The capital of the European Union, NATO and of course Belgium, the home of detective Hercule Poirot, the famous detective of crime writer Agatha Christie, Smurfs, Tintin, Redkit and many more comic characters: Brussels.
Brussels is one of the most interesting capitals of Europe with its eye-catching architecture, delicious chocolates, waffles and cartoons adorning the walls of the buildings.
With its rich cultural and historical heritage, Brussels deserves at least three or four days to see it in its entirety. In this article, I will tell you about the places that you should not leave Brussels without seeing.
How to Get to Brussels?
You can reach Brussels directly by air, there are two airports in the city. You can also reach Brussels by train from Germany or the Netherlands, even from Luxembourg. If we add the question of where to go from Brussels as a small addition to the question of how to get to Brussels, Gent, Bruges, Antwerp, which are smaller cities of Belgium at least as beautiful as Brussels, stand out. Of course, you can reach here from Germany, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, as well as from Brussels. For this, train journeys of about 2-3 hours will be enough.
Best Time to Visit Brussels
The spring months, especially May, or the summer months can be preferred in terms of temperatures and lower probability of rain. However, Brussels will also be fascinating in winter with its Christmas markets and New Year decorations.
What Language is Spoken in Brussels?
Three official languages are spoken in Belgium. These are Dutch in the northern parts close to the Netherlands, French in the southern parts close to France and German in the east. It is also very difficult to come across someone who does not speak English. In Brussels, you will see that almost all information is written in both Dutch and French.
What to Eat in Brussels?
You should not leave the city without tasting the waffles. There are two waffle options, Liege and Brussels; Liege is more dense and slightly caramelised, while Brussels is lighter. I liked the Liege waffle a bit more, but of course it is a matter of taste. Apart from waffles, Belgium is also famous for its fries, chocolates and beers. Mussels and eel dishes also stand out in the city, if you want to try them. If you wish, you can stop at every chocolatier you pass by and taste some of the many kinds of chocolates and consider it as a gift option for your loved ones.
What to See in Brussels in One Day?
The first stop is of course the Grand Place square, also known as Ilote Sacre in French or Grote Markt in Dutch, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you go early in the day, you can capture beautiful moments and photos where you do not get lost in the crowd. Afterwards, the square is flooded with tourists as befits the centre of the capital of Europe and its magnificent architectures. The first thing that catches your eye in the square, which is equipped with incredibly beautiful buildings, is the Brussels City Hall . When you examine this building a little, you will immediately notice the asymmetry. According to the rumours, the architect committed suicide after the building was completed. Nevertheless, the building is quite magnificent and eye-catching. The other important building in the square is Masion du Roi , the King’s House. Apart from these two monuments, the houses here are just as beautiful and valuable. The next stop is Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert Passage, which is very close to the square. There are chocolatiers, cafes, restaurants and luxury shops in this passage, which will enchant you as soon as you enter it.
After a Belgian chocolate waffle or French fries break, you can continue to Mont de Artsand look at the city from a distance through the greenery. While walking around the city, don’t forget to look around carefully, because at any moment you may come across a cartoon on one of the walls of a building and it may take you back to your childhood. For those who are curious, there are also routes and maps based on these wall drawings, you can easily find them. It is very possible to see a huge Tintin drawing on the wall of a building, or an impressive depiction of an entire Smurf village on a random ceiling when you look up. There is also a Smurfs statue hidden in the city.
Another symbol of the city is the Mannekin Pis statue. At first glance, its size may seem much smaller than the expectations created by its fame. The statue, which welcomed visitors in its original place where it was stolen for years, is now in the Brussels City Museum in the Masion du Roi, the King’s House. What awaits you in its real location is a copy, but even that is monitored by cameras. But you cannot come to Brussels and not see this. A girl version of Mannekin Pis was made and Jannekin Pis welcomes people at the entrance of Delirium, one of the most famous bars in Brussels.
Finally, we can talk about the Atomium, one of the landmarks of the city, which is a little outside the city, but you will definitely come across when you search for places to visit. It was built in 1958 for Expo 58 (Brussels World’s Fair) and represents an iron crystal with 9 steel spheres. Inside these spheres you can see temporary exhibitions. After seeing this dazzling symbol building, I bid farewell to Brussels, the dazzling capital of Europe. Of course, there are dozens of places to see, many museums and exhibitions to visit, but if you are planning a short trip, I recommend you to visit the places I mentioned above in the first place.
If you are interested in this article, you may also like our Leipzig travel article, the fairytale-like city of Germany.
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