A Festive Weekend In Brussels

Peeing statues, Christmas markets, waffle eating, and sightseeing

One thing I really miss about living in London is being able to hop on the Eurostar and visit nearby countries.

This was something I took advantage of the most recent time I was back in the UK. My mother and I decided to go to Brussels during the lead-up to Christmas to check out the markets and soak up the festive European vibe.

The journey from London to Brussels took roughly 2 hours. That actually seems like no time at all when I think about it now.

The first obvious thing to do when visiting another country is to check out its famous landmarks.

We visited the Parc du Cinquantenaire and the Royal Palace of Brussels which are must-see spots in the city and are beautiful historic architectural sites.

We also checked out the Atomium which is a contemporary steel sculpture that is also a popular site and definitely worth visiting.

Another popular site with tourists is the Manneken Pis, and it is exactly what it sounds like, a statue taking a piss. They had dressed it up to fit the Christmas theme this time around hence the outfit being donned.

We also visited the Royal Gallery of St Hubert which looks so beautiful and luxurious inside. I liked how there were modern shops within this antique building, weaving together both the old and the new.

You can’t go to Brussels without indulging in the food and beer.

Belgium is famously known for its chocolate, waffles, and double-fried fries. So if you are planning a trip here I would go with a huge appetite.

I made sure I ate at least one waffle a day, to be honest, it was probably more, but I have no regrets.

If you didn’t binge on waffles did you even go to Belgium?

One of the things I was really excited to check out was the Bavarian-style Christmas markets Brussels had to offer.

There were quite a few markets scattered around the city and they were all extremely busy as you can imagine for that time of year.

Despite it being so packed, it was worth visiting and there was a sense of excitement and festive cheer in the air.

Grand Place is a famous square in the city of Brussels and they had the biggest Christmas tree I have ever seen.

In the evenings there would be a light show, where the buildings would be illuminated with stunning coloured lights whilst the tree sparkled with a soundtrack of music; it was a really fantastic spectacle to witness and it felt magical.

I only spent 3 days in Brussels but I felt like that definitely enough time to see take in the sites, enjoy the food and explore the city.

Brussels like many other European cities encapsulates its history and has carried it through to the modern era and this is so evident in the architecture and the way that the city has been preserved.

I highly recommend visiting Brussels, it was truly magical visiting during the holiday period, but I know that it is a place that can be enjoyed all year round.