Brussels in a day
After visiting Brussels, I was highly and pleasantly surprised. The pictures online don’t make it seem gorgeous (not Insta famous, I guess), and everyone online says you only need a day or two to visit Brussels. This had me thinking that the city must be pretty boring. While I do agree that one full day or two nights IS enough to see the majority of the city, it was so beautiful and wonderful. Brussels is one of the best city vibes I’ve experienced. People are sleeping on Brussels! I think it gets overshadowed by nearby Paris and Amsterdam, but it is a worthwhile stop in its own right.
While living in Paris, I spent just under a week visiting both Brussels and Amsterdam. Here are some ideas of what to do (and eat!) the next time you find yourself in the lovely Francophone city of Brussels.
Stop at the Manneken Pis fountain
It’s probably the most iconic symbol of Brussels- a fountain of a peeing boy! It’s right in central Brussels, so you can’t miss it.
Eat a Belgian waffle, of course!
Belgium is known for its waffles — and for good reason! There is no shortage of places selling waffles in Brussels. I had one smothered in white chocolate after getting nice and tipsy at Delirium Village (read on), and it was the best I’ve ever had. Near the Manneken Pis fountain, there was even a shop selling waffles in all sorts of unsavory shapes.
Stroll through The Grand-Place
The buildings around this main square may be the most beautiful man-made city sight I’ve ever seen. Don’t get me wrong - the Eiffel Tower sparkling at night will always hold a special place in my heart, but the Brussels Grand-Place? Wow! Just pure magnificence and beauty at every turn. The pictures I took with the grey sky don’t even do it justice.
Grab a drink at Delirium Café
Delirium Village is a collection of 8 different bars. The most prominent - Delirium Café, holds the Guinness World Record for the most beers offered with 2004! If you have a drinking partner or two, try their flight, made up of 10 different beers and measuring one whole meter long! (Hence why I needed that white chocolate waffle afterwards!)
Munch on mussels
Another food staple of Brussels is mussels and fries (moules & frites).
Feast on frites (“French” fries)
That’s right. Fries aren’t really French - they’re Belgian! In addition to eating fries with your mussels, you can find frites food trucks parked along the streets. Buy a cone of fries and choose from a variety of dipping sauces.
Wander and explore (like in any city)
There’s nothing better than getting a feel for a city and making the most out of a short visit than by exploring by foot and public transportation. In Brussels, some of the things you may come across include: a ferris wheel and WWII memorial; a covered shopping passage (Galeries Royale Hubert); the Royal Palace and adjoining park; beautiful churches (the one pictured below is Notre-Dame des Victoires); interesting metro lines with creepy statues; and an assortment of interesting architectural and artistic details.
Extra Notes
Two things:
Brussels is also known for the giant Atomium museum and sculpture. If you truly only have a day, I would consider this something to skip as it is actually located in the outskirts of the city and takes over 30 minutes to reach via metro or bus. If you really want to visit to say you’ve been there or you have more time, it may be worth paying more to take a taxi or uber.
The one thing I wish I had been able to visit is the Magritte museum. If you are an appreciator of art, check it out!
