Brussels

From MaxTravelz

Brussels (French: Bruxelles, Dutch: Brussel; ) is the capital of Belgium and also - unofficially - of the European Union. Lying at the crossroads of cultures (the Germanic in the north and the Romanic in the South) and playing an important role in Europe it fits the definition of the so-called "melting pot" but still retains a character of its own.

Contents 1 Districts 2 Get in 2.1 By plane 2.2 By train 2.3 By bus 3 Get around 4 See 5 Do 6 Buy 7 Eat 8 Drink 9 Go out 10 Sleep 10.1 Budget 10.2 Mid-range 10.3 Splurge

Districts

• Bruxelles-Brussel
• Ixelles-Elsene
• Marolles-Marollen
• Saint Gilles-Sint-Gillis

Get in

By plane

The main airport is Zaventem, IATA code BRU. There is a train (2.60 €) running every 15 minutes to Brussels centre taking 25 minutes, and a bus line number 12 and 11 (3 €) every 20 to 30 minutes to the Schumann (European Parliament) district. A taxi to the centre costs around 20 € (as of 2004) when booked in advance, otherwise around 30 €. Taxis bleus: 02 268 0000, Taxi Brussels: 02 411 4142, Taxis verts: 02 349 4343.

There are several budget airlines flying to Charleroi's airport (see an updated list here), IATA code CRL, which is an hour away from Brussels by coach (10 € in 2004) or by bus to Charleroi station and then by train.

Antwerp airport, IATA code ANR, also has a good train connection to Brussels.

By train

The high speed Thalys train connects Brussels with Cologne (2h45), Paris (1h25), Marseilles (5h00) and Amsterdam (3h00). There are numerous rebates for travellers under 25 years or those who book two weeks in advance, or during promotions. Prices to Paris are from 50 € return in advance, to over 150 € single on the day.

• Bookings and reservation for Thalys, tel.: 070 66 77 88.

The Eurostar train line links Bruxelles Midi-Brussel Zuid with Lille Europe (39m from 22 €), Ashford (Kent) (1h38m from 40 €) and London Waterloo (2h27m from 40 €).

• Eurostar bookings and queries at tel.: 02 528 28 28.

By bus

Eurolines (Tel: 02 274.13.50 Fax. 02 201.11.40, Tel UK +44 (0)15.82.40.45.11) offers bus travel from many countries to Brussels, for example 8 hours from London Victoria station at 39 €. In Brussels, they stop outside the Gare du Nord-Noordstation and Gare du Midi-Zuidstation train stations.

Gulliver's (Tel: +49 30 311 0 211) offers bus travel from Germany to many countries, for example 11 hours from Hamburg at 19 € in advance, 46 € normal price.

Get around

Brussels has 3 metro lines, many buses and some tramways, all run by STIB-MIVB. A card that can be used for ten rides with public transport costs 10,50 €. One hour tickets cost 1,50 € and are available from the driver. One, five and ten ride tickets are available at almost all metro and train stations, and possibly at newspaper kiosks. You validate the ticket in orange boxes located in buses/trams, or at the entrace to metro stations/major tram stops. The orange boxes time-stamp the ticket, both in ink and magnetically, and it will be valid for one hour. You can interrupt your ride and interchangeably use any STIB/MIVB transport. You should revalidate your ticket for each new ride. There are also one-day tickets available, for 4,00 €. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays you can take another person with you.

• Home page of the STIB-MIVB: French | Dutch
• Prices : French | Dutch
• Track map : French | Dutch

Other forms of transport are:

• The train service NMBS/SNCB: http://www.b-rail.be Tel: 02 528 28 28
• The Flemish region (Dutch speaking) public bus service De Lijn: http://www.delijn.be Tel: 070 220 200
• The Walloon region (French speaking) public bus company TEC: http://www.tecbw.com Tel: 010 23 53 53

See

Brussels is a funny mixture of old and new.

• Grand' Place-Grote Markt. At night. Awesome. Some evenings a music and light show is provided with the buildings serving as a canvas. Have a "Gauffre Liègoise-Luikse wafel" here (Belgian waffle with caramelized sugar) -- the best ones are available from the little shops off the northeast corner of the Grand' Place-Grote Markt.
• Manneken Pis. Just a short walk from the Grand' Place-Grote Markt is the Manneken Pis, a small bronze statue thought to represent the "irreverent spirit" of Brussels. http://www.manneken-pis.com/ (<- not safe for work!)
• Parc du Cinquantenaire-Jubelpark Definitely check out the Arc de Triomphe-Triomfboog on the east side of town. It's in the Parc du Cinquantenaire-Jubelpark. Take Metro line 1 east, exit Schumann and walk east or exit Mérode and walk west.
• The Atomium and Europe in miniature are worth a trip. Take Metro line 1A direction Roi Baudouin-Koning Boudewijn, exit at Heysel-Heizel. The Atomium re-opened on February 18 2006 after renovation work was completed.
• Take a 3D virtual tour around the EU quarter and learn more about Brussels as the lobbying capital of Europe at www.eulobbytours.org
• Brave the tourist-trap restaurant gauntlet of the Rue des Bouchers-Beenhouwersstraat.
• See the history of film-making at Musée du Cinéma-Filmmuseum, it's free to look around, and classic and cult films are shown at low prices. Rue Baron Hortastraat, walk from Gare Centrale-Centraalstation.

• The Musées Royaux des Beaux Arts-Koninklijke Musea voor Schone Kunsten show historical art and modern art in one building. Opening hours: Museum of Historical Art Tues-Sun 10am-noon and 1-5pm; Museum of Modern Art Tue-Sun 10am-1pm and 2-5pm. Address: Rue de la Régence-Regentschapstraat 3, at Place Royale-Koningsplein, Phone: 02/508-32-11, Prices: 5.00€ adults, 2.50€ students/seniors/disabled visitors, 1.25€ children 12-18, under 12 free. Description: In a vast museum of several buildings, this complex combines the Musée d'Art Ancien-Museum voor Oude Kunst and the Musée d'Art Moderne-Museum voor Moderne Kunst under one roof (connected by a passage). The collection shows off works, most of them Belgian, from the 14th to the 20th century, starting in the historical section, with Hans Memling's portraits from the late 15th century, which are marked by sharp lifelike details, works by Hiëronymus Bosch, and Lucas Cranach's Adam and Eve. You should particularly seek out the subsequent rooms featuring Pieter Brueghel, including his Adoration of the Magi. Don't miss his unusual Fall of the Rebel Angels, with grotesque faces and beasts. But don't fear -- many of Brueghel's paintings, like those depicting Flemish village life, are of a less fiery nature. Later artists represented include Rubens, Van Dyck, Frans Hals, and Rembrandt. Next door, in a circular building connected to the main entrance, the modern art section has an emphasis on underground works - if only because the museum's eight floors are all below ground level. The collection includes works by van Gogh, Matisse, Dalí, Tanguy, Ernst, Chagall, Miró, and local boys Magritte, Delvaux, De Braekeleer and Permeke. Don't miss David's famous "Death of Marat."
• Horta Museum Visit the home of famous art nouveau architect Victor Horta. Seeing where he lived and worked is a great way to get an introduction to the art nouveau style in Brussels. A museum few visit-- its a wonderful place!
• Musée BD is located in Europes earliest Shopping-Mall (a shine Jugendstil palais). There is a permanent exposition featuring the early beginning of comics as well as it's development. There is enough room for other varying expositions. Tue-Sun 10am-6pm. Prices: 6.00€ adults, 4.00€ students/seniors. The librarie Bd at the ground floor sells many different comics.
• Snapping up a Bargain at the Flea Market. Each day, from 7am to 2pm, the Marché aux Puces-Vlooienmarkt in Place du Jeu de Balle-Vossenplein offers everything from the weird to the wonderful at rock-bottom prices.
• Taking a Ferry Trip. The ferry in question is a tiny, electrically operated pontoon that makes a 1-minute crossing to Robinson's Island in the lake at the heart of Bois de la Cambre.
• Shopping at Galeries Saint Hubert-Sint Hubertusgalerijen. The world's first shopping mall, opened in 1847, is a light and airy triple-gallery enclosing boutiques, bookshops, cafés, restaurants, and a theater and cinema.

Do

• Oceade - Water park in the Bruparck complex. Has an open and a covered portion.
• The Cooperative nouveau cinema plays the Actors Studio and the Styx. Both cinemas are screening interesting films in their original version with French and Flemish subtitles. Actor's studio, Petite Rue des Bouchers-Kleine Beenhouwersstraat, Brussels 1000, tel: 025121696. Cinéma Styx, Rue de l'Arbre Bénit-Gewijde Boomstraat 72, 1050 Ixelles-Elsene.

Buy

• Beer Mania claims to have a stock of over 400 beers.
• Books :
  • Comic books and rare books. De Slegte on Rue des Grands Carmes-Lievevrouwbroersstraat, FNAC on Rue Neuve-Nieuwstraat
  • Brusel, 100 Boulevard Anspachlaan. Right in the center and one of the most up to date store when it comes to contemporary comics.
  • Filigrane, largest bookshop in Brussels, open 7 days a week, features a small bar/café inside and quite often live music, located at 39 Avenue des Arts-Kunstlaan.
  • Pele-Mele, Boulevard Maurice Lemonnierlaan, 55 & 59 (Metro "Anneessens") - maze-like, second-hand bookshop with huge selection of used books at bargain prices. Bookworm's paradise! You can't afford to miss it!
  • Waterstone's, 71-75 Boulevard Adolphe Maxlaan (Metro "De Broukere"). English-language books.
• FNAC, City 2 commercial center, Rue neuve. A big book/CD/DVD/electronics shop.
• Mediamarkt, 111-123 Rue Neuve. This shop is at the uppermost level of the Galeria Inno department store. Sells CDs, DVDs and consumer electronics. Slightly cheaper than FNAC.
• Chocolate:
  • Marcolini, 39 Place du Grand Sablon. Arguably the best belgian chocolates.
  • Wittamer, 6-12-13 Place du Grand Sablon. Another excellent chocolate maker.
• General shopping along Rue Neuve-Nieuwstraat with GB supermarket at City 2 accessed from Rue Neuve-Nieuwstraat and Metro Rogier.
• Galeria Inno, 111-123 Rue Neuve. Department store (fashion, cosmetics, etc.)
• Belgian Lace is among the best in the world. Several shops are located at the Grand' Place-Grote Markt itself.

Eat

• Frites! Belgian fries are usually of high quality and served with a choice of sauces, common is "Frites avec Mayonnaise-Friet met mayonaise".

• Maison Antoine (Place Jourdanplein). Tasty fries with a large collection of sauces situated on a square close to the EU-parliament. You can eat your fries (frites) in one of the several bars/cafés that carries the sign frites accepté.

• Pig out on Belgian Chocolates. Those devilish little creations--handmade Belgian pralines--are so addictive they should be sold with a government health warning. Try the Wittamer chocolatier in Place du Grand Sablon-Grote Zavel, and eat your fill. Passion Chocolat is a bit out of the way but its artisanal chocolate is worth a visit, & you can taste lots of it for free at the entrance. Pierre Marcolini in Place du Grand Sablon-Grote Zavel is also worth a visit; the take-away cakes are something special.

• Falstaff has decent food and is open every day until 02:00, around 20-30 Euros. Rue Henri Mausstraat 19 by the Bourse-Beurs.
• Belga Queen - A restuarant within an old, restored bank building-- a very unique restaurant in Brussels (and recently opened a second location in Ghent, so I've heard...). Has an oyster bar, gorgeous bathrooms (with strange stall doors), and a cigar bar housed in the old bank vaults. The young and well-to-do seem to enjoy this place a lot. Rue du Fossé aux Loups-Wolvengracht 32
• Aux Armes de Bruxelles, 13 Rue des Bouchers-Beenhouwerstraat Telephone +32 25115550. Closed Mondays (as of 2001). Basic honest food. Crowded. Best restaurant in this street which is mostly full of tourist trap eateries.
• Resto.be will help you find almost any restaurant in Belgium, comments and appreciations must not be taken literally.
• Taverne du Passage is an old-style luxurious restaurant in the Galerie de la Reine-Koninginnegalerij (see above). Tel.: +32 2512 3731
• Léon 1893 is in middle of many others restaurant around Rue des Bouchers-Beenhouwersstraat 18 proposing typical Belgium food like moules et frites. Tel: +42 2511 1415
• Insider-Tip: Le Beau Soleil. This very little restaurant (approx. 14 seats) is located in Rue Joseph Lebeaustraat 7. The interior looks like a violin workshop, so you sit next to all the tools and half finished violins. Unlike other Belgian restaurants, it is open from 9am to 5pm (Mo-Fr), 9am to 6pm (Sat,Sun), closed on Wednesday. The menu is small, really delicious. (I had the best quiche and cheese cake of my life!). The atmosphere is informal, so do not expect a formal restaurant atmosphere. It is more like being invited by friends. Tel.: 0479420382.
• Les Brassins is located in Rue Keyenveld-Keienveldstraat 36, Ixelles-Elsene. It's audience is mostly made out of young couples or students. Rich choice of beer, good quality of food. Tel.: +32 2512 6999
• La Bergerie Mare Nostrum is a meat and fish restaurant on Rue des Bouchers-Beenhouwersstraat 18-26. Tel: +32 2 511 57 52. Fax: +32 2 502 33 74. Email: mailto:labergerie.marenostrum@skynet.be. The restaurant is nothing out of the ordinary, but it's located right next to Hotel Arlequin, 17 to 19 Rue de la Fourche-Greepstraat, which provides a free Wi-Fi Internet connection with ESS ID "WIFI ARLEQUIN FREE". Make sure you get a table close to the hotel wall, or the signal might be too weak.
• Arcadi, 1B rue d'Aremberg (just at the exit of "Galleries de la Reine", in the direction opposite to the Grand-Place). Good morrocan-owned snack. They have the best pies in town.

Drink

Belgium is to beer what France is to wine, it is home to the greatest beer tradition in the world.

• Moeder Lambiek, Rue Savoiestraat 68, behind Saint Gilles-Sint-Gillis city hall has the largest list of different beers, with several hundred obscure beers not likely found anywhere else. This cafe is one of the last remaining old-fashioned brown cafe's in Brussels

• Bier Circus no 89 (moves to no 57 March 2005) , Rue de l'Enseignement-Onderrichtsstraat, tel: 218-00-34 have an impressive selection of beers.
• A La Becase serves a typical Brussels product this slightly sweetened Lambic beer, white beer based on Lambic, Kriek Lambic and so on. It's entrance is not that easy to find. Rue de Taborastraat 11. Tel: 02 511 0006.

• BXL Cafe/Bar is a stylish, friendly internet cafe in the center of Brussels. Offering high speed internet access, occasional live music/DJ, latest movies shown on video screens around the bar, regular art exhibitions. Gay friendly space with women's night every Wednesday from 20h00. Open 7/7 12h00>24h00 (Fri/Sat>01h00). Place de la Vieille Halle aux Blés-Oud Korenhuis 46, Tel: 02/502 9980.

• Delirium Cafe is located right in the center of Brussels within five minutes walk of the Grand Place. This bar is all about the beer, offering 2000 different variations. Popular amongst foreigners. View their website for more info. Address:Impasse de la Fidelité-Getrouwheidsgang 4A. (Note it is located on a pedestrian only sidestreet, not the easiest place to find.) , Tel: 02/514 44 34 .

• MAPA MUNDO Is one of the many Trendy bar/cafe located right on the popular Place Saint Géry-Sint Goriksplein. You are assured good drinking in at least one of these establishments, which are very popular with European union workers and interns, giving them a rather friendly cosmopolitan character. Place Saint Géry-Sint Goriksplein 2,Tel: 02/5143555.

• Le Tavernier While all the above locations are situated downtown in central brussels, this location is the most popular bar on a strip of bars right by the Cimétière d'Ixelles-Kerkhof van Elsene. It's location right off the student campus make it extremely popular with students who just want to kick back and have a few relaxed drinks. Note on certain nights there is also live music (making the establishment alot more hectic). Worth a look especially towards the beginning and end of the academic year and in the summer (especially for their Jazzbreaks nights). They also have a website. 445 Chaussée de Boondael-Boondaalsesteenweg.

Go out

• boups.com will keep you updated on the coming underground parties, as well as noctis.com with its extensive lists of bars and clubs for Brussels and all Belgium, underground as well as popular event.
• brusselssucks.be and vazy.be are insider selective underground guides shortlisting some clubbing, and cultural events and some aspects of the underground culture of Brussels. It is very specific tho and doesn't list all the events.
• Gays and Lesbians may want to check out the Next monthly parties, very eclectic and fun. But the two biggest monthly Gay clubs remain La Demence at the Fuse, and Strong parties at the Residence Palace. Both 100% House & Trance. Don't miss the pretty crowded (but super small) Le Belgica bar, soft and Housy.
• Hydra-breaks organises "Hydra Sessions" but also "Next Level" and "Caliente" drum and bass parties at various locations. Hydra Sessions are major D&B nights with international headliners such as Pendulum, Spor, or Raiden, along national deejays.
• Bulex nights is a monthly night out for many locals since more than 10 years, blending all kindof music in unexpected venues, as well as their weekly edition Jeudibar. Come as you are.

Sleep

Budget

• Hostel Jacques Brel , Rue de la Sablonnière-Zavelput 30, +32 2 218 01 87 (Fax +32 2 217 20 05). Centrally located and within walking distance of the Beer Circus.
• Youth Hostel Generation Europe, Rue de l'Eléphant-Olifantstraat 4, +32 2 410 38 58 (Fax +32 2 410 39 05). Offers beds for budget travelling.
• Hotel A La Grande Cloche, Place Rouppeplein 10, +32 2 512 61 40 (Fax: +32 2 512 65 91) . Cheap rates, decent rooms, decent location halfway between Gare du Midi-Zuidstation and the Grand' Place-Grote Markt (about a 10-minute walk to either). Price around €70.

Mid-range

• ApartmentsApart , . +48.22.820.9231 (1-866-387-6429 Toll Free from the USA & Canada). Beautifully furnished 1, 2 & 3 bedrooms offered. 5 minutes from the city center by Metro. Apartments start as low as € 118 per night for 4 guests (under € 30 per person). The friendly staff and extra services will ensure you a wonderful stay.
• Hotel Opera is centrally placed on Rue Grétrystraat 53. Quoted price of 73 Euros may be negotiated downwards if booking a off-peak weekend or 3 or more days.
• Hotel La Madeleine Rue de la Montagne-Bergstraat 20-22, tel +32-2 513-29-73, fax +32-2 502-13-50, hotel-la-madeleine@hotel-la-madeleine.be. Just off the Grand' Place and a short walk away from Central Station. Room rates range from 52 to 100+ Euros. Breakfast included. The rooms are quite small but have the basic amenities such as phone, TV. No airconditioning however.

Splurge

• Sofitel Brussels Toison d'Or, Avenue de la Toison d'Or-Gulden Vlieslaan 40 (subway station Louise-Louiza, turn to the right towards the Hilton - it's right across the street), +32 2 5142200 (fax: +32 2 5145744, email: H1071@accor-hotels.com). Open daily 24h. A rather nice Sofitel with good rooms, conveniently located close to the very heart of the city in the fashionable Luisa district. €99 - €495 per person per night (breakfast €25/person - but there is a Quick fast food restaurant right next door).
• Sofitel Brussels Airport, Bessenveldstraat 15, Diegem. 15 min. from city centre, 11 conference rooms up to 750 delegates. Contact: (+32)2/7136666