A Quick Guide To Brussels, Belgium
Well… Not if you want to experience Brussels properly anyhow.Boasting some of the finest beers, frites, chocolates, mussels + waffles in the WORLD, Brussels makes for a fantastic foodie getaway and a great stopover if you’re planning to explore the likes of Bruges, Amsterdam, Lille +/or Paris.
Home to the EU Headquarters and hosting over 1.1 million inhabitants – Brussels is an international finance centre with a lot to offer.
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By Plane:
Arrive at Brussels Airport and connect straight onto the train arriving in the centre of Brussels in just 17 minutes.
(€8.50 euro one way)
By Train:
– Central Station
– South Station (Brussels-Zuid)
for London (Eurostar) Book your tickets here
for Paris (Thalys)
for France (TGV)
– North StationÂ
for Amsterdam
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CHOCOLATE
WAFFLES
FRITES
MUSSELS
BEER
Other delicacies I tried and LOVED:
– Speculoos (flat spiced shortbreads)
– Flemish Beef Stew
Go CRAZY.
If you can’t do it in Belgium… where can you?
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It was SO nice to be able to walk straight off the Eurostar to my hotel and dump my stuff without hopping additionally on the Metro.
The ‘centre centre’ or should i say Grand Place (main square) is a 10/15 minute walk from The Mercure Hotel and a nice stroll to welcome you to the city.
See other hotels in Brussels here
My stay at The Mercure was faultless – clean, spacious and well groomed. The inclusive breakfast was of a wide variety and of course included a range of waffles, pancakes and chocolate spreads!
The staff were super keen to recommend hotspots in their city and almost instantly had a map and pen ready to mark the crosses for me.  As much as I love staying in Hostels, having the comfort, desk area and WIFI ready after a day of adventure was perfect for working travel.
View hostel options in Brussels here (from £12 a night)AIR BNB
(always a deal to found for for accommodation – sign up here)
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Every other year on the weekend of the 15th August Grand Place hosts a massive carpet of colourful Begonias alongside concerts and light shows!
This years it’s ON from 12th – 15th August!
DON’T MISS IT!
– The Atomium
The unmistakeable symbol of Brussels and the most popular tourist attraction in the city, travel 25 minutes by tram (Line 6 in direction of Roi Baudouin) from the city centre and arrive at Heizel a 3 minute walk from the iconic structure.
You can ascend to the top for 360 views over Brussels for just €12 Adult. See website here
(Student and child prices available)
– Mini Europe
Located at the foot of The Atomium, combine your trip out of the city centre with this whistle stop tour of all the things and places that make Europe so special.
– Galeries Royales St.Hubert
Located a 2-3 minutes walk from Grand Place
– Browse the chocolate shops
I swear down Belgium chocolate is THE best chocolate i have EVER tasted. Once you realise that for yourself (i have confidence) then you will want to take some home, most certainly for yourself, and perhaps some for friends and family (if it makes it home).
Don’t worry about getting lost, you always end up discovering something you love but never intended to find & thats the beauty of travelling!
If you want to head further out to the Atomium or Cinquantenaire Park then there is an efficient and super easy Metro system in place!
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HOW MUCH DO THINGS COST IN BRUSSELS?
€12-14
Waffles
€4-8 (depending if on street or in cafe)
One way trip on metroÂ
€2.10 or day pass €7.50
€6
in the centre head to Flanders Tourist Centre just off the main square
Shop my portable charger here
Most restaurants have a plate of the day which is cheaper than the rest of the menu, so if you’re willing to be flexible to save a few bucks!
Remember your ID card!
I always do this wherever i go! The best way to hydrate and saves on money and plastic for all those water bottles you’d be buying!- Plug adaptor?
EURO 2 pin
– TIME ZONE
GMTÂ +1
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Capture your adventure…Â with a GoPro like mine!
+ if you don’t know which one to get, watch my guide here:
OR read ‘my guide to buying a travel camera here’.