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Brussels was our arrival city and the first of three Belgian stops — and I’ll be honest with you up front, it ended up being my least favorite of the three. That doesn’t mean skip it. It just means going in with the right expectations, which is exactly what I wish I’d had.
Getting into the city
Our arrival hit a snag at security. There were huge crowds, only a few lanes open, and none of the digital scanners were working — it took us about an hour and fifteen to get through. The silver lining: by the time we cleared it, our luggage was already waiting for us. Because we landed early with five people and a full set of bags, we skipped the train and took an Uber straight to the hotel. If you’re arriving as a group with luggage, that’s the call I’d make again — easier and far less stressful than wrangling everyone onto a train.
What we saw
After dropping our bags, we wandered. The Grand-Place is genuinely show-stopping — the ornate guild houses and the Town Hall are worth the trip on their own. We also stopped by Manneken Pis, which is famous, tiny, and exactly as small as everyone warns you. It’s a fun tick-the-box moment more than a highlight.
My honest take
Brussels leans more touristy than Bruges or Ghent, with more of those souvenir-lined streets. A couple of times it didn’t feel especially safe — we were completely fine, but I stayed more aware of my bag than I did elsewhere. We also stayed near the beer museum, and on the weekend the plaza was a party well into the night. The next morning it was covered in trash with a few disgruntled stragglers still about. The cleanup crews were fast, but it wasn’t quite our pace.
If I did it again, I’d book a hotel a few streets back from the main nightlife squares — you’re still walkable to everything, minus the 2 a.m. soundtrack.
Is it worth it?
Yes — for the Grand-Place alone, and as an easy base for day trips to Bruges and Ghent (both a quick, simple train ride away). Just go in knowing it’s the busiest and most touristy of the three, and plan your hotel accordingly.
Comfort tip: in busier, touristy areas I like a crossbody bag that zips closed and sits in front of me — hands free for photos, and one less thing to think about. The one I carry is the Baggallini Securtex Anti-Theft Daytripper Sling. Honestly, anything by Baggallini does the job — and it’s well worth checking TJ Maxx before you pay full price.
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