Brussels is a city with a pronounced green profile, as evidenced by about 600 hectares of public parks and nearly 2000 hectares of woods and forests. It is also the city of the European Union, the common home of many states, whose representatives meet in a building with unusual and curious lines, which people have affectionately nicknamed the “Caprice de Dieux” because of its resemblance to the well-known cheese brand.
It is not easy to visit Brussels in one day. However, in this brief guide, we try to suggest the points of interest in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.
What to see in Brussels in one day
The Belgian capital is full of beauty scattered everywhere, thanks to the characteristic and sumptuous buildings, however there are modern places that are equally unique and worth a visit, such as the Atomium, in Heysel Park, a true monument of Brussels. It is a molecular model made of steel consisting of 9 spheres that is nothing other than the reproduction of an enlarged iron crystal. The structure is breathtaking, with its over 100 meters in height; admiring it at night, illuminated, is even more suggestive. It is also possible to climb to the highest sphere, where there is even a refreshment point.
A trip to Brussels cannot be called such if you do not stop at a brewery cafe to sip a good glass of Belgian beer, the flagship of the excellent food and wine offer of the territory: here the craft beer workshops are true authorities when it comes to producing the golden nectar. For teetotalers in search of typical flavors, there is still good consolation: in Brussels even the chocolate is particularly tasty, so much so that it has an honored space thanks to the organization of the Brussels “chocolate” Tours and the opening of the Cocoa and Chocolate Museum. Apparently, therefore, Brussels is a very sweet city, ironically pungent and open to new things.
Manneken Pis
The quality of life in Brussels is high, as much as the warm welcome reserved for visitors. A center of cultural vibrancy and cosmopolitan influences, the capital of Belgium has gradually characterized itself as a jovial and ironic environment, well symbolized by the city’s mascot: the bronze statue of Manneken Pis, literally “little boy peeing.”
The little statue, in the historic center of the city, symbolizes the independent spirit, sometimes cheeky in the most ironic sense of the term, of the inhabitants.
Despite its charming and cheeky mascot, Brussels is instead very refined, precious and majestic; the city has a central area called the Pentagon, which is divided into the Upper Town and Lower Town. Grand’Place is the very central square symbol of Brussels, one of the most beautiful in the world, full of architectural splendor desired by the ancient city guilds and the local institutions of the time.
Bars, venues and breweries in Brussels
The eye here struggles to choose what the most beautiful detail is, given the majesty and importance of the buildings. The square is located inside a maze of alleys that, all together, form the Ilot Sacre, where it is very pleasant to spend time in one of the many bars, venues and breweries. Also Place du Sablon is very beautiful, with its baroque buildings rich in little shops and antique stores: the goods are not exactly offered at a good price but the guarantee is assured and so is the quality.
Flea Market in Brussels
Brussels is not only luxury but also more modest areas: one example is Marolles, a working-class neighborhood where the famous Flea Market takes place, in Place de Jeu de Balle. In the Old Town you can breathe a completely different atmosphere: here the working life of international bodies, newspapers, the European Commission, the European Parliament and multinationals buzzes. Consequently, the hustle and bustle is all on weekdays, while on the weekend the area appears empty.
