Overview

Brussels is brimming with beautiful architecture, dozens of world-class museums, and an overwhelming sense of history and power. The city's Lower Town is the most colourful part of Brussels. Its winding cobblestone lanes, lively squares and leafy parks are ideal for wandering around and soaking in the quintessential European atmosphere. But there's also the mighty Upper Town, with its legacy of wealth and opulence. Fortunately, plenty of sidewalk cafés will give your feet a break as you walk the vibrant city core.

Grand Place (Grote Markt)

Of Brussels' many public squares, Grand Place is a real gem for both its public spectacle and the magnificent ancient guild houses that form its border. This square is widely regarded as one of Europe's architecturally finest, and should not be missed. There are sidewalk cafés and plenty of shops to provide extra diversion.

Royal Museums of Fine Arts (Musées Royaux des Bea

You get two museums in one at Brussels' most important and impressive museum complex. The city's best historic and contemporary art is displayed in these two museums, which are connected under a single roof. Flemish old masters like Rubens and underground masterpieces by Salvador Dalí and Henri Matisse are waiting in this art-lover's Eden.

Place Ste Catherine

After marvelling at the splendour of Grand Place, spend some time hanging around this square, which is much more down to earth. Its atmosphere is more authentic and less crowded, and will give you a better perspective on the local side of Brussels. Traditional markets, sidewalk cafés and the series of ponds graced by seafood restaurants make this a relaxing site to hang out.

Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudule

While you're in Upper Town, be sure and stop by this eye-popping 13th century cathedral, which is the gem of this part of Brussels. The stained glass windows are simply dazzling, and as a unique highlight visitors can look through glass sections of the floor to see the original 11th century Romanesque church that preceded it.

Quartier de l'Ilot Sacre

This is Brussels' eclectic heart; a fabulous mosaic of tiny streets filled with all kinds of quirky shops, cafés, little bars and arguably the most entertaining street scene in the city. The entire quarter is akin to a permanent outdoor party so it's a great place to wander around and enjoy the funkiness of life.

Place Royale

In the Upper Town, this square is the premier spot for soaking in the trademark white, neoclassical façades of Brussels' timeless buildings. Several important museums line the square, and the streets running away from it are each well worth exploring on their own.

Parc de Bruxelles

The best place in Brussels for a quick green escape is its main public park, a hugely popular place for joggers, bikers, and locals looking to relax. As a bonus to the nature, there is some intriguing Masonic architecture to ponder, as well as the regal Palais du Roi, where King Leopold II once lived. During the summer the palace is open for tours.

Oceade and Mini Europe

It's not all business and politics in Brussels. These two themeparks are among the best in Europe and definitely worth an afternoon, especially if you are travelling with kids. Oceade is a fully-equipped modern water park, while Mini Europe is a fun themepark with rides, games and lots of entertainment.

Overview

The residents of Brussels love sporting activities and being outdoors. They make the most of their urban environment through excellent gyms, parks and specific sporting facilities. Visitors can easily find a place to play tennis, swim, exercise or pursue just about any other sport in Brussels, and during the winter many of the city squares are transformed into ice skating rinks. You won't find much in the way of extreme action sports here like mountain biking or skiing, but Brussels is still a very active city.

Ice skating

Winters are long in Brussels so the locals really take to the ice when the temperature drops. Many of the city's public squares become temporary ice skating rinks, and are extremely popular. Ice skating in a 500-year-old plaza at night with the lights of guild houses in the background is a truly magical experience. There are also a few dedicated ice skating rinks in the city that have a better selection of equipment and amenities.

Football

Football is just as popular in Brussels as the rest of Europe, and its local team FC Anderlecht is a regular contender in the top club tournaments of Europe. They also typically win the Belgian professional league so they are a good side to watch. They play their home matches at Constant Vanden Stock Stadium. Don't miss them when they play a Champions League match.

Cycling

Belgium has a rich tradition of cycling, boasting home grown legends of the sport such as Eddie Merckx. Cycling events are common in Brussels, but for a leisurely cruise there are several excellent biking areas such as the Forêt de Soignes and Bois de la Cambre. Bikes can be rented without much trouble at shops all over the Lower Town.

Go-karting

Motorsports of all kinds are extremely popular in Belgium and the city of Brussels has taken to go-karting with a passion. There is a great track at City Kart where racers of all ages and abilities can have some fun, as well as a couple of other tracks just outside town. More serious drivers can even take a shot at the actual Belgian Grand Prix circuit at Rue de Lusambo.

Horse racing

Watching the horse races is a popular pastime in Brussels. The city boasts three tracks within the city limits that offer a fun way to spend an afternoon betting on the ponies. Boitsfort, Groenendaal, and Sterrebeek are where you can find action every day of the week. Even if you just go to watch it's free, and the scene is quite entertaining and passionate.

Traditional sports

There are a number of traditional sports in Belgium unique to the country. Although Brussels is the most modern city in the country, visitors can still find locals playing the ancient sport of tir à l'arc en hauteur at sites like Parc Josaphat. In this sport, competitors shoot arrows at feathers sitting atop a pole and try to knock them off. You'll also find that table football and billiards are hugely popular at city pubs.

Dining and shopping

Between the Dutch and the French influences that dominate the city, Brussels is able to offer some truly exceptional dining options. The fact that Brussels boasts more Michelin star restaurants per capita than Paris speaks volumes about this city's devotion to fine cuisine. Even if you don't splash out for a fancy meal in the Upper Town, you'll find excellent food everywhere you go.

There are plenty of local Brussels specialities, from snack items like Belgian waffles to world-famous Belgian chocolate. Despite the name, Belgians stand by the fact that they invented French fries so don't pass by one of the fried potato stands without at least testing their claim. For a local meal, lapin à la gueuze (rabbit cooked in Belgian beer) is a standout, as is stoemp (meat stewed in a sauce of carrot, potato and onion) and Ghent waterzooi (creamy chicken stew).

You can find more than 1,500 great cafés, taverns and restaurants all over the city. Many of the best dining spots are clustered around Grand Place (Grote Markt), where more than 100 eateries are located. Upmarket dining is best done in the Upper Town, or around the Marché-aux-Poissons (Fish Market), which is a short walk from the Grand Place and features superb seafood restaurants. More delicious Belgian fare can be found in the Bourse district, Place du Grand Sablon, and Vismarkt. For a less expensive meal, or to delve into the ethnic selections of Brussels, try the Marolles district.

Don't come to Brussels expecting to find amazing bargains or funky handmade handicrafts. This is an expensive city with expensive tastes, just like Paris or Amsterdam. There are, however, plenty of excellent things to buy that are particular to Brussels (or Belgium as a whole). Generally, the shops in the Upper City are more upscale and expensive than those located in the Lower City.

Lace is one of the most popular buys in Brussels, as are crystal products, pewter, jewellery and antiques. Other traditional Belgian products include gin, which is produced by the 70-odd distilleries in the country, and chocolate, for which Belgium is particularly famous. Chocolate stores are found all over the city and are a true highlight for chocoholics and those who love handmade pralines.

In the Upper City, a good area to shop is around Avenue Louise and Porte de Namur. In the Lower City, you can check out the pedestrian-only Rue Neuve and the shopping galleries in the city centre clustered around Place de Brouckère and La Monnaie. These galleries were the forerunners of today's shopping mall so check out the charming Galeries Royales St Hubert, one of Europe's oldest malls that opened in 1847.

Boulevard Anspach is a good all-around shopping street, while Rue Antoine-Dansaert is home to Brussels trendiest boutiques. For some of the best window-shopping in Brussels wander down Rue des Eperonniers near Grand Place. Brussels' outdoor markets are also great spots to find a deal. The Vieux-Marché flea market on Place du Jeu-de-Balle contains some real treasures, as does the weekend antique market at Place du Grand-Sablon, and the Sunday Market around Gare du Midi.

With no less than 1,500 restaurants, Brussels is a serious dining destination. The residents of this upscale, important city take their cuisine seriously so it won't be hard to find an excellent meal, whatever your budget. But if you want to splash out on fine dining, the blend of French and Belgian cuisine is masterfully presented at dozens of legendary, exclusive restaurants. Just be sure and make reservations well in advance.

Overview

Befitting the international importance of a city like Brussels, the city is extremely well connected to the rest of Europe and the UK by land, and the entire planet by air. Its modern airport services hundreds of daily flights from around the world, while trains and coaches constantly run to and from the city from around Europe and the UK. Brussels itself has a very well-integrated public transport network consisting of a metro, buses, trams and trains.

Airports

Brussels International Airport is one of the world's busiest, serving as a major hub for European travel. The airport is modern, airy and contains every amenity imaginable. It's a real pleasure to walk around this airport, and everything is laid out in logical, easy-to-navigate fashion. In fact, every major international airline in the world provides regular service to Brussels.

The airport is located 14kms from the centre of Brussels, making it quick and easy to get to and from the terminal. There are hundreds of flights scheduled each day, including many from UK airports such as London Heathrow, Manchester, Leeds Bradford, East Midlands and Edinburgh. SN Brussels Airlines is the national carrier, but chances are you can find a flight on your favourite airline.

Facilities at the airport are excellent and include shopping and restaurants, pharmacies, parking, meeting rooms, car hire, baggage lockers, money exchange and prayer rooms. Additionally, the airport provides onsite hotels for those with early flights.

There are several convenient ways to get from the airport to your destination in Brussels. Airport City Express trains connect the terminal with stops at Brussels Midi, Central, and North stations. Trains depart every 30 minutes and take about 20 minutes to reach the city centre. The Airport Line bus service is another good choice, leaving three times each hour for popular destinations around the city. Taxis are also waiting outside Arrivals, and all the major car hire firms have offices in the terminal.

Public transportation

Brussels is thoroughly connected to the rest of Europe and the UK by ground transportation. The city lies on the Thalys high-speed train line, connecting Brussels with Paris, Cologne and Amsterdam. UK visitors can take the Eurostar directly to the capital via the Channel Tunnel.

Dozens of long-distance coaches service Brussels daily from destinations all over Europe and the UK. Most of these buses arrived at Bruxelles-Nord bus terminal, with Eurolines being the company providing the most routes. UK travellers can go directly from London's Victoria Station through the Channel Tunnel and onto Brussels three times a day. If you're driving yourself, Brussels is located right on the major E40 motorway.

There is an excellent integrated public transport network in Brussels that should be able to provide for all your city travel needs. The subway, buses and trains all interconnect with each other, as well as an extensive tram system that complements the bus and trains routes. Most of Brussels is best explored on foot so you'll only need transport to move between districts of the city.

Brussels' underground metro system is very easy to use and provides access to most of the popular tourist areas. The city's above-ground trains run from North, Central and Midi stations providing quick access to many areas in and around Brussels.

Local buses are very cheap and easy to navigate. The routes are operated by De Lijn and provide service to places trains and metro services don't reach. Day and week passes are available if you plan to head out of town for sightseeing. Taxis in Brussels are clearly marked and their stands are located throughout the city. It's difficult to hail a taxi in the street so keep the phone number of a taxi company and call for pickups instead.