Wishing you’ve all had a great start to 2018.

This is a recollection post of our Belgium trip, from France last year.

As the European summer was biding us adieu, the trees were still green and there was a hint of autumn in the air. We prepared ourselves for a small getaway to Brussels, the capital city of the Kingdom of Belgium.

If you’ve read my earlier travel posts, you’ll see the trend of how we love booking our stays away from the main cities, so we get to enjoy a mix of both the suburbs and city life. While the countryside has it’s own charm, the city of Brussels has a pretty landscape especially with its admirable gingerbread shaped buildings.

Our Stay

Have you ever experienced a thing such as this ; that the accommodation you booked for your vacation was so enticing, you preferred to stay indoors longer than you intended ? Well if yes, then you will totally understand our experience with this particular airbnb booking. Nestled in the Belgian countryside in a village close to Brussels named Huldenberg, our cottage was the cutest on the street. It was hosted by a lovely couple Michael & Nancy who made us feel very welcomed and our stay was absolutely cozy and comfortable.

After a well rested night, waking up to this view while the morning sun crept in slowly, was one of the best starts to the day.

I hope these snapshots convey the serenity and tranquility of the place.

It was simply perfect for a relaxing long weekend.

Some quiet me time.

Stepped out of the cottage to bask in the sun and access Wi-Fi. The cottage lures you to disconnect devices and truly spend some quality time.

Now that we’d got a glimpse of the beauty of the countryside, it was time to step out for some city sight seeing. With twin toddlers and their tantrums in tow, I’m so happy we had a fruitful trip.

So here we go – below are just few of the iconic places we visited at Brussels.

Brussels you beauty… 

This is the central square of Brussels called the Grand Place and rightly so ; you will be in awe of it’s grandeur once you arrive here and look around. It’s an enclosed square and you have to get to it by foot, that’s after walking through one of it’s many side alleys. Of the many buildings surrounding this square were the town hall and the city museum.

The summer sun was still up when we visited this beautiful place and so the whole place was alive and buzzing. Open air restaurants, people everywhere, flower markets taking centre stage, surrounding buildings adorned with the prettiest pots of colourful flowers, music being played in the background ; all this made up the lovely scene we thoroughly got immersed in at the square.

Taking a look around, we found tucked in a corner of this vivid place, a beer museum and walked right in taking the stairways that led underground, finding ourselves sitting in such a unique rustic place, clinking our beer mugs to say “Cheers”. The square lit up at night is truly magical – a gorgeous place just to be and enjoy the moment.

The following day we made it to the Atomium and did a Mini Europe park tour located in the vicinity. There are individual as well as combination tickets available on site as well as online for these places. It’s well worth it to spend at least half a day here.

The Atomium is an iconic building of Brussels. It’ one of the most popular touristic attraction in Europe. Built in 1958 for a World’s Fair Expo, it today serves as a museum exhibiting varied themes. But what’s exciting is the whole walk through these spheres and getting a panoramic view of the city from atop.

Mini Europe as the name suggests is a park made up of miniature monuments of several cities of the European union. So the experience is a lot of fun, kind of like time traveling through Europe as giants. One moment you can see the Eiffel tower and the Sacre Couer church and the next you can hear chimes of Big Ben. Before you know it, you could find yourself in Pisa or Greece or Croatia or Amsterdam. It definitely is the best miniature park of Europe. This tour sure is informative and lures you to travel and explore more of the EU.

Ending this post with a sweet as well as savoury taste. Bon appétit!

 


46 Comments

Mark DSouza · February 27, 2018 at 1:19 am

Nice post Viveena! This is now on my bucket list.

    Viveena Rodrigues · February 27, 2018 at 5:52 am

    Thanks Mark. It’s a gorgeous place to include in your travel list.

Susannah · January 30, 2018 at 3:56 pm

I’m dying to go!!! It all looks amazing. We love authentic Belgian leige waffles, so I’d love to have those, too!

Emily · January 29, 2018 at 12:38 am

Love your photos. Brussels looks amazing!

Jareena · January 28, 2018 at 10:08 pm

We loved Belgium as well! We visited that same Beer Museum but when we went inside there was literally no one there. No other visitors…no employees…not even a security guard or something. Doors wide open but absolutely no one inside! So we left! It was a bummer because it looked cool inside. Lovely post! I enjoyed it 🙂

Sarah Dean · January 26, 2018 at 11:44 am

Lovely photos! Looks like you stayed in a gorgeous place too. I really loved Brussels – would be great to go back!

Marc Schmidt · January 25, 2018 at 9:07 pm

Your photography skills are amazing. It really captures the beauty of Brussels. I will definitely need to put this on my list of places to go someday!

Agness of Fit Travelling · January 24, 2018 at 5:49 pm

Brussels is really astonishing and your pictures are the proof for that, Viveena! I am so in love with this place. 😉

Stephanie · January 24, 2018 at 5:37 pm

Oooh that waffle looks delicious. I’ve never been to Belgium but my grandmother’s sisters and brothers still live there. It looks like it would be a fun trip.

Synz · January 24, 2018 at 9:05 am

I visit Brussels last year when I went for a road trip in Europe. We had a quick stop in the Atomium and tried to go inside Mini Europe, but it was raining. So, we just head back to the car and head to France. Your post makes me regret not spending more time in Brussels.

Bryan Carey · January 23, 2018 at 7:27 pm

So many cool things going on in Belgium. I think a visit to one of the Trappist breweries would rank at the top of my list.

Nicole Calvert · January 23, 2018 at 6:51 pm

I love your style! Staying in the country instead of the city is a great idea! The best of both worlds! That’s definitely my style of travel! Great read with wonderful pictures!

Taryn · January 23, 2018 at 4:54 pm

Your time in Brussels looks so lovely. Such a beautiful city, and I loved the cottage you stayed in, too.

Janey · January 21, 2018 at 9:48 am

Great post!! You made me realise how many more places I missed seeing when we were there… now I need to plan a trip back!! That mini Europe sounds so cool!!
J xx

Janey · January 20, 2018 at 11:30 pm

Oh wow!! Your post made me realise how much we missed when we went to Brussels!! I am totally going back!! 🙂 great post!! Xx

Lindsey · January 18, 2018 at 10:04 pm

Oh my gosh, Brussels is so beautiful! Your post makes me want to hop on a plane to there this instant!

Kymmie · January 18, 2018 at 12:03 pm

Such a beautiful place. Your pictures really capture the essence of Brussels. It looks like a nice place to check out!

Sajid · January 18, 2018 at 10:37 am

Beautifully captured Viv. Makes me wanna pack. 🙂

Emily · January 17, 2018 at 5:45 pm

Love your photos. Brussels looks like an amazing place!

lonielle · January 17, 2018 at 5:19 pm

Looks like it was a wonderful trip! I love love love the pictures of the city center!

Ashika · January 17, 2018 at 2:52 pm

Such an amazing post & beautiful photography. Loved the cottage u stayed in and the lovely city. Keep exploring new places to guide us further. God bless.

    Viveena Rodrigues · January 18, 2018 at 2:38 pm

    Thanks Ash. Love your good reviews on the post . Stay tuned for more .

Gillian · January 17, 2018 at 2:49 pm

So beautifully captured Viv.. each word and picture brings alive the place so vividly.. thanks you I am traveling through your eyes 🙂

    Viveena Rodrigues · January 18, 2018 at 2:34 pm

    It’s a pleasure Gill … putting together and presenting these travel posts . I’m happy when I get such nice reviews .

Libby · January 17, 2018 at 2:34 pm

It looks like such a beautiful place, I’d love to get there in the future

Deborah Regen · January 17, 2018 at 1:32 pm

What a fabulous place to stay in the country, that cabin is so beautiful and perfect in its natural setting. I would have a hard time leaving! Like many people I associate Belgium with chocolates and waffles, but now I have your trip images to think on as well.

Angelica · January 17, 2018 at 1:24 pm

Gorgeous photos. I can’t wait to visit Brussels!

Deborah Regen · January 17, 2018 at 12:21 pm

You hit the jackpot with that cabin rental, so perfect for a stay in the country and so pretty in and of itself. Like many people, I associate Belgium with chocolates and waffles (they make some nice beers too), but now I also have your photo images in mind.

Kaitlyn · January 16, 2018 at 11:20 pm

Everything looks so beautiful! Definitely deserves a spot on my travel bucket list! Thanks for sharing. 🙂

Nina | Lemons and Luggage · January 16, 2018 at 8:24 pm

Wow, the city looks so much more beautiful in the summer even! And your Airbnb is just lovely.
I guess I’ll have to go back one day for the Atomium after hearing your explanations. 🙂

Justine · January 16, 2018 at 7:03 pm

Great post! I’ve only been to Brussels as a child. so with these tips I look forward to going again 😉

    Viveena Rodrigues · January 16, 2018 at 7:06 pm

    Hey Justine ,
    Wishing you do make it there again & rediscover the city .

Allyson · January 16, 2018 at 5:38 pm

Wow! Some beautiful pictures! I have Belgium on my bucket list for sure! 🙂

Arun · January 16, 2018 at 4:40 am

Looks fantastic! I have heard a lot about Brussels! Your post has sold it for me!!

    Viveena Rodrigues · January 16, 2018 at 10:07 am

    Thanks Arun . Wishing you a lovely trip whenever you make it there

Kate K. · January 15, 2018 at 3:14 pm

I visited Brussels a few years ago but didn’t like it very much because all I did was stay in the city center. Maybe if I had visited the countryside too, like you did, I would have had a better view of the city!

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