I visited Brussels, the de facto capital of Europe, in Jul-22 and found it an enchanting city. Here are my top impressions of the city:
(1) Grand Place
Brussels has a rich heritage in arts & the finest example of its ornate architecture is the Grand Place. Construction began in 11th century and was completed by 17th (though many parts of the square were subsequently rebuilt). It is certainly one of the finest city squares in the world.
(2) Uptown/downtown
Brussels is divided into two parts with very different elevations. There is a sudden drop of height that separates the uptown from the downtown. One can take an elevator to access the other part.
(3) Food
Belgian cuisine is known as amongst the best in Europe and Brussels is full of options when it comes to dining. The city has 138 restaurants per square mile. The country is especially known for its chocolates, French fries, waffles and beers. Brussels airport is the #1 chocolate selling point in the world.
(4) Manneken Pis
One of the widely recognised symbols of Brussels and Belgium is a statue of a young boy urinating into a fountain’s basin. The statue in its current form has been in place since 1619, though it is likely it replaced a similar statue dating back even earlier. Because several attempts have been made to steal it, the original statue now resides in Brussels City Museum. The fountain has a replica.
As per the museum’s audio guide, Brussel residents view Manneken Pis as an apt mascot reflecting the attitude of not giving a damn as to what others think.
