For most Americans, Brussels is not a top-tier European destination. Heck, Belgium as a whole often gets completely skipped over. But while Brussels does not have the volume of sights as a city like London, Rome, or Paris, or the allure of Barcelona or Amsterdam, it is a truly incredible city. Consider, for instance, that…
Sitting roughly halfway between Brussels and Amsterdam, Antwerp, Belgium’s largest city (although Brussels is the much bigger metro area) and one of Europe’s highest volume ports, is a fairly easy day trip from either one. Or you can spend a night (or two) and have a bit longer. But other than being a big city…
My trip to Belgium has been in the works for years. My sister-in-law is a big fan of craft beers (don’t confuse that with a big drinker; I had to offer the disclaimer since my statement read funny to me) and has long said that Belgium has the best beer in the world. (You can…
Of my ten days in Belgium, this was the one I was looking forward to most. Bruges is said to be one of the prettiest and best preserved medieval cities in Europe, let alone in this small country. Formerly an important port city, made rich by merchants, and now mainly a tourist destination, Bruges seems…
While Germany is most closely associated with beer, it seems a large percentage of top European beers are, in fact, not from Germany at all. Some are from the Czech Republic, and a lot are from here, Belgium. In fact, Belgian beer is so good that in 2016 it was declared a UNESCO cultural heritage…
It can be said that the best time to be Brussels is now. Yes, the city has an incredible historic center, anchored around the stunningly beautiful Grand Place (click to read more about Grand Place and historic Brussels). Yes, the city dates back centuries. And yes, this is the capital of Belgium, with all the…
Normally, I am a planner when it comes to my travel. Whether I spend a month in a place, or a day, or just a few hours, I am fairly meticulous with my research. I have a list of things I might want to see - the list is always more than I’ll get to,…
When I write about a place I visit, it is helpful both from a personal perspective and a narrative one to have a single experience that defines a destination. It helps me to tie a place to a sight, smell, or just an emotional feeling. After all, sometimes cities - and even countries - blend…
Let me start by saying that intra-European flights are among my least favorite ways to travel. I much prefer trains, and tend to plan my trips to have reasonably short distances between stops, ones easily traversed via rail or bus. It’s cheaper and more convenient, liquids are acceptable to bring (as is whatever weight my…
Before Covid, I was fortunate enough to get my German citizenship. While at this point I have no intention of moving to Europe, the immediate benefit is not being subject to normal visa rules for Americans visiting Europe. So this will end up being my longest Europe trip, at three and a half months. (That…