Most travellers – at least the ones I know, anyways – seem to prefer European destinations such as London, Paris, Rome and other common municipalities.  But in light of the slumping economy, one European destination gets little buzz – Brussels, Belgium.

Brussels is home of many of the European Union institutions; as such, this city is typically an expensive place to visit.  As of right now?  Not so much.  And you can be creative insofar as having a good time there, as well.  And don’t discount the Belgian eats; one can get a plate of mussels (a local specialty for the uninitiated) for around 30 Euros (about $20 USD).  Not to mention that there’s always the free chocolate samples (Belgian chocolate is to be tasted to be believed!) along with their legendary waffles.

Lots of landmarks and other places of interest to visit, as well.  Places such as The Grand-Place (the top destination there), Manneken Pis (this is the famed statue of a little boy urinating into a fountain) seems to be quite popular, along with lots of parks around the city.  As one who has been there, you can rest assured that Brussels is one of the ”greener” cities in Europe.

Transportation is relatively inexpensive; public transportation will set you back 4.50 Euros ($6.30 USD) for a one-day pass while a three-day pass will run you about 9.50 Euros ($13.20 USD).  Of course, if you choose to illegally travel on their public transport, be prepared to pay a 50 Euro ($70) fine.

Naturally, you want to lay your head somewhere after a busy day in Brussels; surprisingly, there’s some decent bargains within their city limits.  Some hotels are charging as low as 57.50 Euros (around $81 USD) per night.  So if European culture, green parks, the prospect of going to Europe on the cheap and the Belgium lifestyle intrigue you, then I highly suggest Brussels as a possible European destination.  For current travel deals for Brussels, please click here.