Brussels is not merely the capital of Belgium but also the capital of the whole of the European Union; it is both the political and financial hub of the continent, and a very interesting place indeed. It dates back to the 10th century when decedents of the famous Charlemagne erected a fortress in this ideal spot; since then it has been expanding and thriving, eventually coming into its own after WWII.

Now, it must be known that aside from all this political/economic importance Brussels has many, many other things to offer those who wander into its midst. The very heart of the city lies in its prized statue of a cherubic sort of a young lad having a pee into a fountain; the sculpture has been there since 1619 and was apparently created after a woman alerted the entire city (including the mayor) that her young boy was missing, and after a very long and drawn out search he was found contentedly going to the bathroom in a hedge. It must be said that any city whose prized possession is a perpetually urinating statue is bound to be a fascinating place.

Aside from the ‘Manneken Pis’, as the young chap is known, Brussels does offer some spectacular architecture. The Cinquantenaire (or triumphant arch) would rival the Brandenburg gate in Berlin or Paris’ L'arc de Triomphe, and the huge Grand' Place-Grote Markt would leave somewhere like Notre Dame looking a bit sparse. The aesthetic qualities of the city itself are simply beautiful with church steeples poking out over gabled roofs as far as the eye can see.

No description of Brussels would be complete without mentioning the gastronomic experiences on offer. An awful lot of wonderful delicacies tend to take ‘Belgian’ as an adjective, take Belgian Chocolate, Belgian Waffles and Belgian Beer to name but a few; and where else could be better to sample these delights than the cultural capital of the country. Brussels is a great place to admire some amazing architecture, drink in the café culture in the warm evenings, or to simply just wander around… so don’t hesitate to get out and explore this European gem.

Chill Out in a Salon de Thé

With most streets being lined with Brussels’ own brand of Café the choice and variety is endless. These charming places work as meeting points for locals and tourists alike, and with seating spilling out onto the streets under colourful awnings they are perfect places to sit, eat waffles and watch the world go by.

The Atomium

This is an iconic collection of huge silver spheres originally erected for the Brussels world fair in 1958, though it is now a museum displaying interactive scientific exhibitions. It is very interesting to see as it is a marvellous feat of engineering… though unfortunately inside doesn’t have a huge amount to offer.

Visit Cantillon Brewery

Go and see where Belgium began developing its prowess in the field of brewing fine beer. The Cantillon Brewery is the last traditional gueuze/lambic brewery in Brussels, Cantillon still uses natural yeast fermentation (not injected like almost every other beer); this makes it a fascinating historic tour through the almost lost process of old-style brewing… plus you’ll be rewarded with a grand auld pint at the end of it all.

Take the Bike Tour

Hop on a bike and follow a well seasoned guide through the city and really get under the surface. Brussels is small enough to negotiate easily on two wheels and the manoeuvrability allows for great access to those out-of-the-way spots that the tour buses will miss.