Brussels

The capital of the European Union is home to many institutions, including the Commission, the Parliament and the Council of Ministers. 30 500 civil servants work in the city, scattered throughout 77 buildings. The Berlaymont is the main seat of the Commission. It stands in Brussels on the Rond-Point Schuman, named after Robert Schuman, one of the founders of the EU.

The Grand Place which every two years (around the 15th of August) is covered by a magnificent carpet of flowers, is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. The gothic style City Hall is decorated with 294 statues from the 19th century. The summit of the 96 meters high tower built by Jean van Ruysbroeck (1149) is crowned by a statue of St Michael, the patron saint of the city. All around it, the houses od corporations were rebuilt after the French bombing of 1695. The Maison du Roi was built in the 16th century by Charles V on the former site of the Halle aux pains (Broodhuys in Dutch). It currently houses a museum exhibiting the wardrobe of the Manneken-Pis. 

The Atonium is a huge steel construction with nine spheres representing a molecule of iron. Despite its contemporary look, it was built in 1958 for Brussels' World Fair.

Manneken-Pis is the famous bronze statue fountain of a boy urinating into the water. He is often dressed in costume and his wardrobe now features more than 760 outfits. His very first costume was given to him in 1698 by the Elector of Bavaria.

If your mission is shopping, make for Avenue Louise and Avenue de la Toison d'Or for couture and high-street bargains, or try Rue Antoine Dansaert for unique boutiques Bargain hunters will love Jeu de Balle flea market.

Le Chatelain, just beside the prestigious Avenue Louise, is a charming district where locals spend their summer evenings. At night, go for fancy fare at Comme Chez Soi or go cheap and chic at Le Pre Sale on Rue de Flandre which serves up tasty moules frites.

Isabelle Bajart breathes new life into old clothes by transforming them into line with more recent fashion. Her creations are displayed among the unusual decor (25 rue des Chartreux)

Many business visitors to Brussels stay in hotels on weekdays meaning there are some fantastic deals to be had at the weekend. If you are brave enough to leave it till the last minute, go to the tourist office on your arrival, you might get a five-star hotel next to nothing.

If you are planning a journey via public transport, simply log onto www.stib.be, enter your starting point and destination and you will be told exactly how to get there.

Day trip
Ypres. About 120km from Brussels, the city of Ypres is known for its Grand Place, resplendent Saint Martin's Cathedral, but most of all, for its amazing In Flanders Fields museum which focuses on the lives of soldiers during World War I.

Dinant. Take the teleferique cable car to the citadel and have an aerial view on the city of Dinant. From here you can also book a cruise on the Meuse River and discover some of the most beautiful spots of Wallonia. It is about 90 km from Brussels.