Belgium is a country full of incredible history from art to industry to pop culture. One of the best ways to learn about the people and culture is by visiting the numerous museums in Belgium.
Visit Museums in Belgium with a Museum Pass
The most cost effective way to see historic sites and museums in Belgium is by purchasing a museum or city pass. There are options for passes in Brussels, Bruges and Belgium.
Which Pass Should You Purchase to Visit Museums in Belgium?
There are a number of different passes available to purchase in order to visit cultural sites and museums in Belgium. In order to figure out which pass is right for you will depend on how long and how many cities you are visiting during your time in Belgium. If you plan to visit 2 or more cities for 3 or more days, the absolute best card is the MuseumPassmusées.
MuseumPassmusées
This pass is the best tourist pass to use while visiting Belgium. The card lets you visit as many museums in Belgium as you want because it is valid at hundreds of museums across the country. The pass also lasts one year from the date of purchase.
If you purchase this pass YOU MUST REGISTER YOUR PASS ONLINE before your third visit. This will officially activate your pass and ensure it works for the remainder of your visit, or the year.
The biggest (and only real) downside to this pass is the website. Both the website and app are only set up in Dutch and French. The best way to use the site to either register your pass, or search for museums is to open the website in the Google app. From there you can have it auto translate into English. The search menu however does not translate into English, most people will find the French easier to read and translate than Dutch.
The comprehensive list of all available sites and museums in Belgium with the pass can be found here.
The pass cost is €59 for adults (no senior discount available). There is a bonus available with the pass that I was unaware of when using. With your pass you can also get (5) 50% discount passes for the train. As the train is the easiest way to get between cities in Belgium, this is a great perk to utilize.
You can purchase the passes online here.
Antwerp City Pass
If you plan to only visit Antwerp (maybe as a popover from Amsterdam) you may want to get the Antwerp City Pass. This pass includes access to one of the best museums in Belgium, the MAS museum, as well as the Cathedral of Our Lady. This is the largest and most central church in the city, which also has a steep €12 entry fee. There are additional attractions included, as well as access to the metro and trams.
Additional pass benefits and information can be found here.
Price:
- 24 hours: €45
- 48 hours: €55
- 72 hours: €65
You can purchase Antwerp City Passes at the central train station or online here.
Musea Bruges Card
The Musea Bruges Card is a great way to see many of the top sites in Bruges. This card is best if you only plan to visit Bruges and not other cities in Belgium. Here you’ll have access to 12 popular monuments and museums in Belgium, including the Belfort.
Find more card benefit information here.
Price:
- 72 hours: €33
You can purchase the Musea Bruges Card online here.
Brussels Card
With the Brussels Card you have access to over 50 museums and attractions throughout Brussels. This includes access to both the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium and the Atomium, which is not included in the Museum Pass.
With this pass, you’ll also have access to the Hop on Hop off buses as well as public transportation throughout Brussels.
Find more card benefit information here.
Price:
- 24 hours: €32
- 48 hours: €44
- 72 hours: €50
You can purchase the Brussels Card online here.
CityCard Gent
The CityCard Gent provides access to 12 museums in Gent including the Belfry (which in my opinion has a better view than Bruges). You can also get a €10 discount on viewing the Ghent Altarpiece at St Bavo’s Cathedral.
Additional card benefits include free public transportation (including the water tram) and a free (1) day bike rental. You can also take a free guided boat tour.
Find more card benefit information here.
Price:
- 48 hours: €42
- 72 hours: €48
You can purchase CityCard Gent at the tourist office or at these sites and hotels.
A Breakdown of the museums in Belgium I visited with the Museum Pass
During one week, I traveled to (4) cities in Belgium. Here is a comprehensive list of each site and the associated entrance fees.
Brussels
- Comics Art Museum – €13
- Fashion & Lace Museum – €10
Ghent
- Industrie Museum – €9
Bruges
- Belfort – €15
- Gruuthusemuseum – €15 (€17 when combined with OLV Museum)
- O.L.V.-kerk Museum – €8 (€17 when combined with OLV Museum)
Antwerp
- Mode Museum Antwerp – €12
- MAS – Museum aan de Stroom – €12
- Museum Mayer van der Bergh – €10
Over the duration of 6 days I was able to visit 9 cultural sites and museums in Belgium. Without the museum pass I would have spent €98 vs. the €59 for the pass. If I had been traveling by myself, rather than with my mom, I would have been able to visit a few more places.
This pass is well worth the money for anyone looking to maximize their visits to the fantastic museums in Belgium.
Read more information about visiting Belgium.
What to Know Before Visiting Historic Belgium
