Brussels is one of the top destinations that has successfully stolen the heart of many. The city offers so much to do, from its stunning architecture, to the world-renowned craft beers and chocolate, there are many reasons to visit.

Brussels consists of 19 autonomous regions bordered with two entities, Walloon-French and Flemish-Dutch. You can see different cultural influences in different parts of the city.

Grand Place 

One of the most beautiful parts of the city is the Grand Place. The palace is built in the classic Flemish style – Baroque Gothic, with lots of gold integrated in the structure. When you stand in the middle of the Grand Palace you have the feeling that all the buildings are a bit asymmetrical and irregular (which they are). This is one of the things that make this square really impressive. The whole city of Brussels is full of narrow old streets with characteristic architecture where you can walk for hours.

Churches in Brussels 

Of all of the religious buildings, we certainly single out the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, located on the hill Treurenberg, near the city center.

Another important church in the city is the Basilica of St. Srca, which is also one of the largest churches in Europe. It is located on Koekelberg Hill and is the largest art deco building in the world, accommodating about 2,000 people. It is about 93 meters high, so its dome offers an excellent view of the entire city and its surroundings.

Atomium 

The Atomium exists since 1958 and symbolizes the structure of iron atoms. Much like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it was supposed to serve only a temporary purpose, but it has remained in its place for decades. There are nine spheres, interconnected by ‘pipes’.
The easiest way to reach it is by metro, and exit at Heysel / Heizel station, where the stadium of the same name is located.

Cinquantenaire Park 

Parc du Cinquantenaire or Jubelpark, is a beautiful park next to the European Quarter and is almost 30 hectares in size. Most of the buildings are built in 1880, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Belgian independence.

The main symbol is the Arc de Triomphe, built in 1905. Today it is the longest triumphal arch in the world. The park has lots of gardens and fountains, but also several museums, such as the Military Museum, where in addition to weapons you can see aircraft, the Cinquantenaire Museum and the Autoworld Museum, which contains about 350 oldtimers.

Food 

When it comes to food, be sure to try the great traditional cuisine Brussels has to offer. One of the most favored is Les Brassins. Located on the street where Audrey Hepburn (Rue Keyenveld 36) was born and offers several delicious dishes. Some of the traditional ones are beer goulash (carbonnade), mussels with tomatoes and onions (which are their national dish) and French fries. You can also try excellent fish delicacies on Sainte-Catherine Square in the popular street food restaurant De Noordzee / La Mer du Nord and dine overlooking the magnificent church of St. Catherine.

Pubs and Cafes 

There are countless cafes and bars located in Brussels. Cafe Roskam (Vlaamsesteenweg 9 Rue de Flandre) is one of the most famous for its live music, whereas the Monk bar (Sint Katelijnestraat 42, Rue Sainte Catherine) is the favored destination for snacks and local beers. Gin-lovers must not miss one of the best gin bars in the world named De Haus. For those more ambitious, eager for a local atmosphere and Japanese whiskeys, the recommendation is Le Tigre, which is a bit dark, but great for an evening drink.

Shopping 

As in any popular European city, you can find whatever you your heart desires on your shopping ventures in Brussels. Second-hand shops are great, and on the last Saturday of every month you can grab yourself some real jems for only a few euros. The range of local fashion designers in the city, and Hunting and Collecting (17, Rue des Chartreux 1000 Brussels – Belgium) is a great mix of local and well-known world designers. Also, the Dansaert area is full of shops by local creators so you can enjoy (and shop) there as much as you like.

We hope this post has provided you with some inspiration for your next adventure. If you are still not sure where you would like to take your passport next you can also check out our Vipper.com blog. Don’t forget to download our vipper.com app or visit our website www.vipper.com and start planning your next trip to Brussels! 

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