Brussels has been on my bucket list for years but it was
placed near the bottom in a category referred to as “time permitting.” There were many other cities I wanted to explore first but some of those trips require long flights, lots of preparation, visas and
vaccinations.
Every time my husband and I get a few days off work, we take
the opportunity to go on another adventure and Belgium suddenly seemed like the
perfect destination for a quick 6 day getaway.
Before I knew it I had over-packed (again), booked 2 first
class tickets with Air Canada and we were touching down in the land of waffles,
chocolate and beer.
Belgium is nestled between Germany, France, Amsterdam and
Luxembourg so the official languages are Dutch and French. Quite recently there
has been an influx of immigrants from Africa and the Middle East so many people
are multilingual. Most of the locals speak fluent English and I noticed a diverse
range of ethnic cuisine and pop-up street markets selling everything from clothing
and household items to produce and beauty supplies.
Brussels is a great destination for short trips because the
city is relatively small and very walkable. There are captivating landmarks,
beautiful art galleries, fabulous dining, endless shopping and lush green space.
My first impression was tainted by the abundance of garbage and grime on the outskirts of town but as you venture uphill towards Mont
des Arts, the neighborhood is clean and modern.
For some reason I expected Brussels to be luxurious and maybe even a little posh but the heavily armed police patrol was definitely
noticeable. Despite aesthetic and political issues, I was able to appreciate
the city’s beauty and see why so many travelers are drawn to the stunning renaissance
architecture, trendy cafes and bustling streets.
Brussels is bursting with small town charm and you can
probably visit most of the main attractions in just 2-3 days.
Travelers tip: Remember to bring comfortable shoes because the
stonework is old, cracked and hard on the feet.
The weather in early June was a bit wet and unseasonably
cool but the rain rarely lasted more than 20 minutes and the sun always made an
appearance. The average temperature during our trip was about 18˚C with a comfortable
breeze that made it easy to do a lot of walking.
If you eat too much frites and start feeling sluggish, take
the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus. I like this tour because I could sit back, relax and
enjoy the historical commentary while scoping out all the places I wanted to
visit. We covered a lot of ground by using the bus but the company has no signs
in the city center and the starting point can be difficult to locate.
The easiest way to find the first stop is by making your way
to the Central Train Station and veering to the right. The buses are usually
parked along the road in front of a townhouse complex. Tickets cost €25.00 per person for 24
hours and €32.00
for 48 hours but make sure to check the schedule because the tour ends quite early.
Public transit is another affordable option. We stayed near
Midi Tram Station at an apartment style hotel called Flat Midi 33 (2 stops from the center) and it cost just €2.10 one-way. You can
also purchase a day pass for €7.50.
Grande Place in the heart of Brussels is usually the first
stop on everyone’s list. It is considered one of the most beautiful squares in
Europe with architecture from the Baroque and Gothic eras. Historically, this
area was where locals traded their goods so most of the surrounding streets are
named after food.
Make sure to visit the square at night when the buildings
are lit up. It is a beautiful place for a romantic stroll.
The Grand Palace is a magnificent structure that reminds me of
the royal residences in
Budapest and
Vienna. It is not open to the public until
late July.
No trip to Belgium is complete without visiting the Atomium
- a unique architectural masterpiece known as the symbol of Brussels. The shiny
spheres represent an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times and similar to the
Eiffel Tower, photos don’t do it justice.
Entrance to the panoramic viewing deck is €15 per person and Mini
Europe theme park featuring historic landmarks from around the continent is
also in the vicinity.
For a spectacular view of the city, head to Mont des Arts
Garden (Hill of Arts). During the day this is a wonderful place to unwind while
munching on a waffle and at sunset the landscape looks magical.
There are many stunning churches in Brussels but one my favorites
is Our Blessed Lady of Sablon.
If you visit, make sure to check out the lovely park across the street - Jardin du Petit Sablon. This little oasis is a great
place to escape the crowds and enjoy nature.
Other popular churches include Eglise Notre Dame de Laeken,
St. Michaels (seen below) and the National Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
The Royal Gallery of St. Hubert is a gorgeous glass roof
shopping arcade featuring luxury brands and elegant cafes. Even if you aren’t
in the market for high-end trinkets, the building is definitely
Instagram-worthy.
I’m not sure why Manneken Piss is so popular (the sculpture is small and overrated) but people seem to love this little guy. Replicas of him
holding his junk and relieving himself can be seen all over town. It was
actually quite challenging to find souvenirs without him on it (trust me, I
looked).
Great Places to Start Your Tour
My husband and I toured most of the city in just two and a
half days on the 48 hour bus tour and by simply walking. A couple good
starting points are Grand Place and Place de la Bourse adjacent to the Brussels
Stock Exchange. From these two points there are avenues in every direction that
lead to attractions, shops and restaurants. Start in the middle of these
squares and explore each street until you’ve exhausted all possibilities.
If you are planning to stay for more than 3 days, it is a
good idea to take a day trip. Another popular destination is Brugge/Bruges in
Northern Belgium. This picturesque little town is well known for its charming
cobble stone streets and winding canals that flow between ancient buildings.
From Midi Train Station it takes about an hour to reach
Bruges and cost €15.20
round-trip. Once you exit the train terminal there are buses that go directly
to the city center for €3
per ride or you can simply walk the short distance. If the mood strikes, horse
and carriage tours are also available for about €50.00.
When we arrived the streets were overflowing with tourists
but it was definitely worth the trip. The first thing we did was buy tickets
for the 30 minute canal tour (€10
per person) because the line is usually long. The boat ride provides a unique perspective
of Bruges and the captain was very informative.
In the past (way before people knew anything about sanitation), the river was a reservoir for sewage run-off and the polluted water was used to make wine. Thankfully those days are over but just like the canals
in Venice, you wouldn’t want to go swimming.
Many people also choose to tour the brewery and visit popular
landmarks. I spent most of the day shopping, eating and strolling around with
no plan or schedule (it was quite liberating).
The colorful buildings in the town square are
similar to houses found in Amsterdam. It is a great place to test
your photography skills.
All that sightseeing will probably make you hungry so it’s
time to talk about food - one of the best parts of traveling!
Here is my list
of the top 5 foods/drinks to try in Brussels - drum roll please...
1. Chocolate
Belgian chocolate is known as the best in the world and with
over 2,000 chocolatiers to choose from, you’ll have to make some difficult
decisions and put your diet on hold.
Before I left Toronto I did some research and noted a few
popular shops to visit. My plan seemed simple but there was chocolate on every
corner and I went a bit crazy. Did my husband have to stage an intervention and
drag me out...maybe, but there are hundreds of mouth-watering flavors –
passion fruit, strawberry, matcha, cherry, banana and anything you can possibly
imagine!
Most stores let you sample the chocolate and handpick your favorites
to create a customized box. I prefer dark chocolate with strawberries
and pistachios (not easy to find), chocolate covered cherries swimming in liquor
and anything with hazelnuts. If you really want to immerse yourself, book a chocolate
tasting tour and worry about the calories later.
2. Waffles
I like waffles but I was never a huge fan until I went to
Belgium. In Brussels this scrumptious street food can be found everywhere and
people eat them all day (not just for breakfast).
There are actually 2 types of waffles made in Brussels. The
first is rectangular with light airy dough that is typically less sweet. The second
and more popular of the two is a round waffle with dense batter infused with
sugar crystals that melt in your mouth. These are sold all over the city including
waffle trucks that often park near tourist areas.
Locals prefer to eat their waffles plain or dusted with
powdered sugar which is how I like them too. The outside is warm and slightly crunchy
while the inside is soft and sweet.
In Bruges I stopped at House of Waffles and ordered the
Chocolate Madness topped with ice cream, whip cream, chocolate sauce and
strawberries. It was delectable but a bit messy to eat on the street. If you
stop here for lunch expect a long line.
The topping combinations are virtually endless so mix and
match until you discover the dessert of your dreams.
3. Belgian Frites
One of the most popular street foods in Belgium is frites.
In fact, you’ll notice many people walking around Brussels with huge cones
overflowing with delicious fries.
The thick cut potatoes are first fried in beef mallow at a
low temperature so the inside remains soft and then deep fried again at a
higher temperature for maximum crispiness.
At Fritland for just €4
you get a heaping amount of thick golden fries topped with your choice of
sauce. I chose spicy cheese for a hint of savoriness but mayonnaise, ketchup
and garlic aioli are also very popular.
My husband and I shared because we don’t eat much fried food
and found the frites a bit heavy. Many restaurants serve them with a large plate
of fresh mussels if you like seafood (I don’t).
4. Beer
I enjoy a glass of wine or fruity cocktail every now and
then but I am not a big drinker (I get drunk fast) and I don’t know much about
beer. Stella Artois (which just happens to be Belgian) is my favorite but I
decided to step outside of my comfort zone and try a different kind each day (they were all good).
I had no idea how to pronounce most of the beers so I made
random selections or asked the waiter to bring me whatever was popular. I
usually opted for light/blonde brews and tried fun flavors like apple and
cherry.
Some pubs offer hundreds of options so you might have to do a little research to make an informed decision. You can also book a brewery tour to
sample Belgium’s finest and learn about the entire production process. Don’t be
surprised if you see locals guzzling beer with breakfast. Where there is a lot
of alcohol there are a lot of intoxicated people...I saw things...
5. Nona Pizzeria
Pizza has been my favorite food since I was a kid so every
time I visit a new city I try the local version (even if my husband is sick
of it). I've been to Italy several times and the best pizza I ever had was in
Florence at a small restaurant called
Gutsa Pizza.
When you’re in Belgium, the place to go for authentic Neapolitan
wood fire pizza is Nona’s. The organic ingredients are sourced from local farms
and the flavors are incredible! I went 2 nights in a row and the lineup was
down the block. The service is also fantastic and while you wait for a table,
you can order beer and drink it on the sidewalk (in Toronto you’d be fined for
that).
There are also many Thai restaurants in Brussels but none of
the places I tried were as good as the ones in
Bangkok, Patong (near
Phuket) or
even here in Toronto. My Pad Thai was a bit salty but I’ve had worse.
On our last day we decided to take a day trip to Luxembourg –
a small country surrounded by Belgium, France and Germany. The train from Midi
Station cost €39.50
per person and took about 4 hours because there was construction on the rail
(usually it takes about 3 hours each way). I only recommend this journey if you have time because it was slow and
boring. Luxembourg is also quite rural with rocky gorges and dense forest. The terrain
is picturesque but there isn’t much to do and it seemed like the entire city was
under construction.
We kept it simple and went to the park, had lunch on a patio, did some
shopping and took photos at the lookout point. The palace is not open until
late July and the streets were very quiet.
The next time I’m in that part of Europe I’d like to visit
Amsterdam but I'll definitely stop in Brussels again to stock-up on
chocolate.
For more vacation inspiration check out my travel page
HERE
Bon Voyage!
