A gilded square, comic strips and fine beer
Brussels is often seen as a city of institutions, but its centre has one of the most beautiful squares in Europe: the Grand-Place, ringed by ornate guildhalls and the Gothic town hall. Nearby, the tiny Manneken Pis statue draws crowds. The city was a centre of Art Nouveau, with the townhouses of Victor Horta open to visitors, and the comic strip is celebrated with murals and a museum. The Magritte Museum and the Atomium are further highlights. Eating well is easy: moules-frites, waffles, chocolate and hundreds of beers.