5 top audio walking tours in Belgium’s cities

These audio walking tours will help you explore Belgium’s most beautiful cities at your own pace with local stories and hidden gems.

A great way to explore Belgium’s cities

Belgium’s cities are full of fascinating tales – hidden courtyards, surprising legends, and secret alleyways with centuries of history. But what if you could explore them at your own pace, guided by a friendly voice in your ear? That’s where audio walking tours come in.

From medieval Bruges to modern Brussels, I have selected five top self-guided audio tours. They offer a personal way to experience Belgium’s urban charm and unique history, without having to join a group or follow a flag-waving guide.

I think these five audio city walks in Belgium are perfect for locals wanting to discover their city anew, or visitors keen to go beyond the guidebooks.

The types of audio walking tour

Audio walking tours come in two main forms: app-based and device-based. In Belgium, the easiest and most user-friendly option is the app-based VoiceMap, which you can download to your smartphone. These tours play automatically as you walk, thanks to GPS, and are packed with local insight and entertaining stories. Once downloaded, they work offline – so no data roaming charges! VoiceMap works brilliantly whether you want to dive deep into history, soak up the atmosphere, or just enjoy a leisurely stroll with a bit of storytelling.

Why I recommend VoiceMap

I’ve personally used VoiceMap for years and always found it to be reliable, engaging, and easy to use. What I especially like is that the tours are created by people who know their cities intimately – journalists, historians, teachers, even chocolate makers! You can start the tour whenever you want, pause it for coffee or a photo stop, and pick up exactly where you left off. It’s your walk, your pace.

So here’s my selection of five audio city walking guides in Belgium.

1. Hidden Antwerp: Half a Century of History, Art and Fashion

If you think you know Antwerp, think again. This tour by Derek Blyth explores quiet streets, secret squares, quirky shops, and lesser-known stories that most tourists never hear. From the Renaissance grandeur of Antwerp’s City Hall to the trendy fashion district, you’ll visit chocolate shops, concept stores, and charming cafés. Discover the statue that gave Antwerp its name, hear about the drag queens who saved a church, and uncover the tale of the Japanese tourists who love a Flemish dog. Other highlights include:

• The Brabo fountain and the city’s mythical giant
• Cathedral of Our Lady and its missing spire
• Quaint bars like Café Beveren and candlelit Vertigo
• The Lange Wapper and Rubens’ hidden corners.

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2. The Magic of Bruges: Legends and Hidden Treasures

Step back in time to medieval Bruges, where winding alleys and fairytale canals hold centuries of secrets. Born and raised in the city, Nicolas Vanlanduyt brings Bruges to life with wit and wonder, mixing history, folklore, and a few surprises. You’ll learn why pigs were banned, how urine became currency, and what links barbers to hospitals. There’s even a heroic blind donkey. Expect to discover:

• Bruges’ secret courtyards and garden oases
• The legend of the city’s “fools”
• How witches, angels—and even swans—shaped local lore
• A walk that mixes fun facts with historic depth

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3. Medieval and Modern Brussels: A Tour through The Heart of Europe

Brussels can be overwhelming, but this tour by Isaac cuts through the clutter and takes you straight to the heart of its history and character. You’ll start at the Royal Palace and make your way through cobbled streets to Grand Place, Sablon, and the mighty Palais de Justice. Along the way, you’ll encounter kings, revolutionaries, quirky statues, and architectural marvels that chart the city’s rise from medieval roots to EU capital. Unmissable stops include:

• The musical instruments museum and city’s ancient clock
• A hidden harbour and forgotten city walls
• The Manneken Pis – quirky and iconic!
• Panoramic views from Palais de Justice.

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4. Hidden Ghent: The Authentic City Few Tourists See

Ghent is often overshadowed by Bruges or Brussels – but it shouldn’t be. This walk reveals Ghent’s lesser-known charms: its forgotten World Fair relics, quiet gardens, and vibrant neighbourhoods that hide behind canals and bridges. From medieval castles to a bar that takes your shoe as a deposit (!), this tour is full of the kind of eccentricities that make Belgium such a joy to explore. You’ll encounter:

• Gravensteen Castle and the old fish market
• Cobblestoned alleys and charming city views
• Vintage shops and offbeat street art
• Characters from emperors to local singers

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5. Leuven: 600 Years of History and Heritage

And now, let me take a moment to introduce my own contribution to VoiceMap – a walking tour through the lovely city of Leuven. I created this tour to share some of my favourite corners of the city I’ve come to know and love. It’s a gentle stroll through the cobbled streets, grand squares, and university heritage of Leuven. Along the way, I share stories about medieval architecture, quirky student traditions, and artistic gems – plus a few fun surprises. On this tour, you’ll:

• Admire the stunning Gothic town hall and Saint Peter’s Church
• Visit Saint Michael’s Church and the University Hall
• Stroll along the “longest bar in Europe” at Oude Markt
• Spot curious sculptures – including a giant impaled bug!
• Learn about Father Damien and Leuven’s war-torn library.

I hope this tour gives you a taste of Leuven’s spirit, and encourages you to linger for a drink, a museum visit, or simply to watch the world go by from a sunny terrace.

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VoiceMap: A world of stories, right in your pocket

VoiceMap isn’t just active in Belgium. With over 1,700 tours in 76 countries, you’re likely to find one wherever you’re travelling next – whether it’s the gardens of New Orleans, the cobbled lanes of Montmartre, or the ruins of the Acropolis in Athens. Some of the top global VoiceMap tours this summer include:

• The Heart of Old Quebec City: An Essential Guide to its Historical Treasures
• The French Revolution in Paris: A Walking Tour with Context
• A Dublin Docklands Tour: From Famine Ships to Ireland‘s Silicone Harbour
• Dubrovnik’s Old Town: A Walking Tour of the Walled City
• The Gilded Age Guide: Mansions of Fifth Avenue and Millionaire’s Row, New York, USA

Final thoughts

Whether you’re a tourist or a local, walking through a city with a VoiceMap guide in your ear transforms the everyday into the extraordinary. These audio walking tours help you look deeper, linger longer, and understand more. You’ll laugh, reflect, and maybe even find a favourite new café along the way.

So why not pop in your earphones and explore Belgium in a new way? You might be surprised at what you discover – just around the next corner.