Brussels (Belgium) Travel Guide
I have visited Brussels four times over the past decade, and each trip taught me something new about a city that too many people rush through on the way to Bruges or Amsterdam. Give it at least two full days, ideally three, because the real Brussels lives outside the Grand Place. This guide covers getting there, moving around, where to sleep, what to eat, and how to stay safe based on what I actually learned on the ground.
Getting to Brussels
Three big airports serve the city. Zaventem, the main one, sits about twenty minutes from the centre by train, and the direct rail link into Brussels Central and Midi runs every few minutes. I always take that train and skip the taxi; it is faster and cheaper. Charleroi Airport is the budget hub, and while the flights are cheap, the transfer is not fast. The Flibco bus takes about an hour and drops you at Midi station. I factor that extra time into the plan when I book a low cost carrier. If you arrive by Eurostar from London, you land right inside Brussels Midi, which means you can be checking into a hotel within twenty minutes of stepping off the train.
Getting Around Brussels
The public transport network is genuinely good, and my advice is to trust it. The tram, metro, and bus all run on the same tickets, sold by STIB. I buy a single Go pass good for ten rides, or simply use the contactless bank card I already carry, since tap to pay works on the gates. The metro is efficient, but the trams are my favorite way to see the city because they surface and let you watch the neighbourhoods pass by. Most of the historic centre is small enough to walk, and I rarely use transit inside the ring road except to reach the EU quarter or to get back up the hill toward the museum district.
Where to Stay in Brussels
I have stayed in three distinct areas and each suits a different type of traveller. The oldest core around the Grand Place and the Sainte-Catherine neighbourhood is the most convenient, with restaurants, bars, and the canal all within a short walk. It is also the busiest and the priciest, and the rooms can be small. If I want better value and a more local feel, I choose the Sablon and the Marolles, which feel like a proper neighbourhood yet stay within easy walking distance of everything. The EU quarter is where I stay on business trips: it is quieter and more hotel heavy, and it is a better base if you plan to spend time at the museums up around the Royal Palace. Book several weeks ahead in high season, because weekend hotel prices in the centre climb sharply.
Food in Brussels
I plan my eating around mussels, fries, and above all chocolate. The Grand Place area is full of overpriced restaurants that target tourists, and I learned to walk ten minutes away for the same plate at half the price. For authentic frites, I look for a shack selling them with a stack of sauces and mayonnaise rather than ketchup, and I eat them straight from the cone. Waffles are worth trying too, but I skip the ones drowning in fruit and cream near the main square and buy a simple hot one from a bakery instead. For chocolate, Maison Dandoy and Neuhaus have flagship shops, but I have found some of the best bars in small chocolatiers on the side streets of Sablon. Belgian beer deserves attention, and a good place to start is a bar with a typed menu listing hundreds of options and a waiter who enjoys making recommendations.
Staying Safe in Brussels
Brussels is generally safe, and I have never once felt threatened in the central areas, even late at night. Still, it has the typical issues of any large city. Pickpocketing is the main concern, so I keep my phone and wallet in front pockets, avoid loose bags on the metro, and never leave anything valuable on a café table. The area right around Gare du Nord and parts of the Midi station are grubbier, and I move through them rather than lingering. Scams exist near the Grand Place, mostly people trying to sell you flowers or ask for a signature for a good cause, and I just say no and keep walking. In terms of money, I use my card everywhere because contactless is the norm in Belgium, and I keep only a small amount of cash for the odd market stall that does not take cards.
Final Tips for Brussels
Carry a light jacket even in summer, because the weather changes fast. Many shops close on Sunday, so I plan museum visits for a weekday when possible. The city is bilingual, but the locals appreciate a simple merci, and I find that a polite effort goes a long way. Brussels rewards a slower pace, so resist the urge to tick off the Grand Place and flee. Spend an evening in the Marolles, eat somewhere without a long queue, and you will understand why I keep coming back.
