I was lucky enough to tour Brussels with a local as I visited my friend Natalie, whom I had met in New Zealand.
We had pain au chocolat every morning for breakfast and we journeyed through places like the Town Hall or Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, where the ensemble of shopping arcades is imbued with an Italian spirit. Officially bilingual, you will hear French and Dutch in this city.
Brussels is known as the capital of the European Union and the comic strip, as well as its famous gauffres (waffles) and wide selection of beers. In contrast with Germany, the Belgians manufacture beer with different fruits and mixtures, always contending and claiming they make the best beer. I remember trying a delicious peachy one that was a slice of refreshing heaven.
You may also find chic chocolate ateliers throughout the city with marvelous displays. Don't be shy to try some or make a chocolate tasting tour, in some of them you will even make chocolate yourself!
Stroll along the Mont des Arts while you lunch some moules and frites, the signature dish. Often dressed for special events, you may visit the Manneken Pis, only a few minutes' walk from the Grand Place. Many legends are behind the famous bronze statue that symbolizes the sense of humor of the people of Brussels.
Worth visiting and once destroyed by a mighty fire, the Coudenberg Palace lies beneath a hill where recent excavations have brought it back to life.
Constructed for the 1958 Brussels World Expo, the Atomium erects itself on the Heysel Plateau and renders a great opportunity to take a snapshot at one of Brussel's most iconic emblems. It also hosts permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Whether it's in your route across Europe or not, Brussels will leave a lasting memory that you'll want to cherish.
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