On a June night, I took the Eurostar train from London to Brussels, Belgium. I didn’t want to spend any of the three days I had left to tour this nation. I had four places to visit in three days, and I was determined to see as much as I could. I did not have the luxury of a flexible schedule.

By the time I left Belgium, I had come to the conclusion that it had everything a traveler could want from a European destination: stunning architecture, picturesque views of the water, delectable food, excellent beer, the allure of winding cobblestone streets, and the best chocolate I’d ever tasted. Belgium is the place to go if you want to discover a small, diverse country in Europe.

When I visit a new place, there is a discussion that constantly arises in my head. Do I stay a few days in one place and explore the cafés and streets at a more leisurely pace? Or should I start off quickly and take in as much as I can? I tend to choose the latter at this point in my life. When I’m juggling two lives—the ideal life of a digital nomad and the practical one of two kids who depend on me at home—I can’t afford to go more slowly. There will be time to go more slowly in the future, but not yet.

In comparison to its EU neighbors, Belgium is a smaller country, making travel a little easier thanks to its effective public transit system as well as its smaller size.

Despite the fact that Belgians speak a variety of languages, French is the one I understand the best because I’ve studied it in school.

My wonderful travel companion Gro and I have travelled to Scandinavia together as well as Bergen, Norway earlier this year. I adore her. She’s always ready for an adventure, so she was immediately on board when I suggested that we travel to Belgium. Gro was born and raised in Norway, has three sons, splits her time between Norway and California, and is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. She and I first met in a fitness class, and I absolutely adore going places with her.

For those who like to wander at a slower pace, I’d recommend extending a trip to Belgium to four or even five days, spending one day per city to acquire a feel for each one. Gro and I explored four cities in Belgium in three days; we were long distance walkers and averaged ten miles a day. We visited the vibrant city of Brussels, chic Antwerp, vivacious Ghent, and the unmissable romantic Bruges during our trip.

Brussels, close to the Midi train station, served as our home base. Because I like Airbnb apartments better than hotels, I rented one.

Being close to the Midi train station was ideal because it is the hub for all train lines entering and leaving Brussels. I traveled from London by the Eurostar and arrived at my Airbnb flat, which was ideally positioned close to the station, after a 5-minute walk. Since Midi Station serves as the entry point to all other Belgian cities, staying close by or just a few metro stations away from it is beneficial. From there, you can take day trips to Antewerp, Ghent, and Bruges.

It is SO simple to take the train from Brussels to other destinations. The Midi in Brussels is the most organized and stress-free of all the train stations and metros I’ve used in Europe. Everything is color coded, numbered, and on schedule.

BRUSSELS On our first day of exploring Brussels, we started with the renowned Grand Place. I was relieved that we arrived at the location at 9 a.m. before it became very congested with tourists. This square has a lot of history and is one of the primary attractions. The buildings are decorated with lovely intricate details.

Near Grand Place, there is a renowned little bronze statue of a boy peeing that everyone stops to admire and take pictures with. It is called Mannekin Pis (strange). I wasn’t impressed, but I rationalized that it was on the list of things to see, so we went.

The majority of the neighborhoods around the Grand Place include shops, cafes, and interesting historical sites to see. The streets of Brussels are delightful to meander through.

You can’t avoid it if you keep strolling around town. Waffles! You’ll struggle to decide which topping to add on a Belgian waffle if you have a sweet craving. You will have many opportunities to sample these regional specialties because there are vendors on every street!

At first, as I was exploring the city, Brussels struck me as being similar to Paris. I noticed it most when I was at the parks, cafes, and taking in the architecture.

I started to respect Brussels for its beauty and distinctiveness as I learned more about it and realized that it had its own pulse and spirit.

The sausages we ate in Brussels were amazing, and of course one must eat street fries. Fries are a staple of Belgian cuisine, and you can get them from street vendors in every city. They’re a terrific late-night snack, so make sure to get them with sauce!

The variety of beers available in Belgium is enormous; it was challenging to keep track of them all when we were there. We tried everything, from the monks’ trappist beer to the local favorite the bartender suggested.

The cafés and bars in Brussels are open, and on a warm night it’s wonderful to stroll about the Grand Place, which is brightly lighted, as well as the nearby streets, which are very safe and bustling with activity.

On a balmy summer night, we walked for hours, stopping at various bars that the locals had recommended before returning to our flat. Although bars stay open into the wee hours of the morning, remember that the metro closes at midnight.

In the morning and early afternoon of Day 2, we visited Antwerp, and in the late afternoon and evening, we visited Ghent. Although it was ambitious, we managed to visit two cities in one day.

ANTEWERP Our Airbnb lady insisted that we include Antewerp into our schedule even if we hadn’t originally planned to, and she was correct. A pleasant surprise for us when we arrived in Antwerp in the morning at the magnificent train station. Look at this lobby, wow!

You may reach fashion row by walking down the main street in the direction of Grote Market. With its mix of affordable and upscale clothing—Handamp;M and Armani—it was like a miniature Fifth Avenue in New York City.

Watch out for cyclists as almost everyone uses bicycles to get around here. The clock tower bells in Antwerp chime on the hour (exactly like in Salzburg), which adds to the city’s allure.

The main cathedral and other well-known buildings are located in a very small area, making it simple to visit everything in a few hours. Old town is home to a few ancient landmarks close to Grote Markt. Some quite adorable eateries are tucked away among the famous sites; we stopped at one for lunch before returning to the train station.

GHENT There are many young people in Ghent (also known as Gent), which is a university town worth visiting. Ghent is also known for having a vibrant nightlife. From Antewerp, we took a 40-minute train ride, and when we arrived, we discovered we had to take a tram into town.

It is simple to board tram #1 and travel to the center of old town thanks to the tram system. Follow the directions to board the #1 or the #4 tram from the main train station to the center of the old town after purchasing a tram ticket at the travel center inside the train station and obtaining a map. It is simple to stroll from there and explore the local attractions, stores, and canals.

We stayed in Ghent for the shortest amount of time since we were exhausted, but in the four hours we were there before returning to Brussels, we got a good sense of the city.

BRUGES Last but not least, we spent our third and last day in the charming city of Bruges. The most tourists visit this town, and for good reason. The city center is a half-mile walk from the train station, but once you are there, it gradually reveals its divine to you. You may walk like we did in Bruges, hire a carriage to drive you about town, or take a canal trip for a different perspective on this wonderful city.

Like the majority of day trip travelers, we arrived by train around 10 a.m. If you stay in Bruges, you’ll have the town to yourself in the morning before the visitors arrive and in the evening after they’ve left, so if you’re seeing the country, it might be worth it to consider using Bruges as your base rather than Brussels.

The canals in Bruges at times resembled a Disneyland ride as tourists board boats and listen to the captain’s commentary on the speaker as he describes the history and architecture around each turn.

I was glad that we had spent our final full day in Bruges because it is a truly Belgian treasure. After several hours of traveling, we stopped at Bourgognes des Flandres , a brewery by the sea, because we were hungry. We selected their red house brew to accompany our order of meatballs, cheese, and a cheese platter. This was the ideal location to unwind and soak up the Bruges atmosphere while taking in the canal boat traffic.

Every turn in the streets of Bruges will reveal breathtaking sights. There are numerous cafes where you may sit and people-watch in the squares and alleys. This waiter’s smile and the magnificent vista behind him caught my attention in particular.

One of the main attractions is The Market Square (Markt), which is a great location for a photo opportunity. This area is also surrounded by cafes from where you can observe the climbable Belfry on the opposite side; I won’t say more; you’ll have to go see it for yourself.

There were sites we didn’t go to, such the Torture Museum or French Fries Museum in Bruges, which are both legitimate museums. I would suggest stopping at the Beer Experience which is just near to Markt. As you take in the view of Markt below, climb the steps where you may sample five beers for ten euros. This was a surprise find and our go-to spot to rest our feet after days of extensive walking.

I had to tell you about my experience with Belgian chocolate before I go. I tried a variety of truffles while traveling, and each time I did, I fell in love and named it as my favorite. Because it was the nicest chocolate I had ever eaten, at first I thought all Belgian chocolatiers secretly added fairy dust to their confections.

Then I discovered that Belgian chocolatiers have higher requirements for their chocolate production, needing real sugar, 100% cocoa butter, and nothing artificial, among other things. It has been made in this manner for more than a century.

I’ve tasted excellent chocolate from almost every nation, but I formally award Belgium the title of THE BEST. The chocolates were so fantastic that I brought many boxes home. I’ve concealed them in my home and am slowly enjoying each piece. People should visit Belgium for the chocolate if they have a cause to do so.