''Why visit the City of Brussels and what's there to see''​

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What is there to see in the city of Brussels ?

If you're looking for a unique European experience with beautiful architecture, delicious food and drink then look no further - Brussels is a very strong contender.

The streets are filled with colour, especially when visiting during fall ! Brussels also finds a way to spark the inner child in everyone with its random caricatures throughout the city buildings.

This blog focusses on the main sights and attractions that you MUST visit while in Brussels. We'll write another blog with the not so famous destinations, which are under the radar yet very much important to see as well.

Montreal tourist attractions

1. La Belgique Gourmande

Fresh off the red eye, we dropped our luggage at our hotel and headed downtown while our room got prepared. We exited the bus at the Brussels Central station and started heading to the Grand Place Brussels. On our way over, what do we see ? Chocolate heaven for Lia !

Serge is not much of a sweet tooth kind of guy, but he sure loved eating the Belgian truffles! This chocolate store had so many types of chocolates, enough to awaken the inner child in all of us !

We found various Belgique Gourmande on Google, however this one is located steps away from Grand Place Brussels in the centre town. You have to check this place out!

More on the Belgique Gourmande here.

Montreal Tourist

2. Grand Place

Based on the postcard we received from Grand Place - Brussels, it's much nicer with the flower decoration. However even without the flower carpet, Grand Place is a beautiful sight.

We loved the impressive architecture with golden trim accents. We've since seen various other European cities with similar structures, however this one remains special to us. There must be something about the 'intimate' square, where everyone can gather. Or perhaps it's the golden accents - who knows.

3. Manneken Pis

The famous tale about the boy who urinated. There are many hypotheses about the actual story, feel free to have a look on Wikipedia under 'legends'.

We were shocked to find how small the statue of Manneken Pis was. Despite its size, it did not disappoint. What's funny is that we were drawn curious to check it out whenever we could. That's because someone took it upon themselves to dress him in various outfits every other day.

4. Mont des Arts up to Royal Place

Call it luck, but we found ourselves lucky to explore this section in the sequence we did. Our bus dropped us off near Bruxelles Central, located a short 3 minute walk from Mont des Arts. Our idea was to explore the Royal Place, the Bruxelles Palace, the Bruxelles Park, Grand & Petit Sablon etc.

In hindsight, this was the perfect scenic route that led us up a slightly elevated garden street. We enjoyed the garden and decor all the way up to Royal Place street. Moreover, the view from the top looking down was equally stunning! Have a look at some of our pictures below.

Montreal attractions

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5. Petit Sablon & Grand Sablon

We have to admit, there's nothing too extravagant about the Petit & Grand Sablon. Let's put the mystery to rest, the Petit Sablon is a small courtyard / garden and the Grand Sablon is a place or a square with Book and Antique Markets.

However, it's the 'area' and the vibe that we felt 'hooked' us. This section of Brussels is a must see in addition to the downtown core. Hopefully you'll catch the outdoor Antique market at the Grand Sablon, or perhaps a coffee and pastry at the Petit Sablon.

More on the Grand Sablon here and Petit Sablon here

Montreal tourism

6. Bruxelles Palace and Bruxelles Park

Our way up Mont des Arts led us to Royal Place street, we made a left at the top of the hill and found the Brussels Palace.
*Mental note, if you take the same route, be sure to turn around and enjoy the beautiful view of the city below!

We admired the Brussels Palace from outdoors. The structure was impressive and we really enjoyed the black gate with golden accents. Since we did not visit inside, we are unable to help you with this venture. However we can guide you to the proper site, hoping this will help make your visit a reality.

More on Bruxelles Palace / plan a visit.

Montreal to do

Brussels Park is located across the street from the Palace. It's layout depicts the shape of a rectangle. Inside you will find, a walking path to circulate the grounds, random park benches to sit and enjoy, people jogging and biking while others enjoy a relaxing time sitting on the grass.

It's a perfect place to reconnect with nature, to start off your day on the right foot or even to walk through one end to the other.

7. St Michael and St Gudula Cathedral

Also located a short distance from Brussels Central. St Michael and St Gudula Cathedral is a short 4-5 minute walk from the Central station.

The Cathedral has an impressive structure and we recommend that you walk the full 360 degree tour. This way you'll find interesting points of view and intricate architecture.

There is no entrance fee to the Cathedral. However there is a small fee if you would like to visit the Archeological site or the Romanesque Crypt.

You can read more about the St Michael and St Gudula Cathedral here.

Few restaurant ideas while discovering Brussels

From experience, we've learned that it's risky business to blog about restaurants. This is because each year, countless restaurants open their doors and countless more close them. For this reason, we don't like to promote places to eat. This said, we've carefully selected a few eateries near the Petit and Grand Sablon and both are still in business.

1. Au Pain Quotidien / Grand Sablon

Located a little outside Brussels centre town, you'll find Au Pain Quotidien right at Bruxelles Grand Sablon.

We ordered a coffee and pastry and enjoyed it over on a bench at the Petit Sablon Square.

2. Cafe Leffe / Grand Sablon

The word 'Leffe' caught our attention and we decided to try it despite the sub par Google Reviews. You know what, we're glad we did.

We gave them a 4 star review our Google Review. As we recall, it was the service that brought their ratings down. If you're not too pressed for time and willing to wait a little then give this place a try. C'mon, you're on vacation after all - aren't you ?

More on Cafe Leffe here !

3. Tabora fries and Los Churros & Waffle / centre town

This is more of a pick up and go type of eateries, however worth a taste. These snack shacks are located on Tabora st, which is a pedestrian street with various shops. We recommend that you explore the street, make time to visit these eateries and ensure you bring your appetite!

We recall an unmistakably growing line for the Tabora fries, which got our attention. Having just finished a meal, we weren't very hungry, yet we wanted to explore. I ordered the Belgium style fries in a newspaper cone and Eli ordered the Waffle with countless toppings

Questions about Brussels answered

Q - How safe is Brussels ?
A - We felt very safe while exploring Brussels downtown. There were few parts we were told to avoid. Perhaps it would be best to double check with your accommodations.

Q - Where to stay in Brussels?
A - We really loved our stay at the FunKey hotel. Check it out on our ratings page!

Q - Where to eat in Brussels?
A - We made a quick list in this blog and will add more locations moving forward.

Q - What language to speak in the city of Brussels ?
A - You'll get around just fine with French or English in Brussels

Q - What to eat in Brussels ?
A - As mentioned in this blog, we think you should try various waffles and the street fries on Tabora st.

Q - What's the weather in Brussels?
A - We visited in October and found it relatively warm with temperatures ranging from 9-18 degrees.

Where are the cool spots in Brussels, Belgium ?

Whether you're travelling on a budget or simply looking to put your wallet to rest for a little, we've got some cool spots that will put a freeze on your spending.

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Itineraries and Attraction recommendation

The Petit & Grand Sablon, Brussels Palace and Park 1 full day
Downtown Brussels - 2 full days
Bruges, Belgium - 1 - 2 full days

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