It’s rare that I mismanage my allocated time in a new city or country, but my trip to Brussels is one of the exceptions. Having spent the previous days in Bruges and Ghent, I got to the Belgian Capital for – what I thought was – the final 36 hours of my trip.
I checked-in to Marivaux Hotel at around mid-afternoon and connected to Wi-Fi to check my emails; at which point, I realised that I had to leave for my flight just 14 hours later. I couldn’t have been more disappointed with myself at the time; there is so much to see and do in Brussels, but I had left little time to properly explore it.
Top Things to do in Brussels
…when you don’t have much time. Here’s a quick insight on just a handful of things to see and do in the Belgian capital of Brussels:
Discover Grand Place
Head straight to the heart of the city to see the Belgian capital’s main square; it’s called Grand Place and it’s home to Gothic architecture and guild houses that sit atop the cobblestoned streets. If you head there for around sunset, you’ll catch the golden light as the sun soaks the houses and guildhalls before the street lights illuminate the night sky. What surprised me the most about Grand Place is that you don’t see the grandeur of this square coming; it’s hidden away in a labyrinth of surrounding walkways, of which only six of the cobbled streets bring you directly to the centre.
Eat (more) waffles…
When in Belgium, one must waffle as often as possible. Your nose will lead you in the direction of plenty of waffle shops. Because I was on the move to make up for lost time, I picked up a waffle cone from a popular-looking waffle shop called Be Frit’ – it was brimming with waffle chunks that had been drizzled in chocolate sauce. And I continued on my journey, walking through the side streets with a splat of chocolate sauce to the left of my lips… until I caught a glimpse of myself in a nearby window. Awkward.
Visit Galeries Saint Hubert
Galeries Saint-Hubert is famous for being Europe’s first shopping arcade; it first opened its doors in 1847. The architectural design alone is enough to stir a visit, but if you’re hungry, there’s a hangout called Mokafé, which is known amongst the locals as the go-to joint for waffles.
Find the best bars in Brussels
While in Brussels, I took a trip to a bar called Goupil Le Fol and, other than an eccentric speakeasy in Hong Kong, it is one of the strangest bars I have ever found myself sitting inside. From the front, it looks very much like a shop window, but you enter into (what feels like) a hidden bunker house with passageways and secret living rooms. It’s oddly impressive and, unless you turn your camera flash on, it is dimly lit with candles. Don’t expect any beer though; this place mainly serves (tasty) fruit wines. I recommend going with friends to avoid a trippy solo experience.
If that’s not your thing, head to Delirium bar for live music, a hopping atmosphere and wooden beer boats that hold multiple brews – of which, you’ll more than likely drink them all. It was only when I was walking through the cobbled alleyways around Grand Place that I realised there is more than one Delirium bar in the area, so take your pick.
If you don’t fancy walking your way around Brussels, you could opt for an e-scooter as an easy alternative. In fact, one of the most noticeable features of Brussels is the insane numbers of e-scooters that are dotted all over the city – with absolute trust that you won’t steal them.
For those who have time to explore more than just Brussels, here’s a guide to Ghent – an artsy city just 30 mins train ride from the capital. If you’re looking to explore picturesque Bruges, here are my favourite things to do.
Leave a Reply