Brussels

Brussels Travel Guide: Best things to Do, See & Eat
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Brussels Travel Guide: Best things to Do, See & Eat

Unique Family Traveler is a Travel Blog written by Mollie Mandell, Travel Agent @ Herricks Travel, a full-service travel agency

Brussels captivates travelers with its grand architecture, exceptional chocolate and beer culture, vibrant culinary scene, world class museums, and a classical meets contemporary vibe.

Brussels, Belgium’s capital, is a city of delightful contrasts: grand imperial architecture meets quirky local traditions and world class culture blends effortlessly with everyday charm. This heart of the European Union brims with international energy but still retains the warmth of a neighborhood-centric city. From the gilded guildhalls of the Grand Palace to hidden cobblestone alleys lined with irresistible chocolate shops, cozy cafes, and craft breweries, Brussels is the city that invites you to slow down and enjoy its many layers. Brussels is officially bilingual (French and Dutch) and effectively blends Flemish and French culture. Three days is the minimal amount of time to take in all the city has to offer including a thriving culinary scene, stunning Art Nouveau architecture, renowned museums, and the finest beer and chocolate in the world!

What to See…
Grand Palace: This UNESCO-listed central square is surrounded by ornate guildhalls and is the beating heart of Brussels. Return at dusk when the facades glow beautifully under the lights and the sky turns that dark, cerulean blue.

Manneken Pis: A famously quirky symbol of the city, this small statue is known for its ever changing wardrobe of costumes that reflect local events and celebrations.

Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert: Step back through history in this elegant 19th-century covered arcade perfect for strolling, and lined with chocolate shops, cafes, and boutique stores.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts: A major cultural institution where you can explore an exceptional collection of European masterpieces spanning centuries. Look for the “Empire of Light” by Rene Magritte, one of the most celebrated works of Surrealism.

Magritte Musuem: A tribute to Belgium born surrealist artist, Rene Magritte, showcasing the largest collection of his work.

Musical Instruments Museum: Housed in a striking Art Nouveau building, this museum features literally thousands of historic and modern instruments plus panoramic rooftop views over the city.

Autoworld Brussels: A sprawling automotive museum located in the Parc du Cinquantenaire, showcasing an extensive collection of vintage, classic, and modern vehicles in a grand historic exhibition hall. Look for classic Bugattis, rare Ferraris, and a Mercedes Gullwing.

Where to Eat and Drink…
Neuhaus Chocolate: One of Belgium’s original chocolatiers, known for refined pralines.

Pierre Marcolini Chocolate: Luxury chocolate with a modern, artistic twist. Skip the standard offerings and sample the pralines filled with pink peppercorns, passion fruit, and spice-infused ganache.

La Belle Maraichere: A classic seafood restaurant tucked just off the Grand Palace. The perfect place to enjoy famous Beglian dishes — Moules-Frites and Dover Sole — in an authentic setting.

Brewery de Halve Maan: Historic family run brewery that offers tours and a roof top terrace tasting room overlooking the city.

Where to Stay…
Hotel Amigo, a Rocco Forte Hotel: Five-star luxury hotel perfectly positioned just steps from the Grand Palace in the heart of Brussels. Blends historic character with contemporary elegance and authentic Belgian artistic touches. For a real treat, book the Diane von Furstenberg Suite, finely appointed with Belgium’s most famous fashion designer’s signature fabrics, personal memorabilia, and signed art work. Or the Tintin Suite created in partnership with the author’s Hergé Foundation with artwork, books, collectibles, and even a drawing signed by Steven Spielberg from his stay during the launch of film, The Adventures of Tintin.

Look up! When walking around Brussels, make sure to glance up often! One of the joys of exploring Brussels is looking skyward — ornate facades, gilded details, whimsical details, solemn dedications, and unexpected works of art are hiding in plain sight overhead!

Memorial in Brussels near the Royal Library, dedicated to the Belgians who risked their lives to save their fellow Jewish neighbors during the Nazi occupation. This Talmudic quote sums it up perfectly: “Whoever saves a life, saves the entire world.” The plaque is aptly signed, “Belgium is Grateful.”

Perfect City Pairing: Brussels is the best jumping off point to explore the rest of Belgium. As your travel agent, I can create a custom itinerary for you to include Ghent, Bruges (check out my recent article here), and Antwerp by rail or private car and driver. One of Europe’s great rail hubs, it is also easy to reach several major cities by high-speed train from Brussels’ main train station including Paris, London, and Amsterdam.

Your next adventure begins here: email me, mollie@herrickstravel.com to inquire about custom itineraries, hotel room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, special amenities, and VIP service for all Herricks Travel customers.

Click here to read all of my articles on my travel blog: uniquefamilytraveler.com. To receive my travel articles to your inbox, please enter your email address in the subscriber box below, and respond to the confirmation email.

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Guide to Bruges, Belgium: What to do, see, and eat
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Guide to Bruges, Belgium: What to do, see, and eat

Unique Family Traveler is a Travel Blog written by Mollie Mandell, Travel Agent @ Herricks Travel, a full-service travel agency

Bruges, Belgium is one of those rare places that lives up to its “fairytale” cliché. It’s a city of mist covered canals, gingerbread houses, and the lingering scent of chocolate.

Stepping into Bruges feels like wandering into a 13th-century painting. Known as the “Venice of the North,” this UNESCO World Heritage site is a dreamscape of winding canals, centuries-old bridges, and iconic stepped-gable houses. Although impeccably preserved, the city is more like a modern open-air museum. When planning a trip to Belgium, I recommend a three day stay here to fully immerse yourself in the charms of this intimate city and take advantage of its charming cafes, excellent boutique hotels, and eclectic dining scene. While most river boat cruises dedicate only one day to Bruges, a day is simply not enough! And, wandering the storybook streets of the city at dusk and after dark was a true highlight — once the daytime crowds faded, the city glowed beneath its enchanting evening lights, revealing an entirely different kind of magic

WHAT TO SEE:
Conquer Belfry Tower: climb the 366 steps of this 13th-century bell tower and be rewarded with a panoramic view of a sea of red-tiled roofs below.

The Pulse of Market Square: the beating heart of the city, take a seat at one of the surrounding cafes and enjoy the bustle of the crowd, the colorful guild houses, and the neo-Gothic majesty of the Provincial Palace.

Drift the Canals: hop aboard a canal boat to get the best view of the city’s hidden bridges and secret gardens.

Art and intrigue at Church of Our Lady: home to Michelangelo’s world-famous Madonna of Bruges, this masterpiece has a cinematic history – it was stolen by the Nazis during WWII and recovered from an Austrian salt mine, a story immortalized in the film, The Monuments Men.

A CONNOISSEUR’S GUIDE TO CHOCOLATE & BEER:
The Chocolate Line: this quaint shop sells nontraditional truffles infused with unique flavors like wasabi, cigar leaf, and tequila.
The Old Chocolate House: a cozy, family-run tearoom serving the best hot chocolate.
Chocolate & Happiness: the place to buy beautifully packaged truffles –they make excellent gifts!
De Halve Maan Brewery: historic family run brewery famous for its underground beer pipeline and stunning roof top view.

PARKS & HIGH ART
Minnewater Park: this “Lake of Love” comes complete with graceful swans and a picturesque bridge, perfect for those photo ops.
Groeninge Museum: a premier art institution with a collection of Belgian art spanning six centuries: an abundance of Flemish, Renaissance, Baroque pieces, and works by Belgian Modern artist René Magritte.

WHERE TO STAY:
Hotel Van Cleef: nestled along a quiet canal in the heart of Bruges, Hotel Van Cleef blends aristocratic charm, contemporary design, and intimate luxury in one of the city’s most elegant boutique stays.

DAY TRIPS FROM BRUGES:
Bruges is a great point to explore the rest of Belgium including Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp — all a quick drive or train ride away. Email me to help you plan the perfect Belgium itinerary with stops in all four cities complete with tours. transfer, and hotels.

Dunkirk: a great day trip, drive just over the border from Bruges into France and take a poignant journey through WWII history, You can stand on the very beaches where the mass evacuation of British Soldiers took place – locations made famous again by Christopher Nolan’s epic film of the same name: Dunkirk. This tour was a highlight for our history loving, cinephile sons!

Your next adventure begins here: email me, mollie@herrickstravel.com to inquire about custom itineraries, upgrades, complimentary breakfast, special amenities, and VIP service for all Herricks Travel customers. To receive my travel articles to your inbox, please enter your email address in the subscriber box below, and respond to the confirmation email.

Click here to read all of my articles on my travel blog: uniquefamilytraveler.com

Follow me on Instagram: @molliemandell