Although my trip to Belgium was already a few weeks ago, I still haven’t written about Brussels. As with most countries, there always seems to be some kind of obligation to visit the capital. Mainly just because… well, it is the capital. Agree? But is Brussels worth a visit? And how does it compare to the other towns of Belgium that I explored along the way? Let’s find out…
Although some capitals could easily be skipped, I really didn’t need to visit Tirana in Albania, for example, and I did skip the capitals of Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, I felt I had to visit Brussels. As mentioned, it is the town of Belgium after all!
Read here about Albania, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina:
Driving in Albania – Things to know
My 24 hours in Montenegro
Mostar, Stari Most and my trip to Bosnia Herzegovina
Brussels
Well, what shall I say?
Besides plenty of shops for tourists to stock up on Belgian beer and Belgian chocolate, Brussels was quite disappointing to me. And although I would like to write more about it, my SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) keeps reminding me not to use too many negative sentences.
So, is Brussels worth a visit? To keep it short, let’s just say that, as the centre of the European Union, I expected a wonderful capital city. And it certainly didn’t deliver. At least not for me.
Nevertheless, the potential for a great city is definitely there. The old town has some impressive historic buildings, grand squares, and narrow streets that give you a glimpse of how beautiful Brussels can be. But overall, Brussels could do with a pretty decent clean-up. I am talking about a huge clean-up! A shame, really. Some of the other towns of Belgium were certainly much cuter.
I did, however, love the artwork on some of the buildings. So, if you do visit Brussels, remember to look up!
All in all however, my travel tip for Brussel would be…
Go to Ghent instead!
So is Brussels worth a visit?Well, whether you go and see Brussels is really up to you. But if you do, make sure you visit Ghent as well. You will see the difference and understand what I am talking about. Trust me!
Read here about Ghent – Cycling in Belgium. Ghent, Bruges and the first impressions
The other towns of Belgium
Before heading to Verdun in France—where there is plenty of WW1 history to discover—I stopped at two very small but cute towns in Belgium.
Dinant, with its amazing cliffside backdrop, and Bouillon, with a gorgeous castle sitting high above the town. Both were quite unique and pretty, even on another very, very hot day. Sometimes, smaller is definitely better. So, if you happen to drive through Belgium, remember to stop in some of the smaller towns and cities. You might be surprised by what you find.
And don’t forget Bruges, of course! What do you think? Is Brussels worth a visit? Let me know…
Dinant
Bouillon
Verdun
(post 110)
