Brussels

I felt a constant pull to discover each church and wander down each narrow street, always looking up at the magnificent architecture around me. With my camera clicking all day, I tried to preserve that feeling of wonder as we wandered farther from the historic center.

At the same time, Brussels has a quirky, almost childlike charm of its own, with comic book characters peppered throughout the city and a seeming penchant for peeing statues.

I didn’t step off the train in Brussels with the highest expectations, either. While researching the trip, I came across plenty of warnings that Brussels was boring, dirty and even dangerous. But I’m American, so when I hear something like that, I tend to push forward undeterred—everywhere in Europe feels safer and more exciting to me than home!

Many travelers recommend using Brussels primarily as a hub for exploring other Belgian cities like Bruges and Ghent. I’m sure the rest of Belgium is magnificent, but Brussels deserves more credit than that. Its architecture, gardens and art are beautiful, its food is sophisticated and satisfying, and its people are diverse and friendly. Best of all, the city is wonderfully walkable, with fantastic views seemingly around every corner.

I visited Brussels as a day trip from Amsterdam and barely scratched the surface. I absolutely plan to return one day and do what so many others recommend: use Brussels as a base for trips to Bruges and Ghent. But when I do, I’ll also give myself a few extra days to soak up more of Brussels’ unique charm and beauty.

Until then, here’s exactly how I spent one perfect day in Brussels—and how I’d recommend you spend yours.

Arriving in Brussels

We arrived in Brussels on the Eurostar at Midi Station. Midi is about a 25-minute walk from the historic center, and the area immediately around the station isn’t the most interesting introduction to the city. Instead of walking from there, I recommend transferring directly to Brussels Central.

You can buy a ticket at one of the station kiosks and take a local SNCB train to Central Station. It’s quick and easy, and when you emerge from Brussels Central, you’ll be right in the heart of the historic district and just a short walk from the Grand Place.