Introduction
Chocolate moulded by surrealists and beer poured by old masters. The city of choice for Eurocrats, Brussels is sumptuous, historic and luxuriously cosy. With artistry richer than chocolate, architecture as graceful as its cuisine and diversity frothier than the beer, Brussels is an heirloom of northern culture at its best.
What makes Brussels special? Seafood in great restaurants, the smell of hot waffles on a cold winter's day, cafes and pubs that never close, the cosmopolitan but neighbourly feel, forests practically on the doorstep, pheasant and truffles in autumn, comic strips, designer shops...
Central Brussels is divided into two main areas, the Lower and Upper Towns. The Lower Town comprises the medieval city centre, built around the imposing former market square of Grand Place. The area is easy to get around on foot, its cobbled streets leading to popular quarters such as Il ô t Sacr é , Ste Catherine, St G é ry and Marolles. The Upper Town, to the southeast, has a vastly different atmosphere. The traditional base of Brussels' French-speaking elite, it's home to wide boulevards, major museums, chic shopping areas around Sablon and Ave Louise, and monumental buildings including the Belgian parliament. Most of Brussels proper is surrounded by a motorway - the Petit Ring - but there are interesting sites beyond the centre. The glass-and-steel EU quarter is bordered by the trendy Ixelles district, known for its many Art Nouveau buildings. To the north, the Domaine Royale is the residence of Belgium's royal family.
Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +1
Area: 161
Coordinates: 50.8370018005 latitude and 4.36800003052 longitude
Population: 1000000
Languages: Belgium's tangled tongues date back to when Christ was a toddler and Franks were forcing Celts and Gauls into the land's southern regions, making an early form of Dutch the norm in the north. And so it remains, with French the accepted language in the south. Brussels, stuck in the middle, is one of the world's few officially bilingual capitals.French speakers live in Wallonia in the south.
Currency: Euro (€)
Daylight Saving: From last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October
Area codes: 02; incorporated into local numbers
Getting There
Brussels Airport(formerly known as Zaventem) is 14km (9mi) northeast of Brussels. Many international airlines fly here, but more fly into other European cities, so, depending on where you're coming from, it may be better to fly into Paris, London, Frankfurt or Amsterdam and train or bus it to Brussels. Departure tax is usually included in ticket prices. Belgium is so small that there are no internal flights between cities. A train station on the airport's lowest level (-1) runs the Airport City Express shuttle train between the airport and Brussels' three main train stations: Gare du Nord, Gare du Midi and Gare Centrale. The latter is a five-minute walk from the Grand Place. You can also catch a taxi from outside the arrivals hall - official taxis have a yellow and blue 'Taxi' sign. Brussels is well connected with most other European and Belgian cities. Gare du Midi is the main train station for international connections: the Eurostar and Thalys fast trains stop here. Euroline's main bus depot is next to Gare du Nord, where you can book buses between Brussels and the rest of Europe, Scandinavia and the UK. Buses aren't necessarily the cheapest option, however, so shop around. Driving is always an option - Belgium's motorway system is excellent - but beware of impatient and aggressive local drivers! Cycling from other parts of Belgium is possible, but you will need to be intrepid if you take to the roads in Brussels - the city doesn't have many cycle paths. There are a variety of ferry options, direct from the UK or via Calais in France.
Getting around
Brussels' modern and efficient public transportation system includes the metro, trams, premetro (trams that go underground for part of their journey) and buses, all run by the Soci é t é des Transports Intercommunaux de Bruxelles (STIB in French, MIVB in Flemish). Tickets are available at metro stations, STIB kiosks, some newsagents and on buses and trams. You can purchase single-trip tickets, five/ten-journey tickets or day passes. Metro stations are marked by rectangular signs with a white 'M' on a blue background. Tram and bus stops have red and white signs. There's no central hub for buses, so you'll want to pick up the STIB's free transportation map. Premetro trams run mainly between Gare du Nord and Gare du Midi. Trains are of minimal use within Brussels for visitors, except for getting to the airport. There are car rental companies at Gare du Midi, Brussels airport and around the city; the latter offer the cheapest prices. Driving in Brussels is not for the lily-livered - think aggressive drivers, potholes, cut-throat traffic loops and parking hassles. Taxis are metered and expensive; the tax and tips are figured into the meter price. Generally, you'll find taxis at all three major train stations, around the Grand Place and at place St é phanie on Ave Louise. You can also call for a taxi from anywhere in the city.
Weather
Brussels' mild maritime climate is unfortunately characterised by lots of grey, rainy weather. The warmest months are July and August when highs hover around 22 ° C (72 ° F), though they can also be the wettest. Winters are more predictable with plenty of rain and heavy-coat 'highs' of 4-7 ° C (39-45 ° F).
Places of Interest
The city of choice for Eurocrats, Brussels is sumptuous, historic and luxuriously cosy. With artistry richer than chocolate, architecture as graceful as its cuisine and diversity frothier than the beer, Brussels is an heirloom of northern culture at its best. What makes Brussels special? Seafood in great restaurants, the smell of hot waffles on a cold winter's day, cafes and pubs that never close, the cosmopolitan but neighbourly feel, forests practically on the doorstep, pheasant and truffles in autumn, comic strips, designer shops...
Events
The most prestigious annual event in Brussels is Ommegang, a 16th-century-style procession staged within the illuminated Grand Place in early July. Just as popular is the biennial flower carpet that colours the square in mid-August (even-numbered years). Immerse yourself in music at the annual Brussels Jazz Marathon (last weekend in May) or get down to some African beats at the Couleur Caf é 's celebration of local diversity. The Grand Place, together with the Sablon and Place Ste Catherine, also host free open-air concerts throughout summer.
Chocolate moulded by surrealists and beer poured by old masters. The city of choice for Eurocrats, Brussels is sumptuous, historic and luxuriously cosy. With artistry richer than chocolate, architecture as graceful as its cuisine and diversity frothier than the beer, Brussels is an heirloom of northern culture at its best.
What makes Brussels special? Seafood in great restaurants, the smell of hot waffles on a cold winter's day, cafes and pubs that never close, the cosmopolitan but neighbourly feel, forests practically on the doorstep, pheasant and truffles in autumn, comic strips, designer shops...
Central Brussels is divided into two main areas, the Lower and Upper Towns. The Lower Town comprises the medieval city centre, built around the imposing former market square of Grand Place. The area is easy to get around on foot, its cobbled streets leading to popular quarters such as Il ô t Sacr é , Ste Catherine, St G é ry and Marolles. The Upper Town, to the southeast, has a vastly different atmosphere. The traditional base of Brussels' French-speaking elite, it's home to wide boulevards, major museums, chic shopping areas around Sablon and Ave Louise, and monumental buildings including the Belgian parliament. Most of Brussels proper is surrounded by a motorway - the Petit Ring - but there are interesting sites beyond the centre. The glass-and-steel EU quarter is bordered by the trendy Ixelles district, known for its many Art Nouveau buildings. To the north, the Domaine Royale is the residence of Belgium's royal family.
Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +1
Area: 161
Coordinates: 50.8370018005 latitude and 4.36800003052 longitude
Population: 1000000
Languages: Belgium's tangled tongues date back to when Christ was a toddler and Franks were forcing Celts and Gauls into the land's southern regions, making an early form of Dutch the norm in the north. And so it remains, with French the accepted language in the south. Brussels, stuck in the middle, is one of the world's few officially bilingual capitals.French speakers live in Wallonia in the south.
Currency: Euro (€)
Daylight Saving: From last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October
Area codes: 02; incorporated into local numbers
Getting There
Brussels Airport(formerly known as Zaventem) is 14km (9mi) northeast of Brussels. Many international airlines fly here, but more fly into other European cities, so, depending on where you're coming from, it may be better to fly into Paris, London, Frankfurt or Amsterdam and train or bus it to Brussels. Departure tax is usually included in ticket prices. Belgium is so small that there are no internal flights between cities. A train station on the airport's lowest level (-1) runs the Airport City Express shuttle train between the airport and Brussels' three main train stations: Gare du Nord, Gare du Midi and Gare Centrale. The latter is a five-minute walk from the Grand Place. You can also catch a taxi from outside the arrivals hall - official taxis have a yellow and blue 'Taxi' sign. Brussels is well connected with most other European and Belgian cities. Gare du Midi is the main train station for international connections: the Eurostar and Thalys fast trains stop here. Euroline's main bus depot is next to Gare du Nord, where you can book buses between Brussels and the rest of Europe, Scandinavia and the UK. Buses aren't necessarily the cheapest option, however, so shop around. Driving is always an option - Belgium's motorway system is excellent - but beware of impatient and aggressive local drivers! Cycling from other parts of Belgium is possible, but you will need to be intrepid if you take to the roads in Brussels - the city doesn't have many cycle paths. There are a variety of ferry options, direct from the UK or via Calais in France.
Getting around
Brussels' modern and efficient public transportation system includes the metro, trams, premetro (trams that go underground for part of their journey) and buses, all run by the Soci é t é des Transports Intercommunaux de Bruxelles (STIB in French, MIVB in Flemish). Tickets are available at metro stations, STIB kiosks, some newsagents and on buses and trams. You can purchase single-trip tickets, five/ten-journey tickets or day passes. Metro stations are marked by rectangular signs with a white 'M' on a blue background. Tram and bus stops have red and white signs. There's no central hub for buses, so you'll want to pick up the STIB's free transportation map. Premetro trams run mainly between Gare du Nord and Gare du Midi. Trains are of minimal use within Brussels for visitors, except for getting to the airport. There are car rental companies at Gare du Midi, Brussels airport and around the city; the latter offer the cheapest prices. Driving in Brussels is not for the lily-livered - think aggressive drivers, potholes, cut-throat traffic loops and parking hassles. Taxis are metered and expensive; the tax and tips are figured into the meter price. Generally, you'll find taxis at all three major train stations, around the Grand Place and at place St é phanie on Ave Louise. You can also call for a taxi from anywhere in the city.
Weather
Brussels' mild maritime climate is unfortunately characterised by lots of grey, rainy weather. The warmest months are July and August when highs hover around 22 ° C (72 ° F), though they can also be the wettest. Winters are more predictable with plenty of rain and heavy-coat 'highs' of 4-7 ° C (39-45 ° F).
Places of Interest
The city of choice for Eurocrats, Brussels is sumptuous, historic and luxuriously cosy. With artistry richer than chocolate, architecture as graceful as its cuisine and diversity frothier than the beer, Brussels is an heirloom of northern culture at its best. What makes Brussels special? Seafood in great restaurants, the smell of hot waffles on a cold winter's day, cafes and pubs that never close, the cosmopolitan but neighbourly feel, forests practically on the doorstep, pheasant and truffles in autumn, comic strips, designer shops...
Events
The most prestigious annual event in Brussels is Ommegang, a 16th-century-style procession staged within the illuminated Grand Place in early July. Just as popular is the biennial flower carpet that colours the square in mid-August (even-numbered years). Immerse yourself in music at the annual Brussels Jazz Marathon (last weekend in May) or get down to some African beats at the Couleur Caf é 's celebration of local diversity. The Grand Place, together with the Sablon and Place Ste Catherine, also host free open-air concerts throughout summer.
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