I’m going to be very honest about something before I even get into this blog post – I didn’t love Brussels. I spent 2 days and 3 nights there with a day trip to Bruges and I really wish I had done the opposite. As a solo female traveler on this trip, I was cat called almost everywhere I went on my own in Brussels. No matter the time of day. It was very strange and made me uncomfortable. Anyways, I don’t want to say to skip it, just be aware, and maybe don’t spend as much time there.

Note: There may be affiliate links in this post!

Brussels

The two common languages in Belgium are French and Dutch. In Brussels, French is the dominant choice. Menus and signs will be written in French, and locals will be speaking French. The photos above are the main square in Brussels city centre and is one of the prettiest I’ve seen!

Arriving in Brussels

I took the train from Amsterdam to Brussels super early in the morning to make the most of the day ahead. The journey was very smooth and quick – it’s about 2.5 hours between cities and the cost was minimal, even in the high season. If you’re staying in Amsterdam, this could even be a day trip from there! You can tap in and out of Brussels city public transit, but when going between cities, you need to buy a ticket.

Where to Stay in Brussels

I stayed at Dansaert Hotel, which is right in city center and walkable to everything I wanted to do. The train stations and undergrounds were also conveniently located around here, which made it easy for my arrival/departure, and my day trip to Bruges. I used point on this stay, but I would put this at a mid to low-range price point. For something nicer, The Marriott Hotel Grand Palace is right around the corner, so you have all the same conveniences.

Things to Do in Brussels

Chocolate Tour

The number one thing I knew I HAD to do in Brussels was go on a chocolate tour. And let me tell you, I had zero regrets on this! It was everything I wanted and MORE. This is the exact our I did. I was surprised a bit by the cost, but honestly it was completely worth every pence!

We went to 4 different chocolate shops, got to taste a total of 10 chocolates including a chocolate mousse, and we spent an hour making our own chocolate creations! The tour went on for almost 5 hours! We got to see a lot of the city (prepare for walking) and we learned a lot of history about the city itself. My guide was Avo if you decide to do this tour I highly recommend him! (PS there is no affiliate link here I just really loved this part of my trip!)

There are some other tours I found that sound good like this one, which is less expensive. But I can only truly recommend the things I’ve done! If you are into chocolate and getting some history while you walk around a new city, the tour linked first is definitely for you! Also, there are A LOT of chocolate shops in Brussels (very overwhelming), but I promise they are not all created equally. You can see the ones we went to in the photos below!

Belgian Beer World

This is one of the prettiest buildings in the area that isn’t part of the main square in the photos at the top of the blog. I considered doing this, but ultimately decided that I had tried so many good Belgian beers already (especially in Bruges) that I didn’t want to spend money on a ticket. However, if you are interested in the history of beer in Belgium, this is a great option! If you get the ticket in the link I have provided, it includes a beer and access to the rooftop.

Visit Delirium Village

If you know beer, you’ve heard of Delirium – and Brussels is home to a village made of 8 bars with over 2000 beers to choose from! I walked past it during the chocolate tour and knew I wanted to go back there in the evening. Funnily, I met a girl while I was ordering my drinks (I had to try 2 of course) who spoke Spanish! She invited me to sit with her. I was so immersed in conversation I didn’t take any photos or write down the names of the beers that I had. I do remember one being a cherry something and it was delicious – and has a high alcohol content.

While talking with this new friend, I realized feeling a bit uncomfortable walking around alone in Brussels wasn’t only something I experienced. She said cat-calling happens a lot and that she doesn’t stay out late when she has to get home on her own. We left around 10 pm to make sure we were both safe. Again, just something to keep in mind. Luckily I had no issues and wasn’t far from my hotel!

Nearby the village is the peeing girl statue – pictured above. If you saw the peeing boy statue earlier in the post, the girl was created as a means of equality years later. They aren’t very near each other, but if you want to see them both, just do a google search.

Where to eat in Brussels

Besides the chocolate and beer, Belgium is well-known for its frites and waffles. Here are a few recommendations – some of which came from my tour guide on the chocolate tour, all of which I went to!

Waffles at Maison Dandoy

Don’t be confused by Maison Dandoy’s website – they specialize in waffles, but have lots of yummy sweets to offer! You can choose between the softer, round version or the Brussels version, which is crunchier and square. I went with the latter, and got mine with strawberries and vanilla ice cream! It was delicious, of course! They have more than one location, but I went to the one in the galeries, which has a pretty view and is indoors if the weather isn’t that nice. See the photos for an idea of what I mean.

Frites from Fritland

Frites are a staple in Belgian food, so naturally, I had to try some. Recommended again by my tour guide from the chocolate tour (obviously I put all my trust into this man)! Fritland is a chain, but supposedly one of the best. You can get all sorts of things with frites, but I decided to be go simple and just order plain frites with one of their MANY sauces. I chose the pita sauce, which is mayo, garlic, and herbs. The frites are double fried in beef fat. So very healthy! I can personally recommend these though, they were delicious! Note: I did wait 20 minutes in the queue – you can see it in the photo.

Fin de Siècle

I had someone I met in Amsterdam recommend this restaurant, and then while I was on the chocolate tour, my guide also recommended it! So I knew it was a must for me to eat there. Lucky for me, it was right around the corner from where I stayed. I don’t think they take reservations and it is a pretty small place. However, since I was on my own, I only waited 5-10 minutes. They have an outdoor area to sit and you can order drinks while you wait.

I had a Blanche de Namur beer – turned out to be one of my favorite Belgian beers. For food, I ordered the beef stew and potatoes. One thing about Belgian and Dutch cuisine that I noticed is the lack of green vegetables. I couldn’t wait to have a salad when I got back to London! Despite craving some broccoli, this was one of the best meals I had on my trip. I highly recommend going here if you want a traditional Belgian meal.

Another recommendation I heard from locals was to go outside city center to Saint Catherine – the food is better quality and less expensive. I never did this, but it’s something to consider! Something to avoid: I arrived early and was looking for breakfast. The woman at the desk at my hotel recommended Le Pain Quotidian, which I know now is a chain. It was easy and I figured it would be good if she recommended it. I didn’t think it was great, and it was so expensive.

A Day Spent in Bruges

Okay, okay, enough about Brussels! This was my favorite part of my entire trip, including Amsterdam. Honestly, I don’t know why people sleep on Bruges. If you are in Belgium, just do yourself a favor and spend at least one day in Bruges.

Arriving in Bruges

Since I was coming from Brussels, I took the train early in the morning to make the most of the day. The trains leave hourly at a minimum, sometimes more often. It takes about an hour or so to get there, on a reasonably comfortable train. Be sure to check that you aren’t in the first class coach (not that I did that…) you’ll know if there is air conditioning. Tickets are about €35 return, and you can catch any of the trains coming back, so you don’t have to worry as much about timing.

At the train station, you can walk about a mile into the city centre, or you can hop on a bus for €3. I ended up taking the bus because I was running late for my first activity! You don’t need to buy a bus ticket in advance, it was a tap on.

Where to Stay in Bruges

Like I said, I didn’t stay in Bruges, but if I did, these are some options I would go for. First choice for me would be Martin’s Brugge, which is the low to mid-range option. It is right near Belfort Tower, so right in city centre. For a bit more upscale option, Hotel De Orangerie is a nice option. Again, close to city centre and with views of the canal, plus incredible rooms. This looks like an amazing stay!

Things to do in Bruges

The amount of history in this city is insane. Did you know Bruges is only a few miles from Flander’s Field? Bruges managed to come out basically unscathed from WW2, even though the surrounding areas were not so lucky.

Take a Walking Tour

If you are able to walk quite a bit, I highly recommend doing this walking tour. It was the best €3 I could have spent, and the guide was amazing. He is a local, born and raised in Bruges, and really knows the history of the city. I’m so sorry because I did not write down his name, but this is the tour to take! Again, this is not an affiliate link. I absolutely loved this tour. Be sure to leave a good tip!

It’s a 2 hour tour of the entire city, and you get a chocolate as well. One of my favorite things about doing tours, if you can’t tell, is getting recommendations on what else to do, where to eat, etc. This man did not disappoint! Like I said above, Bruges wasn’t impacted by WW2 much because the Germans liked the city and didn’t want to destroy it. Because of this, there are hospitals still standing from the 1100s, 12th century bridges still in use, and statues of the Madonna still in good condition all over the city.

I learned about the local breweries, the rivalry between Holland and Belgium, and, for my nurse friends, the desperate need for nurses in Belgium. Apparently, the city of Bruges will give you free accommodation for 4 years while you study to become a nurse. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me!

Climb to the Top of Belfort (Belfry) Tower

This was a must-do for me. Belfort tower one of the most well-known architectural structures in Bruges. I especially wanted to see it and the view from the top after seeing “In Bruges” the movie with Colin Farrell. It cost €15 and I booked the ticket online the day of. You can also purchase tickets on site, but since I was there during high season, I decided to pre-book.

The Belfry is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been protected as such since the 1930s. However, it is said to have been there (as a type of building, maybe not a belfry) since the 13th century. There are 366 steps to the top, but it is broken up by floors with historical facts and artifacts to look at and read about.

The stairs do get quite narrow at the top, but the top is the best part! The views are incredible, and you are standing directly under the bells. The music plays every quarter hour, and it is so cool to hear from up there. The songs that play are automated, but they get changed every 2 years and it is quite the process. It’s similar to a giant music box. You will see when you go up!

Take a Canal Cruise

The canal cruise was something I debated on doing after doing the walking tour, but I’m not mad I did it. If you aren’t good with walking around so much, this is a great alternative, although much shorter! For €15 and about 30 minutes, you get to see the city from the water. You can get tickets at any of the counters that are stationed near the take off points on the canal. They take cards if you don’t have cash.

The guide speaks English, French, and Dutch, translating everything he says into all 3 languages, which I thought was amazing on its own. For me, the chance to take photos from the water was the shining star of this experience. Since I already had 2 hours of city history, I knew the majority of what the guide said. Getting to go underneath the bridges and take in views from other angles was well worth it for me.

When searching for tours to pre-book, I found this one that includes a walking tour, boat cruise, and optional beer tasting for about €30, which might be a solid deal! Having the same guide for the boat and the walking tour will eliminate duplicating facts as you go. And who doesn’t want a beer at the end?

Where to Eat and Drink in Bruges

Not only was good food on my mind in Bruges, but I knew I wanted to try some of the best beers the world has to offer! This is a list of just the ones I went to, but I’m sure there are many more!

Cambrinus

This was a recommendation from my walking tour guide, and we ended the tour pretty close to it, which was perfect! It is a small-ish restaurant with bar seating if you prefer. It was giving pub vibes for sure, and I loved it. The staff were very friendly and spoke English. I decided to try something a little different that I’d never had before, and went with the rabbit with plum sauce and mashed potatoes. It was really good, even though I couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that I was eating bunny… I also tried the blonden os here, and was perfectly tipsy after one!

Pralinette for Some Good Chocolate

This was the chocolate shop that was recommended on my walking tour, and like with Brussels, there are a lot to choose from, but not all created equally. I got a few different chocolates to try here and all I remember is that they were all delicious!

Half Moon Brewery

This was a spot that we walked past on the walking tour and our guide recommended coming back to try the beer. It is the only place you can get the unfiltered versions of the beer and it was delicious! The beer literally gets transported through pipes underground from the factory to the brewery! I tried the unfiltered zot, the rose beer, and their seasonal summery beer. My favorite was the regular brugse zot. I highly recommend coming here if you are into beer – it’s a stop you really don’t want to miss in Bruges!

Mozart

Another recommendation from a local, this was a great find for dinner! I ordered the ribeye steak with a Blonde zot continuing my love for the half moon brewery beer. (The unfiltered version is better!) The food here was delicious, but that steak was so big it looked like I hardly ate any of it. This restaurant is quite large and it was crowded, but I didn’t have to wait for a table.

House of Waffles

Another recommended stop if you want a waffle. It is a little walk-up booth and the waffles were good! Not on the same level as Maison Dandoy in Brussels, but it was good if you’re looking for a sweet treat while you walk around!

Le Trappiste

Another bar that is really unique and a bit off the beaten path. This was a local recommendation from a bartender at Half Moon Brewery and I loved it! It’s underground a bit so very dim and moody inside. They have a good selection of beers and a lot of different types. I tried the Tripel Karmeliet (another recommendation) which was a bit strong for my typical tastes, but it was good for one. Since I had to catch the train back to Brussels, I only spent enough time for one beer here.

I stayed as late as I could in Bruges and happened to see a little projection show happening on the side of the buildings in the main square with the Belfort tower. I’m not sure what it was about, but I managed to catch the end of it and then headed to the train station. I caught the last train back to Brussels that night (around 11:30 pm).

What do you think? Have you been to Brussels and/or Bruges? What did you do that you thought was worthwhile or what might have been worth skipping? If you want more travel content, be sure to follow me on instagram, too @thetravelingsopha!