Marek

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<p>It is worth visiting Brussels all year round, but the city is best visited <strong>in spring and autumn,</strong> when the streets are less crowded and accommodation prices are much lower. </p><figure id="attachment_71597" class="wp-caption alignleft hero-image"><img class="size-medium wp-image-71597" src="https://media.brate.com/images/europa/belgia/bruksela/bruksela-8.jpeg?tr=n-hero" alt="Brussels" width="500" height="326"><figcaption class="caption"> Brussels, Belgium - © Brate</figcaption></figure><p> The capital of Belgium experiences the greatest siege every two years, when a carpet of almost a million begonia flowers is laid on the Grand-Place during <strong>an August weekend</strong> .</p>

When to go to Brussels?

<p>The historic center of Brussels is quite pleasant to explore on foot. However, if, in addition to walking, you plan to visit more than one museum, consider <strong>purchasing a Brussels Card</strong> (you can choose from a 24-hour, 48-hour or 72-hour option). In addition to free entry to most museums, the card will also allow you to use public transport without additional fees.</p><h3> Grand Place</h3><p> La Grand Place is considered one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. It is a true <strong>architectural gem and a masterful example of mixing styles.</strong> There are lavish guild houses here, a Gothic town hall with a soaring tower topped with a 5-meter golden statue of St. Michael fighting the devil and the King&#39;s House (Maison du Roi), which houses the Brussels City Museum. </p><figure id="attachment_71597" class="wp-caption alignleft hero-image"><img class="size-medium wp-image-71597" src="https://media.brate.com/images/europa/belgia/bruksela/bruksela-5.jpg?tr=n-hero" alt="Brussels" width="500" height="326"><figcaption class="caption"> La Grand Place, Brussels, Belgium - © Brate</figcaption></figure><p> Once every two years, on an August weekend, volunteers lay <strong>a huge carpet of fresh flowers on the Grand Place.</strong> This amazing, fragrant work of art is designed by the most famous landscape architects and gardeners. The event is accompanied by fireworks displays and concerts, during which you can listen to music composed especially for this occasion.</p><h3> Manneken Pis, i.e. a bronze boy urinating</h3><p> The symbol of the city and at the same time <strong>the most photographed Belgian fountain.</strong> To celebrate important events in the history of Belgium and Europe, the naked figurine is dressed in various costumes. Manneken Pis has already performed in the costume of a Buddhist monk, the uniform of a World War I soldier or a Krakow folk costume. The costumes later go to the Brussels City Museum. </p><figure id="attachment_71597" class="wp-caption alignleft hero-image"><img class="size-medium wp-image-71597" src="https://media.brate.com/images/europa/belgia/bruksela/bruksela-10.jpeg?tr=n-hero" alt="Brussels" width="500" height="326"><figcaption class="caption"> Manneken Pis, Brussels, Belgium - © Brate</figcaption></figure><p> It is worth knowing that <strong>the boy is not the only &quot;peeing&quot; figurine</strong> in town. You will find a peeing girl (Jeanneke Pis) on Getrouwheidsgang, and a figurine of a peeing dog (Zinneke Pis) stands on Rue des Chartreux 35.</p><h3> Comic Book Museum</h3><p> A real <strong>mecca for comic book fans.</strong> The Belgian Comics Center was opened in 1989 and is located in an Art Nouveau building designed by the famous architect Victor Horta. The museum&#39;s rich collections are presented on three levels, and permanent and temporary exhibitions are focused on <strong>the European comic book tradition</strong> - instead of American superheroes, you will find Tintin, the Smurfs and Lucky Luke.</p><h3> Comic book trail</h3><p> Walking along the impressive comic book murals is <strong>a great way to get to know the city</strong> . The addresses of the buildings with large paintings are available on the city&#39;s official website. There are also many bookstores along the trail, where English-language editions of Belgian comics are also available.</p><h3> Royal Museum of Art and History</h3><p> A complex of <strong>four state museums housing the greatest collection of Belgian art</strong> . The museums display over 20,000 paintings, sculptures and drawings, mainly dating from the 15th to the 21st century. Particularly noteworthy are the Museum of Ancient Art with works by Rubens, Bosch, Memling, the Brueghls and Van Dyck, as well as the Museum of Modern Art, which houses paintings by Monet, Gauguin, Picasso, Chagall and Salvador Dalí.</p><h3> National Basilica of the Sacred Heart </h3><figure id="attachment_71597" class="wp-caption alignleft hero-image"><img class="size-medium wp-image-71597" src="https://media.brate.com/images/europa/belgia/bruksela/bruksela-bazylila-najswietszego-serca.jpeg?tr=n-hero" alt="Brussels" width="500" height="326"><figcaption class="caption"> National Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Brussels, Belgium - © Brate</figcaption></figure><p> Inspired by the Sacré-Cœur in Paris, the basilica is <strong>the fifth largest church in the world</strong> . Its construction began in 1905 and continued with interruptions for almost 65 years. The most characteristic element of the monstrous building is the green, copper dome, under which there is <strong>an external gallery with an observation deck</strong> .</p><h3> Royal Palace </h3><figure id="attachment_71597" class="wp-caption alignleft hero-image"><img class="size-medium wp-image-71597" src="https://media.brate.com/images/europa/belgia/bruksela/bruksela-palac-krolewski.jpeg?tr=n-hero" alt="Brussels Royal Palace" width="500" height="326"><figcaption class="caption"> Royal Palace, Brussels, Belgium - © Brate</figcaption></figure><p> The official and administrative residence of the royal family. When the king is in the building, the Belgian flag flies on the palace tower. Inside, it is worth visiting, first of all <strong>, the Throne Room, the Hall of Mirrors and the Imperial Hall, which serves as a ballroom.</strong> Every year at the turn of July and August, the Royal Palace opens its doors to visitors without charging any entry fees. <strong>Free tours</strong> are available for up to three weeks.</p><h3> Atomium </h3><figure id="attachment_71597" class="wp-caption alignleft hero-image"><img class="size-medium wp-image-71597" src="https://media.brate.com/images/europa/belgia/bruksela/bruksela-atomium.jpeg?tr=n-hero" alt="Brussels Atomium" width="500" height="326"><figcaption class="caption"> Atomium, Brussels, Belgium - © Brate</figcaption></figure><p> Model <strong>of an iron particle magnified 160 million times</strong> . Atomium is a project by engineer Andre Waterkeyn, built on the occasion of the World EXPO in 1958. Initially, the structure was to be demolished after six months, but it was so enthusiastically received that the city authorities decided not to abandon it. The giant iron particle is 102 meters long and consists of 9 steel balls with a diameter of 18 meters and connecting corridors, each of which is 23 meters long and 3 meters in diameter. In the highest sphere there is <strong>a viewing platform from which you can admire the panorama of Brussels.</strong> In the remaining five spheres and corridors, permanent and temporary exhibitions are available to visitors.</p><h3> Mini Europa miniature park </h3><figure id="attachment_71597" class="wp-caption alignleft hero-image"><img class="size-medium wp-image-71597" src="https://media.brate.com/images/europa/belgia/bruksela/bruksela-park-miniatur.jpeg?tr=n-hero" alt="Brussels miniature park" width="500" height="326"><figcaption class="caption"> Mini-Europa, Brussels, Belgium - © Brate</figcaption></figure><p> Mini-Europa is great entertainment for the whole family and a unique opportunity to see all <strong>the greatest European monuments in one place.</strong> Although not in the original sizes, it is always a start and an opportunity to <strong>instill curiosity about the world in the youngest travelers</strong> . While walking through the park&#39;s alleys, you can admire the mini. the miniature Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Big Ben and even the Brussels Grand-Place.</p><h3> Parliamentarium </h3><figure id="attachment_71597" class="wp-caption alignleft hero-image"><img class="size-medium wp-image-71597" src="https://media.brate.com/images/europa/belgia/bruksela/bruksela-parlament.jpeg?tr=n-hero" alt="Brussels Parliamentarium" width="500" height="326"><figcaption class="caption"> Parliamentarium, Brussels, Belgium - © Brate</figcaption></figure><p> Parliamentarium is <strong>an interactive museum about the origins of the European Union and the functioning of the European Parliament.</strong> Admission to the museum is free, and during the visit you can use handy multimedia guides, which are available in all official EU languages.</p>

What to see in Brussels?

<p>Brussels is not a metropolis teeming with nightlife. Several of the most famous nightclubs are scattered throughout the city, so it is unlikely that you can visit more than one or two of them in one night. <strong>More popular than clubbing is the so-called &quot;pub crawl&quot;</strong> , i.e. wandering from pub to pub and trying the best Belgian (but not only) beers. The most popular bars are located <strong>in the historic part of the city.</strong></p><h3> Delirium Cafe</h3><p> A cult beer bar offering <strong>over 2,000 types of beers from all over the world</strong> (thanks to this record number, Delirium was included in the Guinness Book in 2004). A multi-level place always full of people. Both draft and bottled beer is available (Impasse de la Fidélité 4).</p><h3> Poechenellekelder</h3><p> Excellent bar near Manneken Pis. <strong>A wide selection of beer and interesting interior design</strong> - there are puppets hanging on the walls (Rue du Chêne 5).</p><h3> Moeder Lambic Fontainas</h3><p> A perfect place if, <strong>apart from drinking beer, you want something tasty to eat.</strong> Lots of space and plenty of seating. Nice and helpful staff (Place Fontainas 8).</p><h3> Café Mort Subite</h3><p> Over a century old place in fin de siècle style. <strong>The bar is considered one of the true Brussels classics.</strong> There are no regular dishes on the Mort Subite menu, you can only order beer and light snacks (Rue Montagne aux Herbes Potagères 7).</p><h3> L&#39;Archiduc</h3><p> Jazz club and cocktail bar in one. A cozy place decorated in Art Deco style, open continuously since 1937 (Rue Antoine Dansaert 6).</p><h3> Madame Mustache</h3><p> Nightclub open from Tuesday to Saturday. The motto of the place is &quot;no-bullshit&quot;. Chilled atmosphere and crazy retro parties. On the dance floor you can hear medleys of classic rock-and-roll, funky and soul (Quai au Bois à Brûler 5-7).</p>

Nightlife in Brussels

<h3>Gare Maritime</h3><p> A closed public space not very well known to tourists, where many cultural events take place, such as festivals, concerts and exhibitions. This is a good place to spend time when black clouds appear in the Brussels sky. <strong>Gare Maritime</strong> (Picardstraat 11) was transformed from an old railway station, and the combination of wood and metal may intrigue supporters of contemporary architecture. There are a lot of <strong>restaurants</strong> on site, and from time to time <strong>a Voddemet</strong> , a flea market, is organized here, where you can easily find vintage gems.</p><h3 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"> <span class="mw-page-title-main">Rue de la Cigogne</span></h3><p class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"> <span class="mw-page-title-main">When you come across this hidden street, you may start to wonder whether you are really still in Brussels. Literally translated <strong>, Rue de la Cigogne</strong> means Stork Street, it is very narrow, which only adds to its authentic charm. It stretches for only 70 m, at the entrance you can see a small sculpture <strong>of Saint Roch</strong> , and on warm and sunny days the inhabitants of this street like to sit outside and gossip.</span></p><h3 class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"> <span class="mw-page-title-main">Erasmus House</span></h3><p class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"> <span class="mw-page-title-main">Not far from the center of Brussels - in <strong>Anderlecht</strong> there is Erasmus House (Rue de Formanoir 31). It&#39;s the perfect place for people looking for isolated attractions and those interested in history. Erasmus stayed here for several months in 1521 and during this time he was engaged <strong>in translating the New Testament</strong> . The building itself has been transformed into <strong>a museum</strong> , where you can see exhibits about both the work and private life of the philosopher. Exhibitions and cultural events are regularly held on site. If you need a moment of rest, we recommend a walk through <strong>the garden of philosophers and medicinal plants</strong> .</span></p><h3 class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"> <span class="mw-page-title-main">Aegidium</span></h3><p> <span class="mw-page-title-main"><strong>The abandoned cinema</strong> from the early 20th century is steeped in history, and its well-preserved interior amazes every visitor. Even most locals don&#39;t know about <strong>Aegidium</strong> (Parv. de Saint-Gilles 18), and currently it can only be visited with a guide from VisitesDeMonVoisin.</span></p><h3 class="DUwDvf fontHeadlineLarge"> Royal Greenhouses of Laeken</h3><p> Just north of the heart of Brussels is <strong>the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken</strong> (Av. du Parc Royal 61). It is a beautiful <strong>garden with idyllic greenhouses</strong> , perfect for people who want to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. The place opens to visitors in spring, but only for <strong>3 weeks</strong> . Tickets are selling like hot cakes, so if you want to see these glass domes and first-class gardens, we recommend planning your visit in advance.</p>

Off the trail

<h3 class="qrShPb kno-ecr-pt PZPZlf q8U8x PPT5v" data-dtype="d3ifr" data-local-attribute="d3bn" data-attrid="title" data-ved="2ahUKEwjgh42qoKn-AhWawAIHHZrTBZ4Q3B0oAHoECA8QAQ"> Nordzee Mer du Nord</h3><p> Street food serving fish and seafood, an ideal option for budget travelers. The tables have no chairs, here you eat standing. <strong>Nordzee Mer du Nord</strong> is on Pl. Sainte-Catherine 50, although you won&#39;t need the address. You will be attracted by the smells of master <strong>fish soup</strong> , grilled <strong>shrimps</strong> and Dutch <strong>kibbeling</strong> . We warn you, these are powerful calorie bombs. The products are fresh and full of flavor, as if they had just come off the boat. </p><h3 class="qrShPb kno-ecr-pt PZPZlf q8U8x PPT5v" data-dtype="d3ifr" data-local-attribute="d3bn" data-attrid="title" data-ved="2ahUKEwjgh42qoKn-AhWawAIHHZrTBZ4Q3B0oAHoECA8QAQ"> Friterie Tabora</h3><p> Belgians love potatoes, especially those thickly cut and deep-fried. The top place in Brussels to try Belgian fries is <strong>Friterie Tabora</strong> (Rue de Tabora 2). Perfectly crispy on the outside, pleasantly soft on the inside. You can choose one of dozens of different sauces for your fries, we recommend trying <strong>the Andalusian one</strong> based on mayonnaise. There is often a long queue to order, but these fries are worth waiting a bit for.</p><h3> <strong>Laurent Gerbaud Chocolatier</strong></h3><p> At <strong>Laurent Gerbaud Chocolatier</strong> (Rue Ravenstein 2D) you will find a wide selection of flagship chocolate pralines (also in vegan versions), and when ordering hot chocolate you can choose one piece for free. These small chocolates have a perfectly balanced sweetness and their flavor is deep and rich. Laurent Gerbaud is one of the best chocolatiers you will find in Brussels, and you can take his knowledge home with you. Every Saturday, chocolate-making workshops are organized here, culminating in the tasting of 12 chocolates.</p><h3> Foodhall Wolf</h3><p> <strong>Foodhall Wolf</strong> (Rue du Fossé aux Loups 50) is here to help you solve the problem of divergent gastronomic preferences among a larger group of friends. Cuisine from all over the world is served there - Greek, Italian, Mexican, Asian, Indian... Run your finger over the map and you will surely find something for you. In the epicenter of the hall there is <strong>a bar</strong> where you can order their own brewed beer and place your order via the <strong>wolf.brussels</strong> application.</p><h3> La Fleur en Papier Doré</h3><p> Both <strong>René Magritte</strong> and <span class="mw-page-title-main"><strong>Hergé</strong> fell in love with this place years ago and became its regulars.</span> <strong>La Fleur en Papier Doré</strong> (Rue des Alexiens 55) is a restaurant and beer hall serving traditional Belgian dishes. Particularly noteworthy is <strong>stoemp</strong> , which captures the hearts of all hungry people. The place is steeped in history and when you enter it you feel as if you had stepped back in time. The decor is definitely <strong>old-fashioned</strong> , and on the walls, yellowed by cigarette smoke, there are paintings, photographs and other framed works.</p>

Where to eat in Brussels?

<p>Brussels is, on the one hand, monumental buildings, large squares and wide boulevards, on the other, the best chocolate in the world, the largest selection of beer in pubs and the most crunchy fries (necessarily with mayonnaise). Some people consider the Belgian capital to be boring, conservative and damn expensive. Others appreciate its <strong>diverse architecture, interesting museums and comic-book murals</strong> , saying that you don&#39;t have to spend a fortune to feel the atmosphere of the city. It is worth dropping by at least for the weekend to form your own opinion. </p><div id="attachment_75672" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 500px;"><img class="size-medium wp-image-75672" src="https://media.brate.com/images/europa/belgia/bruksela/bruksela-1.jpg?tr=n-hero" alt="Brussels" width="500" height="333"><p class="caption"> Brussels, Belgium - © Brate</p></div><h2> For whom?</h2><p> Brussels will appeal to everyone who enjoys <strong>sightseeing and is interested in art.</strong> It is also a city that every <strong>true</strong> <strong>comic fan and beer connoisseur should visit at least once in their life.</strong></p>

Parlamentarium, Bruksela, Belgia - © Brate.com

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Mini-Europa, Bruksela, Belgia - © Brate.com

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Pałac Królewski, Bruksela, Belgia - © Brate.com

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Narodowa Bazylika Najświętszego Serca, Bruksela, Belgia - © Brate.com

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Belgium_East

motel_one_brussels-272395706

A very cozy hotel about 10 minutes&#39; walk from Grand Place. Nice service, well-equipped bar, rooms not very large but nicely decorated, the bathroom had towels and shower gel. Paid parking is available. Perfect for a weekend getaway.

Motel One Brussels

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A small hostel in an area famous for the best flea markets in Brussels. Breakfast is okay, and you can make coffee and tea throughout the day. Lovely curtains by the beds in dormitories. Unfortunately, poor wifi.

Hostel Galia

van_gogh_youth_hostel_city_centre-244381623

Great location for both sightseeing and nightlife. Always a lot of people. There is a bar and a pool table. The rooms are quite modest, but clean. Reception open 24 hours a day.

Van Gogh Youth Hostel City Centre

2go4_quality_hostel_brussels_grand_place-82094755

Hostel located in the heart of Brussels, you can walk everywhere. Guests are more interested in sightseeing than partying, so there&#39;s not much going on in the shared rooms. Clean bathrooms and well-kept rooms, friendly service.

2GO4 Quality Hostel Brussels Grand Place

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Nice hostel, close to the metro. Breakfast is a bit lacking in variety, but there is a shop nearby, so you can go shopping before having coffee. Large selection of beers at the bar. There are a lot of people from Poland in the hostel, apparently you can even find service in Polish.

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Motel One Brussels

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Van Gogh Youth Hostel City Centre

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