1. EAT A WAFFLE AS FIRST THING IN THE MORNING

There is no better start of the morning than a waffle filled with ice cream and chocolate, or whatever you want. If there is one thing typical of Brussels (or rather, of Belgium) on which an entire industry has been built, that thing is the waffle. For those who do not know what they are, waffles, or Gaufres (depending on the language in which you choose to pronounce it, English or French) are crispy waffles outside and soft inside cooked on “grilled” plates that give them that original “grated” surface. There are all kinds, from the simplest ones, with a sprinkling of icing sugar and that’s it, to the richer and more stuffed ones, of chocolate, fruit, ice cream, etc … in Brussels waffles are popular everywhere, in every corner you can stop and taste one. I have tried a very good place to taste them, very typical and not so touristic: a few meters from the Grand Place, the central square, there is a wonderful tea room, which since 1829 has been making the best waffles in the city. Elegant and with an ancient flavor, it makes divine waffles. It is really impossible not to become addicted to the typical Belgian waffle!

2. WALK ALONG THE ROMANTIC CANALS IN BRUGES

Called the Venice of the North, Bruges or Brugge is a wonderful city near the Belgian coast, crisscrossed by a maze of navigable canals that wind their way through fascinating Gothic architecture. With its romantic flower-filled canals, street carriages and charming houses, is one of Europe’s most romantic cities, and is a classic postcard-worthy tourist destination. Picturesque cobbled alleys and enchanting canals connect many charming corners of the city with each other. The city is extremely romantic in the evening, and to fully enjoy its beauty the ideal is to stay at least one night. The things not to be missed in Bruges are the Markt, the market square, the center of Bruges. Here you will find plenty of carriages wandering around the open-air restaurants and charming houses. Taking a carriage ride is a very romantic but also very expensive experience. The square is dominated by the Belfort, the 83-meter tower, and it is totally worth it to climb the 366 steps and see Bruges from above.

3. BELGIAN BEER TASTING

Beer is one of the things that Belgium is famous for all over the world. In a Belgian pub the list of beers can even count over 200 entries. The Belgian beer culture has been declared an intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO. Belgian beer is usually a top-fermented beer, with a sweet and intense body and strong fruity, spicy or floral scents. Often it has a good alcohol content and a nice head of foam. Each beer is served in its own glass, often of a particular shape. Some of the most famous Belgian beers are now exported all over the world (Stella Artois and Leffe), but what cannot be missing in your visit to Belgium is the tasting of a local beer, namely the Trappists produced in the abbeys, the dark “ale” locally produced, and for the more courageous, the pungent lambic, obtained from spontaneous fermentation and often flavored with fruit to make them more palatable. I am not a particular fan of beer but obviously I would not have missed a tasting and a refreshing beer at the end of each day!

4. WALK COMING AND GOING FROM ONE OF THE OPEN-AIR RESTAURANTS IN GRAND PLACE, BRUXELLES

The heart of Brussels is undoubtedly the Grand Place, enchanting both by day and by night. It is the most beautiful and scenic medieval square in Europe, overlooked by the palaces with their golden profiles and the Gothic town hall of the fifteenth century. The cobblestone pavement dates back to the 12th century, when a market was set up in the square: the names of the surrounding alleys still evoke herbs, cheeses and poultry. In August, every two years, the Grand Place is covered with a huge carpet of flowers. About 120 volunteers, in four hours, cover an area of ​​1,800 square meters colored begonias, forming beautiful designs. The event always attracts thousands of tourists; it is spectacular to see a stone square transformed into a sea of ​​flowers for a whole week. In the grand place there are delicious open air restaurants offering aperitifs, the typical mussels with fries, and beer tastings. Every afternoon, after our visits around the country, we stopped here and choose the place that was inspiring us the most, drinking some local beer and watching the comings and goings of people.

5. MAKE YOUR LIFE SWEETER WITH DELICIOUS BELGIAN CHOCOLATE

Belgian chocolate is so good that you could become addicted to it in no time. As if that weren’t enough, there are one shop after another in the center of Brussels and not only, selling chocolates of all kinds and flavors, and offering tastings. On a holiday in Belgium you cannot miss a tasting of one of the best chocolates in the world. The fame of this chocolate was born in the nineteenth century, thanks to master chocolatiers such as Jean Neuhaus, a Swiss pharmacist who emigrated to Brussels. Originally, in fact, chocolate was sold in pharmacies as a remedy for depression and as a fortifier. Neuhaus’s intuition was to wrap the medicines he sold, often with an unpleasant taste, in a mixture of sugar and chocolate. Success was immediate. Belgian chocolate is rigorously prepared with 100% cocoa butter: each city has its own chocolatiers, sophisticated temples of taste where shop assistants with gloves carefully fill boxes with pralines. We immediately identified our favorite chocolate, from Neuhaus, one of the most famous, with salted caramel pralines, and we bought it in industrial quantities, keeping it in the hotel room for a sweet break after every dinner. Really yummy!

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6.IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE MIX OF FASHION AND ART NOUVEAU IN ANTWERP

It is impossible to resist the charm of Antwerp’s architecture. Upon your arrival you will be greeted by a magnificent Central Station, leaving the station your eyes will shine: it is normal, you are in the diamond district where a myriad of shops display precious stones and dazzling gems in captivating shop windows. Then you can explore buildings such as the famous MAS and admire medieval palaces such as the impressive town hall and palaces overlooking the main square. But the most fascinating thing about one of the cities that was already one of the richest cities in Europe in the 16th century are the magnificent art nouveau buildings: ironwork and engraved decorations, colored ceramic tiles, mosaics and stained glass windows, golden asymmetrical ornament, graffiti; these are some of the characteristics of the most particular and typical buildings in Antwerp, such as’ t Bootje, which has an angled balcony that resembles the prow of a ship, or Help U Zelve, decorated with mosaics depicting peasants at work, or the buildings in the Zurenborg district, in wrought iron and colored glass.

7. ADMIRE THE CITY OF GENT FROM THE WATER

If you love the medieval charm of Bruges but are looking for something more original, Gent is a valid alternative. The city of Gent is located at the confluence of the two rivers Leie and Schelda, and like all water cities it has its most popular views. The one preferred by the locals is the Graslei cobblestones. This historic city has beautiful canals, and there are many boats that offer a tour of the canals and will allow you to admire the city from the water. Unfortunately, we only stayed in Gent for one afternoon, but for me it was enough to capture the charm of this city that I really liked very much. The sun illuminates the canals with a romantic orange light, and the bars and restaurants along the banks of the canals begin to fill up. There is nothing more romantic and relaxing than enjoying a drink in one of the delightful riverside cafes at sunset.

8. COME BACK TO THE MIDDLE AGES ENTERING IN THE CASTLES SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE NATION

If you visit Belgium, be prepared to admire many spectacular castles from the medieval era. There are approximately 3,000 castles scattered all over Belgium, from the northern Flanders region all the way to the southern region of Wallonia. Those of Antwerp and Gent stand in the heart of their respective cities, the ruins of Larochette, Bourscheid, Beaufort boast few rivals, while Bouillon, in the Ardennes, is dominated by the remains of a castle that was sold to finance a crusade. Among the French-style chateaux are Modave and Freyr, on the riverside. Namur, Huy and Dinant are also dominated by vast and imposing citadels. Ancient yet ever fascinating, castles remain one of the most dramatic souvenirs from a chaotic yet romantic period in European history. They capture the imagination with stories of bloody battles, chivalry, and courtly romance.

9. FEELING LIKE IN A FAIRYTALE WALKING AMONG THE BLUE FLOWERS IN HALLERBORS FOREST

In Belgium there is a magical forest that every spring makes thousands of visitors dream. It is located just south of Brussels, near the town of Halle, in an area of ​​Flanders on the border with Wallonia. Hallerbos – this is the name of the wood – is mainly a forest of beech trees. A walk in this forest is already beautiful in itself, but what makes Hallerbos fascinating and unique is the flowering that occurs every spring, usually in the second half of April and in the first days of May. In those days Hallerbos becomes a fairy kingdom: thanks to the flowering of Hyacinthoides non-scripta, a species that covers the whole undergrowth like a carpet. The ground turns blue to purple. They are the small bells of the flower that pop up all together and give an unforgettable view, especially during the first hours of the day and the last, towards dusk, when the warm rays of the sun enter the foliage of the beech trees. Hyacinthoides non-scripta is called Common Bluebell in English. The Hallerbos website is constantly updated during the flowering period to show the status of the flowers and advise on how to visit. In the woods there are various paths, to be done on foot or by bicycle; it is not uncommon to see some roe deer. One of the itineraries also allows you to discover the beautiful giant sequoias present in a part of the park.

10. SPEND ONE DAY IN ONE THE MOST UNDERRATED CAPITALS IN EUROPE: LUXEMBOURG CITY

The capital of Luxembourg, Luxemburg city, can easily be visited in one day, but this does not mean that it will not remain anyway in your mind and heart. In fact, I believe it is one of the most undervalued capitals in Europe. The city is very rich (Luxembourg is one of the countries with the highest average salaries in Europe) full of museums, art galleries and fantastic restaurants. What makes the city extremely attractive and romantic, however, is the spectacular location of the center, on the two banks of the river. Take a walk along the Corniche, hailed as “Europe’s most beautiful balcony” by Luxembourg writer Batty Weber.; discover the Casemates, the underground tunnels carved into the solid rock; take the lift to the Grund or to Pfaffenthal and discover a city on many levels that surprises you around almost every corner with green oases and places to simply sit and take a breather. And in the evening … enjoy the streets full of music and the local sparkling wine!