Brussels, Belgium, is a very cute European city that is known for diplomacy, good food and a large variety of Belgium beer. There are so many interesting things you can do in a short amount of time. Before you plan your trip, take a look at my 10 travel tips for Brussels.
Vibrant City Center
There are many interesting neighborhoods in Brussels, but if you only have a short time to see the city, my travel tip is that you should focus on the city center. There are lots of restaurants and souvenir shops for you to indulge in. As a matter of fact, all of Belgium’s treats, including chocolate, Belgium style French fries, Belgian waffles, and beer are within walking distance of each other.
Get outside of Brussels
Brussels is one of the most lovely cities I have ever traveled to. However, if you have several days to spend in Belgium, you should definitely get outside of the city. I loved Bruges and Antwerp, but you should also consider traveling to Dinant and Ghent.
Enjoy Belgium’s treats
My favorite thing about Belgium is the food. The Belgian waffles and twice-fried frites (French fries) are must haves. For beer lovers, Belgium brews over 800 varieties of beer. As a chocolate lover, I must mention Belgian chocolate. It is a kind of unforgettable, melt in your mouth experience you should not pass up!
Visit the Museums
If you are into museums, do not overlook this travel tip. Belgium has some fantastic museums, and you should build in lots of time to visit them. One of my favorites is the Magritte Museum. It has the largest collections of works by the Brussels surrealist René Magritte.
Getting Around
I never thought I would have to offer this travel tip for Brussels since Belgium is an international country. But, you should know that it may be hard for you to get around if you do not have some French. I have done a lot of travel around Europe, and I think Belgium is one of the easiest places to get around. But that is in part because know some French. I rarely saw signs in English, and it took me a little longer to figure out where I was supposed to be. As in most European big cities, Brussels is completely walkable and public transportation is widely available.
Sundays are slow
A big travel tip for Brussels is that the city is sleepy on Sundays. As in most European countries, many things are closed on Sundays. Tourist shops and museums are generally open.
See Europe from Belgium
Belgium is a great central location to take day trips to several other European countries. In about 2 hours or less, you can take the train from Brussels to Amsterdam, Paris, Cologne, or Luxemburg City.
Languages
The official languages of Belgium are Dutch, French, and German. Some people also speak Flemish, which is rooted in Dutch. While most people speak some English, do not assume that everyone will be able to understand you. Learning a few words in French will go a long way.
SIM card, please…
Getting a SIM card for my cell phone was harder to find than expected. I was only able to find cards to recharge cell phone minutes at the airport and most convenient stores. It did not help that I arrived on a Sunday and for only one day. Since many shops are closed on Sundays, I was never able to purchase a SIM card.
Where is the Air Conditioner?
Imagine walking into an ice cream or coffee shop in the middle of august. All you want is some relief from the hot sun, but it is hotter and stuffier inside the shop than outside. Where is the air conditioner??? Well, during my latest trip to Brussels, it was in the upper 80s with no chance of rain. It was super hot and I found myself going from chocolate shop to chocolate shop to find some cool air…okay, and to buy more chocolate. If you are traveling to Brussels during the summer, be prepared for hot temperatures with little relief.