Why I love it: Brussels is one of Europe's most wildly underrated capitals. It perfectly blends grand, historic fairy-tale architecture with a gritty, cool, comic-book-loving comic culture—plus, it is hands-down the best culinary weekend getaway on the continent.
Why You Need to Visit:
The World's Most Beautiful Square: The Grand Place (Grote Markt) is a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site ringed by 14th-century opulent guild houses. It feels completely magical, especially when it lights up right as the sun goes down.
A Foodie’s Paradise: Forget dieting here. Brussels is famous for the holy trinity of comfort food: thick, crispy Belgian fries (traditionally double-fried in beef tallow), massive Liège waffles caramelized with pearl sugar, and world-class handmade pralines from historic chocolatiers like Neuhaus or Pierre Marcolini.
The Beer Culture is Legendary: From centuries-old "brown pubs" like A La Mort Subite to the sprawling Delirium Café (which holds the world record with over 2,000 beers on the menu), the local Lambics and Trappist dubbels are unmatched.
Comic Strips & Art Nouveau: Look up while walking! The city treats comic books as a serious fine art. There is a famous Comic Book Route featuring over 60 massive street-art murals of Tintin, the Smurfs, and others painted directly onto the sides of city buildings.
