Nicola lived and studied in Brussels from 2005 to 2006 and fell completely in love with the city — and with Belgium. The magnificent Grand Place, the Atomium, the Manneken Pis, the chocolate shops, the waffle stands and the extraordinary beer culture — 365 beers brewed in Brussels, one for every day of the year. Something to do every single evening of the week and people who make you feel genuinely welcome. Belgium is one of Europe's most underrated countries, and Brussels is its brilliant, beating heart.
What Brussels gave us:
A year that changed everything
Nicola arrived in Brussels in 2005 to study and ended up staying a full year — one of the best years of her life. Brussels is a city that rewards time. On the surface it can seem a little grey, a little bureaucratic — it is the capital of Europe, after all — but scratch beneath that surface and you find a city that is vibrant, warm, deeply cultured and endlessly interesting.
The food and drink culture alone would be enough to keep you entertained for years. Belgium has a genuine claim to producing the best beer in the world — and the tradition runs deep. The famous saying goes that there are 365 beers brewed in Brussels — one for every day of the year — and sampling your way through them in the city's incredible bars and cafés is one of life's great pleasures.
The waffles. The chocolate. The frites with proper Belgian mayonnaise. The mussels. The stoemp. The cuisine of Belgium is extraordinary and criminally underappreciated on the world stage — every meal is an event.
And then there is Grand Place — one of the most breathtaking squares anywhere in Europe. A UNESCO World Heritage Site ringed by ornate Gothic and Baroque guild houses and the soaring Town Hall. No matter how many times you cross it, it stops you in your tracks.
But what made the year truly special was the freedom Brussels gave to explore the rest of this extraordinary little country. Belgium is small but packed with incredible places — Ghent and Bruges are among the most beautiful medieval cities in Europe, Liège has a brilliant gritty charm, and getting to the Spa-Francorchamps F1 circuit for a race was one of those bucket-list moments that delivered everything it promised and more.
One of Europe's most spectacular squares — a UNESCO World Heritage Site surrounded by ornate guild houses and the magnificent Town Hall. Breathtaking day and night.
365 beers brewed in Brussels alone — one for every day of the year. Belgium's beer tradition is recognised by UNESCO and the bars and cafés to enjoy it in are world class.
Brussels' most iconic and unusual landmark — a giant model of an iron crystal built for the 1958 World Expo. Quirky, futuristic and completely unlike anything else in Europe.
Belgian waffles and chocolate are not a cliché — they are genuinely, seriously, world-stoppingly good. Every visit to a waffle stand or chocolatier is a highlight in itself.
Getting to the iconic Belgian Grand Prix circuit at Spa for a race is a bucket-list experience. The track, the atmosphere and the Ardennes setting make it one of the best sporting events in the world.
Belgians get unfairly overlooked in the European friendliness rankings — they are warm, funny, proud of their country and genuinely welcoming to visitors who take the time to engage.
One of the great things about Brussels is how brilliantly placed it is to explore the rest of Belgium. Nicola made the most of this during her year — travelling from north to south, east to west, and finding something wonderful around every corner.
One of the most perfectly preserved medieval cities in the world. Canals, chocolate shops and cobbled streets — under an hour from Brussels by train.
Bruges' slightly grittier, younger sibling — vibrant, artistic and full of brilliant bars and restaurants. A favourite of those who know Belgium well.
A characterful city in the east with a strong sense of Walloon identity, a brilliant street market and a warm, slightly rougher-around-the-edges charm.
Famous for its mineral springs — and for Spa-Francorchamps, one of the greatest Formula 1 circuits in the world, set in the beautiful Ardennes hills.
Grand Place, the Atomium, the streets and the atmosphere — Brussels captured in a short.
Want to explore Brussels and Belgium properly with expert guides and everything taken care of? TourRadar has brilliant tours covering the very best of this incredible little country.
Belgium rewards exploration — and a guided tour is a brilliant way to see Bruges, Ghent, Liège, the Ardennes and beyond without spending your holiday figuring out train timetables. Let someone else handle the logistics while you focus on the waffles, the beer and the views.
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Skip-the-line tickets, city passes, day trips and attraction entry worldwide — often cheaper than booking at the door.
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From Grand Place walking tours and Belgian beer tastings to Bruges day trips and Ghent excursions — browse Belgium activities here:
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Common questions
What to pack for Brussels
Brussels in summer is warm and pleasant — ideal for walking the city, café terraces and day trips. Good comfortable shoes are essential as Brussels is very walkable, and a light layer for evenings is always useful.
Handy for maps and navigation across Belgium — especially useful when hopping between cities on day trips without racking up roaming charges.
View on Amazon →Belgium uses Type E plugs — a universal travel adaptor is a must. Don't get caught out after a long travel day with a dead phone and no way to charge it.
View on Amazon →Brussels and Belgium are endlessly photogenic — Grand Place, Bruges canals, the Atomium. Keep a power bank in your bag and never miss a shot.
View on Amazon →Ideal for day trips to Bruges and Ghent — carry a water bottle, extra layer, camera and anything you pick up without weighing yourself down.
View on Amazon →Stay hydrated on long days exploring the city on foot — Brussels is very walkable and you will cover a lot of ground, especially on day trips.
View on Amazon →Always worth having — for blisters from all the cobblestone walking in Bruges and Ghent, and anything else that comes up on a busy trip.
View on Amazon →Summer in Belgium can be surprisingly warm and sunny — especially when spending long days exploring outdoor squares and canal-side streets.
View on Amazon →Great for long sunny days exploring open squares like Grand Place and the outdoor terraces of Bruges — comfortable and stylish for a city break.
View on Amazon →Lightweight and breathable — perfect for warm summer days in Brussels and day trip cities. Smart enough for a nice dinner, practical enough for a full day's walking.
View on Amazon →Disclosure: These are Amazon affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These are all things we'd genuinely pack for a trip to Brussels and Belgium.
Brussels is one of those cities that gives more and more the longer you spend in it. Go for a weekend, stay for a week — or do what Nicola did and stay for a year. You will not regret a single day of it.
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