Under 100: Brussels, Belgium

If you’re visiting Brussels this winter, you should definitely start your day at the Grand Place, the central square of the city. After taking in the gorgeous Belgian architecture of the guildhalls and City Museum, walk a block or two past the shops surrounding the square to find a bustling Christmas Market. Here, you will find stalls filling the streets with the smell of spiced mulled wine, flaky pastries, brats and sausages. This is also a great place to pick up a small souvenir or handcrafted present.

If there’s one thing Belgium is known for, besides waffles, it’s chocolate. So make a stop at the Museum of Cacao and Chocolate, adjacent to the Grand Place, to learn about Belgian chocolate making and watch a chocolate demonstration. It’s a small museum, yet informative, and won’t take up too much of your time.

A short walk away from the museum is a small statue called the Mannequin Pis. While most guidebooks claim it’s a must-see attraction, it’s really not. The statue is small and there’s usually a large crowd of tourists surrounding it, so you won’t be guaranteed a good view.

A short walk away from the busy city center is the Cantillon Brewery. If you enjoy sour-tasting beers, this is a great spot for you to check out. It was founded in 1900 and uses all organic ingredients. Cantillon is the only brewery to remain in operation through the 2000s and brews exclusively lambic beers. At the end of your tour, you are able to sample a few of their lambics. If it’s your first time trying one, I recommend choosing one that has had fresh fruit added to it, like their raspberry Rosé de Gambrinus. Lambic beers are fairly strong, so be sure not to book a tour too early in the day.