Brussels Travel Guide

  Ephemeral beauty... Begonias going...
by budapest8
 
  • Ephemeral beauty... Begonias going giddy!
      Ephemeral beauty... Begonias going...
    by budapest8
  •   Brussels
    by tvor
  •   Brussels
    by cwningen
  •   Other Belgian
    by 07paul
  •   Brussels
    by toonsarah
 

Pro

Bigjones profile photo

  Very international, great architecture, cool people ;-) 


Con

melissa_bel profile photo

  Bruxellisation (destroying old-time and often beautiful building to put ugly insignificant but more modern ones), looks a little sedate at first. 


In a nutshell

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  Nutshell must conform to E..U Directive 347b...all nutshells must.... 

 

Explore Brussels

Things to Do  

Grand' Place & guild houses

Grand' Place & guild houses, Brussels

 427 Reviews   Grote-Markt as this square is called in flamandian, is the greatest square of Bruxelles. At the origin of the city there was a bottom market which was the center of activity of a developing small town. After centuries, everyone become richer than a building, testifying that the city becomes the... 

Manneken Pis

Manneken Pis, Brussels

 191 Reviews  A very small statue, almost missed it. Crowded, hardly possible to get a picture of you taken standing in front of it without any other tourists in it! But lovely and of course a must-see while you're in Bruxelles! 

Hotels  

Conrad Brussels

 11 Reviews and 313 Opinions  Location, Building 

Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo

 8 Reviews and 355 Opinions  The Rocco Forte hotel amigo is considered the best in Brussels and is part of the Leading Hotels of... 

Restaurants  

Fish, Mussels & Seafood

Fish, Mussels & Seafood, Brussels

 41 Reviews  Rue del Bouchers is a centric street, parallel to Grassmarkt street. All the restaurants throughout the street offer mussels as a star dish. There is not much variation in price, but we realized that the size of the casserole does change, increasing as you walk down the street. We finally chose one... 

Other Belgian

Other Belgian, Brussels

 94 Reviews  In Rue des Dominicains 30, Sebastiao Garcia, a (small) portugese guy with a big moustache runs the place for at least 20years. Southern hospitality and good food with a mediteranean touch ! Must be one of the smallest resto's in Brussels. Kitchen in the cellar, street terras + small diningroom +... 

Nightlife  

Other Pubs & Bars

Other Pubs & Bars, Brussels

 111 Reviews  A well-worn Art Nouveau cafe with a loyal following. Seemed a bit more intimate than the Falstaff around the corner and with more of a locals feel. Definitely try the 'Half and Half" cocktail for a pleasant start to the evening. Smokers are now banished to the back near the WC's (January 27,... 

Dancing

Dancing, Brussels

 55 Reviews  Chez Johnny I think embodies a bit of the Belgian spirit. It's kitsch, quirky, does not take itself seriously and above all, knows how to have fun. People, if you're looking for cutting edge techno, this is not your place! First of all, Chez Johnny doesn't call itself a "nightclib" but a "party... 

Transportation  

Métros/Trams/Bus

Métros/Trams/Bus, Brussels

 104 Reviews  The Brussels Metro system is reliable and is a good, inexpensive way to avoid the expensive taxis. It works similar to the Paris Metro in that a train's terminus determines the direction. The disappointing thing is that the trains are fairly worn and dirty. Stations are a little creepy after 9 pm. I... 

Trains

Trains, Brussels

 105 Reviews  I took the train from Brussel Nord to the Airport. It is an effortless, barely 22 minute journey for only about 5.20 Euros one-way. Make sure that you are sitting in the correct class since the Conductor will nicely point it out to you if you are not! 

Shopping  

Shopping Malls & Streets

Shopping Malls & Streets, Brussels

 67 Reviews  Brussels has very limited opening hours. Most city centre shops and boutiques close at 18.00 most days and even the supermarkets close at 20.00 the latest. Normally, the shops are not open on Sundays. However, in the run up Xmas, most shops will be open on the four Sundays preceding the holidays. 

Chocolates

Chocolates, Brussels

 55 Reviews  Around the Manneken Pis there's a lively chocolat business. Several shops rival displaying the most inviting chocolat candies, some of them with fruits. It's difficult to resist, and more difficult to choose the right shop. Skip this area if you're in a diet! 

Local Customs  

Eating

Eating, Brussels

 43 Reviews  Belgium chocolate is famous, and remarkably linked to Tourism. I think that it is impossible to approach Manneken Pis without being compelled to enter one of the many shops that rival to make the most attractive presentation. I didn't make any kind of enquiry, and I don't know the percentage of... 

Languages

Languages, Brussels

 27 Reviews  As the Flemish speaking inhabitants started over the two last centuries to speak more and more French they often did it keeping the Flemish tonic accent at the begin of the word on the contrary of French. The result sounds typical and is easily noticed by the French. Even if I do my best, they will... 

Warnings Or Dangers  

Avoid at Night

Avoid at Night, Brussels

 26 Reviews  Advice given by the State Department to American tourists and just published in the belgian press (La Libre Belgique 17/06/2011): The three main stations in Brussels (North, Central, and "especially" the South) are a fertile ground for pickpockets, thieves bags, small luggage and computers, warned... 

Pickpockets

Pickpockets, Brussels

 26 Reviews  Just returned from Brussels where my passport was stolen when I got out of the metro at Andreessens and was consulting a map for the location of a certain street. An older man approached and offered to help and while we were both focused on my map someone, doubtless an accomplice (who I never saw or... 

Tourist Traps  

Restaurants around Grand' Place

Restaurants around Grand' Place, Brussels

 44 Reviews  It's no secret that rue des Bouchers is a big scam! As a local I feel sorry for all those tourists disappointed by their meals! As a foreigner-looking person also I'm used to waiters trying to get me into having dinner at their place. They propose you a free drink, dessert, anything that seem like a... 

Atomium & Heyzel area

Atomium & Heyzel area, Brussels

 16 Reviews  The Atomium is an awesome sight to look at, and I recommend at least the trip to see it. The structure is imposing, and is an amazing piece of architecture. However, the trip to the top sphere is not worth the aggravation of the extremely long lines. When you finally do reach the observation area,... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Tours & Walks

Tours & Walks, Brussels

 71 Reviews  A meeting with a Brussels Greeter is a free of charge opportunity to get a unique and personal insight into the city. Your Greeter will take you to unusual and often hidden places that are off the tourist trail. Experience Brussels unique atmosphere through visiting your Greeter’s favourite streets,... 

Markets & Flea Markets

Markets & Flea Markets, Brussels

 11 Reviews  Go to the MAROLLEN (quarter in BRUSSELS) and walk around and I am sure that you will find beautifully coloured nice clothing and lots of fine gifts.......POTTERY e.g.. and....when the shops don't have whatever you want walk over the KAATSBALPLEIN, where there is a flea-market from 7AM till 2PM (and... 

Favorites  

Chocolate, Waffles & Fries

Chocolate, Waffles & Fries, Brussels

 20 Reviews  Genuine Belgians use the word PRALINES for what is called "chocolates" by tourists. If outside the touristic centres you ask for chocolate you will get a bar of chocolate. The production of pralines in Belgium is now in hands of a number of companies who have industrialized the process what does,... 

Grand' Place & guild houses

Grand' Place & guild houses, Brussels

 92 Reviews  I use to say that this square is the most beautiful that I know. Great proportions well balanced and harmonized buildings, precious details. The only sad thing was its dark look. You may imagine my pleasure when I saw that the buildings are being cleaned, and the white stone is now shining almost... 

The Place

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The People

1,104 Members Live Here
 
Advice from the Locals
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 Brussels - I first visited Brussels with my parents when I was 11 - little did I know then that 15 years later I would move here to live! And I'm still here. From my first visit, all I remember is the Atomium,... 

1,104 members live in Brussels

 

Questions and Answers

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Q:  Hi. I'm planning a trip to London for the Olympics and to visit family, and afterwards, I'm planning to take the Eurostar to... 

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A: The Eurostar timetable won't change much, so you can assume that the earliest train Brussels>London will get you to London around 8am. If you decide to take that... 

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Top Brussels Writers

1

More than a decade in Brussels

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 Antiques, comics murales, De skieven architek, the flea market on Place du Jeu de balle, Brussels dialect, fun & themed cafés: les Marolles area features those. Cosmopolitan Brussels Home of many... 

2

Say Brussels?? K! let's go to find The Soul

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 Brussels... been there several times and sure need to go back a few more times. I have only explored a very few musea and quite some city area's. I still haven't found the heart (or the soul) of this... 

3

Gothic treasures , art nouveaux - a royal city!

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 I've got some interesting experiences in Brussels. I'd love to share with you the 101 tips I've written, the 107 photos uploaded, and 1 travelogue I've created. 

4

Brussels

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  It was a very short trip to Brussels but in that short trip I managed to gather a lot of wonderful memories of this amazing city. I was never been keen about Brussels but when I got there, I...... 

5

Brussels, Capital of Belgium

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  Brussels : Capital of Belgium Brussels : Capital of Europe Brussels : a marvellous Metropolis with a big variety on great architecture, monuments and museums. For me the Highlights of Brussels... 

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Travel Editors for Brussels

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