Brussels wasn’t a city I knew much about and that made arriving from Paris by train feel like a blank slate. I planned to stay only a couple of quick nights on my way to Amsterdam, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much Brussels had to offer: striking architecture, great food, and excellent beer everywhere.

My hostel was on the edge of the city center, but Brussels was easy to navigate and walkable. I took full advantage of the *etro, and even more advantage of the waffles and beer. One night, a group from the hostel went out to Delirium, where we sampled far too many Belgian brews from their famously massive menu.