Brussels, the capital of Belgium, a country in Europe, needs to be visited even if it is just for curiosity sake. As host to the European Union Administration, Brussels welcomes visitors with tasty treats and cheap beer.
We visited as part of a Belgium road trip. While Rog had visited before, we can honestly say we only had one reason to visit the Belgium capital, and that was to see the famous Manneken Pis.
So what else did we do in Brussels, and what can you expect when you visit.
The best time to visit Brussels
In general Brussels has summers that are hot and winters that are long and cold, cloudy, and mostly windy. Ideally, the best time to visit is between March and May. Not only does the weather at that time become more reliable and more pleasant, but you will find that it isn’t as crowded with tourists.
We visited in October and we had a cool, sunny day. Personally, we find that perfect for eating warm waffles, and being cosy in cute beer cafes.
Getting around Brussels
Brussels is a big city so exploring it on foot may not be ideal for everyone. The best way to get around, is by using its extensive public transit system, the Brussels Intercommunal Transport Company. Trains run every 15 minutes from Brussels Airport (BRU) to central Brussels, and with in the city itself.
As we were on a road trip, and we were only going to stay in Brussels overnight, we chose an accommodation with parking close to the centre of the city, so we could walk everywhere. We found it safe and easy to navigate.
What you need to see in Brussels
There are a lot of hidden gems in Brussels so you could easily spend a couple of days exploring the Belgian capital. You will surrounded by great shopping, plenty of chocolate shops, great food and drink, and museums a plenty.
One thing that really stands out in Brussels is the stunning architecture on every street you walk. Belgium is famous for its Art Nouveau style. A must-see is The Grand-Place. It is the home of the City Hall and the Maison du Roi, which was the royal home of the King of France in the 15th to the 18th centuries. This area of the city is so beautiful, it was been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. You owe it to yourself to go to The Grand-Place in both daylight and in the evening. There is nothing else like it.
Then there is the Manneken Pis. This is a small but really meaningful sculpture. It is said to be the rebellious spirit of the city. Depending on how long you stay in Brussels, you may see Manneken Pis in a variety of outfits. We saw him dressed in a red, cape and then garnished in flowers in our 24 hours.
Be mindful that this small icon of the city is always surrounded by people so when taking children to see the famous statue, make sure you hang on tight. As I mentioned, seeing the Manneken Pis was on Mick’s world bucket list, after learning about the statue in a Dutch card game. Unfortunately, he was slightly underwhelmed and enjoyed spotting the many more tribute statues around the city more.
What you need to eat in Brussels
I am going to be very honest here. We love the whole of Belgium for two reasons – fries and waffles!
You cannot head to anywhere in Belgium, especially not Brussels and not have at least one of those two things. So what makes the Belgian versions of these dishes sooooo good!
Fries
Belgian Fries (or Frites) are nothing like you have eaten anywhere else. When it comes to fries, there’s no better place than Belgium to eat them. Fries are a Belgian invention (so they claim), and the secret to that perfect crispiness is that the potato sticks are fried twice in animal fats, instead of vegetable oil. When wandering around Brussels, you can find places that do not use animal products if that is your preference.
While this family is no stranger to good fries after living in The Netherlands, there is something about a fresh serving of fries with mayonnaise (or my favourite, joppiesaus) in Brussels, while you are wandering the beautiful streets.
The waffles
Now before you arrive, you need to know that you will be faced with the choice of two types of waffles when in Brussels; the Brussels waffle and the Liege waffle. While both are yeast based waffles, the Brussels waffle is lighter, and has deeper holes perfect for filling with Belgian chocolate (another reason we love Belgium). A Liege waffle is has sugar melted on top during the baking process, making it more like a caramel flavour. This makes them chewier, but they are just as delicious. During our road trip around Belgium we had our fair share of both!
Final Thoughts
While the Manneken Pis, didn’t live up to our expectations, we certainly enjoyed our quick stop in Brussels. I highly recommend adding it to the cities in Europe you want to visit.
9 comments
This is a perfect, quick guide to Brussels! It sounds like October was a perfect time to go. I have a hard time visiting places when it’s too hot, even though summer is often ideal.
It was. We did a week road tripping Belgium and it was perfect. There is something about travelling and being cosy.
I love Brussels – especially the waffles and fries dipped in mayonnaise, and chocolate, Cant wait to return – can spend hours just people watching in the Grand Place.
Sounds like a perfect trip to me!
Now I’m craving fries! Hahaha Brussels is such a lovely city! I love the museums and beers too!
Absolutely! There is nothing like a good Belgium beer.
Manneken Pis is probably similar to wanting to see the Mona Lisa and then being underwhelmed by the size of the painting and the throngs of people wanting to see it. I visited Brussels in late Fall, and it was perfect for touring with cooler weather.
Haha. It sure was. We did the Mona Lisa February this year. In fact, both will make a post about most underwhelming travel moments with kids, that is due to be live in a few weeks.
Yes, of course, french fries and waffles are what we all want to try in Belgium, but I would also add Belgian chocolate and croissants, which for me are no worse than French ones!