Brussels, Belgium

Brussels sits in central Belgium, bilingual French Dutch region, compact core with concentric ring roads and suburbs. Expect a flat urban plain with quick rail links to neighboring regions.

Metro, tram, bus network run by STIB; major hubs include Brussels-Central, Gare du Midi, Brussels-North. Buy multi-day STIB cards or contactless fare at stations; cycling and scooters common for short hops.

Must-sees: Grand Place (UNESCO), stainless spheres of the Atomium, cheeky Manneken Pis, stately Royal Palace, archway at Cinquantenaire. Visit early morning or late evening to avoid crowds and photography glare.

Top museums cluster near Mont des Arts: Musée Magritte, Royal Museums of Fine Arts, BELvue for Belgian history. Reserve timed tickets for popular exhibits on weekends.

Eat moules-frites, stoofvlees, and sample dozens of Belgian beers in historic cafés. Chocolate shops cluster in Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert — visit houses like Neuhaus or Pierre Marcolini for single-origin truffles.

Bar scene centers on Saint-Géry and the old town near Grand Place; find beer temples like Delirium Café and small jazz clubs. Weekends fill late; many venues accept cashless payment.

Green escapes include Parc de Bruxelles (near the Royal Palace) and Bois de la Cambre for lakeside walks. Expect urban birds like pigeons (Columba livia) and red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) in larger parks.

Short train hops make day trips easy: Ghent (~30–40 min), Bruges (~1 hr), Antwerp (~40 min). Leave early for a full-day itinerary; trains frequent from Gare du Midi and Brussels-Central.

Consider the Brussels Card for museum entry plus public transit combos; look for combined city pass plus train discounts if planning regional day trips. Contactless cards simplify pay-as-you-go travel.

Brussels is generally safe; watch for pickpockets in tourist hubs like Grand Place and busy metro stations. Keep an eye on protests in the European Quarter; carry photocopies of travel documents and use licensed taxis at night.

Compact, walkable capital with world-class museums, iconic landmarks, renowned beer chocolate scenes, plus easy regional rail access. Pack layers, book key museums, use STIB passes, and enjoy slower mornings in parks.