The two main languages spoken in Brussels are French and Flemish, though most Bruxelloise (as they are called in French) choose to "parlez francais." Some people speak a dialect-especially in the area known as Marolles-that's a mix of Dutch and French.

Brussels is a ringed city in the shape of a heart, at whose center sits the stunningly beautiful Grand Place. During the summer, a flower festival means that every inch of the Place is covered in blossoms, creating what locals refer to as "the floral carpet." Just before the winter holidays, twinkle lights illuminate the guilded facades of the surrounding medieval buildings. There's a Christmas fair in December, too.

Just south of the Grand Place, you'll find the celebrated icon of Brussels, Manneken Pis (Dutch for "little man peeing"). He stands 2-feet-tall, gets dolled up (literally) for each of the major holidays, and is a legendary figure of Belgian life.