Celebrating 9 years of Friendship in Brussels

Me and Claire celebrated our 9 years of friendship since meeting at University by organising a little get away to Brussels for 3 days.

Accomodation: Craves Hotel - https://craves-hotel.com/

We found this hotel to be the perfect place for our stay and it's super cute, as you enter the main reception area you see the restaurant and the bar / reception area all lit up with delicate and vibey lighting.

As you enter the lift, it's almost like something out of a Hufflepuff common room in Harry Potter, there are leafy vines everywhere and lit up with an amber glow.

As you leave the lift, each floor have different themes, and the rooms are super niche, clean and cosy, perfect for your stay in the heart of Brussels.

Flight Route: Manchester > Brussels Chaleroi

Getting into Brussels from the Airport

Charleroi Airport is an hour outside of Brussels centre, however, there are shuttle buses that run from the airport into central Brussels operated by Fibco which run every 30 minutes to 1 hour and the tickets weren't even that expensive at 14 euros each way going directly from the airport to Midi Station.

What did we choose to go and see?

Brussels is a small and very walkable city, and to see as much of the city as possible, we decided to just walk everywhere to takre in the gorgeous city and what it had to offer racking up around 50,000 steps across the 3 days.

Some of the highlights included;

Grand Place

Grand Place (also known as Grote Markt in Flemish/Dutch) is Brussels’ main city square, and definitely the most famous spot in the city. With cobblestones on the ground and traditional, ornate buildings surrounding all four sides of the square, Grand Place is celebrated for its beauty and is even listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 At Grand Place, you’ll find the Brussels Town Hall and the city museum. The other buildings around the square are historic guildhalls and private houses that have now been converted into various shops, dining places, and museums. Grand Place is always bustling with activity, and it’s fun to grab a coffee or a Belgian beer and watch the world go by in one of the most beautiful city squares in the world.

Choco Story Brussels

The Brussels choco story takes you on a journey back in time from how Brussels developed their name in some of the best made chocolate in the world.

Saint Michael and Gudula Cathedral

This gothic cathedral was given cathedral status in 1962 and the patron saints Michael and Gudula are also the patrons of the city of Brussels, which is where the cathedral is located.

Its history goes as back as the 9th or even the 8th century, when sources believe that a chapel was built to honour St. Michael on the Treurenberg Hill. However, two centuries later, Duke of Brabant, Lambert II had a Romanesque church built in its place. In 1047, the relics of the martyr St. Gudula were transported here from the Saint Gaugericus Church on Saint-Géry Island and thus the cathedral became of two patron saints: Michael and Gudula and so did the city of Brussels.

Brussels Botanical Garden & Cinquantenaire Park

Walking around these gorgeous gardens offers picturesque oppurtunities to take the most perfect photos with the grand place in the background surrounded by flowers, a lake and fountains as you take in the breathless landscape.

Atomium

Up in the north of Brussels is the Atomium, a huge steel atom structure that is both an iconic landmark and the most popular museum in the city. The Atomium was built for the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair and was so popular that they decided to keep it standing – initially it was only meant to be there for six months! The structure of the Atomium represents the molecular structure of an atom, hence the name.

Unbelievably, there is a museum inside the spheres of the Atomium, and the connectors have escalators to move between the spheres. The museum is mainly dedicated to telling the story of the Atomium, and there is usually a temporary exhibition running as well. From the top sphere, you can look out over Brussels from the viewing deck, and there’s even a restaurant if you’re looking for a really special experience.

The Mannequin Pis

The most celebrated statue in all of Belgium is the Manneken Pis, a tiny fountain statue of a little boy peeing. He is well-loved by the Belgians and has come to be a mascot of the unique and culturally rich Belgian life.

Belgian Chocolate Workshop Experience

On our final day in Brussels before our flight home, we decided to take part in an authentic belgian chocolate making experience making a our very own box of garnesh truffles. Needless to say we both enjoyed ourselves in the process, talking to our fellow bakers and even received some smooth and delicious hot chocolate.

Dining Out

Woodpecker 47 Cafe - Woodpecker 47, Rue du Marché aux Poulets 47, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

Eight Rooftop Bar - The Eight Rooftop Cocktail Bar, Rue du Midi 135, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

Austrlian Waffles

Glacier Bargello - Ice Cream