Geological curiosities combine with quiet nature and ancient remains at Furfooz Park (Parc de Furfooz) outside the Belgian city of Dinant. Trails through this forested nature park lead you to caves, caverns, and ruins that date back to the Romans. It also boasts views of the Lesse River.
The only remaining gate of Brussels’ medieval city walls, the Halle Gate (Porte de Hal is the oldest structure in Belgium’s capital. Built in 1381 and incorporating a black conical roof and neo-Gothic frontage added in the 1800s, this fairytale-like gatehouse is now a museum dedicated to Brussels’ military defenses and history.
A museum made to celebrate Brussels’ artistic past at the end of the 19th century, the Musée Fin-de-Siècle is a banquet of art from celebrated artists and literary visionaries. Perhaps most exciting are the interactive displays documenting the critical changes in the political and artistic temperature of the turn of the century.
Spend some time in Brussels’ Cinquantenaire District and discover that Belgian culture is more than Tintin, beer, and frites. Built around Cinquantenaire Park, which celebrates Belgian independence and is home to museums depicting Belgium’s rich history, the neighborhood is also a gathering point for festivals and outdoor concerts—even the Brussels Marathon starts here.
Housed in the Brasserie Cantillon, the only remaining traditional lambic brewery in Brussels, the Brussels Gueuze Museum is a great place to learn about Belgium’s celebrated brewing traditions firsthand. Here, visitors can see the insides of a working brewery that has changed little over the last century.
Located just outside Brussels in the town of Louvain-la-Neuve, the Hergé Museum is dedicated to 20th-century Belgian comic book artist Georges Remi, creator of Tintin and better known as Hergé. Remi’s much-loved cartoon boy-reporter appeared in 22 comic adventures, which sold in their millions and remain popular today.
Built in 1893, the Autrique House in Brussels was the first townhouse designed by Belgian architect Victor Horta, a pioneer of the early 20th-century art nouveau movement. Now restored to its original glory and open to visitors, the house is a key part of Brussels’ rich turn-of-the-century architectural heritage.
Extending from Place Louise to the Bois de la Cambre, Avenue Louise has long been known as one of the chicest places for shopping and strolling in all of Brussels. It also has several stand-out buildings, including two of Victor Horta's celebrated Art Nouveau townhouses: the Hôtel Solvay and the Hôtel Max Hallet.
One of the largest markets in Europe, Brussels’ Midi Market still feels pretty local in spirit. Popping with life and color on Sunday mornings, it sells everything from fresh flowers, produce, and meat to clothing, spices, chocolates, and household goods. Along with items to take home, it’s also where you’ll find the city’s best representation of the world’s cuisines.
Opened in 2012 and occupying a restored 16th-century guildhouse in Brussels’ beautiful Grand-Place, the Hard Rock Café Brussels is one of the city’s busiest eating spots. Guests come for the brand’s classic fusion of American food and rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia presented in a glitzy, boutique-style setting.
