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Belgium — Stop 5 of 5 — Final Destination

Brussels

30 Sep – 2 Oct 2026 — 3 nights — Fly home 3 Oct

Final city 3 nights Belgian beer Villers-Bretonneux day trip Fly home 3 Oct
Final Stop

Brussels is the last city on the trip. We arrive from Amsterdam on the Thalys ~10am on 30 Sep, have 3 nights, do the Villers-Bretonneux day trip (France) on 1 Oct, and fly home from Brussels Airport (BRU) in the afternoon of 3 Oct. Also picking up a hire car here for 1 day for the Villers-Bretonneux trip.

Brussels is often underrated as a European capital — people pass through without stopping and miss a genuinely fantastic city. The Grand Place is one of the most beautiful squares in the world (Victor Hugo called it "the most beautiful square in Europe"). Add brilliant Belgian beer (some of the best in the world, if not better), world-class chocolate, and excellent food, and it's a great way to finish the trip.

It's also bilingual — French in the south, Dutch (Flemish) in the north, with a very European mix of languages everywhere. English is widely spoken. Most menus are in both French and Dutch.

  • Currency: Euro (EUR).
  • Belgian beer: Trappist ales, lambics, tripels, saisons — genuinely some of the best beer in the world. Delirium Tremens at the Delirium Bar is a rite of passage.
  • Bruges (Brugge) is only 1h by train — a stunning medieval city that's very worth a day trip if time allows.
  • Fly home 3 Oct from Brussels Airport (BRU) — afternoon departure. Budget time to get to the airport.
  • Second hire car needed for 1 Oct Villers-Bretonneux trip — book in Brussels.
GP
Grand Place (Grote Markt)
The heart of Brussels and one of the most spectacular public squares in Europe. Surrounded by ornate Gothic and Baroque guild houses and the Town Hall, all elaborately decorated in gold leaf. Stunning at any time of day; absolutely magical at night when lit up. UNESCO World Heritage site. Go more than once.
FreeCentralGo at night
AT
Atomium
Brussels' most recognisable modern landmark — a giant iron atom structure built for the 1958 World Fair. Nine spheres connected by tubes; the top sphere has a panoramic restaurant and view. About 7km from the centre (tram 7). ~€16 entry. Quirky and genuinely worth seeing.
~€16 entryTram 7 or metro
BC
Belgian Comic Strip Centre (Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée)
Belgium has an extraordinary comics tradition — Tintin, The Smurfs, Lucky Luke. This museum in a gorgeous Art Nouveau building tells the story. Fun even if you're not a hardcore comics fan. ~€12. Near the Grand Place.
~€12Near centre
CH
Chocolate & Waffle Shops
Belgian chocolate is genuinely world-class. Neuhaus, Godiva, Leonidas, and Pierre Marcolini are the main names — but the independent chocolatiers around the Grand Place and Sablon area are where the really special stuff is. Waffles: Brussels-style (rectangular, lighter) vs Liège-style (round, denser, caramelised). Try both.
Sablon districtNear Grand Place
BT
Belgian Beer Tour
Several operators run guided beer tours around Brussels' best bars, covering different Belgian styles. The Delirium Café (near the Grand Place) alone has 3,000+ beers and is worth visiting independently. The Cantillon Brewery offers a self-guided tour of a working lambic brewery (~€10).
Delirium CaféCantillon Brewery ~€10
BG
Bruges Day Trip
Only 1h by direct train from Brussels Midi. Bruges is a medieval city preserved in amber — canals, cobblestones, horse-drawn carriages, and microbreweries in 13th century buildings. If the Villers-Bretonneux trip leaves a free day, Bruges is the obvious option.
1h train from Brussels Midi~€17 return
VB
Villers-Bretonneux Day Trip
Australian National Memorial and Sir John Monash Centre in northern France. A ~4h return drive (hire car needed). Deeply significant for Australians. See the dedicated page for details and booking information.
Book timed entry ahead1 Oct
MP
Manneken Pis
Brussels' most famous (and most baffling) landmark — a tiny bronze sculpture of a small boy urinating into a fountain. Ridiculous, but you can't miss it. Located a 2-min walk from the Grand Place. The sculpture has hundreds of costumes (donated by visiting dignitaries) which are displayed in the Brussels City Museum.
Free2 min from Grand Place
CA
Cinquantenaire Arch (Arc du Cinquantenaire)
Massive triumphal arch built in 1905 in a beautiful park in the EU Quarter. Often overlooked by tourists but genuinely impressive. The nearby Royal Museum of the Armed Forces is housed in the arch itself, with military vehicles and a Belgian history exhibit. Free to enter the park.
Park: FreeMetro Merode
SC
Place du Grand Sablon
Brussels' most elegant square, lined with antique shops, chocolate boutiques, and high-end restaurants. On weekends there's an excellent antiques and book market. The Notre-Dame du Sablon church (free to enter) is one of the finest examples of Brabantine Gothic architecture.
Free to visitWeekend market
ST
Metro, Trams & Buses
STIB/MIVB runs Brussels' public transport. Metro (4 lines), trams, and buses all use the same ticket. Single: ~€2.10. 24h pass: ~€8.00. Day tickets are great value. Contactless card payment works on some lines. The centre is compact and very walkable.
24h pass: ~€8Contactless on some lines
AP
Brussels Airport (BRU)
We fly home on 3 Oct from Brussels Airport (BRU, Zaventem). Airport Express train: 17 min from Brussels Centraal or Midi, ~€12.70. Runs every 15 minutes. Taxis ~€45–50. For an afternoon flight, check in at least 2h before. The train is by far the easiest option.
Airport Express: 17 min~€12.70
HR
Second Hire Car (Villers-Bretonneux)
We need a hire car in Brussels for 1 day (1 Oct) to drive to Villers-Bretonneux in northern France (~2h each way). Book this in Brussels before the trip. No cross-border issue this time (Belgium to France, both Schengen/EU). Return the car same day.
1 day hire1 OctBelgium to France — no issue
Quick Facts
  • CountryBelgium
  • Dates30 Sep – 2 Oct
  • Nights3
  • Fly home3 Oct (afternoon)
  • CurrencyEuro (EUR)
  • LanguagesFrench / Dutch
  • Time zoneCEST (UTC+2)
  • Calling code+32
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