Travel stories | Brussels, Belgium
Travel stories | Brussels, Belgium
I’m catching up on my travel stories! We are back home in Australia so here is Brussels. If you want to read more about my travel head to Stories and click on August, September and/or October GOST news for Vienna, Germany/Amsterdam and Edinburgh/Bath respectively.
Where to stay | My top recommendation is Plum Guide. This is a new accommodation group that is giving Airbnb’s a run for their money. In Brussels we stayed in an apartment with kitchenette and a little balcony overlooking the square. We had a few initial communication/amenities issues but to be honest, the location was perfect for us to walk anywhere. We are big walkers so if you aren’t up for and easy 3o mins plus…I suggest you find something closer to what you want to see / do.
Where to eat | We didn’t eat out as much in Brussels as we were sick for the first 4 days. So, basic groceries to get us through. We did have a local pop up market and all I can say is that I’ve never had terrine, waffles, olives and pistachio rolls as good as this gem of a gourmet market. I would recommend Aux Merveilleux de Fred for best brioche ever! Warm from the oven and you can walk around Brussels iwth a flat white and brioche hand in hand not feeling guilty at all! Another sweet treat is the hot chocolate at Mary - an Artisan Chocolatier based in the beautiful Galerie de la Reine. Its an arcade famed for its prettiness and specialty shops.
What to do | We went to Musee Magritte. It consisted of three galleries and is big! We had to race through the last part (I was feeling cold and tired - still fighting off a flu) and disappointed I rushed the fine arts section. Again, this is a building that has room upon room to explore contemporary and traditional artworks.
Visit the Palace of Justice - it has been undergoing a restoration since 2016 and due to finish in 2026. We went in via a non-descript entry, through a security check and quietly walked around. It’s actively used as we saw lawyers/staff in and out of courtrooms.
Brussels is another walkable city. However, it has more cobblestones to deal with and I suggest sturdy flat shoes to avoid spraining an ankle. Bring a raincoat / umbrella - even in Summer it downpours without notice. It’s 4 seasons in one day!
Shopping | There are boutique shops but they took a bit of hunting to find. I fell in love with this store Bensimon which had a focus on fine French clothing, shoes and bespoke homewares.
A hidden gem? Well, my inner child just about ran to this unexpected sight! A ferris wheel! Who would have thought. I don’t know what possessed me but I just had to ride that wheel. It was calm, sunny weather and at 10 euros each - a bargain! We had great city views and a little kick in our step for the rest of the day.
Another gem was the House of European History. This museum took a few hours to explore each floor focused on education, history, design and learning about transnational perspectives across Europe. A museum unlike any I’ve seen before that is innovative in its presentation, interaction with audience and accessibility.
I hope you enjoyed this little story. As you can imagine I have so much more to say. But over to you to dream and visit one day.
Anne xx
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