Brussels, Belgium

We love you a WAFFLE LOT Brussels, Belgium

Brussels is Belgium’s capital and home to the European Union headquarters. Brussels is a interesting place with stunning architecture and fascinating history packed into every street and alleyway. The vibe of the city is hard to put your finger on. Sometimes it seems very business and does not take itself too seriously (Manneken Pis). It has an atmosphere that makes Brussels such a great city to visit. It truly has something for everyone. Don’t visit Brussels if you are on a diet as the waffles, fries, mussels and beer will soon have you indulging.

EAT AN INFAMOUS BELGIUM WAFFLE

When you think of Belgium, what comes to mind? For us, it is a Belgian waffle!! We set search for the best Belgian waffle in the city of Brussels and we found it! There are many different vendors on the streets of Belgium mass producing waffles for people walking through the city. Yes, these waffles are very tasty but not as good as the waffles at Mokafe Tavern. The Tavern is perfectly situated in a central location in the King’s Gallery, near the Grand Place and many other tourist sites. At Mokafe you can choose from all different flavors of waffles including savoring and sweet. The waffle itself is crisp not soggy, full of flavor and topped off with a delicious chantilly cream. Rinse your waffle down with a locally brewed beer, spritz or cappiccino. Mokafe has a full menu including breakfast lunch and dinner, though just coming for the waffles is worth the trip.

EXPLORE CITY CENTER

If you’ve just arrived in the city, it goes without saying that you should explore the charming streets and beautiful buildings in and around the city center. Around every corner is beautiful architecture, fountains, and picturesque neighborhoods. With the Grand Place in the center of the city, surrounding that is surreal art collections, impressive churches, alluring shops, eateries, and magnificent statues. Exploring the city can be done in one day if you are crammed on time otherwise we would recommend having 2-3 days to explore this beautiful city.

PEEING STATUES

Brussels has a thing with peeing statues. You have probably heard of Manneken Pis, but did you already know about the Jeanneke Pis and Zinneke Pis? The former is a girl squatting by the famous beer bar Delirium, whereas the other is a peeing dog. The dog is a bit more difficult to find, but you’ll bump into him eventually by wandering through the city center.

TAKE A SELFIE IN FRONT OF THE ATOMIUM

The Atomium is one of the most iconic monuments in Brussels, which turns it into a MUST while on a trip in Brussels. Although you can also enter and visit the exhibitions within the building, the fee is a bit pricey for those travelers who are on a budget. Strike your best pose for a series of memorable selfies in front of the Atomium!

PLAY CHESS IN THE CITY CENTER

Just inside the city center is a large community table set up with about 5 games of chess. Whether you are just learning how to play (Katie) or think you are pretty good (James) this is perfect for all levels. The locals set up the games and often take turns beating all the new cumbers. There is a donation box for pocket change if you wish to donate to the locals who rent out their own board games.

FREE CITY WALK

There are many different companies in the city that organize a free informative walk through the city center. This is a great way to get an introduction to the city. These companies make money by the tips their customers give after the walk is over. Make sure to pay it forward and actually tip these tour guides, as this is their source of income.

Seek out the best sunset spot

Brussels has multiple perfect look outs around the city for enjoying a sunset. Place Poelaert and Mont des Arts, which are all freely accessible, offer a magical scenery when the evening sun goes under. If you are not up for the large crowds, there are many non touristy places to catch the sunset as well. We enjoyed our favorite sunset near the canals in Brussels, in a quaint neighborhood, with the sun setting in between the beautiful buildings.

Language spoken in Brussels

Belgium has three official languages- French, German, and Dutch. However, most locals in Brussels are fluent in French. For the English speakers, many locals who work in the service industry know English. As with most major cities, the further you get from touristy areas, the less likely it is that people speak any English. If you don’t have Google Translate installed on your phone do that before you arrive. One day in Brussels doesn’t require too much knowledge of French, but knowing some words and phrases will help tremendously.

Where to stay in Brussels

If you only have a a day or two in the city of Brussels, our recommendation is to stay inside or close to the city center. As there is a highly efficient metro system nearby this will only just cost extra money and time. We stayed in the Novotel Brussels City Center and it was perfectly located right in the center of the city. The entire three days we were there, we never used the metro once. The picture below is the view from our hotel window, looking out the the Sainte-Catherine Church.

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