Brussels in All Its Beauty: Your Travel Guide

Over the weekend my fiancé and I took a mini trip to explore Brussels. Lately, we’ve taken a liking to small trips that allow us to see new things without breaking the bank. We load up the car, pack lunches, snack when we get there and walk around as much as our hearts and legs desire. Anyone who has ever planned a wedding or big event knows the struggle, but we never let that stop our shine. We’re slowly mastering the art of finessing our way though this wonderful life 🙌🏾 …..but anyways, back the main event:

Brussels! Seriously guys,

it’s truly an exquisite city to explore. It’s sizeable without being too overwhelming. Brussels is a mecca for shopping and of course, fooooood (nom, nom nom). The posh aesthetic of this city is best reflected in the STUNNING city centre. Commonly known as “Grand Place”, the ornate buildings are detailed with ravishing gold accents. It’s incredibly breathtaking!!!!! Check out these shots I captured with my iPhone 6s 🙂

Aside from the sheer beauty of the city, Brussels has a noticeable international feel because it’s home to the EU Headquarters. Lots of expats and government officials live and work in the city so it’s common to hear accents and languages of every kind as your exploring.

It’s worth noting that French and Dutch are the primary languages of the country. Nearly all road and shop signs and will be in either of these two languages. One thing also worth noting is that we traveled on a Sunday and parking in certain parts of the city was free99!!!! This city can be really fun without breaking the bank if you plan ahead and don’t run yourself ragged trying to visit every tourist site.

If your time is short, pick a few places that you can fully enjoy. The advantage of also traveling on a Sunday was that the city wasn’t as crowded as it usually would be on any other weekday. One other plus is that the main attractions are not too spread out around the city. The downtown area is definitely walkable.

Things to See in Brussels

Royal Palace of Brussels This gorgeous palace is the official location for the Belgian monarchy. Though the King and Queen don’t actually live in the castle, it functions as a place for formal receptions, state dinners and government offices.

Mont Des Art’s

If you want a picturesque view of the city or a nice place to stroll, this is definitely one of the best places to go. This beautiful square meaning, “Hill of the arts” was originally constructed under King Leopold for the purpose of making a more seamless transition between the Royal Palace and Grand Place. Bordering the well manicured garden you’ll find the Royal Library of Belgium.

Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula

This stunning Roman Catholic cathedral was completed in 1519. The magnificent structure is designed in a French gothic style with two striking towers on each side. Beautiful stained-glass windows can be found inside and look really captivating with natural sunlight. The church currently serves as a co-cathedral of the Archdiocese of Machelen-Brussels. Also entrance into the cathedral is FREE!

Mannequin Piss

This is probably the most hyped tourist site in the entire city. What’s all the fuss about this bronze statue of a peeing boy you ask? Well, it’s extremely old, the original dating back to 1618. Also, it’s become a symbol of the city’s free spirit and humor.

Musical Instrument Museum

If you’re musically inclined then you’ll REALLY enjoy this museum. It’s filled with over 8,000 instruments of every kind. Originally the museum was a part of the Royal Conservatory of Belgium, but was later adopted by the government. Now it’s considered one of several museums encompassing the Royal Museums of Art and History.  Each of the 4 floors is devoted to a category of instruments ranging from electronic/mechanical, traditional European and even many non-Western traditions.

Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert

If you’re looking for a place to find unique Belgium chocolate, this is it! This beautiful arcade is filled with lavish shops, cafes and artsy vendors. Passing the many chocolate eateries is sure to be a feast for your eyes and mouth. Also worth noting is the stunning architecture, designed by Jean Pierre Cluysenaer. The large corridors are meant to mimic 19th century Italian galleries. Aside from the chocolate, it’s a great place to window shop or day dream……because items in the shops will cost you a pretty penny.

Brussels Park

This is the largest park in the city and leads straight towards the Royal Palace. The geometric  designs, pond and intriguing statues scattered throughout make the park a scenic place to walk through. Noticeably tall trees fill the entire park on all sides. I imagine it’s a wonderful place to picnic in the late spring and summer.

Other Things Worth Exploring

Atomium

Royal Greenhouses (only open a few weeks in May)

Royal Museum for Central Africa

Autoworld

Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate 

Food

One simply cannot go to Brussels without trying the delicious and savory treats the city has to offer. There are three things you must experience: Belgian waffles, fries, and of course, chocolate!

My heart skipped a beat when I saw the waffle store (shown below). For roughly 3 euros you can get a basic waffle with powdered sugar or chocolate on top…and trust me it’s so worth it. There’re an abundance of flavours and toppings to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth. Waffle trucks and shops are scattered everywhere you turn in the city center so you’ll have no problems finding someplace delicious to eat.

As mentioned above, there’re lots of places to find delicious chocolate. One of the most popular is of course, Godiva which was originally founded in Brussels. It’s named after the legend of Lady Godiva who supposedly rode nude on a horse to get her oppressive husband to have mercy on the poor people in Coventry, England. The only person who allegedly saw her riding naked was an artisan named Thomas, whom the term “Peeping Tom” is derived.

Finally, you can’t travel to Belgium without trying some authentic fries. Fries were not made by the french (don’t believe the name folks). There is a heated debate between Belgium and the Netherlands on the originator of fries, but it’s said that fried potatoes were first documented in the Meuse Valley of Belgium in the early 1680’s. If you’re looking for a great place to get some fries visit Fritland in the city center. I promise, they won’t disappoint.

In sum,  Belgium is one my my new favourite european cities. There’s so much to see, eat and explore. Plus, the undeniable beauty of this capital makes it even more enjoyable. You will NOT be disappointed taking a visit to this city.

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