Belgium: original home to Godiva Chocolatier!

Magical world of fresh waffles, homemade chocolate and locally brewed beer…so goes the stereotypical description of Brussels, Belgium, the country’s capital and biggest city, as well as the de facto capital of the E.U. Well, fortunately for those who enjoy these delicious items (95% of the average population?), the Brussels stereotype is pretty accurate. Walk down the main streets of the city, especially those near the beautiful central plaza called Grand Place, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by adorable Belgian chocolate shops (almost all of which offer free samples!), tourists and locals alike laughing and socializing over a beer (even at 11 AM sometimes), and the sweet scent of warm, newly pressed waffles floating through the air. But of course, there’s more to Brussels than chocolate, beer and waffles: we can’t forget the famous frites. Just kidding (although those are readily available everywhere too). There are art museums like the Royal Museums of Fine Arts Belgium and Magritte Museum, housing the world’s largest collection of surrealist René Magritte’s work, gorgeous architecture, funky shopping at the Place du Jeu de Balle flea market, a wide variety of lodging from the five-star Hotel Amigo to budget traveler-friendly The Moon Hotel, and much more. Especially given the city’s proximity to other desirable European destinations, I don’t particularly recommend booking a very long trip here. But for a quaint and delicious stopover on your way to or from another Euro locale, Brussels is a wonderful, often looked over opportunity.

In the Grand Place during the day

Endless truffles in one of Brussels’ many chocolate shops.