Brussels is the capital of Belgium, the tiny country that is bordered by France, Germany and the Netherlands. Brussels is the powerhouse of political control in Europe and widely considered the unofficial capital of the European Union. It is also the capital of the world's chocolate-making industry. Although this title is hotly contested by the chocolatiers of Switzerland. A visit to Belgium isn't complete without a trip to at least one of the chocolate-makers stores, all of whom offer gift boxes and goodies that are almost too beautiful to eat. Almost.

Language

The two official languages in Belgium are French and Dutch, and although all signage is in one or both of these, English is widely spoken and information kiosks are well placed around the city to help lost visitors. One unusual tourist information point is the Brussels Page, on the Rue des Gaulois off the Cinquantenaire Parc. There are a series of banners lining the street (in French, English, German and Dutch) that detail all of the interesting sights of Brussels

Getting Around

The Metro system in Brussels is incredibly comprehensive, efficient and safe, so forget car hire and pull on a pair of comfortable shoes instead, alighting at one of the hundreds of stations to pop your head above ground and see what is on offer. In fact, this is one of the nicest ways to see this large, but intimate city, as almost every neighborhood is historically and architecturally significant in some way.

Places to See

The Suburb of Koekelberg is  home to The Basilica of the Sacred Heart, a huge cathedral built to celebrate Belgian independence's 75th anniversary. The Basilica dominates the skyline in this part of the city and visitors can climb to the top and take in the spectacular view of Brussels.

Educational tourist spots include the Atomium (a science-based combination of museum and hands-on workshop), the Fine Arts Museum (home to some of the world's most priceless artistic treasures) and the Natural Sciences Museum (interesting for adults but not so good for kids under thirteen unless they are genuinely interested in the plant and animal kingdom).

Chocolate

More than 175,000 tons of chocolate are produced in Belgium each year and Brussels is home to more than two thousand specialty chocolate shops. For a truly decadent day in Brussels, stop by the Chocolate Museum (Musée du Cacao et du Chocolat) in Grand Place and become learned in the history of chocolate from its Aztec origins to today. Then grab a map and mark off the following chocolate emporia (the cream of the Brussels chocolate-making crop): Neuhaus, which is incredibly expensive – and incredibly worth the money, Pierre Marcolini (the emporium named after its owner who is considered by many to be the best chocolatier on the planet) for exquisite treats made from unusual flavors like tea and pepper, and of course Godiva, who has made a fortune bringing Belgian chocolate to the world without losing any of its quality. These three are all located on Grand-Place, near the Chocolate Museum.

Off the Beaten Path

For visitors who like to get off the beaten path, head to Mini-Europe. This tiny village is a miniaturized reconstruction of all the famous landmarks in Europe and is geographically correct enough that a birds-eye view is almost a perfect scale-version of the continent. Entry will cost around 13 Euro per person and is a great spot for an afternoon picnic and a crash-course in European history and geography.

Hotels

Brussels is packed with accommodation options, and although the city tends to cater to the wealthier visitor, there are some relative bargains to be found. Online specials can be had that reduce room rates to around €100 per night (relatively cheap), while hostels and backpacker's inns will sell you a bed in a shared room for around €20 - €30 per night.

Use the Hotelsio Rate Finder on the left to find cheap hotels in Brussels.

(Photo:Fotolia/Ljupco Smokovski)

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