One of our absolute FAVORITE parts of travel is the excitement of planning our days and researching all the fun activities we can potentially experience. The whole world seems like an unopened, exotic oyster in these moments. We are firm believers in planning. Having even a rough outline of where you want to go makes your actual trip much MUCH more enjoyable. When our trip to Paris pre-Covid was taking shape, Aamir was adamant that we explore nearby countries since we are already on that side of the ocean. I was NOT happy at the thought of taking away from my time in beloved Paris but Aamir won and I am eternally grateful that he did. We decided to take a quick train ride to the quaint Belgian City of Brussels and we had the most memorable (and delicious) time.
Here’s our perfect way to spend a day in Brussels
Hop, Skip and Jump on a Train Kids
We can spend HOURS complaining about the lack of inter-US transportation, it really is a sad state of affairs. Fortunately for us, Europe has an amazing system that allows easy travel. While we were still stateside, we used Omio to find and purchase our train tickets. We appreciated this site because it works like Kayak and gives multiple options from various train operators as well as all the timings. This made it super easy for us to plan our day since we knew ahead of time what time our return train ride was scheduled. Since the train ride into Brussels was only about 1.5 hours, we didn’t feel the need to upgrade to first class and we ended up spending $72.50 per person round trip (including the service fees and taxes). Our personal preference was to take an early train out and take the last train out so that we could maximize our time, but if you have kids or heck, if you don’t want to spend that much time, there are multiple trains that leave from Paris throughout the day and multiple trains that depart from Brussels. The train was comfortable, had WIFI (yayy), and was on-time. All for less than what we spend on a single meal here in LA (sigh).
*NOTE: When booking your tickets make sure you double check which train station you are departing from in Paris. For the most part the Gare du’ Nord is the departing station but Paris has 6 stations that are considered major transit stations so double check.
Stroll (and Shop) in the Galeries Royal Saint-Hubert
You didn’t really think, this would just be a post about sight-seeing? Y’all should know me by now, I am ALL about boosting global economies wherever we go 😉.
As soon as Aamir said Belgium, he thought chocolates I thought diamonds.
We really are a match made in heaven. I did not make any major jewelry purchases (Aamir’s heart palpitations every time I walked by a store were entertaining though). The Galeries Royal are a stunning covered arcade that houses some extremely chic shops. The arched glass roof and architecture really should be seen in person to fully appreciate the detailing. We were amazed to learn that this promenade was built in 1847 and still looks stunning. It is a real credit to the local officials.
*Time allocation – if you are just window shopping you can do a nice stroll through in about 30-45 min and you will end up heading towards the main town square.
*Tip– if you are shopping for chocolates for your friends and family and don’t want to spend a fortune stop by La Belgique Gourmande located in the Galeries and pick up a bundle of pre-boxed Belgian Chocolates, the price was reasonable and our family and friends really enjoyed them.
Walk to the Grand Palace
A short 5 min walk from the Galeries will land you smack dab in the middle of the Grand Palace square. You will need to pinch yourself to remind yourself that you are in the 20th century. On all 4 sides you will see stunning gothic buildings (over 40 different structures) and the beautiful cobble stone streets. This is one of the most photographed places in Brussels so expect a crowd even during the off seasons. The streets are lines with pubs, restaurants and bakeries so clearly you will not be limited in food options.
Trust us, all we did was walk a little and eat A LOT the entire day
Regrets? None
If you are a history lover, you will really enjoy exploring the square and seeing all the intricate details in the buildings. There are many guided tours that you can purchase tickets for. We were really interested in the Chocolate Walking Tour and Workshop but it was sold out ☹ oh well, something to look forward to on our next trip.
*Time allocation– if you are planning to do some self-exploring, give yourself at least 1 hour; if you are planning to take guided tours the time would vary based on the duration of your tour.
Grab an Authentic Waffle (or 2)
While you are still around the Grand Palace, you will be close to, arguably, one of the BEST waffle shops in Brussels. We did extensive research before our trip because we knew that time was going to be short and we wouldn’t be able to eat multiple waffles. Not, that it wasn’t tempting. I could wax poetic for days about how delicious the offerings were at Maison Dandoy. It is literally a minutes’ walk from the Grand Palace / Town Center. The location is small and there is almost ALWAYS a line. Brave the line.
Trust us.
It’s WORTH IT.
Once you are seated, the service is fast that the wait didn’t faze us or dampen our excitement. They have other treats and coffees as well but don’t skimp on the waffles. They are crispy on the outside and so light and fluffy on the inside. It doesn’t hurt that you can order them with some delicious warm chocolate sauce.
Divine
Paired with a foamy cappuccino and you have a match made in FOOD HEAVEN. Aamir and I were both surprised at how light they were, normally when we eat a more flour dense treat, our tummies feel heavy. Not here. While, there are plenty waffle shops dotted all around the city, Maison Dandoy still comes in our dreams and leaves our mouths watering.
*Time allocation– depending on the wait, we spent about 1 hour including our wait time.
Eat the Chocolate of Royalty
The moment Aamir was waiting for. CHOCOLATE! When you research the best chocolatiers in Brussels there is a LIST. As it should be, with chocolate being one of the most recognized and related items when you mention Belgium. Since we were pressed for time, we had to pick ONE shop (yes, our heart broke, but now we have a reason to go back).
One name that kept coming up in our research was Wittamer. We decided to exert ourselves and walk to the shop and the cobbled streets made us feel like we were in a fairytale. A leisurely 15 walk later, and we are standing, no salivating, outside the jewel box of a shop. Rows and rows of chocolates. We were in heaven. The associates at the shop LOVED how enthusiastic we were and they loaded us up on SAMPLES. We ended up buy 2 big boxes mixed with chocolates that were out of this world as well as chocolate bars. There is a reason this shop is so highly spoken of. They have been making chocolates since 1910 and have a royal warrant. We reaffirmed something we have always believed:
American chocolate really really sucks.
We said it. And we stand by it.
Wittamer also has a sit-down café just two shops away that has pastries and savory items as well, but even our tummies had a limit. We hauled our chocolates back to Paris and hand carried them back to the Los Angeles. 1000% worth it. We would go back to Brussels for these chocolates alone. Proof that purity in ingredients and going to the source for amazing quality is worth the cost and effort.
Not to mention so friggin good.
So good.
Explore the Atomium
Time for a bit of culture. When we told our well-traveled family members that we were going to Brussels, they told us there is really not a lot to do outside of the square. I was convinced there had to be more.
Challenge Accepted
While we understand that the most touristy spots really are around the Grand Palace, there is an entire city just an Uber away. Initially we stumbled upon the Little Europe attraction and were headed there, but then, our wonderful Uber driver said we may enjoy the Atomium more. Good thing we listened. This beautiful structure that mimics the composition of an atom is HUGE and just the scale and sheer size of this building was awe-inspiring. This structure is 335 sq feet and we highly recommend going up to the viewing spheres. This structure was originally built as part of the 1958 World Expo in Brussels and if you think about the time in which this was constructed, it really is astonishing to see the ingenuity. We purchased the adult tickets for 16 Euros per adult and being able to go to the panoramic viewing deck was well worth the wait and price. Being at the top and seeing the city from high above was surreal.
*Fun Fact: This structure was not meant to be a permanent fixture. It was originally designed to last for six months but was so popular that the city kept delaying it destruction until they finally decided to make it a permanent part of Brussel’s landscape.
To buy your tickets and check for the most updated timings please check out their official site
*Time allocation- 2 hours
Be a Giant in Mini Europe
Right next to the Atomium is one of the most unusual amusement parks we have EVER seen. And with Aamir being a theme park junkie, that is saying something. Welcome to Mini Europe. Talk about making the most of your time. This entire park is dedicated to showing all of Europe’s main parks and attractions in one place. Missing Rome? Stroll by the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Wishing you were in London? Big Ben is waiting for you (though much smaller in size). While this attraction, in our opinion, is more exciting for kids. There are over 350 monuments and some of them are interactive activities as well. Feel like making Mount Vesuvius erupt or bringing down the Berlin Wall? You can be an explorer and learn about the EU while walking through this park of mini wonders.
It is worth a visit, especially because you are already at the Atomium and its always fun to see different artistic impressions in different countries and large miniatures of landmarks all over Europe? A kitschy fun way to spend an hour or so. The tickets are 12.10 Euro per adult. Before booking make sure you check out their official site and try to purchase your tickets in advance.
*Time allocation- 1-1.5 hours
Final Thoughts
While we were in Paris, we were hard pressed to leave Sophie’s favorite city. In all honestly, Brussels was a wonderful gateway city to the beautiful country of Belgium. The entire city seems to be on a slow, relaxed pace and this really was a wonderful way for us to slow down and reset from the hustle and bustle of a big city. It was also a nice change for us native English speakers as the majority of locals speak English. We hope everyone has a chance to wander on these stunning cobbled streets while devouring some delicious chocolates and frites.
We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy
-xoxo Sophie and Aamir
30 Comments
I can’t wait to visit Brussels and this post has such great ideas for planning our trip! I would love to see the Grand Palace square and Atomium. I’m pretty we could get everyone out the door early for sightseeing with the promise of those waffles for breakfast! Are those chocolates in the shape of gears and tools? How cool!
YESSS!! We were verryy tempted to buy the chocolate tools but alas, luggage woes won out. Your family will GLADLY get an early start and will THANK you once they have inhaled the waffles 🙂
I’d LOVE to visit Brussels! I mean, 90% of my visit would revolve around chocolate, but I’m sure that’s allowed…right?! Galeries Royal Saint-Hubert looks stunning too! What a beautiful place to shop (or window shop!) I’m definitely adding it to my list for a visit when we eventually get there! Thanks for the great guide!
Going there for chocolate is kinda a prerequisit in our minds so you are on the right track 🙂 Glad you found the guide useful!!
Ah I have been meaning to go to Brussels for years. I ADORE the architecture and when I was living in the UK, it was totally doable for a long weekend. The next time in back there I’ll have to go. It looks like there is so much to do, even for a day.
It is SUCH a nice way to spend a day if you dont want to commit to an entire weekend. Not gonna lie, we are a little jelly that you have lived in the UK!! Such great access to travel throughout the continent!!!
I can’t wait to visit Brussels and see all of these amazing sites. Thanks for the tips on what to see and do!
You are so very welcome! You can totally add this on to any upcoming trips you have in Europe, that’s what we really love about this city 🙂
great list, their waffles are as good as their French fries. This brings back fond memories
Glad to have given you a pleasant walk down memory lane, now we are ready to go back!!
He thought of chocolate you thought of diamonds. Funny 😂
Never has a more honest statement ever been made lol. We all have our priorities right?
Great list here! Glad to see that we did all these things, too, while in Brussels.
Yayy!! It is always soo nice when our list are traveler approved:)
Would love to spend a day exploring here!
It is such a fun place and you will really enjoy walking around and finding your own special spots 🙂
Great list. I remember how decadent the waffles were
Oh man those waffles! They are soo good and sooo light!! We are hard pressed to find such light waffles here in the US. More reasons to go back soon 🙂
Brussels looks like a fabulous place to spend a day or 365 days! What’s not to love about chocolate, waffles, shopping, and exploring?
It really is a beautiful city, its also great that it is so EASY to get to the city from other places like London or Paris
Loved reading about your time in Brussels, as it brought back many fond memories of my own weekend there a couple of years back. I didn’t eat at the same waffle shop as you, but I can tell you, the waffle I had was insanely good. OMG I would go back just for that. Brussels is a beautiful city.
So glad we were able to bring back happy memories for you. We would go back in a HEARTBEAT for the chocolates and food! Glad to know we are not alone 🙂
Nice blog on the beautiful city of Brussels. Another French speaking nation! loved the mini Europe part and the Atomium structure! Can’t wait to see it!💚
Yess!! You will really appreciate mini europe as a fun way to spend a few hours. They have done SUCH a good job replicating the structures.
Brussels is such a cool city (and a little underrated in my opinion. I’m glad you got to see Atomium – what a great Uber driver for suggesting it!
Is was the surprise of our European trip! We loved the city and yes, our driver really was the sweetest. He knew we had limited time so he really took the time to talk to us about the city while driving us 🙂
I have always wanted to go to Brussels so I was super happy to come across this post! Those waffles Maison Dandoy look soooo good! I had no idea the atomium was initially built for the worlds fair. I’ve seen photos of it but never knew much history behind it. Can’t wait to go to brussels someday and will definitely save this for later!
It is a beautiful city and you should absolutely make it part of any future itineraries! The food ALONE is worth the time you spend in the city 🙂
When things will get better and if ever I will get vaccinated, I would love to visit! And that amusement park, Mini Europe, looks really cool! I would love to see that one too! 🙂
We are optomistic about things getting better 🙂 Now that countries are opening up again fingers crossed you can safely get over and explore first hand.