Brussels…the land of Belgian waffles and delicious beer. A cute city, filled with more culture than you would have thought. In fact, did you know that there are around 182 nationalities living in the city? I won’t lie to you, the reason that I chose to visit Brussels is because I’m a huge fan of beer. And when you want to taste many types of beer, you go to Brussels.
While it was only a short, two day trip, the city left me wanting more and I will definitely be back! I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it!
Brussels
Let’s Cover The Beer First
You cannot go to Brussels without stopping at Delirium Cafe. Sure, there are a lot of tourists there, but it houses more than 3000 beers, ranging from light to ale, to fruity, to sour, to IPAs. You can choose different sizes depending on whether or not you want to taste the beer or enjoy a pint. I ended up ordering several tasting sizes to create my own beer flight. After I figured out which kind was my favorite, I switched to pint sizes. (I tasted: Floris Apple, Delirium Red, Blonde Rulles, Strafe Hendrik Brugs Quadrupel, Floris Wit, Waterloo Recolte, Barbar, and Floris Fraise).
There are two levels to Delirium Cafe. In my opinion, the lower level has a cooler vibe (and friendly bartenders).
Another can’t miss spot is Moeder Lambic Fontainas. This place has a great selection of craft beers like Delirium, but it’s a bit more upscale. There are more local people here and while the beer isn’t as cheap as the other spot, it sure is delicious. Ask the bartender for advice when choosing a beer – you won’t be disappointed.
Lastly, you’ve got to try a Tripel Karmeliet at some point during your time in Brussels. You can find it at most places and it’s the kind of beer that might sneak up on you if you have too many!
On To The Food
If you haven’t noticed by now, I like to eat. And Brussels actually had some cool food options. While there you have to of course grab a Belgian Waffle. Sadly there are no photos of mine because I couldn’t wait to eat it. Order one at Maison Dandoy. And while you’re at it, pick up some Speculous Moulins, a type of traditional Belgian cookie, and some Grecque Bread.
I also enjoyed beef stew cooked in beer, some shrimp croquettes, and a delicious cheeseburger. And of course some french fries.
And Now The Culture
Brussels is a really interesting place to visit. In fact, there are so many things to do there.
I didn’t know much about it, but I was lucky enough to meet with Pierre from Visit Brussels and he gave me some great information while showing me some of the sites. Brussels has two national languages: French and Dutch. Even so, most people speak more than two languages — apparently speaking eight languages is no big deal in this city!
Brussels has been shaped by many things over the years. It’s home to many museums like the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, the Magritte Museum, the Musical Instrument Museum, and even the Belgian Comic Strip Center.
When you visit the Grand Place, which is the central square in the city, you can see lots of historical buildings. There is the town hall, the Breadhouse (which is home to the Museum City of Brussels and a UNESCO Heritage Site), and guildhalls. Even the Belgian Labour Party, the first socialist party in the country was founded in this square.
And you can’t forget about Manneken Pis. A two minute walk from the Grand Place will bring you to it. The fountain, which is a bronze naked boy peeing (on certain holidays it can be seen peeing beer), is supposed to show that Belgian people don’t take themselves too seriously. And it’s definitely something you’ve got to see for yourself!
Despite being a small city, there is so much to do and see in Brussels!
So Where Do I Stay And How Do I Get Around?
I stayed at a cute little hotel called Jam Hotel. It was located about a ten minute tram ride from the Grand Place.
And speaking of trams, I highly suggest picking up a Brussels Card. Not only does it give you free entry to a number of museums and tourist sites, but it also grants you unlimited access to public transportation and hop on/off busses!
I received a complimentary 72 Hour Brussels Card from visit.brussels, but as always all opinions are my own!
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