Day Trip to Brussels and Bruges from Paris
Day Trip to Brussels and Bruges from Paris
Paris might be the city of love, but sometimes even the most devoted Parisian getaway needs a little side romance. Enter Brussels and Bruges – Belgium’s irresistible duo. They’re close enough for a day trip, yet far enough to feel like you’ve stumbled into a completely different fairy tale. And yes, there will be waffles. Day Trip to Brussels and Bruges from Paris is really worth it!
All Aboard the Choco-Express
The day starts in Paris with a quick train trip north. Two hours later, visitors arrive in Brussels – a city with its charm dressed like a well-fitted suit (likely with a foamy beer as an accessory). The destination? The Grand Place, a gilded square that is essentially the architectural version of the overachiever.
Well, of course, one can’t help but be attracted to the allure of the waffle stands. The aroma of hot sugar and childhood daydreaming envelops the atmosphere. Toppings? Anything from strawberries and cream to sufficient chocolate to reduce a dentist to tears.
Brussels: Where Quirky Meets Classy
Culture in Brussels does not get too serious, though. There are, of course, top-of-the-line museums such as the Magritte Museum, but then there’s also the Manneken Pis – a small bronze sculpture of a boy peeing. Well, let’s call it his business. The Belgians love him, the tourists snap his picture, and everyone is curious about how he ended up as a national symbol.
Chocolate addicts can’t resist a visit to a praline store. Here, sampling one truffle commonly results in leaving with a kilo of “souvenirs” unlikely to make it home on the train.
Next Stop: Bruges, a Real-Life Storybook
An hour outside of Brussels, Bruges looks like the setting for a medieval romance – cobblestone streets, canals lined with swans, and houses that have been hand-painted for centuries. Visitors can stroll into the Markt Square, with the looming belfry above them, offering panoramic vistas to anyone who is up for climbing its 366 steps (and leg muscles).
For those not so concerned about cardio, a leisurely canal boat tour shows the city from the water – stone bridges, flower boxes, and centuries-old homes slanting with gracious elegance. It’s the sort of perspective that makes you think time travel is possible.
Beer, Fries, and Other Belgian Blessings
Belgium’s holy trinity – beer, fries, and chocolate – is alive and thriving in both cities. Bruges pubs are intimate, candlelit places, and they usually have local beers with flavors that go from crisp citrus to dark caramel notes. Pair that with a paper cone of Belgian fries (yes, they’re better than French fries, and no, Brussels isn’t sorry about it) and you’ve got a happy traveler.
The Ride Home and a Pocket Full of Sweet Memories
As the train sweeps travelers home to Paris in the late afternoon, backpacks can be weighed down with chocolate, beer bottles, and perhaps a lace doily or two. But hearts? Lighter. Brussels provided the laugh, Bruges provided the romance, and the two combined to make a plain old day trip into an unforgettable detour.
Because sometimes the greatest thing about a Paris vacation is the day you get to spend somewhere else – just don’t mention it to the Eiffel Tower.
