Brussels is the largest city in Belgium—but it’s also the one tourists often skip. Instead, they go to charming Bruges, or cosmopolitan Antwerp, or the riverside town of Dinant, or the medieval village of Durbuy.

Brussels doesn’t deserve to be overlooked. It contains the best of Europe: Roman ruins, Gothic and Art Nouveau architecture, awe-inspiring museums, world-famous craft beer, and abundant brasseries and cafés. We’ll take you on a whirlwind tour with our Brussels travel guide.

3 reasons to buy travel insurance for Belgium

1. Travel insurance can help if you get sick or injured. Belgium has excellent medical facilities, but most do not accept U.S. health insurance. Travel insurance with emergency medical benefits can reimburse the cost of covered medical care and emergency transportation. Did you know Global Doctor Visits for urgent care are included in some Allianz Travel Insurance plans as well?
2. Travel insurance can help if you must cancel your trip unexpectedly. Belgium (like the rest of the EU) can be an expensive destination. Travel insurance can reimburse your nonrefundable, prepaid trip costs in case of a covered trip cancellation or trip interruption.
3. Travel insurance makes delays much easier to deal with. Travel and baggage delays aren’t just frustrating—they can get expensive, if you have to pay for an extra hotel night or buy new clothes. Many travel insurance plans can reimburse eligible unplanned expenses during a covered delay.

3 of the best travel insurance plans for Europe

1. The best insurance for a family vacation to Europe: OneTrip Prime. OneTrip Prime (as well as OneTrip Premier) can cover kids 17 and under for free when they’re traveling with a parent or grandparent. (One child per insured adult traveler; not available on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents.)This plan includes all the key protections for international travel: emergency medical and transportation benefits, trip cancellation/interruption, trip delay, baggage protection, and more.
2. The best insurance for budget travel to Europe: OneTrip Basic. This affordably priced plan includes up to $10,000 in emergency medical benefits and up to $10,000 in trip cancellation/interruption benefits, plus travel delay, baggage protection, and more.
3. The best flexible-cancellation travel insurance for Europe: The Cancel Anytime upgrade to the OneTrip Prime or OneTrip Premier plan. Get 80% of your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs reimbursed if your travel plans change for almost any unforeseeable reason your plan does not already cover. This upgrade “offers the highest reimbursement rate for non-refundable expenses out of the companies we’ve reviewed,” CNBC reports.¹

Remember: The sooner you buy insurance, the sooner you're protected. Get a quote.

3 of the best things to do in Brussels

1. Follow the Comic Strip Trail. Did you know that Brussels calls itself the capital of comics? The creators of Tintin and the Smurfs are Belgian, and you can learn about their work and others’ at the Comic Art Museum. Check the calendar for meet-the-artist events and sketching sessions. The Comic Strip Trail is a series of walking routes through Brussels where you can see street art honoring figures from comics.
2. See amazing art, old and new. One ticket gets you into two very different museums in Brussels. The Old Masters Museum showcases paintings by Flemish, Dutch, French and Italian artists, including the incredibly detailed works of Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Then, visit the Magritte Museum to see work by the famous surrealist.
3. Browse Brussels’ boutiques. Looking for designer clothes, fine chocolates, or a gift with that certain je ne sais quoi? Brussels offers fantastic shopping. Head to Dansaert for local and avant-garde fashion; Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert for art galleries and high-end shops; or the big flea market on Place du Jeu de Balle for vintage and secondhand finds.

3 of the best hotels in Brussels

Harmon House, in the central Bruxelles district, delivers the top-tier service and luxury you’d expect at a much more expensive hotel. Guests adore the plush lobby, the stylish rooms, and especially the spa. Treat yourself to a swim in the heated pool, followed by steam and sauna treatments and a massage.

The five-star Hotel Amigo is deemed by many to be Brussels’ best hotel, hands down. For a super-luxurious experience, check into one of the Forte Suites. One is Tintin-themed, one is an homage to fashion icon Diane von Furstenberg, one features original Magritte lithographs, and one (our favorite) has  a private outdoor terrace overlooking Brussels’ historic City Hall.

The Northern Quarter is Brussels’ business district, a collection of office towers and industrial buildings that’s being transformed into a hip destination for events, farmer’s markets, and chic shops. One of the best places to stay there is The Standard, a modern hotel with a rooftop restaurant and bar. It includes extended-stay suites for longer trips to Brussels.

3 of the best restaurants in Brussels

Belgian waffles are a familiar dish on American menus—but did you know there are actually two kinds? Liège waffles (named for the Belgian city where they were invented) are bready, sweet, and typically eaten with just a sprinkling of pearl sugar. Brussels waffles are square or rectangular, crispy, and served with sweet or savory toppings.² You can have both kinds at Gaufres de Bruxelles, a popular tea room that’s been serving them since 1970.

For mussels—another signature Belgian dish—dine at The Lobster House. This classic Brussels restaurant is beloved by guests who rave about the service, the wine list, the grilled lobster, the crispy frites, the decadent seafood spaghetti, the shrimp croquettes… It’s hard to find a single disliked dish.

Nüetnigenough calls itself “the Brussels brasserie for greedy gluttons and fine beer lovers.” How can you resist that? Expect hearty Belgian fare such as fish soup, Flemish beef stew, duck confit, and meatballs. It doesn’t take reservations, but a table is well worth the wait.

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