Trip to Brussels, Belgium

Day 1: Arrival and exploring the city

Welcome to Brussels! After your arrival and checking into your hotel, spend the day exploring the city on your own pace. Brussels is known for its spectacular architecture, beautiful parks, and delicious cuisine. Head to the Grand Place, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is located in the heart of the city and surrounded by beautiful buildings and cafes. You can also visit the iconic Manneken Pis statue which is a symbol of the city, or take a leisurely stroll at the Parc du Cinquantenaire which houses the Art and History Museums. In the evening, you can head over to the popular nightlife spot, Rue des Bouchers, which is known for its many bars, pubs and restaurants.

Day 2: Exploring the iconic landmarks

On your second day, start off by visiting Atomium which is humongous stainless-steel landmark built for the 1958 World Expo. You can take an elevator to the top for stunning panoramic views of the city. Next, visit the stunning Royal Palace of Brussels, located in the heart of the city and stroll through its beautiful gardens. Alternatively, you can visit the historic St. Michael’s Cathedral with its beautiful Gothic architecture that dates back to the 13th century.

Day 3: Discovering Brussels’ Art & Culture

Start your day by visiting the iconic Magritte Museum, which houses one of the largest collections of the Belgian surrealist Rene Magritte’s work. Next, visit the Museum of Musical Instruments, where you can explore more than 7,000 musical instruments, or the Belgian Comic Strip Center which has impressive displays on the country’s comic strips. After which, you can head to the Place Rustaveli for a visit to the prestigious Centre for Fine Arts (BOZAR) that houses three museums plus a cinema and a vast exhibition space.

Day 4: Exploring the city’s best food and drink spots

Spend the day exploring Brussels’s culinary scene by heading to some of the city’s best food and drink spots. Start with a visit to the popular Delirium Cafe, known for its impressive beer menu with over 3000 different options to choose from. Next, visit the Chocolaterie Mary where you can sample some of the best chocolates the city has to offer. In the afternoon, you can take a guided food tour to explore the city’s culinary and drink offerings, or if you prefer to spend your day at a slower pace, a visit to one of the city’s many markets for artisanal food could be a great option.

Day 5: Day trip to Ghent or Bruges

Take a break from Brussels and consider a day trip to either Ghent or Bruges. Ghent is a picturesque city that is full of history and is known for its impressive architecture, museums, and quaint streets. Alternatively, Bruges is a charming medieval city that is often referred to as the Venice of the North with its many canals and stunning architecture. Both cities are easily accessible from Brussels by train and offer a unique opportunity to witness the country’s other cities and culture.

Day 6: Free Day

Spend the day as you prefer. You may want to go explore some areas of the city you haven’t yet. The Sablon area is a very cool neighborhood with hip stores and restaurants you can check out and the Place Royal offers a huge amount of stores where you can shop with everything from high-end stores to independent shops

Day 7: Farewell to Brussels

On your last day before leaving Brussels, take the time to visit some of your favorite spots one last time. You may want to spend some time souvenir shopping or visiting historical landmarks. Alternatively, you could take a day trip to the nearby Waterloo battlefield, formerly known for the 1815 defeat of French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte . After a full week of discovery and adventure in Brussels, it’s time to say goodbye and start planning your next trip!