Brussels is the capital of Belgium and is one of the most attractive destinations in Europe. Its amazing architecture, various sights and interesting museums make Brussels a highly appealing city to tourists. I went to Brussels three years ago and I strongly recommend that you visit Brussels and hope that you have a memorable experience!
The Grand Place or ‘Grote Markt’ is the central square of Brussels and is a must-see of the town. The Grand Place was even voted the most beautiful square in Europe in 2010! Every two years in August, a flower carpet is set up in the Grand Place for a few days where tons of begonias cover the square. It has been a popular tourist attraction since 1971, when the first flower carpet was made.
The Manneken Pis (“Little man Peeing”) is the symbol of Brussels. It is a small bronze sculpture in the centre of Brussels, which represents a little naked boy urinating into a fountain’s basin.
The modern buildings of the European Union’s institutions are totally different from the medieval architecture at the centre of Brussels. The European Parliament in Brussels gets a lot of attention from tourists who visit, as it is considered to be the de facto capital of the European Union.
One of the other main attractions of Brussels that I really recommend you to visit is the Atomium. The Atomium is a symbolic 103-metre tall structure that was built for the 1958 World’s Fair. It includes nine steel spheres connected by tubes, and forms the shape of a unit cell of an iron crystal. There is a lift that allows access to five spheres, which each have some interesting exhibitions. What I enjoyed most was the panoramic view that I was able to look from at the top sphere of the Atomium.
Another must-see of Brussels is Mini-Europe, which is right next to the Atomium. Mini-Europe is a park with ‘maquettes’ or miniatures, of the most famous tourist attractions of Europe. I really enjoyed my visit to Mini-Europe because the fact that it enables you to come into contact with all the prime sights of Europe is almost magical. The Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Acropolis in Athens, Big Ben in London are just some of the monuments that visitors can see in the miniature park.
The view of Mini-Europe from the top sphere of the Atomium
The Eiffel Tower in Mini-Europe and the Atomium in the background
Acropolis in Athens in the Mini-Europe
Brussels is an ideal destination for people who adore the museums too. The Royal Museum of Fine Arts, the Military Museum and the Comic Museum are some of the 80 museums that the city has to offer to tourists. I visited the Museum of Musical instruments when I was in Brussels, and I had the great opportunity to see a wide range of instruments and listen to their different sounds.
Overall, Brussels can give you a unique opportunity to take walks in the town’s picturesque streets, see some really wonderful sights and museums, as well as taste its delicious cuisine: especially the Belgian waffles! Let me end with a quote as always. ‘Don’t tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you travelled’ (Mohamed).
Image links:
1. http://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/1394306/brussels-grand-place-flower-carpet-2014.jpg
All other photos were taken by the writer.