A Five-Day Walk Through Brussels

We arrived at Brussels Airport and took a quick transfer into the city center. Checking into Hotel Amigo was straightforward, and the location made it easy to reach the Grand Place on foot. The guildhalls there are densely packed and ornate, which is a bit overwhelming at first sight but worth the walk.

Our first dinner was at Fin de Siècle. It gets busy, so showing up early is a good idea to avoid a long wait for a table. The atmosphere is casual, and the food was exactly what we needed after a day of travel.

On our second day, we checked out of our first hotel and moved to The Dominican. We spent the morning walking through the Mont des Arts Garden for the view, then browsed the Royal Galleries of Saint-Hubert. Later, we checked out the Belgian Comic Strip Center, which is housed in a building designed by Victor Horta. It was a nice change of pace to see the Art Nouveau details in such a functional space.

We spent the afternoon exploring the Place du Grand Sablon and its antique shops. The Manneken Pis was a quick stop—it is smaller than you might expect. For meals that day, we tried both Chez Léon and Aux Armes de Bruxelles, both of which are classic spots for local dishes.

The final days were focused on the Royal Quarter and Saint-Gilles. We walked through Parc de Bruxelles to see the Royal Palace of Brussels exterior, then spent time at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. Seeing the Magritte collection was a highlight. We also made sure to visit the Horta Museum and walk by the Hôtel Tassel to see the architecture up close.

We finished our trip with a stop at Moeder Lambic Original for a drink and a light meal at Le Pain Quotidien. The city is very walkable, though we did find ourselves using public transit occasionally to save time between the center and the outlying museums.