Chocolate and waffles: spending one weekend in Brussels

I knew I wanted to see the tulip fields in The Netherlands but somehow Amsterdam felt both expensive during that time of the year, and I had already seen it on two other occasions. Thus after carefully analyzing all the potential options, I chose to mix it together with a long weekend in Brussels. 

Chocolate and waffles: spending one weekend in Brussels

Why Brussels?

First of all because somehow, even though there are very cheap flights from Bucharest, I had never been to Belgium or Brussels and after carefully researching the tourist attractions I thought I should give it a try.

Secondly, because flights and the overall cost for a weekend in Brussels were much less than one in The Netherlands.

As a truly romantic and lover of colorful towns, I thought Brussels (and some of its close-by towns) will make me fall in love with Belgium. And that was true.

So here is my guide for Brussels: everything you can do on a weekend in Brussels, or three days in Brussels, together with day trips from Brussels you would want to know about.

If you have less time in Brussels, head over to my one day in Brussels itinerary.

Oh, and if you are wondering where to stay in Brussels, you seriously need to check out this Brussels hotel guide and choose your perfect location in the capital of Europe.

Getting from Brussels airport to Brussels

Since we flew low cost we landed at Charleroi airport, which is some 40 minutes away from the city.

Getting from Charleroi airport to Brussels: I would suggest booking a ticket to the shuttle bus to Brussels city as we did. The bus leaves in front of the airport and takes you directly to Bruxelles – Midi (Brussels Zuid) from where you have several options to get to the city center: train, bus, metro.

By booking the ticket online ahead of time, you will not only pay less (14.20 € max. per ride, while at the airport a ticket will be 17 €), but you won’t have to wait in two lines when taking the bus (one for the tickets and the other to get into the bus).

Additionally, you could pay extra for the fast track line where you won’t have to wait. This would be good if you are in a hurry because we had to wait on both occasions for the second bus in order to get in.

Make sure to check the shuttle bus timetable when leaving for the airport and get to Bruxelles – Midi in time because there will surely be some waiting time.

 

 Getting from Zaventem airport to Brussels

Since this is the main Brussels airport, you will surely have plenty of options to get to the city center:

• Bus: 272 and 471 will take you to the North Train Station, while there are other options for the Roodebeek metro station or Brussels Expo. Check out all the options here. The price of a bus ticket will be between €1.80 if you download the De Lijn app and buy it online, and €3 if you buy the ticket on the bus
• Hotel shuttle or private transfer – the easiest and carefree way of travel. Book your private transfer here!
• The train: you can reach the train platform directly from the airport and a ticket will set you back around €9. Check out timetables, options, and prices here. And go here if you want to buy your ticket online ahead of time.

Where to stay in Brussels

I must admit that my choice wasn’t the greatest when it came to choosing where to stay in Brussels. Sure I wanted to be close to the train station because I knew we were going to take at least 2-day trips from Brussels, but the area around the Gare de Midi is not the greatest. 

However, we didn’t have any issues while staying there, the shuttle bus for the airport was right around the corner, and the ibis Hotel Brussels Centre Gare du Midi we stayed in was clean and nice. 

If I were to choose now, I would go for staying in Sablon or Saint Gery. Both are nice areas, walking distance to all the major attractions, and lively areas. And here are a few options for you to consider in these areas:

• Dansaert Hotel – located in the heart of Brussels, this is the place you want to be when you only have one weekend in Brussels. 

Check out availability and reviews here!

• Warwick Brussels – Grand Place – in Sablon, this coquette hotel will make you feel pampered in the heart of Brussels. It is a 5* hotel with an affordable price range.

Check out prices and reviews here!

What to do on a weekend in Brussels

Before leaving, when I asked around about what can I do on a weekend in Brussels or even 3 days in Brussels, people would tell me that I shouldn’t spend more than one day in Brussels.

This is the place where people come to live, not to visit.

Even a friend of mine living there was surprised we chose to spend so much time in the city because people don’t usually spend more than one day in Brussels. But I had my Brussels itinerary all set up, and it was going to be nice.

No matter how much time you are spending in Brussels, one thing is sure: if you want to make the best out of it without any headaches, make sure to buy the Brussels Card.

I had mine for 2 days in Brussels and it made visiting places and using public transportation so much easier. And if you buy it online as I did you can start sightseeing right away without having to search for anything.

Ok, the city center is not that big, there aren’t so many things to do if you are looking for the classing touristic attractions, but if you give it a chance and step on the less crowded streets, Brussels might just surprise you.

Grand-place de Bruxelles (Main Square – Grote Markt) 

Maybe the most crowded area of Brussels, but a place you should not miss when you have only 24 hours in Brussels since it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1998.

As usual, in Main Square, you will find the City Hall which can be visited, but also the Maison du Roi, and many guild houses such as the house of the Beer Brewers guild which is now the Belgian Brewers Museum.

If you choose to go inside one of these museums you will spend a few hours here, if not let’s say some 20 minutes for a tour and some pictures will be more than enough.

One great idea is to go on a Brewery tour with a local and learn more about local beer. And of course, taste them! Book your tour here!

Waffles and chocolate shops 

Right after exiting the Main Square, we bumped into some of the many chocolate stores that lured us inside with their amazing colorful displays and beautiful chocolate decorations.

As a matter of fact, some of the best chocolatiers are in a whole different area but we got there on a different day, thus I will include that in my guide for a weekend in Brussels below.

Would I be interested in a Belgium Chocolate making workshop? Yes, please! Throw all that delicious sweetness at me!

 

Something one should not miss, and I abused were the Belgian waffles.

Many might not know that there are different types of waffles (it’s ok, I didn’t know that either before going). There are the Belgian waffles – the ones in the picture above, sweeter usually served with chocolate – and there are the Brussels waffles – with a fluffy texture, not that sweet, and served with chocolate or whipped cream.

One of the most famous places to taste waffles is at Maison Dandoy. They are considered to be the best waffles in town and you cannot spend one weekend in Brussels without a taste of this goodness.

Find out more and learn to make your own with this waffle making workshop.

Manneken Pis

Ok, I did not see this little statue. I’ve read before about it and somehow we managed to miss it in all our explorations around the Main Square.

I’ve heard the statue is really small but iconic for Brussels, and it gets its clothes changed every now and then. So if you find it, stop by and take a few pictures.

Mont des Arts

Located on a hill, offering a beautiful view over a part of the city center, the Mont des Arts (or the hill of the arts) is an urban complex and a historic site in the center of Brussels.

Right next to the Nort train station, here is where you will find the Royal Library of Belgium, the National Archives, and Square – Brussels Convention Center.

For me, the Mont des Arts were just a nice walk from Main Square towards the Royal Palace (Palais Royal) where I’ve stopped to take some pictures.

 It is worth knowing that the garden in Mont des Arts is one of the most Intagrammable places in Brussels, and it is easily understood why. Even though I think that I was a bit too early for the party, and later on in Spring the colors would have been better.

The Royal Palace (Palais Royal)

With a stunning royal interior – it is a palace after all – the Royal Palace will sweep you off your feet.

Located in the Royal Park, the Royal Palace is the King’s administrative residence and main workplace, which can be also visited for a few weeks during the Summer.

If you are thinking about planning a trip to Brussels, even if only for one day, check these pictures out and see whether the Royal Palace is something you might want to see, and plan your trip accordingly.

Of course, a great idea to see some of the most iconic buildings and landmarks of Brussels is by booking a city guided tour. Luckily, in Brussels there are plenty of options to choose from, here are my favorites:

• Grand City bus tour
• A Hop-on-hop-off bus tour is always a great idea that will help you see as much as possible, especially when it’s cold outside or it is raining. Book your ticket here!
• Take a private tour with a local and learn more about local life in Europe’s capital. Book your tour here!
• Start your visit right with a Private 90-Minute Kickstart Tour

Galleries Royal SAINT-HUBERT

This is a famous shopping place in the heart of Brussels, but you should come here to admire the stunning art nouveau architecture the Galleries Royal Saint-Hubert boasts.

Of course, many stores have really high prices, but watching doesn’t cost anything, right? A walk here is perfect especially during a moody rainy day when you can stop over coffee as the locals do.

The comic strip and artwork

One thing Belgians like is comic strips. They like them so much they even ornated a part of Brussels with their heroes. 

While you’re here for a weekend in Brussels, make sure not to miss out on Tintin, Spike and Suzy, and many more. They make for great photography in Brussels. 

Eat some traditional food

Apart from waffles, you should not miss out on the delicious fries with mayo, or the famous mussels and fries.

Also, I’ve discovered Brussels has one the Avocado Show restaurant I had to try. I know it is not local food, but I’m such a sucker for avocado and every combination that includes it. 

The Parc du Cinquantenaire

This is the place you’ll come to relax. The site is actually constituted of a broad garden with plenty of monuments and museums. 

The most popular thing in the park is the Triumphal Arch that you will see as another symbol of Brussels. 

Groot Bijgaarden Castle

Since we had one additional day in Brussels, we decided to allocate half of it to go to the Groot Bijgaarden Castle which I found when searching on the internet information on tulips near Brussels.

We were lucky to visit it in April and catch the Floralia flower festival taking place at the castle, which is the only period of the year when the castle and its domain are open to the public.

In 2020 Floralia Brussels is scheduled between the 4th of April and 3rd of May, so make sure to schedule your visit if you want to be amazed by the beauty of this place.

Apart from the royal feel, the thousands of tulips, the bridge, and the lake, at the weekend we’ve been there they also had the Venetian costumes from the Venice Carnival. This is surely one great opportunity to take hundreds of amazing pictures.

So if you don’t have the time or you don’t want to spend so much time and money on transportation and getting to the Keukenhof or tulip fields in The Netherlands, this place is just the right substitute.

Getting to Groot Bijgaarden Castle: 

For us, getting to the Groot Bijgaarden Castle was an experience in itself, because I wasn’t very well informed and we bought tickets for the wrong public transportation.

After finding the right bus stop, we managed to get the bus towards the castle. Just know that the line is operated by De Lijn for which you will need special tickets, which can be also bought from the bus.

The return ticket was 6 EUR, and the fastest route is bus number 355 from Rogier, which leaves you really close to the castle.

Floralia ticket price:

The price of a ticket was 14 EUR which offered us access to the gardens and the greenhouse. The castle itself is not open for visits, but trust me there is plenty to do.

Read all about it and see my beautiful pictures in my Groot Bijgaarden castle tulip festival post. 

Sablon

I’ve already talked about chocolate, but if you really really want to taste the best of the beast, only a few steps away from Mont des Arts are the area called Sablon.

And here is where you’ll find the best chocolate places you will ever go to.

And the one chocolate shop you should not miss, even though it is really expensive, is Piere Marcolini.

The Botanical Garden of Brussels

We walked to this place in the afternoon, before checking the opening hours, and of course, we arrived just as it was closing down.

Either way, I learned that this place is no longer a Botanical Garden but a modern Art gallery. Even so, the garden is still open and lovely.

Check this out if you are looking for other gardens or parks to visit while in Brussels in Spring. 

Atomium

Even though it is the most popular tourist attraction in Europe’s Capital we haven’t managed to get to see it, but if you have more time in Brussels, you should.

The nine spheres represent an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times and sure make the perfect spot for some iconic pictures from Brussels.

You can also visit it on the inside and take in the 360 degrees Brussels panorama while enjoying a delicious Belgian meal at the restaurant you’ll find inside.

And while you’re there, get to see also Mini Europe. Get to see the most important places in Europe in just a few hours.

Book your Mini Europe ticket online or the Atonium and forget about waiting in line.

Choco-Story

Choco-Story was actually the first place we visited when we got to Brussels since it is included in the Brussels card and since it is all about Chocolate.

It is a nice experience both for children and for grown-ups, where we found out all about cocoa and how it gets transformed into the best chocolate in the world.

Also, we had a live demonstration of how pralines are being done and got to taste lots of delicious chocolate.

Book your Choco-Story ticket along with a chocolate-making workshop! I’ve been to that twice and absolutely loved it! And Belgium is the right place to learn about chocolate, right?

 

The Royal Castle of Laeken and the Serres Royales de Laeken

Maybe one of the most Instagrammable places in Brussels, the Serres Royales de Laeken (Royal Greenhouses) is only open for a short period of time (around three weeks) during Spring each year.

I have to admit I was really sad I did not get to see the greenhouses since they were opening just a few days after we left Brussels.

Book your Brussels Experience with a visit to the Royal Glasshouses!

Day trips from Brussels

If eventually, you have more time and choose to spend a long weekend in Europe’s Capital, you might want to have some ideas of day trips from Brussels.

Since we arrived on Thursday and left on Monday evening, we had plenty of time to have also a day trip by train from Brussels, but there are plenty of other options.

Bruges and Ghent

Bruges is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen (when it comes to little towns), and I would suggest you spend more than half of the day in Bruges and get to explore the village one step at a time.

Since we only had little time, I had to settle for half of the day in Bruges. Somehow in the few hours spent here, we managed to see most of the most iconic spots: the colorful central market, the Hoeke windmills, the empty and later on crowded colorful cobbled streets with gingerbread-like houses, the Beguinage, the canals.

Read also: One day in Bruges, the perfect guide to a fairy tale town

 

 

After just a few hours of running around the streets of Bruges, we headed towards the train station and went to Ghent.

Reaching the train station in Ghent on a rainy and cold-ish day, I wasn’t expecting much from the city even though I had seen some pretty pictures.

We walked towards the city center for around 30 minutes and the city was so very different from what we had seen in Bruges, with a more 90’s vibe, grey blocks of flats, nothing colorful or with that Belgian vibe, this could have been almost anywhere.

But once we reached the old town center I must admit I started to like Ghent as well. Especially the impressive Castle of the Counts. Even though we didn’t have the time to go inside or climb its towers, from the outside the Castle is still impressive, especially looking at it from the waterside.

You can go by train or you can always choose the easy way and go for one of the below organized tours:

• A day trip to Bruges and Ghent
• Or you can choose to spend a full day in Bruges

Other day trip options from Brussels

• Hallerbos Forest – especially during spring when the forest turns all blue
• Villers-la-Ville – with its impressive Villers Abbey as the perfect setting for the most amazing pictures
• Antwerp (or Anvers) – a pretty port city worth visiting for the shopping scene. Book a day tour here!
• Mechelen – worth stopping by on the way to Antwerp
• See Amsterdam in a day from Brussels
• Take a trip and discover Luxembourg and Dinant
• A Tour of Cologne and Postcard Town of Monschau