Last weekend I went to Belgium for the long bank holiday and it was bliss. We were really lucky with the weather - it was around 22/23 degrees with a bit of a breeze so it was cool enough to sight see but warm enough to sit out and enjoy the sunshine!
This was a belated birthday celebration for me and it was lovely and chilled - which was exactly what I wanted/needed.
We arrived into Brussels Charleroi around 3pm EU time and got the coach into the centre which took around an hour or so. After some food & a quick look round, we headed back to our hotel for a well needed chill, unpacked and had a drink at the bar. Well, that was after the chaos of my phone dying and trying to remember the directions from maps!
We stayed at Motel One on Rue Royale (or Royal Street in English). This was in a really good location - only 15 minutes maximum to walk to everywhere in the centre. The decor was gorgeous with large statement lights and a mixture of chairs/sofas - there was a large bar with a two-storey area and an outdoor garden/seating area. The bedrooms & en suite bathrooms were also nice- nothing fancy but perfect for a city break!
We started the day with brunch and just went to a cafe local to our hotel but it was absolutely amazing! They had so many options from breakfast to brunch to lunch, cakes and more drinks than you could imagine (both non-alcoholic and alcoholic)!
I had the Ocean Eggs Benny which was smoked salmon & poached eggs with cream cheese and Hollandaise sauce. It was absolutely delicious but I would have loved more hollandaise sauce! I also loved the salad with crispy onions- so yummy.
We then wandered to Brussels Royal Park which was really cute. They had an exhibition on called Le Cat Walks by artist Philippe Geluck which I loved! It had 22 sculptures depicting everyday life with a light hearted approach to some serious matters.
Next up, the Royal Palace of Brussels. Sadly this was under renovation so we couldn’t actually go inside but the front gardens were cute and I loved the architecture of the building.
Mont Des Arts is a gorgeous green space to walk through, filled with flowers. It’s really peaceful and pretty here and has lots of benches so you can just sit and watch the world go by! This is a must see when you come to Brussels and it has a bar/restaurant overlooking the gardens too!
The weather was really nice so we took advantage and visited Mini-Europe & the Atomium. Mini Europe is an amusement park featuring models of European cities and their famous landmarks, as well as some historical sites to show how countries were years ago.
This was actually really cool- one of the coolest places I’ve been as there’s nothing like it anywhere else! The detail on the sculptures was second to none - I would highly recommend this to anyone visiting. Link it in with the Atomium as you can get a joint ticket for both (and they’re a little bit out of the city centre, accessible by tram, car or taxi).
On Sunday we got the train to Bruges which was really straightforward! The trains were also really regular (every 20 mins or so) and took around an hour.
Bruges is honestly one of the prettiest places I’ve ever visited. It is so quaint, full of cobbled streets and chocolate box style buildings. Take a boat trip down the canals, shop for Belgian chocolate & try some waffles or fries!
On Monday, our final day, we checked out and went for brunch at Woodpecker 47 which was incredible. I opted for the Chorizo Waffle with Goats Cheese, Poached Eggs & Bacon with Hollandaise sauce and I can safely say this was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten in my life. There were so many flavours and they complemented each other so well.
The service was a little slow here so don’t go if you’re in a rush! But other than that, 10/10!
We then headed to Grand Place and on the way came across this pretty church, L’Eglise St Nicholas. It was so pretty. I always feel so at peace in churches so it was nice to pass some time here.
Grand Place is the main square in Brussels, with the Town Hall and other grand buildings, hence its name. This is a must visit if you come to Brussels and has lots of restaurants/bars where you can sit and people watch/take in the beautiful architecture.
We also visited Mannekin Pis, one of several sculptures around Brussels but arguably one of the most well-known/famous. It is small but attracts so much attention and it’s something to tick off the “visited” list.
Next we went to Choco-Story which was amazing! This walked us through the history of chocolate, how it is made/where it came from… starting in Mexico and in present day, all over the world. This was a self guided tour and allowed you to watch various videos and view artefacts to walk us through the journey of chocolate/cocoa.
At the end, there was a a chance to try some Belgian chocolate and also watch a chocolate masterclass on how pralines are made. This was such a great thing to do and it was really affordable too!
One of the best ways to see a view of the city- Brussels answer to a big wheel, known as ‘The View’. Not sure whose bright idea this was but the panic definitely set in when we stopped at the very top for a good 5 mins, with the wind blowing us and lots of creaking sounds! However, the views were really pretty and when it was moving, it wasn’t as scary!
Our final visit was to the Palais de Justice. There was quite a lot or renovation works happening but we managed to find the entrance and it was breathtaking. I’ve seen so many pictures on Instagram but it was so much better in person. The intricate marble designs, with pillars and sculptures, were absolutely amazing. A must visit!
If you’re looking for somewhere with a nice chilled vibe, to sight see, enjoy nice food & drinks, with good weather- Brussels & Bruges are great options in the summer months! The flight is also only an hour from Manchester.
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