Brussels

Belgium

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Belgium might not be at the top of your bucket list when it comes to European countries to see, but that’s only because most people don’t know all that much about it. The truth is, for a pint-sized country, Belgium packs a lot of punch compared to its larger, tourist-saturated neighbors.

Belgium might not be at the top of your bucket list when it comes to European countries to see, but that’s only because most people don’t know all that much about it. The truth is, for a pint-sized country, Belgium packs a lot of punch compared to its larger, tourist-saturated neighbors. Not convinced? Here are a few adventures you can embark on in Belgium that makes this tiny European treasure trove a must-see.
<h2>1. Walk through the Blue Forest</h2>
If you’re visiting Belgium anytime between late April through May, make sure you stop by the Hallerbos, also known as the Blue Forest and prepare to be enchanted. The forest floor is almost completely covered by a dreamy carpet of millions of bluebells, with a series of footpaths allowing you to walk amongst them. Although bluebell forests aren’t especially unusual in Europe, Hallerbos has one of the densest coverings.

[caption id="attachment_1023357" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/115893320-1024x705.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/115893320-1024x705.jpg 1024w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/115893320-300x207.jpg 300w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/115893320-768x529.jpg 768w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/115893320.jpg 1200w" alt="The Blue Forest, Belgium" width="1024" height="705" /> brytta / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>2. Kick back with some craft beer</h2>
When it comes to quality craft beer, you really couldn’t find yourself in a better country! Belgium boasts unique local brews from every one of its regions. Furthermore, there's no shortage of breweries to tour, and beer bars to drink the results! Be advised that some Belgian beers are a bit stronger than you might expect.

[caption id="attachment_1023358" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/477702250-1024x683.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/477702250-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/477702250-300x200.jpg 300w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/477702250-768x512.jpg 768w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/477702250.jpg 1200w" alt="Belgian beer, Brussels" width="1024" height="683" /> JurgaR / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>3. Go on a canal cruise in Bruges</h2>
You’ll quickly find out why Bruges is known as Venice of the North when you see how many canals run through the city. Cruising by boat is one of the best ways to enjoy the old-world beauty of Bruges. You’ll experience picturesque landscapes, beautiful bridges, and secret gardens. All the while gently gliding down the canal on your tour boat. It’s hard to imagine a more delightful way to explore a city!

[caption id="attachment_1023359" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/493325107-1024x672.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/493325107-1024x672.jpg 1024w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/493325107-300x197.jpg 300w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/493325107-768x504.jpg 768w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/493325107.jpg 1200w" alt="Bruges, Belgium" width="1024" height="672" /> rusm / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>4. Feast on fries</h2>
First things first: Belgian fries, frites are not quite the same thing as your standard French fries. They come from thick-cut bintjes, soft Belgian potatoes, that are twice fried, served up in a paper cone with a little fork -- and topped with mayo instead of ketchup! You haven’t truly been to Belgium until you’ve tried Belgian frites. They are a staple street food!

[caption id="attachment_1023360" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/686235318-1024x683.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/686235318-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/686235318-300x200.jpg 300w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/686235318-768x512.jpg 768w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/686235318.jpg 1200w" alt="Belgian frites, Brussels" width="1024" height="683" /> NataliaDeriabina / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>5. Take a peek at Pairi Daiza</h2>
A privately owned animal theme park and botanical garden located in Brugelette, the Pari Daiza is home to 4,000 adorable animals. The picturesque park, which is divided into eight sub-worlds of different flora and fauna, expands across 65 acres and is located on the former site of the Cistercian Cambron Abbey.

[caption id="attachment_1023361" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/949119072-1024x681.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/949119072-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/949119072-300x200.jpg 300w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/949119072-768x511.jpg 768w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/949119072.jpg 1200w" alt="Pairi Daiza, Brugelette, Belgium" width="1024" height="681" /> philou1000 / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>6. Marvel at Mini-Europe</h2>
Ever wanted to know what it feels like to be a giant? Mini-Europe, right in the heart of Brussels, is the theme park for you. Stroll amongst tiny replicas of European monuments, including the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Big Ben, The Eiffel Tower, and Mount Vesuvius. Take a few selfies, and your friends will think you’ve seen it all in a day!

[caption id="attachment_1023362" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/178841794-1024x719.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/178841794-1024x719.jpg 1024w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/178841794-300x211.jpg 300w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/178841794-768x539.jpg 768w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/178841794.jpg 1200w" alt="Mini-Europe, Belgium" width="1024" height="719" /> jarino47 / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>7. Indulge in Belgian chocolate</h2>
You don’t have to be a chocoholic to appreciate the famous, world class chocolate made in Belgium, a country which produces 220,000 tons of the stuff a year. Belgian chocolate is so beloved that nearly every village in the country has its own hand-crafted chocolate shop, with recipes that have been passed down for generations.

[caption id="attachment_1023387" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="size-large wp-image-1023387" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/GettyImages-182660817-1-1024x680.jpg" alt="Chocolate shop Brussels Belgium" width="1024" height="680" /> stevenallan / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>8. Gawk at the architecture in Ghent</h2>
Known as the gem of Belgium by locals, the fourth largest city is considered one of the country’s best kept secrets because it is often overlooked by tourists and sightseers who tend to zero in on Brussels or Bruges. Ghent is fairly compact but has a high concentration of restaurants, nightlife, and awe-inspiring architecture, including Gravensteen, a 12th-century castle.

[caption id="attachment_1023364" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/685886450-1024x684.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/685886450-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/685886450-300x200.jpg 300w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/685886450-768x513.jpg 768w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/685886450.jpg 1200w" alt="Ghent Old Town" width="1024" height="684" /> MarioGuti / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>9. Pamper yourself in Spa</h2>
Spa is a small town in Belgium from which all spas worldwide derive their name. Spa, which is in the region of Ardennes in eastern Belgium, is famous for its mineral-rich thermal springs, which have been renowned for centuries for their therapeutic effects. The mineral from Spa water is exported worldwide for its wellness-promoting benefits. Why not stop by for a bit of thermal refreshment?

[caption id="attachment_1023365" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/505340964-1024x683.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/505340964-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/505340964-300x200.jpg 300w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/505340964-768x512.jpg 768w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/505340964.jpg 1200w" alt="Spa, Belgium" width="1024" height="683" /> Flavio Vallenari / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>10. Take a selfie with the Manneken Pis in Brussels</h2>
Also known as the “peeing boy statue,” this world-famous monument provides a bit of comic relief to tourists and locals alike since it was installed at its fountain in 1619. The statue, which has donned some 900 different outfits, is seen as a symbol of the enduring rebellious spirit, and sense of humor that defines the city of Brussels.

[caption id="attachment_1023366" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/482658768-1024x681.jpg" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/482658768-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/482658768-300x200.jpg 300w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/482658768-768x511.jpg 768w, https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2019/04/482658768.jpg 1200w" alt="Mannekin Pis, Brussels" width="1024" height="681" /> Lutique / Getty Images[/caption]

Reasons to Add Belgium to Your Bucket List

Brussels is home to Belgian commerce and industry and the European Union, culture-rich libraries and museums, elegant and quirky shopping districts, and magnificent cathedrals. There are countless tourist attractions and things to do in Brussels including art, architecture, and history.

Brussels is home to Belgian commerce and industry and the European Union. It is also the location of the Belgian royal family, culture-rich libraries and museums, elegant and quirky shopping districts and magnificent cathedrals. The capital of bilingual Belgium, it offers ready train access to other European cities: those of the Flemish-speaking west such as Bruges, and eastern, French-speaking cities like Liege. There are countless tourist attractions and things to do in Brussels including art, architecture, and history. Other guests focus on comics, the 1958 World's Fair and of course, Mannekin Pis.
<h2>1. Grand Place (Grote Markt)</h2>
The Grand Place is Brussels' main square, one of the best-preserved in Europe. It was founded in the 11th century, gained a town hall at the opening of the 15th century and through centuries of politics and business acquired further buildings of elegant design. The town hall, built to be the envy of nearby Bruges, contains a capsule of Brussels history in the murals along the Escalier d'Honneur.

<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2018/08/914562482-1024x683.jpg" alt="914562482" width="1024" height="683" /><span class="image-caption">vichie81 / Getty Images</span>
<h2>2. The Atomium</h2>
Accessible by tram from the city center, the Atomium rises above the city and resembles an atomic structure. It is made of aluminum and steel and was erected for the 1958 Brussels World's Fair. Visitors can enjoy the surrounding park and enter several of the structure's spheres by escalator, stairs, and an elevator. Inside are exhibits and a sky-high restaurant with a panoramic view.

<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2018/08/598214144-1024x683.jpg" alt="598214144" width="1024" height="683" /><span class="image-caption">chachastephane / Getty Images</span>
<h2>3. Parc du Cinquantenaire (Jubelpark)</h2>
Belgium celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1880 and commissioned the creation of Parc du Conquantenaire to commemorate the event. A triumpha arch joined the Palais du Cinquantenaire's two buildings 25 years later. Visit the Royal Art and History Museum and view a world-class collection of tapestries, or wander through the Belgian Army Museum and Museum of Military History for historical exhibits and an overview of military development over time.

<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2018/08/483718407-1024x680.jpg" alt="483718407" width="1024" height="680" /><span class="image-caption">anmalkov / Getty Images</span>
<h2>4. Palais Royale (Koninklijk Paleis)</h2>
The royal palace and its surrounding park present a beautiful, peaceful place to explore and monuments representing Belgian history to examine. It's the residence of the royal family, but from late July to the beginning of September, the palace traditionally opens a few special rooms to the public. The Mirror Room is a particular favorite, with a piece called "Heaven of Delight" constructed on the ceiling out of thousands of beetles.

<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2018/08/182054079-1024x683.jpg" alt="182054079" width="1024" height="683" /><span class="image-caption">FrankyDeMeyer / Getty Images</span>
<h2>5. Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert (Koninklijke Sint-Hubertusgalerijen)</h2>
Visit this restored mid-19th-century arcade for the architecture, the shops, or both. Originally designed to upgrade the local shopping experience and bring it indoors, the lengthy corridors dedicated to the king and queen contain stores, cafes, and restaurants. Over the years, the building has served as a gathering place for the literary and artistic spheres, a hangout for journalists, and a destination for theatergoers.

<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2018/08/179063981-1024x768.jpg" alt="179063981" width="1024" height="768" /><span class="image-caption">rlastres / Getty Images</span>
<h2>6. Mont des Arts (Kunstberg)</h2>
Created just before the 1958 Brussels World's Fair, this park offers a scenic view of the central city. Located between the Place Royale and the Place d'Albertine, Mont des Arts offers a nice place to rest or walk around before resuming urban exploration. The nearby Bibliotheque Albert I, with museums and an extensive manuscript collection, is joined by the imposing Palais de la Dynastie and Palais de Congres.

<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2018/08/1014917184-1024x683.jpg" alt="1014917184" width="1024" height="683" /><span class="image-caption">bhidethescene / Getty Images</span>
<h2>7. Eglise Notre-Dame du Sablon (Onze Lieve Vrouw ter Zavelkerk)</h2>
The church's history dates back to early 1300, though the location was in use as a guild gathering place for a century before. The present building is from the 15th century when this richly decorated late Gothic structure at the historic center of Brussels drew the nobility and wealthy citizens of the city. If featured two magnificent Baroque chapels, its claim to fame. The Thurn and Taxis family, who established the first international postal service in 1516, contributed significantly to the building of the chapels and had a residence nearby.

<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2018/08/185217614-1024x683.jpg" alt="185217614" width="1024" height="683" /><span class="image-caption">35007 / Getty Images</span>
<h2>8. Basilique Nationale du Sacre-Cœur a Koekelberg (Nationale Basiliek van het Heilig Hart te Koekelberg)</h2>
Begun in 1905 to mark Belgium's 75th anniversary, King Leopold II's masterpiece is the fifth largest church in the world. A mix of art deco and other influences, it was completed in 1970. Inside is an excellent collection of art and an exhibit on the history of the cathedral. From the cupola, visitors can use rented binoculars to view the countryside as far as Antwerp.

<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2018/08/531611631-1024x1024.jpg" alt="531611631" width="1024" height="1024" /><span class="image-caption">GoodLifeStudio / Getty Images</span>
<h2>9. Cathédrale des Sts Michel et Gudule (St-Michiels en St-Goedelekathedraal)</h2>
As was the case for many European cathedrals, construction of this Gothic-style church began in 1225 but was only completed in the 15th century. In addition to the architecture and the church's artwork, the stained glass windows are a popular attraction. Tuesday evenings during July and August, the cathedral is the site of concerts involving the church's three organs, and other musical events.

<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2018/08/164771866-1024x683.jpg" alt="164771866" width="1024" height="683" /><span class="image-caption">Rhombur / Getty Images</span>
<h2>10. Mannekin Pis</h2>
This little boy is much more than a whimsical statue and Brussels' best-known landmark. His history dates back to 1388 or earlier, though the statue itself is from 1619. Mannekin Pis has been stolen and returned several times over the ages; on major holidays and festival days, locals often dress him for the occasion. Ask a Belgian the "true" story of the cheeky boy relieving himself, and you will hear many versions. He could be a little fireman or depict a child who couldn't hold it in during a Brussels procession. This city is always full of surprises!

<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2018/08/814348674-1024x683.jpg" alt="814348674" width="1024" height="683" /><span class="image-caption">pabloborca / Getty Images</span>

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Reasons to Add Belgium to Your Bucket List

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