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Oftentimes, Americans only have so many vacation days to use, which can make choosing where to go a daunting task.
This is especially true when it comes to planning European travel. Do you follow the norm and visit Paris, or do you spin the globe and inney-minney-miney-moe Europe’s lesser-known getaways, such as North Macedonia or Montenegro?
Well, if you’re waffling in your decision, perhaps this info will help…
The latest European city breaking all-time tourism records lies somewhere in between hidden gem status and household name, and it’s easy surprisingly easy to reach for many Americans with multiple nonstop flies from major U.S. airports.
Belgium’s wondrous capital, Brussels, saw over 10 million overnight tourists in 2024, joining an already extensive group of European getaways sky-rocketing in popularity right now.
Timeless Marvels & Incredible Cuisine
How Brussels is just now hitting the 10 million mark is yet another of life’s unsolved mysteries.
I still can’t figure out how my socks keep disappearing in the dryer…
Brussels is truly wonderful to visit, whether it be rows of Art Nouveau buildings, the staggering Grand Place, or simply the contagious buzz of the city like the always-bustling Rue Neuve.
Not to mention some of the most underrated museums in Europe like Royal Museums of Fine Arts and House of European History.
Brussels’ most surprising aspect, however, might be its food scene. No, we’re not saying world-famous Belgian waffles have to be your go-to each meal, but kicking back at a sidewalk cafe to people-watch with a hot coffee and waffle is an excellent way to kickstart your day in Brussels.
This underrated city has undoubtedly become a foodie destination with cheap, savory streets snacks anchoring street corners to the government handing out free chickens so food doesn’t go to waste.
Yep, you read that right.
But the real claim to fame of Brussels’ food scene is 3 newly-awarded restaurants by Michelin:
- Lune Siamoise (in Ixelles)
- Babam (in Watermael-Boitsfort)
- Au Repos de la Montagne (in Uccle)
Better yet, if there’s a blemish in your Flemish, Brussels is largely English-speaking, so you can mingle with locals at pubs and easily navigate menus.
Is Brussels Affordable?
I’m a firm believer in the notion that travel is what you make it. If you want to make Brussels a budget destination, then by golly you can make it a budget destination.
While it’s certainly not the Balkans, if the richest country in the world can be traversed on a budget, then Brussels won’t break the bank either.
Keep in mind, prices tend to go up globally in summer. Visiting off-season is always a travel hack.
But a quick scour of hotels this summer won’t leave a bruise on your bank account. For sample size, 4-star Gresham Belson Hotel Brussels is going for $135 and more centrally located 3-star Hôtel BELVUE is under $100 in July.
Getting around by public transit only costs about $2 for single tickets and like I said, if you’re down for street food over fine dining, that’s a great way to save too.
Nonstop Flights And New Trains To Brussels
While the latest report claiming Brussels broke tourism records didn’t specifically highlight how many Americans contributed, it’s safe to say it was a hefty amount, given there are 6 direct flights from U.S. soil.
According to FlightConnections, Brussels flies nonstop to these 6 U.S. airports:
- Boston (BOS)
- Newark (EWR)
- New York (JFK)
- Washington D.C. (IAD)
- Atlanta (ATL)
- Chicago (ORD)
That being said, there haven’t been any new flights announced lately. The same can’t be said for trains, though.
On many travel bucket lists, you’ll find something along the lines of “explore Europe by train”, and with all the new train routes connecting Brussels, it’s one of the easiest gateways to the rest of Europe.
Not to toot our own horn, but we’ve covered many of them. Here is our coverage to 3 new train routes to/from Brussels in the past year:
Sam Sears
Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
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Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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