A Weekend In Brussels: Everything You Need To Know
Only an hour and a half flight from our base in Manchester, England, Brussels was the perfect place for a long weekend getaway. Famous for its beautiful architecture, decadent desserts, and friendly locals, we were excited to explore everything the city had to offer. We spent four days in Brussels, and enjoyed it so much that we would definitely go back to Belgium and see more of what the country has to offer.
HOW TO GET TO BRUSSELS?
We booked our flight from Manchester, England using SkyScanner. We flew with Brussels Airlines, and had a really positive experience flying with them. Arriving in Brussels Airport, there are tons of options to get to the city center. Trains, buses, Uber/taxi are all available. Because we had some time to kill before checking into our hotel, we took the bus. Public transportation (like most places in Europe) is extremely efficient and affordable. We also got to see a lot of the city during the 25 minute journey into town. We also used the app maps.me to follow along with the bus route and make sure we got off at the right stop. This app is great because it still works offline, even if you’re not connected to WiFi.
Where to stay in brussels?
We stayed at The Hotel Brussels, which was located right in the center of the fashion district on Boulevard de Waterloo. The location is perfect, it is walking distance to tons of high-fashion boutiques, and also across the street from the famous European Parliament buildings. The Hotel is a luxury hotel, with a focus on interior design and fashion. Due to the unique design of the high rise building, each room is secluded and private, yet still offers guests a stunning panoramic view of the city. Our favorite part of our stay was the Panorama Lounge, located on the 24th floor. With access to this lounge, there are complimentary appetizers and beverages, which was a great touch and the perfect place to enjoy the views during happy hour.
Midrange: Hotel Hubert - Grand Place
Budget: Sleep Well Hostel
where to eat in brussels?
Le Casse-Croûte: Family-owned Italian restaurant off of Boulevard de Waterloo with a large selection of Italian dishes, pasta, and pizza. Affordable prices and good selection of wine.
Le Botaniste: Plant-based organic restaurant that is 99% organic and uses all locally sourced produce and ingredients. Not only is the food incredible, the interior design and decor of this place is gorgeous, set up like an old apothecary. Their house wine is vegan, organic, and doesn’t contain sulfites. For our NYC/American friends, they have a location in Midtown East. We recommend: Tibetan Mama and Vegetable Tajine bowls, summer rolls, and the house wine.
Noordzee/Mer Du Nord: Perfect place for seafood lovers. Casual, al-fresco style restaurant that is known for its small plates of seafood. Although its street food, it is consistently voted by locals (and tourists) as one of the best restaurants in Brussels. Dishes are served with side salads, fresh bread, and small glasses of wine.
Fin De Siècle: This restaurant was recommended to us by a lot of people, both tourists and locals. Our time was short and we didn’t eat here during our time in Brussels, but it would definitely be on our list for next time. The food is traditional Flemish/Belgian cuisine, and there are limited options for vegetarians.
Maison Antoine: One of the most famous places in the city to try the famous frites, (French fries, chips, whatever you call them) this is one of the oldest fritkots in the city. Because this is located in the middle of a square, there aren’t any designated places to sit and enjoy your frites, but the neighboring bars welcome you to eat there as long as you purchase a drink. Beware: Lines at Maison Antoine are anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, so don’t show up starving or you’ll regret it during your wait.
Maison Dandoy: Belgian waffles are a must when in Brussels, and I knew I wanted to go to Maison Dandoy for my first “real” Belgian waffle. The decor inside is beautiful, with a nice ambiance inside. There was a wait for a table (about 20 minutes), or you have the option of taking everything to-go. We both got waffles and cappuccinos, and while I’m happy I got to experience Maison Dandoy, I’m going to be honest. The waffles here were light and crispy, and definitely delicious, but I enjoyed my waffle from the street truck a lot more.
our top 10 things to do in brussels:
We explored Brussels all by foot, and found so many hidden gems while just aimlessly walking around. From our hotel to the main center of town was only about a 30-minute walk, and we got to see a lot of the city this way.
Go to Grand Place: A beautiful square in the center of the city, Grand Place is a UNESCO World Heritage site and known as one of the most beautiful places in the world. The architecture dates back to the 15th century, and the gold buildings and detailed designs are stunning. Restaurants, bars, and cafes line the surrounding streets.
Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries: Perfect place for shopping and CHOCOLATE! The Galleries are beautiful even just to walk around, but they are also full of cafes, restaurants, and our favorite: Belgian chocolatiers. We recommend checking out: Neuhaus Chocolatier (BEST Belgian chocolatier and our favorite chocolate in the world) Maison Dandoy, and La Belgique Gourmande.
Changing of the Guard at Palais Royal: We stumbled upon this by accident, but this happens every day at 2PM. The Royal Palace of Brussels is beautiful to see, but keep in mind it’s only open to the public from July - September.
Walk around Parc de Bruxelles: Brussels Park is full of hidden gems and a perfect place to get a coffee or have a picnic. There’s two ponds, a concert hall, a music kiosk and an outdoor theater, and it’s right across the street from the Royal Palace.
The Atomium: We never heard of this before arriving in Brussels, but the Atomium is one of the coolest and most futuristic structures we have ever seen. It’s also a nice change from the older architecture and museums that are very popular in Brussels. The Atomium is made of 9 steel spheres that you can go inside, connected by stairs and escalators. The panoramic views of the city are stunning, and there’s a restaurant/bar located inside. Entrance fee is €16 (about US$ 18).
Do a Chocolate Tour: There are plenty of chocolate tours in Brussels, that cost anywhere from €20-60+ per person. We decided to do our own tour (which is actually really easy since almost all the Chocolatiers are located in the same areas). We started in the Royal Galleries, visiting Neuhaus (our favorite and best customer service), and La Belgique Gourmande. From there we walked to Grand Place, and visited Godiva, Gourmet Chocolaterie Belge, and Le Comptoir de Mathilde. Most places will offer you samples, or were happy to let us try some if we did ask.
Delirium Village: A tiny, crazy alley full of bars dedicated to beer and alcohol. There are a few different places, Delirium Cafe (won the Guinness Book of World Records for most beers in the world) Delirium Taphouse, Floris Bar (specializes in absinthe) Delirium Monasterium (specializes in vodka), and Floris Tequila (you guessed it.. specializes in tequila). If you’re walking in the city center, you can’t miss the village: its packed with people, and the famous Huyghe Brewery pink elephants are everywhere.
Getting Lost on Rue Royale: One of the most picturesque areas we found in Brussels, Rue Royale is known as “the most lavish street in Brussels”. The buildings and architecture reminded us of Paris, with cafes and bars dotted all along the streets. It’s walking distance to the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, Grote Markt, and the European Parliament.
Mont des Arts: Mont Des Arts, or Museum Quarter, has stunning views of the whole city, and beautiful gardens outside the museums. It’s centrally located, and walking distance to two museums, the Royal Palace, and the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula. *We also found our favorite street waffle truck located around the corner from here*
Eat your heart out: Let’s be honest: Belgium is famous for their waffles, chocolate, beer, and frites. There’s a lot to see in Brussels, but even more to eat and drink.
