be slightly overshadowed by the realization that you still need to make your way down.

5. Pico do Areeiro

At 5,964 feet (1,818 meters) above sea level, Pico do Areeiro in Madeira is an otherworldly experience. The clouds swirling around dramatic, jagged peaks truly make you feel as if you’ve been transported into another realm. On clear days, the endless Atlantic stretches toward the horizon. Misty mornings transform the view into a sea of clouds.

However, the real magic unfolds as you follow the trail toward Pico Ruivo. The narrow ridges drop away into nothing on either side, sprinkled with craggy rock formations reminiscent of the underworld and vibrant green valleys that glow in the morning light. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll get to witness cloud inversion—a phenomenon that leaves you standing above a fluffy blanket of clouds. Whether you’re an avid hiker or just someone who likes to say “wow” a lot, Pico do Areeiro is sure to thrill.

6. Xufu Cliffs

Walking along the Xufu Cliffs at Xuedou Mountain is like walking along the world’s edge (without boarding a spaceship). The endless view across magnificent forests, dramatic valleys, and peaks that reach the clouds seem to whisper, “Look how tiny you are.”

The sheer cliffs that drop away into oblivion are unlike anything you’ve ever seen in your hometown. But I guess part of the thrill is that little tingle of fear when you peer over the edge.

The Xuedou Mountain adds a Zen-like serenity to the experience; by the time you leave, you will have a million shots to upload to your Instagram. And a new appreciation for terra firma.

7. Moab Rope Swing

Suspended from a massive sandstone arch in Utah’s dramatic desert landscape, the world’s highest rope swing promises a thrill like no other. The Moab Rope Swing is nothing like the one you used to frequent at your local childhood playground—unless, of course, your playground had a 400-foot (122-meter) drop and required signing a waiver.

When you step off the edge, the world suddenly turns into a blur of red rock cliffs. If you dare open your eyes, you’ll notice awe-inspiring canyons and skies so blue they look photoshopped.

Below, you’ll find the Colorado River surrounded by towering rock formations, standing like ancient guardians. Soaring through the crisp desert air, surrounded by the rugged beauty of Moab stretching out in every direction, you’ll never want to come back down.

8. Sky Ladder

Perched high in the emerald-green mountains of Chongqing, Mount Qixing’s via Ferrata in China combines jaw-dropping views with enough adrenaline to make you rethink your life choices halfway up.

The only way to make your way along the narrow ledges is to clip into steel cables. But you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of dazzling green valleys, ethereal misty peaks, and awe-inspiring landscapes stretching as far as the eye can see.

Of course, the real magic happens when you stop clinging to the rock for dear life and take in the amazing scenery. The lush, evergreen forests of Wulong unfolding below, paired with the soft golden light at sunrise or sunset, soon help you forget that your legs are shaking.

9. Jacob’s Ladder

The historic Jacob’s Ladder on St. Helena Island boasts a whopping 699 steps, enough to make the fittest individual’s legs turn to jelly. Originally built as an inclined plane for transporting goods, the staircase now serves mainly as a tourist attraction.

As you make your way up the steps, the panoramic vistas behind you unfold like a living postcard: Jamestown with its vividly colored rooftops, the dramatic, rugged cliffs of the island, and the endless Atlantic stretching out to infinity.

When you reach the top, the town below looks like a toy village and the surrounding cliffs contrast beautifully against the endless blue ocean. The view is particularly mesmerizing at sunrise or sunset when the golden light bathes the landscape in warm hues, and you realize that climbing all those steps just for the photo op was absolutely worth it.

10. Hanging Houses

Nestled precariously along the sheer rock face, the hanging houses of Wangxian Valley cling to the cliffside like mountain goats with excellent architectural taste.

As you’d expect, the view from this precarious village is nothing short of spectacular. It looks like something straight out of a fairytale: dazzling green valleys stretching into infinity, with mist curling lazily around the peaks as if straight from a smoke machine.

With its patchwork of forests and winding rivers framed by towering cliffs that seem to touch the sky, the valley below feels eerily quiet. Early mornings are particularly magical when the rising sun paints the valley in soft golds and pinks, and the hanging houses seem to hover above a sea of clouds. Fascinating? For sure. Slightly terrifying? Yes, that, too.