🗺 Tourism Information
Brussels, is the capital of Belgium, principal seat of the Belgian Royal Family, and capital of the European Union. Brussels is Belgium's main economic and educational hub, which gives the city a more work feel than other towns. However, in Brussels you can get a proper feel for Belgian life, especially its fantastic restaurant and café culture, the capital has more than enough things to do to keep visitors occupied, with world-class museums and art galleries, as well as more modern sights, such as the Atomium, and some wonderful remnants of old architecture in the old town quarter. Don't forget to stock up on Brussels' famous chocolate and try some Belgium specialities like fries and waffles!
Brussels is a popular place to visit at any time of the year. However, many tourists choose to stay in Brussels between late spring and early autumn (May to September), when the weather is at its best, although due to the favourable climate, the many attractions can also become crowded and hotels more expensive.
Brussels becomes noticeably quieter when the winter climate is at its coldest, from December to February. The weather at this time is often frosty, with periods of light snow, sleet and rain. January tends to be the coldest month in Brussels and whilst the climate is chilly and often windy, daytime temperatures rarely fall to freezing and average approximately 5°C, dropping to -1°C at night.
The weather quickly improves and by the middle of April, increased sunshine results in highs of around 15°C on the best days. March to May would be the best time to visit Brussels. In June, July and August, you can expect to enjoy summer highs 28-30°C during the best weather, although rainy spells are always a possibility.
Brussels is well connected by public transport and it's infrastructure is reliable and modern. There are metro, tram and busses for those who take public transport, they are the best way to travel around the city when visiting. However roads are not as crowded as other European capitals, so finding parking and driving in Brussels is also easy if you are renting a car.
First, when arriving by plane to Brussels, there are two main airports:
The main international gateway to the city is called Brussels Zaventem. It is located closer to the city centre and connected by train or bus. Taking the train costs €9.00 one way, with a ride time of just under 20 minutes. Buy your train tickets here. It is also possible to take the train if you connecting to other cities like, Aarlen (170 min), Antwerp (32 min), Bergen (75 min), Bruges (90 min) or Charleroi (83 min). There are also express busses that go between Brussels airport and the European quarter in 30 minutes (Platform C). From Monday to Friday (Until 20:00) there is an express service (number 12) that only serves major stops. During the week, including Saturday and Sunday (and holidays), after 20:00 the line is the number 21 and serves all the stops. It is cheaper to get the tickets at the vending machines, than from the driver. Other public busses into the city centre, are bus 272 or 471 to Gare du Nord (Brussels North train station) for €2. There are also express busses to Antwerp for €10 one way.
The other airport, south of Brussels is called Charleroi Airport, popular for low cost airlines and charter flights. The airport is located 46 Km from central Brussels. Only by express bus or driving it's possible to reach it. The bus times are scheduled to fit in with the flight times and they start running at 3.30am. There is a bus every 30 minutes for a cost of €14.50 one way. To get the best price, you can buy your ticket online here.
When arriving by train you can arrive at the central station (Gare du Midi) or at the North Station (Gare du Nord) depending on where you are coming from. Both stations are connected to the metro or trams. For international busses arriving and departing at Brussels is located just outside the North Station.(Gare du Nord).
The city of Brussels counts with a spacious, modern and efficient transport network,one which is integrated under one system called the MOBIB card. This electronic card costs €5 and can be used on all metros, busses and trams in the city. However you need to register for it and you will need an ID to obtain it. For visitors and tourists it's easier to buy daily tickets which cost €7.50 (24H ticket), €14 (48h ticket) or €18 (72H ticket). Single tickets cost €2 when bought from vending machines.
For the maps of the transport in Brussels please refer to the button links below:
Brussels is honoured to be 3 capitals at once, capital of Flanders, Belgium and Europe. The city started life as a fortress, then developed into a market square and eventually blossomed into the economic, political and social centre of the Flemish capital. Brussels, is a fascinating place with stunning architecture and fascinating history packed into every street and alleyway. The vibe of the city is sometimes very business and bureaucracy focused but at other times it feels laid back and relaxed.
You can find beautiful buildings like the Grand-Place, The Town Hall or Brussel’s Notre Dame Du Sablon as well as more more unusual attractions like the Manneken Pis and The Comic Strip Centre. Brussels has a lot to offer to visitors and locals alike, they all mix together in the many alleys and streets packed with European restaurants serving in particular Greek, Turkish or Italian cuisine. If it's business that brings you to the city then, going out in the evening and tasting some Belgian beer and enjoying some local gastronomy, relaxing after a hard day of work is a very rewarding experience! If you coming to Brussels to visit, check out the many curiosity shops around the centre, antiques, souvenirs, general shopping, parks, museums and other attractions waiting for you! It's definitely not a boring city at all!
Below you can find some of the main things you can do to keep busy in Brussels:
Grand-Place: a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the main tourist attraction of the City of Brussels although its beginnings were less than glamorous. The area was just a swampy sand-bank between two brooks, known as ‘broek sella’ which gave Brussels its name. The sandbank was reclaimed and turned into ‘Niedermerckt’ (lower market) and sold French and English textiles, French wines and German beer. In the Middle Ages wooden houses were built around the market and by the 14th century wealthy families took to building stone mansions which led to the market developing into the main commercial administrative centre. The town hall came in 1402 and by now it was also a political centre. This is where dukes, royalty and emperors were received but the square was also the site of executions. Today the Grand-Place is a beautiful, open cobbled medieval square and is Brussels’ main market square.
✔️Tip: The key time to visit the Grand-Place is every two years, (on even numbers) during the third week of August, Belgian begonia cultivators decorate the Grand-Place with a beautiful flower carpet using around 750,000 begonias. Visitors are greeted with 3,200 square feet of amazing plant tapestry depicting a different theme every year. The square is where daily business is done and where a flurry of local bars and cafés are a superb example of top quality café culture. There is also a daily flower market between March and October and often accompanied with concerts and a light show in the evening.
Popular day trips from Brussels include the historic cities of Bruges and Ghent for their canals and medieval architecture, Antwerp for its vibrant culture and fashion. -Antwerp is Belgium’s second largest. Trains from Bruxelles-Midi to Antwerpen-Centraal take 46–60 minutes.
-Ghent, is one of Belgium's oldest cities, there's a wealth of medieval and classical architecture in Ghent. Trains take 36 minutes from Brussels to Ghent.
-Bruges is a fairy-tale medieval city, one of Europe's best-preserved: picturesque cobbled lanes and dreamy canals lead to grand market squares lined with soaring towers and historical churches. Bruges is dominated by day-trippers in the warmer months.Canal boat tours can be booked from the Rozenhoedkaai and Dijver jetties. Taking the train is the fastest way in getting there.
Going out in Brussels is also fun at night, specially at the weekends for a better vibe. The nightlife of Brussels is varied and entertaining. It has something to suit all tastes and budgets. One of the most worthwhile nights out is Madame Mustache, a club with waiters clad in sailors attire that plays a variety of different music. Entry is free on weeknights but not weekends. Additionally there are plenty of bars and clubs to keep the "young and wild" entertained during the night! In the city centre, the nightlife area is located at street Rue des Bouchers / Beenhouwersstraat.
✔️Tip: See the Jeanneke Pis. If you enjoyed watching the Manneken Pis little boy fountain, then this other modern fountain will be a delight! Intended to form a counterpoint to the city's Manneken Pis. It was commissioned by Denis-Adrien Debouvrie in 1985 and erected in 1987. The half-metre-high statue of blue-grey limestone depicts a little girl with her hair in short pigtails, squatting and urinating. It is located on the east side of the Impasse de la Fidélité / Getrouwheid Gang (Fidelity Alley), a narrow cul-de-sac some 30 metres long leading northwards off the restaurant packed street of Rue des Bouchers / Beenhouwersstraat.
Brussels might not have the style and splendour as other major European cities, but there is still a lot of shopping opportunities. he best areas are in the Boulevard de Waterloo area Avenue Louise where all the designer shops and boutiques can be found. Here one can expect to see names such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Versace, Chanel and Bvlgari, to name a few. Specialty shops can be found in Rue Haute and Rue Blaes
The Rue Neuve is the main pedestrian shopping street and is coincidentally the longest one in Brussels. Here shoppers can find mostly international chain stores while more original independent stores are located between the Grand Place and the Rue Lemonnier. The Westland Shopping Mall boasts over 140 shops and has all the usual big department stores and trendy stores, great for clothing, jewellery, books and entertainment.
Hotels in the city centre are generally expensive at around €100 per night, if not more, this is because Brussels is a very political and business type of destination, making prices always high. Also the Summer period sees prices increase. The trick is always to book in advance if you want to save money.
There are other non-chain hotels which can cost €50 but need to book well in advance. Cheaper hotels and accommodation can be found in the outskirts of the city ensuring you are connected with some public transport. It is also possible to stay at private flats or shared accommodation via Booking.com or Airbnb respectively.
Brussels is a smaller city compared to other major capitals. Walking and exploring the city is pleasant and visiting the attractions it has to offer doesn't take much time travelling from one to another. The city itself is small enough to see it in a day or two.
However, there is much more than meets the eye and if you want to travel to the outskirts and other cities around Belgium consider making Brussels your ideal base.
