Spain, Turkey, Greece, Italy and Morocco are the most popular travel destinations for Belgians in 2026, followed by Portugal, Tunisia, Egypt and Croatia. That is the ranking Brussels Airport published for the summer of 2026, a season in which it expected 5.2 million passengers in July and August, 4% more than the year before. Check your phone plan before you fly to Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia or Egypt, because these four countries are outside the EU roaming rules. This guide explains why each country is popular, which new long haul routes opened this year, how much mobile data you actually need on holiday, and the cheaper alternatives to expensive roaming.
The most popular travel destinations for Belgians in 2026
Rank | Country | Inside the EU? | EU roaming rules apply? |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Spain | Yes | Yes |
2 | Turkey | No | No |
3 | Greece | Yes | Yes |
4 | Italy | Yes | Yes |
5 | Morocco | No | No |
6 | Portugal | Yes | Yes |
7 | Tunisia | No | No |
8 | Egypt | No | No |
9 | Croatia | Yes | Yes |
Travelling to Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia or Egypt? These four countries are not covered by EU roaming rules, so your Belgian plan can cost extra there. Stay connected from the moment you land with a Firsty eSIM for Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia or Egypt.
What this ranking does and does not show
The ranking counts flights from Brussels Airport, so it shows where Belgians fly, not every holiday they take. France, the Netherlands and Germany are missing because many Belgians reach them by car or train, even though they remain very popular. What the list does show is where Belgians go for guaranteed sun, and how much of that travel now happens outside the EU.
Why these holiday countries top the list
Spain, Italy and Portugal: the reliable classics
Belgians have chosen these three countries for decades, and 2026 is no different. They offer short flights, warm weather from spring to autumn and a huge choice of regions, from the Costa Brava and the Balearic Islands to Sicily, Puglia and the Algarve. Your Belgian plan works there under the same conditions as at home.
Greece and Croatia: islands and coastlines
Greece is one of the most searched holiday countries in Belgium, with Crete, Rhodes and the Cyclades leading the way. Croatia completes the top nine with its Dalmatian coast and islands, and since it joined the Schengen zone and the euro in 2023, a trip there is as easy as a trip to France.
Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia: all inclusive holidays and guaranteed sun
Turkey is the second most popular destination of the summer, ahead of Greece and Italy. Together with Egypt and Tunisia, it attracts Belgian families and couples with all inclusive resorts, long beach seasons and sunshine well into the autumn. The Turkish Riviera around Antalya, the Red Sea coast around Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh, and the island of Djerba are the names that come back most often.
Morocco: close by, completely different
Morocco is fifth in the ranking. A flight of around three and a half hours takes you to a very different culture, landscape and cuisine, without the long journey of a true long haul trip.
Long haul is growing: new routes from Brussels Airport
Brussels Airport offers 180 direct destinations and 70 airlines this summer, and its intercontinental network now reaches 41 destinations. New routes in 2026 include:
São Paulo, Brazil, with LATAM Airlines
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, with Brussels Airlines
Halifax, Canada, with Air Canada
Chengdu, China, with Air China, bringing the number of direct destinations in China and Hong Kong to six
More Belgians now combine a classic summer holiday with one bigger trip further away, and every one of these new destinations is outside the EU.
Where EU roaming applies, and where it does not
Inside the EU, leave roaming on and use your Belgian plan as at home. The roam like at home rules, extended until 2032, let you call, text and use mobile data there at no extra charge, within fair use limits. Outside the EU, check your rates before you land, because every provider sets its own prices and you may pay per megabyte, per day or through a separate travel bundle.
Covered by EU roaming rules | Not covered: check your plan before you go |
|---|---|
Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Croatia and every other EU country | Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt |
Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein | United Kingdom, Switzerland (included in some Belgian plans, not all) |
Moldova, Ukraine | Brazil, Tanzania, Canada, China and other long haul destinations |
Cheaper alternatives to expensive roaming
For light data use in Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia or Morocco, you do not need an expensive roaming bundle:
Install a travel eSIM before you leave. An eSIM is a digital SIM card that connects your phone to a local network as soon as you land, while your Belgian SIM stays active for calls and texts.
Buy a local SIM card. It is often cheap, but you have to find a shop after landing and swap cards.
Download before you go. Save offline maps, boarding passes and playlists on WiFi at home or at your hotel.
Switch off data roaming on your Belgian SIM. Your phone can use data in the background the moment you land.
Travel anywhere, stay connected everywhere
Belgians are travelling further every year, while traditional telecom still treats every new border as a new reason to charge more. Firsty is built so your phone works in Antalya the way it works in Antwerp: one connection for more than 176 countries, no zone chart to check and no surprise bill. Every connection Firsty sells also connects someone in Belgium who needs one, not as charity, but as how the business works. Things are moving, so keep an eye on what Firsty is building and discover more at Firsty.app.
FAQ
What are the most popular travel destinations for Belgians in 2026?
Spain, Turkey, Greece, Italy and Morocco are the most popular travel destinations for Belgians in 2026, followed by Portugal, Tunisia, Egypt and Croatia, according to Brussels Airport's summer 2026 forecast. The airport expected 5.2 million passengers in July and August, 4% more than in 2025.
Which new destinations can you fly to from Brussels Airport in 2026?
New routes from Brussels Airport in 2026 include São Paulo, Kilimanjaro, Halifax, Chengdu, Chongqing, Gdansk, Asturias and Larnaca. In total, the airport offers 180 direct destinations served by 70 airlines this summer, including 41 intercontinental destinations.
Do EU roaming rules apply in Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia?
No. Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia are not covered by the EU roam like at home rules, and neither is Morocco. Roaming prices in these countries depend on your provider and plan, so check your rates before you travel or install a travel eSIM for mobile data.
Which popular holiday countries are covered by EU roaming?
Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Croatia are covered by EU roaming rules, as are all other EU countries plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova and Ukraine. In these countries, you can use your Belgian plan at no extra cost, within the fair use limits of your plan.
How much mobile data do I need on holiday?
About 1 GB covers a week of light use. Google Maps navigation uses 3 to 5 MB per hour, a WhatsApp voice call 0.3 to 0.5 MB per minute, a ride app a few MB per ride, and a saved boarding pass no data at all. HD video calls are the exception, at up to 480 MB per hour.
What are cheaper alternatives to expensive roaming outside the EU?
A travel eSIM is the simplest alternative: you install it before you leave and your phone has mobile data as soon as you land, while your Belgian number stays active. A local SIM card also works but means finding a shop and swapping cards. Downloading maps and tickets on WiFi before you go lowers how much data you need.
