A city dressed in rainbows

We land from Geneva on a Friday in May, and Brussels immediately greets us with rainbow flags everywhere. Hanging from balconies, stretched across streets, painting the city with pride. We wander through the center, wide-eyed: never have we seen a capital so fully dressed in LGBT+ colors.

Our bags barely dropped at the Cardo Brussels Hotel, we head out again. A Belgian beer on a terrace, then a walk to the Grand Place, glowing golden in the evening light. It feels like Brussels is setting the stage just for us. Later, the gay district keeps us dancing with DJs, music, and smiles all around. The night is joyful, and we just let it carry us.

Pride in full swing

The next morning starts with a little workout, then our favorite ritual: painting our rainbow beards. They’re our Pride signature, and as always, they make people smile.

The parade is breathtaking. Huge crowds, endless flags, music pulsing through the streets. We dance, laugh, sip a couple of gin & tonics under the sun. Brussels feels alive, buzzing with energy, and we’re right in the middle of it.

As the evening chill sets in, we grab jackets and head back downtown. The Grand Place lit in rainbow colors is beyond words. Unreal, magical. Dinner is at Manneken Café (Rue du Marché aux Poulets 39), a little gem with delicious food, kind service, and cozy vibes. We leave glowing, and of course the night keeps going back in the gay district.

Cycling into Sunday

Sunday flows slower. We linger in bed, then hop on city bikes to explore further. The ride takes us past the Royal Palace, through the Parc de Bruxelles, and all the way to the Parc du Cinquantenaire, full of families and sunshine.

Before leaving, we circle back through the city center one last time, soaking up the rainbows, the atmosphere, the pride in the air. Then it’s already time to fly back to Geneva — with Brussels still buzzing inside us.