Brussels was a city that, until recently, was under my radar. About a year ago, I started hearing great things about the culture and the architecture and decided to add it to my travel bucket list. When I was planning my trip to Lille, France to visit my husband, I discovered that the closest major airport was in Brussels. I immediately knew that planning a few day trips would be an absolute must! My husband and I were able to spend a day in Brussels, and although I do wish we had had more time, we got a good lay of the land. If you find yourself in Brussels for 24 hours or less, here are the things you absolutely have to see and do:
Eat some Belgian waffles
If I’m honest, this is 75% of the reason that I was dying to go to Brussels. I love waffles and it goes without saying that Belgium is known for having the best waffles on the planet. I did some research and discovered that Maison Dandoy supposedly has the best waffles in all of Brussels. Their waffles were absolutely delicious and I loved that ambiance, but, the truth of the matter is that in Brussels, waffles are EVERYWHERE and they’re all SO good.
Check out Comic Strip Centre
Comics are a big part of the culture in Brussels and there are tons of amazing artists. If you have time, definitely check out Comic Strip Centre to learn all about Belgium’s most famous comics, The Adventures of Tin Tin and the Smurfs. The museum features a rotating exhibition of original comic strip drawings by some of the countries most poppet artists.
Have frites and beer
Once you’ve digested you’re Belgian waffles, you have to have frites and beer! While we may call them French fries here in America, Belgian fries are just as delicious. In Brussels, street food is the name of the game and frites are everywhere. Besides their waffles, the Belgian are also known for their beer, so no matter how much time you have in Brussels, sampling different local beers is an absolute must.
See the major sights
The architecture is so beautiful in Brussels. Almost every building looks like it ought to be a major sight and there is so much that’s worth seeing. If you’re pressed for time like we were, there are two sights that you cannot miss: Grand Place and Mannekin Pis. When people think Brussels, they think Grand Place. Grand Place is Brussels’ main plaza and its history dates back to the 11th century. Mannekin Pis is basically a figure of a little boy urinating. It’s totally quirky and although no one knows for sure about its origin, it’s definitely worth a visit.
Stop by one of the many chocolate shops
When my husband and I were thinking about what we may want to take home from Brussels as a keepsake, we immediately agreed upon chocolate. Brussels is arguably the chocolate capital of the world. Godiva, one of the most well known luxury chocolate companies, was established in Brussels in 1926. Definitely stop by a chocolate shop and buy some authentic Belgian chocolate while you’re in Brussels. The only problem with buying it as a keepsake is that it won’t last long. My husband and I decided to just “taste” our chocolate and ended up eating every last drop!
Which of these things would you be most eager to do if you had 24 hours in Brussels?
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