In Western Europe, everyone considers Paris and London must-see destinations, but there’s another city just as majestic that everyone needs to visit — Brussels.
The capital of Belgium is full of highlights including a gorgeous city center, and a European hub. It also has a vibrant food scene. Brussels is unique because it bridges the divide between the northern Flemish/Dutch-speaking region of Belgium and the southern French-speaking region.
The quest to speak universally in a major tourist city motivates almost all of the locals to be conversant in English. One particular quirk that you won’t see in many cities is every metro station posting two different names; one in French and one in Dutch. While some stations intuitively double as Park/Parc or Bourse/Beurs, others have highly contrasting names such as Arts Loi/Kunst Wet or Botanique/Kruidtuin. Be sure to pay close attention to which name your GPS or guide book uses.
A Brussels Card from the tourism department is the most convenient way to get access to public transportation as well as entry to all the city’s top museums. Some highlights include the famous Mannekin Pis statue and learning more down the street at the Garderobe Mannekin Pis museum, which displays countless costumes from the statue’s history. That small bronze sculpture from the Seventeenth Century shows a young boy in the act of urinating. (A legend says that, during a siege of the city, he literally stopped a bomb plot by urinating on the explosives.)
Nearby is the Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate to see how world-famous Belgian chocolate is made and what differentiates it from the rest of the world. You can also explore the headquarters of the EU by taking a trip to the European Quarter and touring the European Parliament, which offers guided tours in English every hour.
The memorable peak of Brussels is Grand Place, the central square of the city where all four sides are breathtaking, headed by the Town Hall. You can spend hours in and around Grand Place getting photos, shopping for delicious chocolate with Belgium’s famous speculoos, or dining at one of the many options in the area. A highlight is Brasserie de la Ville, a charming yet affordable restaurant just off of Grand Place that offers delicious meats such as Belgian beef stew and the most delicious ham shank you’ll ever have. Be sure to spend plenty of time around Grand Place, one of the most magnificent sights Europe has to offer.