Known mainly for being the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union, Brussels is much more than just a political and economic centre. It is a city that serves as a melting pot of cultures, one that is bilingual, consisting mainly of French and Dutch (Flemish) speakers. There is an abundance of things to do in this city and if you think of something you want to do the chances are you can in Brussels. This post details just four of the best.
The Atomium
An iconic monument, the Atomium represents the shape of a unit cell of an iron crystal, if it were magnified 165 billion times. Built for the Brussels World Fair in 1958, this incredible structure has become one of the most visited monuments in all of Europe. Not simply a structure but a combination of tunnels and halls, the Atomium also offers space that houses both permanent and temporary exhibitions. If you are travelling with family, you’ll be pleased to know that one of the spheres is dedicated to children and invites you and your child to spend the night at the Atomium and offers the opportunities to see the whole of Brussels from its spheres.
Bozar
Bozar or what otherwise known as The Centre for Fine Arts was created in 1928 by Victor Horta and is an architectural masterpiece. Not only that but is the heart of arts and culture in Brussels and houses a 2200 seater concert hall, various exhibition rooms, theatre halls and multimedia rooms. The place to go for the best in theatre, dance, music, film, art and literature, Bozar has an extensive calendar of performances, lectures and exhibitions. No trip to Brussels would be complete with out a visit to this cultural hub.
Mini-Europe
If you don’t have time to travel all over Europe then this five-acre theme park consisting of miniature reproductions of all the main tourist sites in Europe could be the answer to your prayers. Not just one for the children, this incredible park is fascinating for adults too. From the leaning tower of Pisa to the famous Bull Rink of Seville, you will certainly be awed by the care and detail present in these replicas of world-famous monuments and sights.
Comic Books
Brussels is Heaven for comic book lovers, with around 700 comic book authors living in Belgium, Brussels boasts an impressive array of comic book art in varying forms. This includes a number of murals around the city, The Belgium Comic Strip Centre, where you can trace the origins of Tin Tin and the Smurfs as read as many comics you want in the Reading Room.
Brussels is a city of hidden gems and the four listed here are just to give you a flavour of what this incredible city has to offer, when you can get a train and hotel for under £100, what excuse is there for not making this your next destination for a city break?
