Belgian Delights: History, Chocolate, and Iconic Landmarks

Belgium • 8 days
bridge during night time
Photo by Léonard Cotte on Unsplash
Outbound United Airlines UA970 05:30 PM → 07:15 AM Google Flights
Return United Airlines UA971 01:00 PM → 03:30 PM Google Flights
United Airlines
DAY 1
In-flight
Washington DC → Brussels
DAY 1 Washington DC → Brussels
Day 1 • Flight Washington DC (IAD) → Brussels (BRU)
United Airlines UA970 05:30 PM → 07:15 AM 7h 45m Evening
Belgique - Bruxelles - Brussels Hilton (The Hotel) - architecte Henri Montois (1967) ⟳
Check-in
Central hotel in Brussels
Hotel
DAY 1 . Fri(Jul 10)
Afternoon
Under 3h
+
Main Terminal of Washington Dulles International Airport at dusk in Virginia, USA.
Arrive at Washington DC (IAD) (IAD)
2h Airport
Evening
Over 2h 45m
+
United Airlines ⟳
+
In-flight
7h 45m Flight
Transport
Main Terminal of Washington Dulles International Airport at dusk in Virginia, USA.
DAY 2
Depart for Brussels . Grand Place . Manneken Pis
Washington DC (Departure), United States → Brussels (Arrival), Belgium
DAY 2 Washington DC (Departure), United States → Brussels (Arrival), Belgium
Transit
Day 2 • Flight Washington DC (Departure), United States → Brussels (Arrival), Belgium
Morning
Brussel hotel amigo.jpg ⟳
Hotel Amigo
4.7 Hotel
Bumped
Le Pain Quotidien
35m 4.4 Cafe
DAY 2 . Sat(Jul 11)
Morning
Under 2h
+
Aircraft of Brussels Airlines, Ryanair, Etihad, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Aer Lingus and United docked at Pier B (non-Schengen flights) of Zaventem airport, Brussels (BRU).
Airport: Brussels Airport
1h Flight
Transport
Taxi/uber 21 mi / 34 km
45m Transport
Hôtel Amigo (Bruxelles), décembre 2019.
+
Check-in to Hotel Amigo
1h 15m 4.7 Hotel
Afternoon
Over 6h 21m
+
Ceramic and marble wall, in the Fin de Siècle Museum.jpg ⟳
+
Lunch
Fin de Siècle
1h 4.5 Restaurant
Transport
Drive 3 mi / 48 km
45m Transport
Main Terminal of Washington Dulles International Airport at dusk in Virginia, USA. ⟳
+
Depart for Brussels
3h Airport
Transport
Uber 7 mi / 11 km
20m Transport
Night view of some of the buildings in Grand-Place, central square of Brussels, Belgium. From left to right: Maison du Mont Thabor (nr. 12, rebuilt in 1699 and restored in 1885), Maison de la Rose or "The Rose" (nr. 11, rebuilt in 1702 and restored in 1901), L'Arbre d'Or or "The Golden Tree" (nr. 10, built in 1696 and restored in 1901), Le Cygne or the "Swan House" (nr. 9, rebuilt in 1698 and restored between 1896 and 1904) and L'Étoile or "The Star" (nr. 8, rebuilt in 1695 and 1897). ⟳
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Grand Place
2h 4.8 Historic Site
Transport
Walk 0.5 mi / 0.8 km
10m Transport
Manneken Pis in Brussels, Belgium. The original bronze statue was created by Jerome Duquesnoy, 1619. The one exhibited at the junction of Rue de l'Étuve/Stoofstraat and Rue du Chêne/Eikstraat is a replica from 1965, the original being preserved in the Brussels City Museum. ⟳
+
Manneken Pis
1h 4.3 Historic Site
Transport
Walk 0.3 mi / 0.48 km
6m Transport
⟳
+
Belgian Chocolate Tasting
1h 30m 4.7 Food Experience
Transport
Walk 0.7 mi / 1.1 km
15m Transport
The Royal Palace of Brussels. ⟳
+
Royal Palace of Brussels
1h 15m 4.5 Historic Site
Evening
Under 2h 7m
+
⟳
+
Dinner
Nüetnigenough
1h 15m 4.6 Restaurant
Transport
Walk 0.4 mi / 0.64 km
8m Transport
Galeries royales Saint-Hubert, Brussels, Belgium ⟳
+
Explore the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert
1h 30m 4.6 Shopping Arcade
Transport
Bumped
Le Pain Quotidien
35m 4.4 Cafe
Atomium, Brussels, Belgium
DAY 3
Atomium . Mini-Europe . Belgian Comic Strip Center
Brussels, Belgium
DAY 3 Brussels, Belgium
Hôtel Amigo (Bruxelles), décembre 2019. ⟳
Hotel Amigo
4.7 Hotel
DAY 3 . Sun(Jul 12)
Morning
Under 55m
+
Godiva @ Brussels, Grand Place 21-22 ⟳
+
Breakfast
Chocolatier Godiva
35m 4.5 Cafe
Transport
Metro 5 mi / 8 km
25m Transport
Atomium, Brussels, Belgium ⟳
+
Atomium
2h 4.4 Landmark
Transport
Walk 0.2 mi / 0.32 km
5m Transport
Mini-Europe @ Brussels ⟳
+
Mini-Europe
1h 4.3 Theme Park
Afternoon
Under 50m
+
marrakesh resto ⟳
+
Lunch
Resto
1h 4.2 Restaurant
Transport
Metro 4 mi / 6.4 km
20m Transport
Belgium Comic Strips Center, Brussels ⟳
+
Belgian Comic Strip Center
1h 30m 4.5 Museum
Transport
Walk 1 mi / 1.6 km
20m Transport
Rue des Bouchers Beenhouwersstraat, Brussels - 2005 ⟳
+
Rue des Bouchers
1h 4.0 Street
Evening
Under 2h 18m
+
La devanture du restaurant Chez Léon à Bruxelles ⟳
+
Dinner
Chez Léon
1h 15m 4.4 Restaurant
Transport
Walk 0.6 mi / 0.97 km
12m Transport
This is a photo of a monument in Brussels, number: ⟳
+
Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)
1h 15m 4.6 Museum
Transport
Victor Horta Museum, Brussels, Belgium. The Horta museum includes the 3 houses to the right of the green tree. The leftmost, a design by architect Jules Brunfaut, is a 2012 extension, and serves as a public entrance. The 2nd from the left is the actual home of V. Horta, the rightmost house includes the studios and office.
DAY 4
Horta Museum . Saint-Gilles neighborhood exploration . European Parliament (Parlamentarium)
Brussels, Belgium
DAY 4 Brussels, Belgium
Hôtel Amigo (Bruxelles), décembre 2019. ⟳
Hotel Amigo
4.7 Hotel
DAY 4 . Mon(Jul 13)
Morning
Under 1h 15m
+
King of the Bakery ⟳
+
Breakfast
Boulangerie Pâtisserie
35m 4.3 Bakery
Victor Horta Museum, Brussels, Belgium. The Horta museum includes the 3 houses to the right of the green tree. The leftmost, a design by architect Jules Brunfaut, is a 2012 extension, and serves as a public entrance. The 2nd from the left is the actual home of V. Horta, the rightmost house includes the studios and office. ⟳
+
Horta Museum
2h 4.6 Museum
Transport
Walk 0.5 mi / 0.8 km
10m Transport
⟳
+
Saint-Gilles neighborhood exploration
1h 4.5 Neighborhood
Afternoon
Under 1h
+
Les couvéristes dans la cour de l'orfèvrerie-joaillerie Wolfers en 1880 ⟳
+
Lunch
Le Wolf
1h 4.4 Food Hall
Transport
Metro 3 mi / 4.8 km
15m Transport
European Parliament Library - Brussels Reading Room Francisco Lucas Pires: MEP books collection ⟳
+
European Parliament (Parlamentarium)
1h 30m 4.3 Museum
Transport
Walk 0.8 mi / 1.3 km
15m Transport
Brussels (Belgium): the Cinquantenaire Park ⟳
+
Parc du Cinquantenaire
1h 4.5 Park
Evening
Under 2h 10m
+
La Roue d'Or, rue des Chapeliers à Bruxelles. ⟳
+
Dinner
La Roue d'Or
1h 15m 4.4 Restaurant
Transport
Walk 1 mi / 1.6 km
20m Transport
This photo of immovable heritage has been taken in the Brussels Capital Region ⟳
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Mont des Arts (Hill of the Arts)
1h 15m 4.7 Viewpoint
Transport
Three people posing in front of the Brussels City Museum while Grand Place is unusually empty because of the COVID-19 pandemic
DAY 5
Museum of the City of Brussels . Sablon Antiques Market (if weekend) . Magritte Museum
Brussels, Belgium
DAY 5 Brussels, Belgium
Hôtel Amigo (Bruxelles), décembre 2019. ⟳
Hotel Amigo
4.7 Hotel
DAY 5 . Tue(Jul 14)
Morning
Under 1h 5m
+
Magasin Dandoy, rue au Beurre, Brussels ⟳
+
Breakfast
Maison Dandoy
35m 4.6 Bakery
Transport
Walk 0.2 mi / 0.32 km
5m Transport
Three people posing in front of the Brussels City Museum while Grand Place is unusually empty because of the COVID-19 pandemic ⟳
+
Museum of the City of Brussels
2h 4.3 Museum
Transport
Walk 0.7 mi / 1.1 km
15m Transport
Antique dealers, chocolate stores and confectioners. Today, the Sablon district of Brussels is especially known for the antique market which is held every weekend and for the numerous antique dealers who settled down in the area. A more recent phenomenon is the opening of Belgian chocolate and confectionery stores. ⟳
+
Sablon Antiques Market (if weekend)
1h 4.5 Market
Afternoon
Under 1h 12m
+
⟳
+
Lunch
Le Marmiton
1h 4.5 Restaurant
Transport
Walk 0.5 mi / 0.8 km
10m Transport
Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Belgium, Brussels. Installation of the new Magritte-Museum 2008/09 ⟳
+
Magritte Museum
1h 30m 4.6 Museum
Transport
Walk 0.4 mi / 0.64 km
8m Transport
Coupole du Palais de justice de Bruxelles vue depuis le grand hall d'entrée. ⟳
+
Palais de Justice
1h 4.3 Landmark
Evening
Under 2h 20m
+
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, during the photography session in Atelier de moulage of Musée du Cinquantenaire, during Wiki Loves Art, Brussels, Belgium ⟳
+
Dinner
Amadeus
1h 15m 4.5 Restaurant
Transport
Walk 0.5 mi / 0.8 km
10m Transport
Marinated Hangar Steak with Fritters & Roasted Brussels Sprouts. I don't know what the marinade consisted of (could it have been beer?) but the steak was tinder and exploding with taste. ⟳
+
Belgian Beer Tasting
1h 15m 4.5 Bar
Transport
Here is an hdr photograph taken from Bruges City Hall. Located in Bruges, Belgium. (Taken with kind permission of the administration)
DAY 6
Day trip to Bruges (optional) . Canal Tour in Bruges . Explore Bruges Markt and Belfry
Brussels, Belgium
DAY 6 Brussels, Belgium
Hôtel Amigo (Bruxelles), décembre 2019. ⟳
Hotel Amigo
4.7 Hotel
DAY 6 . Wed(Jul 15)
Morning
Over 15m
+
Some sunny pictures of our first Twicnic at Brussels Airport! Thanks to Exki for the healthy lunch. ⟳
+
Breakfast
EXKi
35m 4.3 Cafe
Transport
Train 6 mi / 97 km
1h Transport
Here is an hdr photograph taken from Bruges City Hall. Located in Bruges, Belgium. (Taken with kind permission of the administration) ⟳
+
Day trip to Bruges (optional)
2h 4.8 City
Transport
Walk 0.5 mi / 0.8 km
10m Transport
Numerous tourists take the canal boats to tour Bruges (2015) ⟳
+
Canal Tour in Bruges
1h 30m 4.6 Activity
Afternoon
Under 1h 16m
+
Bruges, Belgium: Door sign of "De Halve Maan brewery" ⟳
+
Lunch
De Halve Maan Brewery
1h 4.4 Restaurant
Transport
Walk 0.3 mi / 0.48 km
6m Transport
Bruges Markt, statue of Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck in foreground, Belfy Tower in background ⟳
+
Explore Bruges Markt and Belfry
1h 30m 4.7 Historic Site
Transport
Walk 0.4 mi / 0.64 km
8m Transport
In the Choco-Story Chocolate Museum, Huis de Croone, Brugge, Belgium ⟳
+
Choco-Story Bruges
1h 4.3 Museum
Evening
Under 2h 20m
+
Royal. Rue Ravenstein The Centre for Fine Arts (BOZAR). Arch. Victor Horta 1922-29. The restaurant. ⟳
+
Dinner
Return to Brussels and dine
1h 15m 4.5 Restaurant
Transport
Walk 0.5 mi / 0.8 km
10m Transport
Brussels - Albert premetro station The Albert premetro station is an underground tram station located at the border between the municipalities of Saint-Gilles and Forest in Brussels, Belgium. The station is at the crossroad between the Avenue Albert/Albertlaan on the greater ring road and the Chaussée d'Alsemberg/Alsembergsesteenweg between the Forest park and the Saint-Gilles prison. The station is the last stop south of the North-South Axis, a tram tunnel crossing Brussels city center from Albert to the Brussels-North railway station. It is on tram routes 3 and 4 and evening route 33. There is a connection at ground level with tram route 51 as well as bus routes 48 and 54. ⟳
+
Evening stroll in Brussels
1h 15m 4.5 Neighborhood
Transport
Train World, Brussels
DAY 7
Train World . Jubelpark Museum (Parc du Cinquantenaire) . Atomium (revisit or explore surroundings)
Brussels, Belgium
DAY 7 Brussels, Belgium
Hôtel Amigo (Bruxelles), décembre 2019. ⟳
Hotel Amigo
4.7 Hotel
DAY 7 . Thu(Jul 16)
Morning
Under 50m
+
⟳
+
Breakfast
The Coffee Club
35m 4.3 Cafe
Transport
Train 3 mi / 4.8 km
15m Transport
Train World, Brussels ⟳
+
Train World
2h 4.6 Museum
Transport
Metro 4 mi / 6.4 km
20m Transport
Jubelpark (Dutch for "Jubilee Park") or Parc du Cinquantenaire (French for "Park of the Fiftieth", is a large public, urban park (30 hectares) in the easternmost part of the European Quarter in Brussels, Belgium. Most buildings of the U-shaped complex which dominate the park, were commissioned by King Leopold II and built for the 1880 National Exhibition commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of Belgian independence. The centrepiece triumphal arch was erected in 1905. The structures were built in iron, glass and stone, symbolising the economic and industrial performance of Belgium. The surrounding 30 hectare park esplanade was full of picturesque gardens, ponds and waterfalls. It housed several trade fairs, exhibitions and festivals at the beginning of the century. This settled however in 1930 when it was decided that Cinquantenaire would become a leisure park. The Royal Military Museum has been the sole tenant of the northern half of the complex since 1880. The southern half is currently occupied by the Cinquantenaire Art Museum and the AutoWorld Museum. The Temple of Human Passions, a remainder from 1886, and the Great Mosque of Brussels from 1978 are located in the north-western corner of the park. Line 1 of the Brussels Metro and the Belliard Tunnel from Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat pass underneath the park, the latter partly in an open section in front of the Arch. The nearest metro stations are Schuman to the west of the park, and Mérode immediately to the east. ⟳
+
Jubelpark Museum (Parc du Cinquantenaire)
1h 4.4 Museum
Afternoon
Under 50m
+
Brussel sprouts (spruitjes) ⟳
+
Lunch
Le Chou de Bruxelles
1h 4.5 Restaurant
Transport
Metro 5 mi / 8 km
25m Transport
Atomium, Brussels, Belgium ⟳
+
Atomium (revisit or explore surroundings)
1h 30m 4.4 Landmark
Transport
Walk
15m Transport
This photo of immovable heritage has been taken in the Brussels Capital Region ⟳
+
Tour & Taxis
1h 4.3 Cultural Hub
Evening
Under 2h 20m
+
⟳
+
Dinner
Comme Chez Soi
1h 15m 4.7 Restaurant
Transport
Walk 0.5 mi / 0.8 km
10m Transport
This is a photo of a monument in Brussels, number: ⟳
+
Evening walk around Sainte-Catherine
1h 15m 4.5 Neighborhood
Transport
United Airlines
DAY 8
In-flight . Depart for Washington DC
Brussels → Washington DC
DAY 8 Brussels → Washington DC
Day 8 • Flight Brussels (BRU) → Washington DC (IAD)
United Airlines UA971 01:00 PM → 03:30 PM 7h 30m Afternoon
Egout.hotel.Tremoille.Paris.png ⟳
Check-out
Find your Hotel
Stay
DAY 8 . Fri(Jul 17)
Morning
Under 2h 25m
+
⟳
+
Breakfast
Quick Bite near Hotel
35m 4.0 Cafe
Aircraft of Brussels Airlines, Ryanair, Etihad, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Aer Lingus and United docked at Pier B (non-Schengen flights) of Zaventem airport, Brussels (BRU).
Arrive at Brussels (BRU) (BRU)
2h Airport
Afternoon
Over 3h 30m
+
United Airlines ⟳
+
In-flight
7h 30m Flight
Main Terminal of Washington Dulles International Airport at dusk in Virginia, USA.
Airport: Washington Dulles International Airport
1h Flight
Evening
Under 1h 40m
+
Transport
Uber 7 mi / 11 km
20m Transport
Aircraft of Brussels Airlines, Ryanair, Etihad, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Aer Lingus and United docked at Pier B (non-Schengen flights) of Zaventem airport, Brussels (BRU). ⟳
+
Depart for Washington DC
3h Airport
Transport