After we wrapped up our 3 months of living in Sintra, Portugal for our second Boundless Life cohort, we took advantage of being overseas and explored Europe for a few weeks. Our first stop was an overnight stay in Brussels to experience the beautiful country of Belgium!

If you are more of a video person, check out our Instagram Reel about our time in Brussels!

Where We Stayed

Right in the heart of Brussels

We kicked off our Brussels trip at the Novotel Brussels Hotel, right in the city center. Super convenient because we could walk just about anywhere, which was perfect for our jam-packed day.

Just a heads up if you’re flying into Brussels, the budget airlines only fly into Brussels South Charleroi airport, which is an hour drive from Brussels and a $160-200 taxi / uber. Even so, it was still cheaper to fly a budget airline and use a taxi to get to Brussels than flying into Brussels Airport.

What We Did

Most of our time was just spent walking around the city, and we loved it! Brussels has this lively vibe with beautiful buildings everywhere, and each neighborhood has its own character. We just explored, popping into shops and taking breaks whenever we felt like chilling for a bit.

Grand Place

Visiting the Grand Place in Brussels was an unforgettable experience for our family. As soon as we entered the square, we were captivated by the stunning architecture and intricate details of the buildings, The gold accents on the buildings were so unique and beautiful!

The atmosphere was fun, filled with the buzz of tourists from around the world, music, the aroma of Belgian waffles (this is where we sat down to enjoy our Belgian waffles), and the sounds of street performers. Walking around, we admired the ornate guild houses and the towering Town Hall spire.

Later, as the square lit up at night, it became even more beautiful, leaving us with a great lasting memory of one of Europe's most beautiful squares.

Galerie de la Reine

Our visit to the Galerie de la Reine in Brussels was just as enchanting. The glass-roofed arcade in the heart of the city offered a glimpse into the sophisticated side of Brussels. The gallery, lined with chic boutiques, luxurious window displays and the aroma of fresh chocolate and coffee, was a treat to walk through.

The architecture, with its detailed facades and ornate decorations (a recurring theme in many European cities) made stop and admire many times. Due to it’s location and uniqueness, it’s definitely worth a walk-through if you are in Brussels.

Euro Cup Madness

One of the coolest parts was watching the Euro Cup at a local bar. Big sports bars were overflowing, but we found this smaller spot with outdoor seating where we could hang with locals, sip some beers, and get into the game.

The owner talked with us for a while, and talked our ears off about U.S. politics (the election was only 4 months away). Its amazing how interested and knowledgeable foreigners are about our politics! We just sit and listen and enjoy learning about their points of view. 

Parc de Bruxelles

Also within easy walking distance was Brussels Park. It offered a refreshing escape amidst the busy city. This expansive park, full of neatly trimmed lawns and shaded pathways lined with statues and fountains, provided a serene backdrop for a a mid afternoon break. Turns out it has a rich history too! (You can research it if you are so inclined ;)

The contrast between the vibrant city life just beyond the park's borders and the tranquility within its grounds made Parc de Bruxelles a memorable part of our visit. It’s this beautiful, shady spot that's perfect for relaxing on a hot day. Plus, it's super close to some major sights like the Palais de Bruxelles and the Chamber of Representatives.

It even has an outdoor eatery , The Woodpecker, within the walls that looked really cool (we did not eat there).

Where We Ate: Family friendly restaurants in Brussels, Belgium

We aren’t foodies by any means (maybe Aaron is, but he’s stuck with 3 very picky eaters!), but we did enjoy researching and finding places to eat.

Manhattn’s Burgers: A Taste of New York in Brussels

Located right in the middle of Brussels, this place gave us a real New York vibe. We all had burgers which were pretty tasty and filled us up well for all the walking we had planned. It wasn’t too pricey for the center of Brussels — with a bill of around 80 euros for four burgers, two fries, and a couple of beers, it felt like good value given the quality and the setting. The outdoor seating was a bonus, letting us soak up the city’s evening atmosphere while we dined.

After a long day of travel, finding a great burger joint was a perfect place for picky eaters to enjoy a good meal.

TM Food Maker: Casual Eats with a Friendly Touch

Their website makes it seem way fancier than it is. This spot was another win for us, especially with the kids. TM Food Maker serves up a simple yet delicious menu featuring tacos, pizzas, and burgers — the whole menu is picky eater and kid-friendly.

While they don’t serve alcohol (which was a bummer since we were eager to sample local Belgian beers with our meal), our server let us know about the place next-door, a beer and souvenir shop that offered a fantastic selection of Belgian beers. The selection was way bigger and cheaper than a normal restaurant, and we were able to bring it right to our table.

The casual vibe, simple yet very quality menu, and the kindness of the owners made our meal here feel especially welcoming.

Obe Belgian Waffles

Visiting Obe Belgian Waffles was one of the highlights of our trip — it's highly rated for a reason. The place was packed, yet the line moved quickly, and the aroma of freshly baked waffles hits you when you walk up to the restaurant. They offer an impressive offering of toppings that let everyone personalize their waffle, from classic chocolate to fruits and sprinkles.

Choosing this place because it was the most highly rated turned out to be a great decision.

Belgian Chocolates at Leondis Chocolates

Located in the charming Sablon neighborhood, the shop was quiet when we visited, which gave us a chance to really enjoy the experience. The staff were super helpful, making recommendations and telling us about each type. It was like a quick chocolate education, and we walked out with way more than we planned to buy!

It was a perfect way to sample what Belgian chocolate has to offer without feeling rushed or crowded.

Chateau Moderne: Coffee and Pastries in a Serene Setting

After indulging in sweets, Chateau Moderne was our next stop for coffee. This cafe was beautifully set up with both indoor and outdoor seating areas, the latter overlooking an impressive garden, Garden of the Kunstberg — ideal for a peaceful break and coffee with a view.

Their coffee, particularly the espresso and Americano, were great! It provided a much-needed pick-me-up for our long day of walking.

While the reviews were mixed, our experience was perfect, especially with the pastries we brought along from a local market.

Burger King

Yep, Burger King. One thing about most European restaurants that we do enjoy but also had to get used to was the slow pace and amount of time it takes to eat out, so sometimes we endulged in something fast that we knew the kids would like. Burger King & McDonalds were common stops for us throughout Europe!

Wrapping Up Our Day

Honestly, Brussels was a blast. There was something really cool about just being able to walk everywhere, soak up the local atmosphere, and dive into some great food and drinks. We loved every minute of it.

Next Stop —> Train ride to Cologne, Germany for 24 hours Stop.