The praline, the dark chocolate, the ganache, the €1.50 at the Neuhaus in the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert in the Brussels (the 1857, the Jean Neuhaus, the inventor of the Belgian praline in the 1912, and the most beautiful shopping arcade in the Belgium, the 1847, the first glazed shopping arcade in Europe, the glass roof, the marble, and the essential Belgium experience: the €20 spent on the chocolate), the praline melting on the tongue while the standing in the arcade on the Saturday morning (the light through the glass, the sound of the violin from the busker at the far end, and the realisation that the Belgium is the chocolate, the beer, the art, the architecture, and the surrealism, the Magritte country), and the Belgium is the most underrated country in Europe. Here are the 5 top places to visit.

1. Bruges

Bruges, the most beautiful medieval city in Europe: The “Venice of the North,” the UNESCO, the canals, the Markt (the central square, the Belfort, the 366 steps, the €15, and the best view in the Belgium), the Burg (the Stadhuis, the 14th-century Gothic city hall, the gilded Hall, and the most beautiful room in the Belgium), the Groeningemuseum (the Van Eyck, the Memling, the Bosch, the best early-Netherlandish art collection in the world. ~€12), the beer: the De Halve Maan Brewery (the 1856, the tour: the €12, the Brugse Zot, and the best brewery tour in the Belgium), the essential Bruges lunch: the frituur (the Belgian frites, the €3 for the medium, the mayo, and the essential Belgian food), the boat trip (the €10 for the 30 minutes on the canals, and the essential Bruges experience). The essential Bruges overnighter: the Hotel de Tuilerieën (the 15th-century, the canal view, the €200/night, and the best hotel in the Bruges).

2. Ghent

Ghent, the hidden gem between the Bruges and the Brussels: The Gravensteen (the Castle of the Counts, the 1180, the “Castle of the Screams,” the moat, the torture museum, and the best castle in the Belgium. ~€12), the St Bavo’s Cathedral (the “Adoration of the Mystic Lamb”, the Van Eyck brothers, the 1432, the most important painting in the Belgium, the essential: the painting is the after the major restoration, the 2019–2020, and the lamb has the shocking new face, the more human, and the most controversial art-restoration in the recent history. ~€12.50), the Korenlei and the Graslei (the river, the guild-houses, and the most beautiful waterfront in the Belgium). The essential Ghent evening: the De Dulle Griet, the pub, the 250 beers, the “Max”, the 1.2 litres in the wooden stand, the shoe for the deposit. More Belgium →

3. Brussels

Brussels: The capital, the Grand Place (the most beautiful square in Europe), the Atomium, the Manneken Pis, the chocolatiers (Neuhaus, Godiva, Mary), the beer bars (Delirium Café, over 2,000 beers), and the street art of the Marolles district. The essential Brussels experience: the mussels and frites at a traditional brasserie, the Belgian waffle from a street vendor, and the surrealism of Magritte at the Magritte Museum.

4. Antwerp

Antwerp, the fashion, the diamond, the Rubens: The Antwerp Centraal (the most beautiful railway station in Europe after the São Bento, the 1905, the dome, the marble, and the essential: the arrival at the Antwerp Centraal is the best train-station arrival in Europe), the Rubenshuis (the Peter Paul Rubens, the house, the studio, the garden, and the best artist’s house-museum in the Belgium. ~€12), the MAS (the Museum aan de Stroom, the red-stone, the stacking-box, the rooftop, the free, and the best view of the Antwerp), the Diamond District (the 84% of the world’s rough diamonds pass through the Antwerp, the Hasidic Jewish quarter, the largest diamond district in the world, and the essential Antwerp experience: the walk through the Hoveniersstraat and the Rijfstraat), the fashion: the ModeMuseum (the MoMu, the €10, and the essential Antwerp for the fashion lover).

5. Waterloo

Waterloo (the 1815 Battlefield, the essential European historical site): The 20 km from the Brussels, the Lion’s Mound (the 226 steps, the €17, the view of the battlefield, the ridge, the farm of the Hougoumont, the essential Waterloo stop. The essential: the visitor centre: the €19, the huge panoramic painting, the 110 metres, the audio-visual, and the best battlefield museum in Europe), the Wellington Museum (the Waterloo town, the €8, and the essential: the see the Waterloo on the 18th June, the re-enactment, the essential Waterloo experience, and the book the accommodation the 12 months ahead.