Belgium may seem like the least obvious road trip destination, but it's a no-brainer if you're in Europe. One of the most multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-faceted countries in the world, Belgium is also one of the most fascinating to visit. Are you more interested in traveling for chocolate, history, waffles, architecture, frites, or genuine lace? Why choose? Belgium has them all.

One of the best things about road-tripping in Europe is the ability to visit various countries more quickly and efficiently than in multiple States. Even the approach to Belgium brings an element of both novelty and adventure. Belgium shares a border with France, Luxembourg, Germany, and the Netherlands. On the French side, you can also enter Belgium less than 40 miles from the famous Channel Tunnel or “Chunnel,” which connects the United Kingdom to Continental Europe via the English Channel.

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You can use your U.S. driver's license to drive in Belgium. However, some rental companies require an International Driver's Permit (IDP). Be sure to check for that information when choosing a rental company. If you need one, you can apply online (often with instant approval).

Once in Belgium, plan to stay in charming, historie Bruges for a few days. Its nearest border neighbor is the Netherlands, so the local language is Dutch. Many visitors schedule this as a day trip, but there is so much to see, and you'll be glad to spend more than just a few hours here, Start your day at the Historium Brugge by visiting the museum and ascending to the tower's top. Once there, you'll get a bird's eye view of one of Europe's most well-preserved medieval towns. Can't handle the tight squeeze to get there? Head across Market Square to the Belfry of Bruges.

FAIR WARNING: IT'S 366 STEPS TO THE TOP!

STADHUIS

While in and around Market Square, visit the City Hall (Stadhuis) for its historical background and impressive architecture. It remains Bruges' official city hall, but tourists and the public are welcome to take self-guided tours of their beautiful, medieval Great Hall and adjoining museum.

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Several squares in every city around Belgium become Christmas markets from late November to early January. Belgium is a must-stop on any European Christmas market trip.

Once you're familiar with Bruges and Belgian history for context, get to know this canal town up-close and personal on a canal boat tour. Tours are provided seamlessly by locals in multiple languages, so you'll get an authentic, international experience. Your guide can also give suggestions on where to eat, what to do, and where to find the most authentic products to take home with you.

Perhaps you or your travel companions are more interested in museums. You'll find no shortage of unique ones in Bruges. The city boasts a diamond museum (the Diamant Museum), a Lace museum (the Kantcentrum), a chocolate museum (Choco-Story), a museum about Belgian beer (the Bruges Biermuseum), and even a museum that focuses on potatoes and Belgian frites (the Frietmuseum), That's quite a variety!

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Bruges offers the “Best of Bruges Deal” worth at least €50 to non-citizens. This deal is free, and you can choose from three packages highlighting the best food, attractions, or products from Bruges. Orderyours online or pick up one at the Historium Visitor Center.

After you've sampled the fries and chocolate, head to nearby Ghent. Belgium's third-largest city dates to the Middle Ages, but archaeology suggests people have lived here since the Stone Age. The Ghent City Museum (the Stadsmuseum) is dedicated to preserving and telling the story of Ghent and its people throughout history. If you're more interested in castles, you'll find the Castle of the Counts, or the Gravensteen, here. What was once a medieval castle has also seen life as a court, prison, mint, and cotton factory. Today, it's open to visitors.

If grand cathedraLs of Europe are more your speed, you're in Lulk. St. Bavo's CathedraL loasts four Lalge organs, a Rubens painting, and a marbLeland giLtlpuLplt. The two most popular attractions here, however, are the 290-foot bell tower and the Ghent Altarpiece, which is so precious to the city that photos are forbidden.

Getting hungry? Stop into a frites shop for authentic Belgian fries. They may look suspiciously like French fries, but any Belgian will tell you that the Belgians ate them first. The real shock, however, won't be the nationality of the fries but the dipping sauce. Think you'll be enjoying European ketchup? Nope! Try mayonnaise!

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Belgium has three offcial languages: Dutch, French, and German (although only 1% of Belgians speak German as their first language). However, you'll almost certainly hear a few common “unofficial” languages, including Flemish, luxembourgish, and Walloon. If you only speak English, you should be fine communicating, especially in the larger cities.

The next stop on your Belgian road trip should be Antwerp, the hub of the world's diamond trade business. While it's not on the coastline, the city does have an important port on the Scheldt River. With both modern and historie architecture, it's easy to see the city that hosts Europe's second- largest port has been prosperous throughout the eras.

If your trip includes kids (or kids at heart), stop by the Antwerp Zoo in the city center. Dating to 1843, it's one of the oldest in the world. It's a beautiful place to meander through the gardens and see everything from penguins to great apes and flamingoes to girafes.

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If you happen to be visiting in winter, stop by at night to see the Antwerp Zoo Light Show for a festive flair.

For something different, take a guided tour of De Ruien, the city's historie underground sewer system. Skeptical as you may be, you'll quickly find yourself in awe of the underground architecture, canals, and bridges. De Ruien is now one of the city's most popular tourist attractions, created to provide drinking water and a port to the peopLe of Antwerp.

While in Belgium, there is one food no traveler can leave without trying: chocolate. Start with your favorite, whether milk, dark, or white. Belgian chocolate is globally renowned for its creamy, melt-in-your-mouth texture and perfectly balanced flavors. Whether you prefer your chocolate covering fruit; mixed with nuts; or filled with caramel nougat, or crème, you'll find just the thing for your taste here. Even if you don't typically like chocolate, it's worth giving the Belgian variety a try.

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Try the pink, fruity “ruby” chocolate! Created by a Belgian and Swiss cocoa company, this naturally colored and flavored delight is made from ruby cocoa beans that grow in a very specific climate.

Round out your Belgian road trip with a few days in the capital city of Brussels. Famous for countless reasons, you'll have your choice of activities for everyone on your journey. You'll undoubtedly recognize the highly scientific Atomium building from photos. Created for the 1958 WorLd's Fair, your ticket to this attraction includes admission to the nearby Design Museum Brussels.

Get a feel for the scale of Brussels's importance throughout history with a walk through Grand-Place. The City Hall building dates to the 15th century and the six surrounding guild halls will impress even those uninterested in the marvels of historie architecture. During Christmastime, you'll find Christmas markets set up selling everything from ornaments to gluhwein (hot spiced wine) and cozy scarves to world-famous Belgian waffles. You'll find a flower market to brighten any day during a spring or summer visit.

Interested in European royaLty? (Every American is a little bit fascinated by it; you can admit it.) Visit the official Belgian Royal Palace. It's open to tourists for only a short time during the summer, but if you can get in for a tour, you might be surprised to find a ceiling mosaic made from the wings of 1.4 million Thai jewel beetles.

If you Like your bug wings outside, head to Pare du Cinquantenaire. The name means “Park of the 50th Anniversary” and was created in 1880 for the 50th Anniversary of Belgian independence during King Leopold ll's reign. You'll find elaborate gardens, sculptures, monuments, and museums here. You can go to the top of the iconic Triumphal Arch, which includes three archways, to take a panoramic view of Brussels.

If global politics piques your interest, you surely want to put the European Union's Parliament building, or Parlamentarium, on your must-do list The Visitor Center is free and open seven days a week. Opening times vary, but the last entry is always at 5:30 pm, one half-hour before closing.

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Although visiting the European Parliament ¡s free, booking your visit onLine Is best. Space is limited, and you may only be able to enter after a reservation.

Belgium has something special for you whether you're looking for history, architecture, unique experiences, chocolate, or European politics. Once known as “the Battlefield of Europe,” today it's an epicenter of European and world culture, both past and present. Make it a stand-alone trip, or add Belgium to your upcoming European road trip plans. ■