A country in North Western Europe, with a population of 11,5 million. There are three official languages spoken in the country which are French, Dutch and German. I found English was widely spoken in Brussels, however in smaller towns it was a little more challenging. There is also Flemish, which to be honest before my visit to Brussels I have never heard of. It is a West Germanic language, closely related to Dutch and generally regarded as the Belgian variant of Dutch. The currency used is Euro. The country has fantastic transportation links with other European countries by buses and trains. You can also fly all over the world from one of its many airports. Belgium is very well known for its chocolate, waffles, beer and so much more!
Brussels
A capital city of Belgium. Fantastic destination which I find is very overshadowed by its neighbors, Amsterdam and Paris. There are ample of options when it comes to reaching the city from London.
Coach - Flixbus runs direct service from London Victoria and it takes 8-9 hours
Eurostar - 2 hour train ride will get you from Central London to Brussels South station
Plane - direct flights between London and Brussels airport are operated by British Airways and Brussels Airlines
Brussels is also connected with other European destinations by rail. There are direct international trains to France, Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Italy and Austria.
Brussels has very officiant public transport system covering the entire city. There is metro, trams and busses available. There are many different tickets available to suit all travel needs and styles. The most convenient one in my opinion is the contactless payment. All you need is just a bank card or a smartphone. Single fare is €2.10 with a maximum daily fare of €7.10
ACCOMMODATION
I found accommodation definitely to be on the more expensive side. However very comparable to the ones in Amsterdam or Berlin for example. You will find hostels if you enjoy meeting people from all over the world or if you have a smaller budget. All major international hotel chains are present in the City, from Ibis, to Marriott and Hilton. Airbnb is also widely available. Personally I have stayed at the Wellness Apart Hotel which was cheap comparing to other hotels in the city. It is located 10 min walk from the Brussels North station which is just a short train ride away from the airport and has great links with other Belgian and international destinations. The hotel is just a short tram ride away from the city centre which is also very convenient when exploring the city.
WHAT TO DO AND SEE
No trip to the city is complete without the visit to the Grand Place. It is a market square right in the heart of Brussels. An architectural jewel with buildings dating mainly from the 17th century.
Manneken Pis, which is a peeing boy statue and a must see in Brussels. I know what you are thinking right now. REALLY?! My reaction was the same. There are many legends associated with the origin of the rather unique symbol of the city. One of them tells of a tourist father who lost his son in the city and after receiving help from the villagers to find the boy, he gifted this statue to them. The manneken pis isn’t just an ordinary fountain, it plays a full part in the city’s life and has an outfit for every occasion. From Santa suits to national costumes.
The Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert. It is a Florentine Renaissance style arcade opened in June 1847. Thanks to the galleries, Brussels gained a monumental arcade and joined the ranks of great European cities like London and Paris. In the arcades you will find great boutiques, coffee shops and high end Belgian chocolate stores. Let’s not forget the beautiful architecture which you will be surrounded by when visiting the arcade.
St Michael and St Gudula Cathedral, is one of the most important landmarks in Brussels. It was built in a Gothic style at the beginning of the 13th century and is the main Catholic Church in Belgium. It is very close to the Grand Place and highly recommend paying a visit to this marvelous monument regardless of your religious beliefs.
The Royal Palace is the administrative residence and main workplace of the king. The palace has been opened to the public every summer since 1965. Unfortunately due to the restoration works taking place at the moment I was unable to visit the palaces interiors. However the palace will be open again to the public next year (2024).
The Mont Des Arts Garden, beautiful garden and one of of Brussels’ finest views over the city. You will find a lot of locals having their lunch on one of the benches, there might be some musicians creating a nice atmosphere and of course you get the spectacular views over the city. Definitely worth a little climb up the stairs for!
Brussels has many different museums to offer to its visitors and residents. Some of which are:
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Musical Instruments Museum
Brussels City museum
The only museum that I visited in the city was the Choco-Story Brussels which gives a great understanding of chocolate and cocoa going back all the way to the Mayan times. A big bonus to the experience is the ability to witness how a master chocolate-maker prepares pralines right in front of you and yes you get to taste them too!
FOOD
You must try the fries! You will find spots where you can get Belgian fries all over Brussels. I bought mine at La Friterie which is probably very touristy but oh well. They were really tasty and crunchy with loads of cheese.
Belgian waffles, Another classic that cannot be missed. Once again you will see many different places selling them, even more than fries, especially around the Grand Place and the areas where the tourists are. I have tried mine from the Waffle Factory just around the corner from the Manneken Pis. Needless to say, the waffle was delicious.
Beer - Brussels is very well known for its beer. Because I am not a big drinker I gave beer a miss, however you will find many places selling authentic local products which give fantastic experience for beer connoisseurs.
Moules - Frites, the mussels can be prepared in variety of ways but the traditional way in Brussels is that mussels are cooked in white wine and butter and served with a side of fries. Very often the dish is accompanied by a local beer and that’s your local culinary adventure complete.
Chocolate, Belgian chocolate is known around the world for its fine taste. You cannot go to Brussels or even anywhere in the country and not try the fantastic chocolate they have! You will find a lot of chocolate shops around the Grand Place selling all sorts of Belgian chocolate.