Take It All In

Take It All In

1 Day: Wander the narrow, cobbled lanes surrounding the square and visit the graceful, arcaded Galeries St-Hubert, an elegant 19th-century shopping gallery. Head down rue de l'Etuve to see the Manneken Pis, the famous statue of the little boy urinating. Walk to the place du Grand Sablon to window-shop at its many fine antiques stores and galleries. If it's a weekend, enjoy the outdoor antiques market. Have lunch in one of the cafés lining the perimeter, and don't forget to buy chocolates at one of the top chocolatiers on the square. Then head to the Musée d'Art Moderne and the Musée d'Art Ancien. End with dinner on the fashionable rue Antoine Dansaert or have a drink in one of Grand'Place's many cafés.

3 Days: On your second day, start at the Parc de Bruxelles, a formal urban park that originated as a game park. Check out the elegant place Royale across the street and then head to the Musée des Instruments de Musique, which houses one of Europe's finest collections of musical instruments. Hop a tram to avenue Louise in Ixelles for a little shopping and lunch along place du Chatelain. After lunch, visit architect Horta's own house, now the Musée Horta, on rue Américaine. If you crave more art and architecture, go to the Musée David-et-Alice-Van-Buuren. If you crave lighter entertainment, head towards the Gare du Midi and visit the Musée de la Gueuze to see how Lambic beer is brewed the old-fashioned way. For dinner head to place Ste-Catherine for a feast of Belgian seafood specialties. Later, check out the many cafés and bars that crowd the narrow streets around the Bourse.

On Day 3, take the metro to Schuman and walk past the cluster of EU buildings on your way through Parc Cinquantenaire to the Autoworld museum, which houses a fantastic collection of vintage cars. Catch a tram to Tervuren and the Koninklijk Museum voor Midden Afrika/Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, a legacy of Belgium's role in the Congo, including objects and memorabilia from explorers. Relax in the surrounding park before heading back into town for another fine dinner. Another option would be to visit some of the famous sights and towns on the border of Brussels. First on the list is Waterloo, the battlefield that changed the course of European history, where you can explore the Musée Wellington, the Butte de Lion, and the Champ de Bataille field. Next, head for Gaasbeek, where you'll find the Gaasbeek Château and scenery straight out of a Bruegel painting.