From Wikitravel

Brussels (French: Bruxelles, Dutch: Brussel; [1]) is the capital of Belgium and also 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 Understand 3 Get in 3.1 By plane 3.2 By train 3.3 By bus 4 Get around 5 See 6 Do 7 Buy 8 Eat 8.1 Budget 8.2 Mid-range 8.3 Splurge 9 Drink 9.1 Pubs 9.2 Bars and clubs 10 Sleep 10.1 Budget 10.2 Mid-range 10.3 Splurge 11 Contact 12 Stay safe 13 Cope 14 Get out

Districts

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

Understand

Brussels is, officially, bilingual city where both French and Dutch are official languages. All the streets have, therefore, two names, which can sound totally different. For example, the Main Square, is called la Grand Place and de Grote Markt in the same time. However, much more people speak French than Dutch, but the proportion is different in different neigbourhoods. English is widely understood.

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. There is also a bus line number 12 and 11 (€ 3) every 20 to 30 minutes to the Place de Luxembourg(European Parliament) district, from where the same ticket is valid for another 30 minutes on the metro or busses into the centre. 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. If you've just arrived at the airport's train station, first check the time of the next train then go up one level and check whether a bus 11 or 12 is about to depart and take whichever is quicker depending on your final destination.

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 (€ 10.50) or by bus to Charleroi station and then by train. You can also get a taxi from the airport to the city centre, but this will cost approximately € 90 and is a fixed price.

Note that there are no cash machines / ATMs etc.. in Charleroi airport, so it is a good idea to have enough Euros before you arrive. However, some taxi cabs will take credit cards. Please check with the driver before entering the cab.

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

By train

Brussels has two main train stations: Bruxelles Midi-Brussel Zuid, to the south of the city core, and Bruxelles Central-Brussel Centraal, which is right next to the city center. Unfortunately, high-speed trains stop only at Midi/Zuid, so you need to take the Metro (or an ordinary trains) a few stops north to get to Grand Place.

The high speed Thalys train connects Brussels with Cologne (2h45), Paris (1h25), Marseille (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 Midi/Zuid with Lille Europe (39m from € 22), Ashford (1h38m from € 40) and London Waterloo (2h27m from € 40).

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

Travellers can also arrive to or depart from Brussels Noord, which is a 15-minute walk from Grand Place. Train tickets are available to Amsterdam as well as other destinations. The location is by Place Rogier and includes 3 hotel complexes (the Sheraton, Hilton & Crown Plaza).

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. 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
• Route finder (with printable routes and maps) 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.infotec.be 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, [2] (link not safe for work!). 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. This statue of a child performing one of Nature's most basic functions is believed to have been inspired either by a child who, while in a tree, found a special way to drive away invading troops, OR to commemorate a child who found a unique method putting out a fire, that threathened the city. Belgians have created hundred of outfits for this statue, each with a hole strategically placed to allow the water flow to continue.
• 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.

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.
• Cinema Nova, indepenent cinema. Excellent choice of programmation.
• Bifff, Brussels Festival of fantastic film.

Buy

• 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.

• Beer Mania claims to have a stock of over 400 beers.
• Film :
  • Video Excellence, 94 - 96 Boulevard Anspachlaan. A must for all movielovers. Great collection classics and rare dvd's. +32 2 502 84 68

• 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

Chock till you drop Brussels is chock full of chocolates, but ground zero for the chocoholic is Place du Grand Sablon-Grote Zavel, where you will find four shops selling some of the best chocolate in the world: Godiva, Neuhaus, Pierre Marcolini [3] and Wittamer [4]. Each has its specialities: Pierre Marcolini's take-away cakes and ice cream are to die for, while Wittamer is the only one with a cafe on premises and also sells the ultimate hot chocolate. Passion Chocolat (20 Rue Vanderlinden) is a bit out of the way but its artisanal chocolate is worth a visit, and you can taste lots of it for free at the entrance.

There's plenty of good eating in Brussels, but most people concentrate on the three classics: mussels (moules), fries (frites) and chocolate. A few more adventurous bruxellois dishes include anguilles au vert/palink in't groen (river eels in green sauce) and turbot waterzooi (turbot fish in cream and egg sauce). For dessert, try a Belgian waffle(gauffre), also available in a square Brussels version dusted with powdered sugar, although many prefer the round, syrup-coated version from Liège.

Budget

Arguably the best frites in Brussels are served to-go at the chip van near Barriere-SaintGilles.

• Arcadi, 1B rue d'Aremberg (just at the exit of "Galleries de la Reine", in the direction opposite to the Grand-Place). A quirky combination of old and new, the menu ranges all over the place but the reason people flock here is the selection of over 30 sweet and savoury pies (tartes). A slice big enough for a meal, served with salad, costs €4-6.

• 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.

• la friture place de la Chapelle, rue Haute (near Les Marolles). My personal choice for the best frites in Brussels: the big chunks, fried golden, with a choice of sauces...

Mid-range

Brussels' tourist restaurant gauntlet can be found in Rue des Bouchers-Beenhouwerstraat, just to the north of Grand Place, but a few do stand out from the crowd.

• Au Pré Salé, 20, Rue de Flandre (near place St Catherine), tel. +32-25136545. A former butcher shop, which explains the white tiled walls and minimal decoration, but locals flock here for some of the best moules in town, sold by the kilo (figure on €24) and served up in half a dozen ways. Also serves the full range of other Brussels favorites.

• Aux Armes de Bruxelles, 13 Rue des Bouchers-Beenhouwerstraat, Tel. +32 25115550. Closed Mondays (as of 2001). Basic honest food, including some very decent moules. Crowded.

• Chez Léon, 18, Rue des Bouchers, tel. +42 2511 1415, [5]. Now franchised into France as well, but this is the original and, while it's huge and it looks like a tourist trap, the moules are excellent and it's packed every day. Moules, beer and a starter will set you back €25, and kids eat for free.

• Falstaff, 19, Rue Henri Mausstraat 19 (by the Bourse-Beurs), [6]. Has decent food and is open every day until 02:00, around 20-30 Euros.

• Le Beau Soleil, 7, Rue Joseph Lebeau. This tiny restaurant (approx. 14 seats) 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, Rue Keyenveld-Keienveldstraat 36, Ixelles-Elsene. [7] It's audience is mostly made out of young couples or students. Rich choice of beer, good quality of food. Tel.: +32 2512 6999

Splurge

• Belga Queen, Rue du Fossé aux Loups-Wolvengracht 32, [8]. - A restuarant within an old, restored bank building. 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.

• Taverne du Passage, Galerie de la Reine-Koninginnegalerij, Tel.: +32 2512 3731, [9]. An old-style luxurious restaurant.

Drink

Pubs

Belgium is to beer what France is to wine: it is home to the greatest beer tradition in the world, and Brussels is a great place to sample some of the vast variety on offer.

• A La Bécasse, Rue de Taborastraat 11. Tel: 02 511 0006. Serves a typical Brussels product this slightly sweetened Lambic beer, white beer based on Lambic, Kriek Lambic and so on. The entrance is not that easy to find.

• A La Mort Subite, 7, rue Montagne-aux-Herbes Potagères, [10]. "At the Sudden Death" may not sound like the most pleasant of places for a drink, but this unpretentious brasserie has been serving their trademark brew of the same name, available in gueuze and kriek versions, for four generations now. €3.50 for the house beers.

• Bier Circus, 57, Rue de l'Enseignement-Onderrichtsstraat, tel: 218-00-34, [11]. Has an impressive selection of beers, including some extremely hard to find beers. Examples of rare beers they have in stock, are Lam Gods (a delicious beer brewed from figs) and the rarest of the Trappist beers, winner of the Beer of the Year 2005, Westvleteren.

• 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, 4A, Impasse de la Fidelité-Getrouwheidsgang (on a pedestrian only sidestreet), tel. +32-25144434. 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.

• 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

Bars and clubs

• 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.

• 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 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 kind of music in unexpected venues, as well as their weekly edition Jeudibar. Come as you are.
• Ancienne Belgique (AB) - Pop music stage, right in the middle of the "Pentagram", with international groups performing.
• La Botanique

Sleep

Hotel rates in Brussels can vary widely (especially at the upper end) depending on how many EU bigwigs happen to be in town, but very good deals are often available in summer when the bureaucrats are on vacation.

Budget

• Hostel Jacques Brel [12], 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) [13]. 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 , [14]. +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.
• Arlequin, 17 to 19 Rue de la Fourche-Greepstraat, [15]. Free Wi-Fi Internet.
• La Madeleine [16] 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 over € 100. Breakfast included. The rooms are quite small but have the basic amenities such as phone, TV. No airconditioning however.
• 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.

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), [17]. 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, [18]. 15 min. from city centre, 11 conference rooms up to 750 delegates. Contact: (+32)2/7136666
• Radisson SAS Royal, Rue du Fosse-aux-Loups 47, +32-2-2192828, [19]. Three minutes' walk from the Grand Place and the Central Station. Free Wifi, fitness center with sauna and solarium, restaurant "Sea Grill" has two Michelin stars. Rates from €95 per night.

Contact

Stay safe

Brussels is generally a very safe city. Some suburban neighborhoods have a poor reputation, but travelers are unlikely to visit them. However, pickpockets operate in crowded tourist areas, and the train and metro stations (particularly at night) attract drug addicts and other shady types.

Cope

Get out

You can get to any of the following 'foreign' cities from Brussels within 3 hours:

Amsterdam/Rotterdam/The Hague/Utrecht (car - longer by train), Luxembourg (car or train), Paris (train - longer by car), Aachen (train or car), Lille (less than an hour by train or car), Cologne/Bonn (train or car)

But first, visit the beautiful old Belgian cities of Bruges, Ghent, Namur, Antwerp, Leuven, ...

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!