Brussels: Historic Charm and Vibrant Nightlife



After visiting Amsterdam for a few days our next stop was Belgium’s capital, Brussels where I had the chance to explore some of its most iconic landmarks, enjoy delicious food, and experience the lively nightlife. 

One of the most memorable sights was Grand Place, Brussels' breath-taking central square. After arriving in the late afternoon, our first view of the square was at night whilst searching for somewhere to eat. As we came round the corner in to the square we were shocked at how beautiful and lively it was. Surrounded by the town hall and the Maison du Roi, the intricate architecture was even more mesmerising when lit up at night. I would recommend visiting the square during the day and night as it completely transforms. 


The next day, we took a 20 minute tram to just outside the city centre where to the Atomium, an iconic modern structure which we learnt was created for the 1958 World Expo. It is shaped like an atom joining 9 spheres together which you can explore inside of. There were many exhibits inside that explained the history of the building and the city and as you went higher up each sphere, there were amazing views across the city. My favourite part were the futuristic light displays in the tunnels between each of the rooms, it was such a unique experience. 



For lunch after returning we discovered an Italian restaurant that was popular online called Nona, where ended up being one of the best pasta dishes we had ever had. It was right in the city centre and offered a small but delicious menu. I got the pesto di spinaci and my friend got the beef ragu which were both amazing. We tried some of their homemade lemonade which was also incredible, I would definitely recommend giving it a visit. 


Our final activity on the Saturday night was an organised pub crawl through the city. We booked out tickets on the website and met the guides in the Grand Place square at 10pm. We were then taken around 4 different bars and met people from all across the world. It was such a great way to enjoy the nightlife of a city we hadn't been to before and I would highly recommend to anyone. 


My time in Brussels was a great end to the trip and I would definitely recommend visiting for a day or two as that is all you need to explore the city. The historic architecture makes it feel like you are in a fairy-tale and combined with the lively nightlife, it made for a great city break.  

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