BRUSSELS

INTRODUCTION TO BRUSSELS

The capital of Belgium doesn't need much of a sales pitch to travellers. Not once you remind them it's the home of the waffle and a hub of decadent chocolate. But Brussels will prove an incredible holiday even for those with a savoury palate, offering a joyous culture that's even present in ancient monuments. Nowhere is this more evident that the city's bronze statue of Manneken Pis, a 61 centimetre weeing boy that's often dressed in costume to honour sporting events, special visitors and moments in time. From the UNESCO Grand Place to the otherworldly Atomium building, there's a full spectrum of architecture to observe here. After long days learning of European parliament in a 'sexy way' and admiring the philosophical gardens of Erasmus House, you'll probably have worked up a thirst for a sample of Kwak Beer. With many locals switching casually between Dutch, French and English, you can be assured you're in a region that's multicultural and easy to navigate. Even attending one of the city's many great festivals should see you feeling at one with Belgian folk. From the annual Belgian Pride parade to Anima Festival celebrating animation films, not to mention the Nuit Blanche in which arts and culture reclaim the city for one night each October; the festival calendar of Brussels is one to spend some time considering before you book your trip. Put the Meunier Museum of fine arts and the Fashion and Lace Museum high on your list of Brussels attractions to visit. Then a waffle making class is all that's needed to complete your trip.

FAST FACTS
Language: Dutch, French
Currency: Euro
Electricity: 220V
Visas: Click here to see if you need a visa to enter Belgium.
Dialing Code: +32
Time Zone: (GMT +01:00 / CEST)

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Attend a Belgian waffle workshop and eat it all

It’s one thing to gobble down the iconic sweet dish of Belgium, it’s quite another to learn to cook waffles right here in the capital. Taking a waffle workshop in Brussels will see you whipping up a gooey batter and pouring it into a traditional cast iron waffle press, before topping it with all manner of sweet toppings from blueberries and honey to smashed nuts and warmed chocolate sauce. By the end you'll officially know how to waffle: now there’s a skill to put top and centre on the resume.
Visit the Grand Place and get inspired

The capital’s central square of Grand Place is an opulent feast for the eyes, with the impressive architecture of the King’s House, the Town Hall and a few private homes standing with great pride and regality. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s alive with activity from sun up 'til sun down, connecting many of the city’s most important and lively streets. If you’re very lucky your visit may time up with the biannual flower carpet tradition, in which almost a million begonias blanket the floor of Grand Place turning it to a carpet of colour and pattern stretching over 1800m2.
Take a selfie with the Manneken Pis

Despite being just 61-centimetres high, the bronze statue of Manneken Pis has drawn itself considerable popularity. Said to encapsulate the spirit of the people in Brussels – their independent way of thinking and ‘zwanze’ sense of humour – Little Julien stands semi akimbo and entirely naked, imitating a kid weeing into a fountain. Over the years he’s been dressed in various outfits and costumes, celebrating many sporting events, special visitors and moments in time. Originally built in 1619, he’s a sprightly chap for someone of his age, and still knows how to draw a crowd of visitors. Just a short walk from the Grand Place, he will put a little chuckle into your Brussels sightseeing.
Marvel at the Atomium

If all the ancient architecture and monuments of central Brussels has you craving something new-age, a visit to the Atomium should be added to your list of things to do in Brussels. Found on the Heysel Plateau where it was originally placed in 1958 to honour the city’s hosting of World’s Fair, the shiny 102-metre monument consists of 9 stainless steel spheres connected by stairs, escalators and a lift. Within the space-age looking bubbles you can dine at a restaurant, shop for souvenirs and observe exhibitions. Declared the most bizarre building in Europe by CNN, this Brussels attraction is not one to miss.
Enjoy a beer tour of Brussels and try Kwak Beer

When a cloudy day leaves you wondering what to do in Brussels, the answer is a resounding BEER TOUR! In fact, rain hail or shine this is a ripe way to waste a day. Kwak beer, one of Belgium’s most iconic brews, is an amber coloured liquid known for its creamy texture and fruity taste. It’s made at the Brouwerij Bosteels brewery less than an hour out of central Brussels, which proves a popular Brussels attraction even for those who don’t like beer. In operation for over 200 years the Brouwerij site is sheer elegance and so much more than a factory making alcohol, think horse drawn carriages, pianos and chandeliers.
See the Palais Royal

The teal dome of Palais Royal is one of the most recognizable monuments in Brussels, and indeed Belgium. Sitting on the southern slopes of Castle Hill, it offers a picturesque collection of courtyards and also contains the Brussels Historical Museum. With sweeping views over the river and a bounty of flowers in the Spring, it’s not hard to understand why this palace is a favourite of the many awe-inspiring Brussels attractions.

Things to do in Brussels

Anima Festival
Culture
The Brussels Animation Film Festival of Anima will tickle your inner-child to no end. Drawing in over 45,000 people of all ages, the festival has been bringing internationally acclaimed cartoons to the country for almost 40 years. Joyful, poetic, occasionally even erotic! There’s no limit to what might be seen here.
Belgian Pride
Culture & Music
Pick up a rainbow flag and get ready to march to the beat of a same-sex drum, Pride Festival in Belgium is party like no other in the country. The festival draws in over 100,000 people every May in a jovial, free-spirited show of support for the LGBTQI community in Brussels and beyond.
Brussels Summer Festival
Music
After a long cold winter, the people of Brussels awaken to the sounds of Brussels Summer Festival. Held over 5 sunshine soaked days in August, the festival has boasted international music acts like Goldfrapp, Peter Doherty and the Pet Shop Boys. Set in the immaculate surrounds of the Place des Palais, this is a 65 euro spend you won’t regret.
Nuit Blanche
Culture
With an aim of encouraging discovery and wonder the Nuit Blanche arts and culture festival reclaims the city of Brussels for one night each October, offering a soul-stirring and contemporary display of installations, multimedia projections, performances and interactive shows. The free event sails through the night finishing up at about 3am, inspiring the artist within locals and travellers alike.
Couleur Cafe
Music
Couleur Cafe may have black roots music at its core, but it’s grown to represent so much more than that. International food stalls, a colourful bazaar, international artists and plenty of exotic music boil together to make the extravaganza held in the Halles de Schaerbeek. Damian Marley, De La Soul, and Wu-Tang Clan have all headlined - world class Afro-beats right here in Brussels.

Top 5 Festivals in Brussels

Packed full of culture and offering endless entertainment to delight the senses, the festivals held in Brussels salute the good-nature and multiculturalism of the country. Timing your trip to Brussels with a festival will add a new dimension to your Belgium experience, from a dabble in animation to a sun-soaked dance off at the Brussels Summer Festival.

Fashion and Lace Museum
The delicate art of lace is displayed in all its purr-worthy glory at the Fashion and Lace Museum in Brussels. Taking a peak at fashion in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, this Brussels museum has no shortage of historical significance and charm, and a general admission ticket costs just 8 euros.
Parlamentarium
Political wizards round up! Your travel dreams will be a reality at the Parlamentarium of Brussels. The museum aims to spell out the intricacies of the European Parliament in a “sexy way,” complete with interactive tools, films, and games. Sexy politics – only in Europe.
Erasmus House
With a classic convent looking exterior and a philosophical and medicinal garden on the grounds, visiting the Erasmus House Museum in the municipality of Anderlecht is a heartwarming Brussels attraction. Dedicated to the humanist writer Erasmus of Rotterdam it now serves as a concert hall, documentation centre, event space and more.
Meunier Museum

Belgium’s Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Meunier, is the kind of place that inspires you to walk a little elegantly and speak in hushed voices. Spanning the centuries of 15 to 20, the pieces on display embody European history and remind us that the art world was not always as outlandish and colourful as it is now.
MOT - Museum of Old Techniques
Here at the Museum of Old Techniques, locally referred to as MOT, the study of natural power is underway. Assessing the origins and possible evolution of power, MOT is found in the lush setting of leafy Grimbergen and is home to a working watermill.

Top 5 Museums & Galleries in Brussels

The spirit of Brussels can be found beating through its museum – where you can stand in adoration of outer space, delicate lace and so much more. Spend a day contemplating life in the philosophical gardens of Erasmus House before admiring mother nature’s capabilities at the MOT museum of natural power. Both your IQ and inspiration levels are about to rise.

Moules-Frites
Belgium's national dish consists of a pan of fresh mussels, gently steamed in a broth of white wine, shallots, butter and parsley and then served with fries. Simple and delicious, it's a Belgium travel essential.

_{Best eaten at
Le Chou de Bruxelles, Florencestraat 26}
Carbonade Flamande
This hearty stew of meat and onions is also known as stoverij. It's cooked in Belgian brown beer, which helps give its signature sweet and sour flavour. Served with French fries on the side, it's a staple of Brussels restaurants and a Belgium travel must-try.

_{Best eaten at
Fin de Siecle, Rue des Chartreux 9}
Waffles
It's difficult to believe that something made from batter could be this delicious, but try a waffle in Belgium and then tell us it's not so! They come in many varieties here, but the rich and chewy liège waffle at Maison Dandoy is the place to start.

_{Best eaten at
Maison Dandoy, Rue au Beurre 31}
Stoemp
Good old mash and veg gets a tasty twist with a heartwarming serve of stoemp. A regional classic across Belgium and the Netherlands, it consists of little more than potato, root vegetables, and a sprinkling of flavor from the likes of thyme, nutmeg or bay leaf. Cream and shallots may be present if you’ve gone for a glam variation.

_{Best eaten at
Royal Brasserie, Rue de Flandre 103}
Waterzooi
This traditional Belgian stew originated in Ghent. It contains either fish or chicken, cooked in a rich and creamy sauce with a variety of vegetables and herbs, and can be found in many Ghent restaurants.

_{Best eaten at
Le Cellier, Rue de Bon Secours 14-16}

Food in Brussels

Belgium’s waffles and chocolates might be adored across the world and hailed as heavenly bliss, but its savoury food often gets overlooked, despite being nothing shy of delicious. From hearty stews brewing with nutmeg and bay leaf, to fresh buttery mussels with a side of chunky fries, walking the streets of Brussels is a gastronomic surprise and delight.