The Grand-Place, Brussels

The Grand-Place is the magnificent central square of Brussels and one of the most beautiful in Europe, a UNESCO ensemble ringed by ornate gilded guild houses, the soaring Gothic tower of the Town Hall and the King's House. Rebuilt in glorious baroque splendour after a bombardment in 1695, it dazzles by day and is floodlit by night, and every other August a vast carpet of flowers covers the cobbles.

What you actually see

• The guild houses - the ornate gilded facades ringing the square.
• The Town Hall - the soaring Gothic tower dominating the square.
• The floodlit square - the ensemble beautifully lit after dark.
• The Flower Carpet - the vast flower carpet laid every other August.

When to go

Year-round; magical when floodlit at night, and spectacular during the biennial Flower Carpet in mid-August. It is central and quick to see, easily combined with the nearby Manneken Pis and the chocolate shops.

Honest expectations

It is a single square, seen in an hour or two, though a stunning one; it gets crowded and the surrounding lanes are touristy. The famous Manneken Pis statue nearby is comically small and often mobbed. It is best appreciated lingering over the facades and returning after dark.

Nearby

The Manneken Pis, the royal galleries and the chocolate shops are steps away; the Atomium is across the city.