By Alex Kallimanis: The smell of fresh waffles, topped with nutella and strawberries is bliss. Watching chocolatiers handcraft bonbons in store front windows, with prideful precision, is a masterful display worthy of attention. And lifting a tulip shaped beer glass, of a delicious golden ale you’ve never heard of, in a square filled with stunning buildings, will instantly make your blood pressure drop. Brussels might be the capital of Europe, bustling with bureaucrats around the parliament, but play the city right and it’s also one of Europe’s most enjoyable playgrounds.

Brussels Hotels
First you’ll need a place to stay. Consider booking quality accommodation in advance that offers free cancellation! That way, you lock in your stay and if your plans change you can always cancel for free.
Luxury Hotels in Brussels
Brussels Marriott Hotel Grand Place offers great amenities and a wonderful central location.
Steigenberger Wiltcher’s is a truly elegant hotel right off Avenue Louise, which has many of Brussels finest shops.
Mid Range Stay in Brussels
Hotel Park Inn by Radisson Brussels Midi has great rooms and a good location near Brussels Midi international train station. If you have an early international train to catch, this is a great option location wise as it’s near the train station where you catch Eurostar and Thalys trains.
Budget Hotels in Brussels
Ibis City Centre has a fantastic location, just a couple minutes walk from the incredible Grand Place. Rooms are very basic but clean, and you can’t beat the location.
Motel One Brussels has slightly better rooms than Ibis but it’s a little further from the Grand Place. The breakfast buffet here is really good and well priced.
You may find the best value booking short stay apartments in the Brussels. If you’ve never used Airbnb, sign up here for free and receive credit off your first stay! Book properties with consistently good reviews within walking distance of the famous Grand Place. Or book near a metro station.
Visiting Brussels as a College Kid
“Brussels was the most boring city we visited” said my early twenty-something best friend Brian, after our two-week Christmas vacation during college took us to London, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin and Prague. And many 22 year olds might agree with the sentiment we felt at that time, partly because we only stopped in Brussels briefly, because it was on the way from London to Amsterdam. And partly because Brussels doesn’t have Buckingham Palace, Europe’s biggest ferris wheel or the same wealth of museums as London. It doesn’t have marijuana hazed “coffee shops,” a massive red light district, and an intricate canal network like Amsterdam has, while falling short of the raucous nightlife, edgy bar scene and infamous history of Berlin. And Brussels is more expensive than Prague, which is more conducive to a college kid’s budget. But fast forward a few years and several trips later, and Brussels transformed into one of Europe’s best cities to hang out in, because it’s paradoxically both a little bit more mature, yet simultaneously childish compared to any other city we’ve visited.
The Grand Place (Grote Markt)

From the Grand Place stroll down Rue de l’Etuve Stoofstraat, past an array of pastry shops making fresh waffles. Buy one and have a quick stop at Mannequin Pis, a fountain statue of a little boy peeing, which is strangely the symbol of Brussels. Legend has it that when Brussels was ablaze centuries ago, a little boy extinguished the fire with his urine. On the side of many buildings you’ll find comic murals, as the city was the birthplace of cartoons like the Smurfs and Tin Tin. Brussels is an enigma, and the longer you spend here the more you’ll discover why surrealist artists like Rene Magritte were inspired by this city. Adding to the complexity, street signs are in both French and Flemish, making them extremely long and the city confusing to navigate at times.

For lunch, sit down for a delicious meal at Mokafe. This casual restaurant doesn’t offer a menu in English, which is rare, but also refreshing. Don’t be intimated. Have a look at what the locals are eating and ask questions. A favorite lunch among many is Filet Americain on a fresh baguette. Filet Americain is raw beef mixed with mayonnaise, spices and served with a side of diced onions. It’s not everyone, but I know I’m not the only American who’s come to appreciate this sandwich that’s named after us, especially when it’s served on a fresh, perfectly crusty baguette, possibly the best you’ve eaten in your life. If that doesn’t sound appealing, the Croque Monsieur is a great choice (basically an amazing ham and cheese sandwich).

If it interests you, a visit to the European Parliament might be in order. And while I’ve visited in the past and found it to be a unique experience, it’s somehow hard to write EU parliament and perfect day in Brussels in the same sentence. But if you’re a political junkie, this is one of world’s most important destinations.
Like neighboring Netherlands, Belgium is a monarchy and a stroll past the lovely Royal Palace (Palais Royal de Bruxelles) and adjacent Brussels Park should definitely be part of a perfect day in Brussels. Parallel to the Grand Place, along Rue Marche aux Herbes Grasmarkt, there’s lots of chocolate and pastry shops to satisfy the most discerning sweet tooths of all budgets. If you have any issues with dairy, like myself (tragic in Belgium) seek out fresh meringue from one of many fantastic patiseries, it’s delicious and one of the few local treats that’s dairy free.
For dinner we love the bistro La Villete. It’s both lively and laid back, with white and red checker clothed tables and a rustic feel, it’s quintessential Belgium. You can’t go wrong with ordering mussels, steak, beef stew or rabbit simmered in lambic beer sauce. The Belgians love to cook with their delicious beers and the perfect day in Brussels should involve ordering one of these dishes.

During the past year alone, I’ve had the opportunity to re-visit Brussels, Amsterdam, London and Berlin, 4 out of the 5 cities from the raucous college trip I enjoyed with my buddy. And since Bell and I previously lived in Amsterdam for 3 and 1/2 years, we had the opportunity to get to know this region pretty well. My opinion now is drastically different from my 22 year old self. I prefer spending time in Brussels over London and Berlin (albeit they’re all great to visit).
Have questions about planning a trip Brussels? Email me at [email protected] and I’ll be happy to assist you!
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you use them, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using them!
Thanks for enlightening us about Brussels. Most people we know say they prefer Bruges if they had to compare the two. But we’ve not been to either. Brussels certainly looks like a worthwhile stop on the way to Bruges…
Thanks for reading! Bell and I love Bruges, it’s actually where we first met 13 years ago. In the Bauhaus hostel- 10 euro per night back then! 🙂 Bruges and Brussels are so different. Bruges is better for a romantic getaway or to relax. Between Bruges and Brussels it really depends, the Grand Place in Brussels is spectacular. And yeah since it’s only 1 hour and 15 minutes by train it’s handy to do both! 🙂
Nice!!! I would personally love to visit Brussels again:) I just write a blog about this city… My kids love it!!! Up to now… fave european city is still brussels for them:) Happy travels!!! xoxo
While we don’t have kids ourselves yet, with all that awesome chocolate, we can see why kids love Brussels too! Happy travels!