Brussels, where culture, flavour and lifestyle meet

Wandering through the city, the smell of freshly baked waffles follows you everywhere. The Brussels waffle, rectangular, light and crisp, topped with icing sugar or fresh fruit and cream, has its roots in the city’s medieval baking tradition. It even appears in the works of Pieter Bruegel the Elder in the 16th century, before conquering the world at the 1964 New York World’s Fair as the “Belgian waffle”.

Brussels is also synonymous with chocolate. In 1912, Jean Neuhaus created the first filled chocolate praline in the city, sparking a tradition of endless creativity.

And of course, there are always Belgian fries and a perfectly poured beer…

Culture lovers will find endless inspiration in Brussels. The Royal Museums of Fine Arts house an exceptional collection of Flemish and Belgian masterpieces in a grand Neoclassical setting, from Pieter Bruegel to René Magritte.

The Horta Museum, former home and studio of architect Victor Horta, immerses visitors in the golden age of Belgian Art Nouveau, with original interiors, mosaics and stained-glass windows. At the beginning of the 20th century, Horta shaped the flowing lines that still define the city today.

Art also appears where you least expect it: along the Comic Strip Route, monumental murals have been transforming Brussels’ streets since 1993, celebrating iconic comic book characters.

Brussels is all of this at once—a seamless blend of grandeur and playfulness, heritage and modern creativity. The Old Stock Exchange perfectly embodies this spirit, now home to the world’s largest interactive beer experience centre as well as Bruxella 1238, an underground archaeological museum revealing the remains of a medieval convent and historic burials.