Brussels Travel Guide
Brussels climate
Best: May-Sept, though the weather is notoriously erratic.
Worst: Nov-March. Short daylight hours, cold and grey, but floodlighting and hyper-beers will enlighten midnight minds.
Brussel Festivals
Feb 6,7,8, the Carnival of Binche. An ancient and famously kaleidoscopic event with costumes and masks. Binche is 54kms [34 miles] from Brussels.
May 22, the Battle of Lumecon & The Procession of the Golden Chariot, Mons. A George and the Dragon battle and religious procession in this pretty city [40 mins by train].
May-November, Festival of Flanders. Superb classical music in magnificent locations, such as cathedrals, all over Flanders [just north a bit].
Last Thurs of June, the Ommegang Pageant, Brussels. A wildly colourful ‘folkloric’ procession and games since 1549.
July 21, National Day and start of Brussels Fair [1 month].
Dec 6-Jan 2, European Christmas Market, Brussels, Bruges and more. Icy, festive fun, all lit up, and that’s before the head banging beer kicks in.
Brussels Arts and Culture
Museums: Out of the centre the stunning Art Nouveau Muse Victor Horta is high value target for lovers of style while the Muses Royaux des Beaux Arts offers a huge selection of both modern and ancient fine art.
Classical Music: The Palais des Beaux Arts provides excellent symphony and chamber music all year.
Dance/Opera: The Theatre de la Monnaie is Brussels’ home to Opera and Ballet productions.
Live Music & Clubs: The city has endless night action of all sorts in varied styles, constantly morphing into something new, so just take a walk, ask your concierge.
Brussels Shopping
Much of the city centre is busy with the usual chain stores but more interesting boutiques can be found off Grand Place in Galeries St Hubert or rue Antoine Dansaert, and some quirky little shops lurk off rue du Midi.
Brussels Short Trips
Belgium has a fine clutch of well-preserved, lively medieval cities – known as the Flemish Art Cities – within easy reach of Brussels. Under one hour travel away by efficient, good value train are: Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent.
Brussels Downside
With so much flash euro cash around, don’t expect Brussels to be cheap.
The weather is frequently dire.
There are some grim, not-so-delightful areas.
It’s not a great place to be on a diet.
Brussels Sights
Brussels centre is divided into the Lower Town and the Upper Town [known collectively as the ‘petit ring’] and the obvious starting point for any tourist is between the two at the Grand-Place. This spectacular square [pictured above] is the hub of the city, enclosed by superb 18th century guildhouses, the gothic Hotel de Ville, and is always buzzing with life.
A few yards south sprays the little pisser, aka Manneken Pis, eternally surrounded by admirers. Further south leads to Quartier Marolles, the place for cheap eats and shopping at the daily flea market.
Steeply upwards and eastwards from Grand-Place the roads travel into stately Upper Town, the posh sector, where boulevards and buildings are on a royal scale and mere mortals feel small.
The Royal Palace, open free to the public in summer months, and the House of Parliament are two of the more significant structures. Near that grand pair is Place du Grand Sablon, a zone of pricey restaurants and shops, and a clutch of the city’s best museums and galleries.
East of the petit ring is the European Union complex of modern concrete and glass, including the EU Parliament that offers free tours, with guide, at limited times.
Brussels Cuisine
Eating out in Brussels is a joy, especially if you have a fat wallet. Local cuisine fusing north and south Belgian styles is excellent and international food offerings are of equally high quality. Fortunately for those on a lesser budget, cafs and even bars serve food of a very high standard for a modest price; alternatively plenty of fast food joints provide cheap calories. A must-eat is mussels in Brussels, the national dish.
Brussels Accommodation
As usual the peak summer season sees rooms in short supply, so book ahead for that period. The Grand-Place vicinity is the prime tourist accommodation target but there are reasonably priced places available for early birds.
