There are so many excellent reasons to study abroad in Europe. For me, the accessibility to cheap travel is the best one. I’ve been here for six weeks and traveled to five countries. As you can imagine, I have much to tell. I went to Paris a little bit ago, and now I am going to share my trip to Brussels, Belgium.
While it wasn’t my first trip, it was one of my favorites. Everyone has heard of Brussels, Belgium, but it’s not on many people’s top travel lists— I’ll have to admit it wasn’t on mine. When scanning for cheap flights for one weekend in January, I saw round trip tickets to Brussels for $45. So why not! I was pleasantly surprised after doing a small amount of research that Belgium has plenty of culture, history, and great food. I mean, Brussels IS the capital of Europe!
When I arrived, it was a bit colder than expected, but the bright sun made it a great weekend. Part of the beauty of Brussels is how close everything is to each other. You are able to start almost anywhere and walk to major monuments in 10-15 minutes! We started our trek by getting by brunch at this place called Woodpecker, where everything is on a waffle! It was incredible. One of my favorite elements of my trip was wandering about cobblestone streets trying different waffle and fries shops and picking up small bites from all over. I recommend not doing too much research on each place. The flexibility of getting lost made it even more exciting. 
After trying different chocolates and sweets we walked to the famous Manneken Pis, a small statue (a lot smaller than I thought!) of a small naked boy urinating in a fountain. This is a Brussels must! If you’re lucky, hopefully, you will get to see one of his rotating costumes.
We continued walking down the busy streets until we were met with The Grand Place, a golden courtyard that has been called the most beautiful square in the world. We stopped for lunch at La Brouette, a cozy rustic restaurant filled with windows facing the square. So, even from the inside, you were able to admire the view.
Once we were full and ready to move, we did some damage shopping. Brussels was filled with unique vintage and thrift stores. You can really go anywhere and do no wrong, but my favorite one we visited was Hérésie. It was a store with a fun vibe, groovy music, and great prices. What more could you ask for! We then had to make a stop at Tropismes, which is a gorgeous bookstore with high ceilings and glass windows. As a huge book lover, I could have spent all my time there. Our last must-see sight was St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral, and this place was breathtaking. The church is open to the public, and it isn’t something you’ll want to miss. Whether you are religious or not, anyone can appreciate the beauty of a stained glass window. And after that long day of exploring, you HAVE to check the Guinness World Record holder for the most beers offered in 2004, Delirium Café, where you can try more than 2000 beers from around the globe. While you are there, you can also visit other restaurants in the Delirium Garden.
Those were only a few of my highlights in Brussels, Belgium. It may not be on the top of your to-visit bucket list, but it MUST be added. You’ll have no idea what you are missing out on. The people, the food, and the atmosphere are something everyone can appreciate and enjoy.