Brussels
If you have never visited Brussels, make sure to check out Grote Markt/Grand Place and Manneken Pis. Other must-visits are Jubelpark/Parc du Cinquantenaire, the Atomium, and Koninklijke Sint-Hubertusgalerijen/Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert.
A great place to have lunch is on the roof terrace of the mim, the musical instruments museum, a real architectural masterpiece.
Mechelen
Have a stroll around the beautiful city centre. Or, check out the trail along the river Dijle. You will be walking right above the river, a unique setting. The public library, housed in Predikheren, an ancient abbey which was repurposed in 2019, is simply exquisite. Also well worth a visit is Wintertuin Ursulinen. This Art Nouveau gem used to be a girls’ boarding school and is now a listed building. For lunch, try Vleeshalle, the former meat market, now a trendy food market with great eateries and some lovely little shops. For more information about tourist attractions, visit www.visit.mechelen.be.
Prefer staying locally? A walk along Prinsenkasteel and Grimbergen Abbey not only takes you through wonderful green surroundings, but also along a number of historic buildings. And, if stargazing is your thing, the Mira observatory is situated right by Thermae Grimbergen!
Meise Botanic Garden
Meise Botanic Garden is not only a stunning estate, it also offers a wide range of activities, including an art trail, a treasure trail, a barefoot path, shows, and more. In other words, well worth a visit.
Don’t forget to book your visit to the Botanic Garden in advance.
Spend the night at Thermae Grimbergen in a stunning room and enjoy a delicious breakfast. After that, you will be ready for a whole day of exploring. When you return to your room in the evening, you can still squeeze in a couple of hours of sauna and wellness and really relax for a while. In true sauna vacation style!