Itinerary: A Short & Sweet 24-Hours in Brussels
April 2022 - I strolled in front of the Grand Place on our walk home from dinner. We had the square to ourselves.
Brussels, Belgium - Quiet, calm and sweet, the perfect place to take your mum or grandmother. Here is how I would spend a day in the capital city, from waffles to perfume.
Getting There: The Brussels Airport – Zaventem (BRU) is the most important internationally-connected airport in Belgium. You can catch a train from the airport into the city centre (Brussels Central) in under 20 minutes for 10-20 euros, depending on the day of the week. The airport station is on the basement floor (-1).
Where to Stay: We stayed at Hotel Windsor, a 2-star hotel in the city centre. This was a great option for us as student travellers. It was quiet, safe and had charming views of the street. For a more upscale trip, I would recommend Made in Louise.
Brussels has a collection of cartoonish street murals. Here is one of my favourites on the corner of Rue des Bogards and Rue du Mid, a few blocks away from the Grand Place.
A Morning Waffle (Or Two): While in Belgium, you must try the famous Belgian waffle! There are pop-in waffle cafés all around the city. I tried a banana and creme waffle and a café au lait from the Waffle Factory, on Rue du Lombard. For my savory-breakfast friends, they also have options including chicken, raclette (a type of cheese that is warmed over the stove and melts off a hard block), mushrooms and more.
An Afternoon Tour of the Chocolate Museum and Shopping: After your waffle, walk over to Choco-Story Brussels - a chocolate museum that walks you through Belgium’s history as a chocolatier pioneer and has a room full of samples at the end! They also host chocolate-making demonstrations and workshops. You must book at least two hours in advance here, with tickets starting at 12 euros, depending on your age. You should dedicate two hours to the museum.
After the museum, take time to shop and stroll. I made my own perfume with a street vendor, found a few souvenirs and of course, had an afternoon pick-me-up of frites with mayo from La Friterie (which is right next door to Choco-Story). Make sure to walk by La Grand Place, which is Brussel’s most iconic landmark. I loved how non-chaotic Brussels was as a city. We were really able to enjoy it in early April.
Dinner in the City Centre: After a long day of walking around, I like to treat myself to a proper meal. Although I have not dined here myself, I like the looks of Le Cirio - a brasserie right in the city centre. It has traditional 19th-century architecture and a classic menu of croque-monsieurs, baguettes, mussels, and Belgian beers. I would top of the evening with a crepe or a night cap and slowly meander back to the hotel.
Travel Tips:
When planning a multi-stop trip, the first destination always seems to wow me. Knowing this, I like to pick the city that isn’t at the top of my list to spread some of the love and excitement.
Bruges receives a lot of wonderful reviews from tourists, and is only an hour and a half away via train from Brussels.
For multi-stop trips, I recommend alternating between hotels and hostels, especially if you are traveling with another person. This allows you to refresh in the hotel room and avoid travel fatigue.
Every other year, during the week of August 15th, there is the Flower Carpet display in front of La Grand Place. It is a 70 x 24 metre display that is unlike anything else, and for sure on the top of my bucket list. The next display will take place in August of 2026.
