5 Best Sights in Belgium

Like a giant, shiny child's toy rising up out of a forest, the Atomium was created in 1958 as part of the World's Fair of Brussels. It's shaped like an atom, with an elevator taking you up the central axis where walkways link to the protruding spheres by escalators. One sphere contains a permanent exhibition about the building's history; the others are set aside for temporary displays on design and architecture. Audio guides in English are available and there are great views from the top sphere, known as the Panorama. Tickets include access to the neighboring Design Museum Brussels.

Taking its cue more from Willy Wonka than any museum, this carnivalesque look at the humble cocoa bean is one of the city's biggest crowd-pleasers. Inventive and whimsical, room after room boasts Heath Robinson--esque contraptions that make the history of chocolate making and its production a story worth telling. It's as theatrical as it is informative, using projections, stagecraft, and workshops. Audio guides are pointed at information points along the way, and some rooms are time-locked so you can't leave until your group is done, but there's often a handful of chocolates on hand to quiet the impatient. The finale is a tasting room where you're free to try 10 different kinds of melted chocolate.

Where else would you find an indoor skydiving center but out near the airport? If you want to experience the joys of skydiving without the effort of ascending to 14,000 feet, this is a good option. Basic packages include two "flights" on the freefall simulator.   

This multimedia show invites you into the world of the castle's most notable occupant, Godfrey (Godefroid) of Bouillon, who ruled here in the late 11th century when the area was still a part of France. It tells the story of Godfrey's biggest—if somewhat dubious—claim to notoriety: he led an army of thousands on the First Crusade, and from 1099 until his death just one year later, he was installed as the first ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Located at the Spa Monopole bottling plant, which produces the famous Spa brand mineral water, this interactive exhibit details the water's long underground journey of purification. There are also viewing points where you can watch the clattering bottling lines in full flow, and a small museum with exhibits of old bottles and crates.