The Monocle Travel Guide to Brussels + Antwerp

A journey through Brussels' and Antwerp's outposts of good food, design, retail and more, this definitive travel guide will make you feel like a local no matter where you are from.

It s a boon and burden to Belgium that Brussels is the capital of both the country and the rest of Europe. There are many benefits to hosting this lofty seat of power but the city can also fall victim to the associated red tape. An hour away by train, Antwerp is a more relaxed affair, where the creative and cultural scenes almost outshine the city s famous diamonds.

Discover both cities and find plenty of gems throughout. Enjoy Antwerp s stellar fashion offering and admire its architectural delights. Eat in Brussels finest restaurants and visit its most spectacular museums.

Brussels may be the heart of the EU but unassuming Antwerp has long been one of Europe s most prosperous ports. The Monocle Travel Guide drops anchor at both cosmopolitan hubs and dips in and out of a few of Belgium s smaller, canal-laced cities in between.