Belgium

Belgium punches well above its weight for such a compact country. Brussels serves up Art Nouveau architecture that'll make your neck ache from looking up, while the Atomium looms like something from a 1950s sci-fi movie. Duck into Delirium Café on Impasse de la Fidélité for their legendary beer menu of 3,000+ brews, then stumble over cobblestones to Place du Jeu de Balle flea market the next morning.

Brugge feels like stepping into a medieval fairy tale, minus the Disney crowds if you visit on weekday mornings. Skip the tourist boat tours and rent a bike instead – locals zip along the canal paths like it's the most natural thing in the world. In Ghent, climb the 91 meters up Saint Bavo's Cathedral bell tower for views that justify the burning calves, then head to Dok Noord for dinner where locals actually eat. The chocolate shops aren't tourist traps here – Pierre Marcolini in Brussels and The Chocolate Line in Antwerp create edible art that costs more than dinner but tastes like heaven melting on your tongue.

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