1-Day Belgium Trip 🇧🇪: A Walking Tour of Brussels

During a business trip break, I recently watched Viva La Romance featuring Arnold’s Belgian hometown—so I decided to spend my free day exploring nearby Brussels 🎬! 🚄 Getting There I left Amsterdam Central Station in the morning and arrived at Brussels Midi Station in less than 2 hours—super convenient 🚂! 🚶🏻‍♀️ 7-Spot Walking Itinerary Sablon Church (Église Notre-Dame du Sablon) ⛪️ A 1km+ walk from the station, along the railway. Its 13th-century aisles are Romanesque, while the 15th-century main hall was rebuilt in Gothic style—blending two eras beautifully! Brussels Grand Place 🏰 True to its reputation as the “Heart of Europe,” the surrounding buildings are absolutely stunning. The Town Hall, a medieval Gothic gem, stands out with its 96-meter tower, and the symmetrical architecture looks incredibly exquisite. Manneken Pis 👦 I was lucky enough to catch him in a costume change! He’s indeed tiny, but Brussels’ street murals and other sculptures are also great photo spots 📸. Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert 🛍️ A classic old-style arcade (common in Europe). I wandered around briefly—no need for a long stay, but it’s nice to soak up the vibe. Brussels Royal Palace 🏛️ From the palace, you can overlook the entire city! The square next to it is a high point of the old town, and nearby spots include the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, the Musical Instrument Museum, and the BELvue Museum 🎨. Belgian Comic Strip Center 📚 It’s almost a 2km walk, but so worth it—after all, it’s home to childhood favorites like Tintin and the Smurfs! Nostalgia hit hard here 😊. St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral ⛪️ Brussels’ largest and most important cathedral—it’s even where Belgian kings get married! Best of all, admission is free 🆓. 🌟 Final Touch Before taking the train back to Amsterdam, I stopped to see the Town Hall at night. It looked even more beautiful with the lights on 🌃! 🌈 Overall, Brussels is pretty compact—all attractions are within walking distance, just 6-10 minutes apart. Perfect for a day of exploring! #Belgium #BrusselsTravel #EuropeDayTrip #AmsterdamSurroundings #TravelShare #VivaLaRomance