I have visited a city that many consider to be the most boring holiday in Europe and I had a great time. Europe is full of exciting urban breaks, each one different from the others.
Tourists gather in cities on the continent for a variety of reasons, including museums, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, tours, or the weather. European cities are not the same as other cities. It is the beauty of having diversity at our gateway.
However, there is one city that tourists have called “bored.”
Brussels is the capital of Belgium and can be accessed from the UK by flight or train from London's St. Pancras International. The latter was the way I got there, getting off the train and stepped into the city centre for a few days.
I've heard such great things about Brussels in terms of what to do, but I was there for three days and somehow managed to stay pretty busy. So I think we should actually consider visiting Europe's most “boring” cities for a few days.
One thing that really stood out to me about the city was eating and drinking on the streets that created a lovely atmosphere when the sun shines in the Belgian capital. I went to Brussels in mid-April and I was lucky with the weather.
First off, I walked around town and checked out the site. Brussels has some amazing architecture – the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudura, and Brussels Town Hall.
But the best scene is the epic location, a square surrounded by some of the most beautiful Gothic buildings you've ever seen. Outside this square, there are great bars, restaurants, souvenir shops, spots, and plenty of winding streets to grab some delicious Belgian waffles.
While you're mentioning food, you'll need to try the famous Belgian fries known as “fritte” or “pom fritte” while you're here. After all, Belgium is the birthplace of French fries.
The architecture was breathtaking in Brussels, but for me the real standout of the city is the culture of the restaurant and bar, with tables and chairs spreading across the street in the square, creating a true surrounding food and drinking experience for tourists and locals. Additionally, some grabbed some beers from local convenience stores and enjoyed themselves with friends in the scenic square surrounded by restaurants and bars, a scenic square with statues.
While exploring the city, I came across a lovely outdoor bar in Park de Burgsel. Brussels may not be Europe's most thrilling city, but it's not boring to roam, admire architecture and try out local food.
According to Tiktoker Geoexplorer, Brussels is one of the most boring cities in all of Europe as it is home to only waffles and government buildings. In my view, it could not be far from the truth.
You don't need the time in Brussels. In fact, a day or two is probably enough.
But just because you hear someone on Tiktok call it “boring” it definitely shouldn't be ignored. If you're going for a city break where you can enjoy the scenery and local hospitality and slow things down, Brussels might be the perfect getaway for you.
Furthermore, Brussels is located near a small city in Ghent, and I visited too. Ghent is a criminally underrated destination for me, and the day trip here was something I thoroughly enjoyed due to its stunning buildings and quaint cafes.
Brussels is also not far from Bruges, another city on the list of places to visit.
