Last Updated on April 29, 2021
Brussels is the capital and largest city of Belgium and home to the European Union. After falling in love with Brugge, we found it hard to fall in love with Brussels as much. Looking back, we think it is because Brussels takes time to discover and because of this we may have overlooked its real qualities.
However, there were a few things that we did love about our time in Brussels:
Waffles, Waffles and Waffles!
As we wandered around downtown, it felt like there was a constant smell of waffles baking. This made us need to sample many waffles, and they definitely were delicious. Even just a quick walk around the city center can easily turn into a tasting marathon.
Seeing Manneken Pis
Manneken Pis (“little man piss”) is a Brussels landmark and remains the emblem of the rebellious spirit of the City of Brussels. It is a small bronze fountain sculpture depicting a little boy urinating into the fountain’s basin. He’s tucked away at the corner of rue de l’Étuve and rue du Chêne in Ilôt Sacré.
At only 18 inches (45 centimeters) tall, look for him closely because if there’s not a crowd, you might miss him; he was a lot smaller than we expected!
Historical Buildings
The Grand Place is a main tourist attraction in Brussels. The 16th century guildhalls surrounding it make the square one of the most beautiful in Europe. At night, the square is lit up and looks even more beautiful. We loved walking around and admiring the buildings and their well-preserved historic facade. The outside of many buildings were absolutely charming and we had a great time admiring the beautiful architecture. We also liked how there was architectural uniformity throughout the city. It is beautiful around every corner, not just in the centre of the city.
Wanderability
We loved how walkable it was and what an easy time we had getting around. The narrow streets and pretty parks were nice to wander around. We loved the feel of wandering the really busy, attractive buildings that created the narrow alleyways. There was always something new to discover.
The secret view :: Parking 58
The view from the top deck is beautiful and it is said to be one of, if not the, best (and free) view of the town. Parking 58 is located in the center of the town, 600m from La Grand Place. When you enter, take the lift on the right and go to the 10th floor and you will find the parking terrace and will be greeted by a 360 degree view of Brussels.
What did you love about Brussels? Is there a destination you feel you overlooked?