Grand-Place, Brussels

One of the most beautiful squares in Europe, surrounded by the Gothic Town Hall and the gilded baroque guild houses of medieval Brussels. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the heart of the city. Come back at night, when it's lit up, and in August of even-numbered years, when the whole square is covered with a huge flower carpet. Have a meal or at least a drink on one of the terraces around it.

The narrow streets around it are full of chocolate shops, and the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, an elegant 19th-century shopping arcade, is just north. Try a Belgian waffle from one of the street stalls, and a Belgian beer in one of the old cafés such as À la Mort Subite or Delirium. Note that many shops are closed on Sundays.