HEYSEL. Spend a day with typical Belgian families at Brussels' Bruparck. Bring your swimsuit, and take a dip at the Oceadium. The Kinepolis is a movie lover's paradise; with 24 screens and an IMAX theater, it's one of Europe's largest cinemas. Merry Belgium, another World's Fair holdover, is a "restaurant row" with cute cafes and welcoming terraces that invite visitors to dine and relax. A playground, Internet café and antique carousel complete the available amusements. Admission to the park is free, but individual attractions have varying ticket prices. Combo tickets are available.

LOWER TOWN. Often considered laughter-provoking, comic strips in Belgium are serious business ­ to the point of being referred to as the "ninth art." Belgium's best-known comic export is Tintin, the boy and his dog created by Herge in 1929. Along with Tintin, the Belgian Comic Strip Center pays homage to Asterix, Thorgal, the Smurfs, and Willy and Wanda, along with Andy Capp, Charlie Brown, and some familiar superheroes. The museum is housed in a renovated Art Nouveau building designed by Brussels' native son, Victor Horta.

UPPER TOWN. For Belgium's golden jubilee in 1880, Leopold II built this park to showcase the country's finest arts and crafts. Today, its massive buildings house three city museums: Autoworld, the Royal Museum of the Army and Military History, and the Royal Museum of Art and History. Autoworld displays more than 400 rare and vintage cars, including ones owned by JFK, Franklin Roosevelt, and the Belgian royal family. In the Royal Museum of the Army and Military History, more than 100,000 artifacts chart the past ­ the facility is one of the largest of its kind. In addition, the history of the Belgian Army is detailed, and an impressive display of military aircraft is presented. The Royal Museum of Art and History is so massive and comprehensive that visitors are encouraged to use an index and a map to chart what they want to see. The museum's most prestigious collections deal with European decorative arts, including spectacular Belgian tapestries and lace.

IXELLES. Native son Victor Horta developed Art Nouveau style, which is arguably Belgium's most influential aesthetic movement. Inspired by English Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau is characterized by flowing, organic shapes that show underlying structure but remain beautiful. Nowhere are Horta's principles more evident than in the home he designed and lived in for more than twenty years. Glazed skylights softly filter light, and gentle curves lead naturally from room to room. Muted fabrics and honey-toned woods add to the ambiance. Horta designed every aspect of the house, down to the intricate hinges on the French doors. No English-language descriptions are available, but Horta's artistry speaks for itself. Try to tour the house early on, because the architectural style is apparent in buildings around the country.

JETTE. Surrealist painter René Magritte was one of Belgium's most famous artists. He and his wife Georgette lived in this suburban house for twenty-four years, during which time he produced his most famous art. Most people think "bowler hat" when they hear his name, and indeed, the artist's own topper is on display, along with sketches, his very first childhood painting, and the only work he owned by another artist, a photo by Man Ray. The museum does a first-rate job capturing how Magritte lived and painted, but to see his body of work, it's best to visit the Modern Art building of the Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts.