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JumpingRamong in Brussels, Beligium
In Flemish
Grand Place -- a good place to start
Army museum - Heavy artillery WWI
Hi all,
I was wondering if anyone could tell me what would be a good area to stay in in Brussels, reasonably central to the main sites and not too far from a metro stop. From what I can gather, most of the sights are quite spread out, so this makes it difficult to figure out the "best" area to stay.
Thanks,
Trish
You probably are best to stay near the Grand Place. Handy for the transport, shops and restaurants. It`s been almost eight years since I was there but I remember that we stayed in the Ibis. That was a reasonably good location.
As said above, The Grand Place, is the place to be.
You don´t say a word about budget and I think that it is the most expensive area in town..so it would be a problem. We stayed in a very good hotel, NH, and it was not expensive because it was weekend when the public servants from all over europe leaves...but then from monday to thursday prices rise a lot.
As noted around the Grand Place is best. Depending on your budget you may choose the Ibis as mentioned above. If you want something less expensive just across the street from the Ibis is the Hotel de la Madeleine.
Small 2* extraordinarily well located for an inexpensive yet decent place to stay. Three minutes walk from the Central train station, 2 minutes from Grand Place. Easy walking distance to most tourist sites. Excellent choice of places to eat with varying prices just outside the front door.
Small rooms, some with slightly peeling walls. Clean, well kept. Can be a bit noisy on weekend nights.
Friendly and competent people at the reception desk.
When leaving Brussels for Schipol airport I wanted to do an online check-in. Couldn't do it from Belgium. Asked the desk clerk to call them for me. He spent some 20 minutes trying to help. The KLM people would not accept an early check-in from outside of the Netherlands. Not the reception clerk's fault - he was immensely helpful and did everything he could think of to help me.
Phone: Tel.: +32.2.513.29.73
Address: Rue de la Montagne 20 -22
Most places a tourist wants to visit are within 5-10 minutes walk.
The Central train station is 3 minutes walk, the Grand Place 2 minutes.
Website: http://www.hotel-la-madeleine.be/html_en/contact.htm
Other Contact: email: info@info-la-madeleine
Hi Trish
My daughter travelled to Brussels and found it quite dull. she used the hop-on hop-off bus tour service to see the sights. My recommendation would be to maybe spend a day or so there (if you must) and rather go to Bruge (Brugge). It is a wonderfully quaint medieaval town virtually surrounded by a moat, easy to walk around and loads of lovely places to explore and fabulous eating places, the chocolate is to die for. Its a short train ride from Brussels.
If you do decide to go there, I will try to remember the B&B where I stayed, highly recommended.
have a great trip
Cindy
Thanks everyone, looks like Grand Place is the place!
It is great to go to the City Hall! There is a tourist information desk here where you can get a free map including a set trip printed already on it. This map proved to be very usefull since we got to see a lot of things while being in Brussels.
The Parc royal, sits in all its neoclassic splendour between the royal palace and the paliament, sort of between the lower and the upper parts of the town.
Bureaucrats and eurocrats rush through it daily getting from work back home via the Gare central. They frequently trip over tourists, day-trippers and travellers with their guide books in their hands. The beautiful people jog through with Madonna's finest pumping into their ears... it's a busy place for a park.
And I bet you that not one of them has ever looked at the notice in the photo... and realised that THEY are responsible for picking up the autumn leaves, scooping the poop of the dogs and generally clipping and preening. The sign says:
This garden, created for the pleasure of the public, is placed under the safekeeping of all citizens
How can you not love a city that empowers its inhabitants to do a spot of gardening?
Neeeeliiiiiiiiiiie, this tip is especially for you :-)))
I saw the sign at a shop in Marolles where a lot of nice furniture shops are. This shop sells bathroom equipment - what else with a name like that :-)))
I recommend parks to soak up the sun. Always some place, bench, grass where to sit, lay and even have a good nap.
In summer, Parc Royal is nice.. with some techno music.. a stand for fresh drinks and ice-cream. Many tables where to chill out with friends. I think it's even possible to go there and meet friends, party after some time spent in office. Plus, in summer, days are long so even after work, you can party, chill out socialize in this type of place. I was there while spotting the cows in Brussels. Kind of fun I had with Dannie (irisbe). I knew Parc Royal would be crowded but I didn't foresee the refreshment bar and the techno-music mixed by a DJ. Yet, it seems to have been an institution for some time already... every summer, according to friends of mine. Since when exactly? I don't know. I used to flee to Madagascar for summertime so, for a long time, I didn't care much about summer activities on here.
Aaah! Parklife in Brussels. Whilst I use to consider Belgians as "interior people" (as I noticed they tended to cherish their homie interior and take good care of it, for them having only few weeks to enjoy their garden), summer can prove me wrong. Parklife is essential in summer, so is terrasse life. For quieter parklife, hit Parc du cinquantenaire, or even better, Tervueren park where lies the Central Africa museum. For a wilder parklife, step down at Herrmann Debroux station and hit for Domaine du Rouge-Cloître. Also, do not overlook small parks in Uccle (whose sadly I cannot remember the name).
It happens... forgot the map at home, tourist information centre is not open yet, so you think you will get lost in Brussels?
Well you are lucky as Brussels made since a couple of years a big effort to add direction panels all over the place!
They are very helpful for the lost tourists and not-Bruxelois(e) like me `-) Trying to read maps :)
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