My first international weekend trip! More accurately, my first trip out of the Czech Republic during my study abroad. I traveled with a few friends from school right after my classes on Thursday to Belgium. It is not unusual to see students at the university with luggage so they can go straight to the train station or airport after classes.
The capital of Belgium is known for the Manneken Pis statue, the comic murals across the city, the arches of the Parc du Cinquantenaire (left), and the Grand Place (Grote Markt). Brussels is a walkable city and two days was enough time to see the iconic sites and eat the iconic foods. Here are seven ways to spend a weekend in Brussels:
1. Take a free walking tour
If the weather is nice, consider taking a free walking tour of the city. My friends and I had a blast walking around Brussels for a few hours, and I will definitely consider another walking tour in the future. Although technically free, tipping the guide based on the value of the tour is recommended. Each tour is unique to the guide, and our guide, Adrian, provided many recommendations for food and hidden gems in the city. Here are a few things I learned:
– The iconic Town Hall, built in the 15th century, is not symmetrical- changes were made to the original blueprint throughout construction.
– Throughout Brussels are golden scallop shells on the sidewalks and buildings. These shells point the way for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. How cool!
– Belgian fries are unique for two reasons: First, the potatoes are fried twice, and second, the fries are cooked in beef fat. I don’t often eat fries at home, and these were the best fries I’ve ever had.
2. Taste Belgium beer
For twenty euros, I tried six iconic Belgian beers at Au Brasseur, a popular pub right next to the Grand Place. As one still developing her beer palette, I could not identify the uniqueness of each beer very well. From what we sampled, the Karmeliet was my favorite (I think).
3. Try iconic Belgian foods!
Check out my TripAdvisor page for the places we visited to sightsee and eat fries, mussels, chocolate, and beer!
A quick note on waffles in Belgian: There are two types of waffles in Belgian: The Brussels waffle and the Liege waffle. In my brief culinary research, I learned that Brussels waffles are rectangular with deep pockets. They are fluffier and lighter than Liege waffles. Liege waffles are rectangular with rounded corners. “Pearl sugar is mixed in with the dough, which caramelizes when the waffle is cooked. They are thicker, richer, and chewier than the Brussels waffle.” Liege waffles are more popular (and tastier) in Brussels, and the yellow food trucks have the best and freshest waffles.
4. Hunt for comic strip walls
Comics are an important part of Belgian culture. Decorated throughout the city are about 50 murals of iconic Belgian comics, such as the Smurfs and Tintin. It was fun to walk throughout the city center and notice these murals. Each mural had a plaque with a number and description. If I had more time, I would have found a walking route to find more comic walls.
5. Walk through Mini Europe Park
About 45 minutes from the city center is the famous Atomium structure. It is possible to visit the exhibitions inside, eat at the restaurant at the top, and see Brussels from the best vantage point. We did not visit the Atomium, but we did visit Mini Europe Park, which is just at the foot of the monument. This park has a walking path throughout miniature, iconic sites in the European Union. This park is geared toward children, but we still had a blast trekking across Europe for a couple hours. We went to the park on Sunday afternoon and avoided most of the crowds. Below is a photo of Hoesbroek Castle in the Netherlands.
6. Take a day trip to Bruges
Bruges is a great day trip to see beautiful, preserved buildings in a smaller town than Brussels. In Belgium, I spent two full days in Brussels and one day in Bruges, which was plenty of time to see the highlights of both places. Bruges is a popular weekend destination for tourists, and I would recommend visiting during the week to avoid crowds. Rachel and I arrived early on Saturday and were able to tour Bruges without dense crowds. It was interesting to hear the shift in the primary language in these places: We noticed more Dutch in Bruges and more French in Brussels.
7. Eat at Wolf Food Hall
For a group of ten indecisive, hungry students, Wolf was the perfect place for a unique dinner after a long day. I have come across food halls in Prague, Amsterdam, and Brussels and have enjoyed my experience at each place. It was similar also to the beer hall in Munich, with a loud, cheerful ambiance and young crowd.
On each trip from Prague, I make a few mistakes and I learn something new for the next trip. For example, as our bus approached the Brussels airport, I realized I had not checked into the flight and must pay a late check-in fee… I won’t be making that mistake again!
PS
After extensive Googling and research, we were surprised to find that Brussels sprouts are not popular here. A couple waiters mentioned that most Belgians eat Brussels sprouts at home and not in restaurants and that Brussels sprouts were not in season.
For those planning a trip to Brussels…
There is a Brussels Card available to purchase for 24, 48, or 72 hours. This card provides free access to museums, skip-the-line access to the Atomium, and free public transportation. I did not purchase a card because I prefer to walk throughout the city and the weather was too nice to spend inside a museum. If you are looking to explore Brussels through museums and prefer public transport, then the Brussels Card will be the best bang for your buck.
kira vesta 
2 thoughts on “Best of Brussels”