[1] Belgrave is situated in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

[5] In 1993, the Shire of Sherbrooke prepared a site specific amendment for land adjoining the Belgrave roundabout to facilitate the development of a 70-seat McDonald's restaurant including drive-through.

[8] Most of the commercial district of Belgrave is located on Main Street, which is at the end of Burwood Highway.

Belgrave has galleries and bookshops among various other shops and businesses.Belgrave's most notable attraction is the heritage narrow gauge, steam-operated Puffing Billy Railway, which was reopened in 1962—after four years of restoration by volunteers—and travels through 24 kilometres of cool temperate rainforest, semi-urban development and rural farmland to Gembrook.

Belgrave Survival Day[10] is an annual event held on 26 January to honour and celebrate Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their continuing culture and heritage.

The main street is lined by hundreds of lanterns, accompanied by drummers, dancers and performers.

The State Member for the seat of Monbulk, Daniela De Martino MLA,[18] has her Electoral Office in Belgrave.

Just off the Belgrave-Hallam Road is the Belgrave outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts and a playground.

Monbulk creek flows through the area and is important for wildlife such as platypus and water rat.

Along the riparian zone (adjacent to creek) the dominant plant species are Eucalyptus viminalis subsp.

Belgrave railway station is located behind the main street shops, with the steam train Puffing Billy just beyond it.

Bus services are located throughout the suburb, and go to Oakleigh, Lilydale, Gembrook, Olinda, Belgrave South, Upwey.

Belgrave's local newspapers are The Free Press Leader, and The Ferntree Gully-Belgrave Mail.