Brussels

There's much more to Brussels than beer, chocolate and chips. Brussels ('Bruxelles' in French, 'Brussel' in Flemish) a is stylish city where business-suited Eurocrats hope to build continental unity in one of Europe's only bilingual capital cities. Its millenniums-old tradition of pragmatic mercantilism and international relations is symbolized by grand halls, fabulous architecture and Pis Mannekin, the sculpture of a little boy urinating that has become the city's beloved symbol.

It's no wonder that Brussels' most famed exports include Hergé's intrepid explorer Tintin, and the surreal art of masters such as Magritte and Delvaux, whose creations capture the absurdity and excitement of a city that has become the undisputed crossroads of Europe. So head to a cozy cafe, order a lambic beer or fresh hot chocolate and just soak it all in.