48 hours in Brussels – Weekend Edition
Brussels In Less Than 48 Words
Brussels is Belgium’s cosmopolitan capital, and is a city renowned for fine food, culture, Art Nouveau architecture, and nightlife. It is often referred to as the “Capital of Europe”, and travelers have a magnificent time touring the 70 odd museums and countless restaurants and entertainment venues.
Flower carpet set up at the Grand Place (Photo by Yabby)
First 24 Hours
You can fly to the affable city of Brussels via the Brussels Airport, located 11 kilometers northeast of the city center. From there, you can catch a train at the Brussels Airport railway station, which will take you to the city. Alternatively, you can opt to hire a taxi to take you directly to the city center, which will go through the A201 route.
The city of Brussels is split into two major parts: the Lower and Upper towns. The city is fairly easy to navigate, and public transportation is readily accessible. However, it is worthwhile to pay a visit to its main tourist office near the market square of the Grand Place (00 32 2 513 8940 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 00 32 2 513 8940 end_of_the_skype_highlighting). There, you can learn more about the city and transportation. You can also get there a copy of the Agenda listings magazine, which offers reviews of the city’s restaurants, bars, and clubs.
CHECK IN: Get your bearings back at Brussels’ fine hotels
Guest room of Sofitel Brussels Europe (Photo from Google images)
Once in the heart of the city, you can take rest for some time at any one of Brussels’ excellent hotels. One of the best in the city is the Sofitel Brussels Europe (Place Jourdan 1, Brussels 1040, (+32)2/2355100, email). It offers five-star facilities and excellent staff at an ideal location. A nice alternative is The Dominican (Rue Léopold/ Leopoldstraat 9, 1000 Brussels, +32 (0)2 203 08 08, website), which features luxurious amenities, stylish décor, and excellent breakfast.
You can also try out the Radisson Blu EU Hotel (Rue d’Idalie 35|(formerly Radisson SAS), Brussels 1050, +32 2 626 81 11, website). It is easily accessible by public transport, with nice views, modern amenities, and a helpful staff.
MIM: Let’s take a view
A popular attraction in Brussels is the Musée des Instruments de Musique (rue Montagne de la Cour 2, 00 32 2 502 9508, website). Often called simply as MIM, it is a museum featuring exhibits of internationally-renowned musical instruments. You can listen to the sound of every instrument on display through infrared headphones there. You’ll also see a complete 17th century orchestra, one of the only two spinet-harpsichords in the world, a Chedeville bagpipe, and more than 100 different kinds of Indian instruments.
Musée des Instruments de Musique (Photo by dalbera)
However, one of the highlights of a visit to the museum is riding an elevator to its top-floor café, where you can enjoy sweeping views of the cityscape while sipping a cup of coffee or munching snacks. The site is open between 9:30 am and 5 pm from Tuesdays to Fridays, and between 10 am to 5 pm on weekends (closed on Mondays). Admission will cost only around €5.
GRAND PLACE: Go for a historical hike
One of the most popular tourist destinations in Brussels is the Grand Place (Grand’Place 1000, directions: Gare Centrale, de Brouckère or Bourse metro). It is the city’s central square, and one of the largest of its kind in Europe. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well. The square measures 68 by 110 meters in area, and is home to an array of historical landmarks, as well as free concerts and a flower market.
You can see there the Brussels Town Hall, a Gothic-style building that is the city’s administrative center. Its 96-meter high Brabantine Gothic tower is particularly impressive. You can also see its five-meter tall sculpture of Archangel Michael slaying a dragon.
Another attraction in the square is the Broodhuis, which is more popularly known as the “Breadhouse.” It is a beautiful neo-Gothic building, and was originally used by bakers as a site for selling bread. It is open between 10 am and 5 pm from Tuesdays to Fridays, and 10 am to 1 pm on weekends (closed on Mondays), and entrance tickets cost only €2.48.
MANNEKEN PIS: See a famous Brussels landmark
Manneken Pis wearing a Finnish student cap as a tradition for the May graduates (Photo by Teemu Mäntynen)
Don’t’ forget to take a short detour to the Manneken Pis (junction of Rue de l’Étuve/Stoofstraat and Rue du Chêne/Eikstraat), one of the city’s most famous landmarks. It is a small bronze fountain sculpture of a naked little boy that appears to be urinating into the fountain basin. The statue was designed by Jerome Duquesnoy in 1619, and is sometimes seen dressed in different attires. You can reach it by walking along the left lane next to the Brussels Town Hall, nearly a hundred meters to the left.
CENTER FOR FINE ARTS: Have an artistic visit
Another attraction in Brussels is the Palais des Beaux-Arts (Rue Ravensteinstraat 23, 1000 Brussels, 02 507 82 00, website). Also known as the Brussels Center for Fine Arts, it is a cultural venue that is home to the National Orchestra of Belgium. Inside you may see exhibition and conference rooms, a movie theater, and a concert hall. You can watch various cultural performances, although you will have to book tickets in advance online, or buy tickets from its ticket office.
DINNER TIME: Recharge after sightseeing tours in Brussels with dinner at its posh restaurants
After sightseeing you can have your dinner at the superb restaurants found all over the city. One of the best dining experiences is available at the Les Salades de Gaspard (Veydtstraat 41 1050 Elsene, 02 537 37 77, website). It lives up to its five-star reputation with its delicious dishes, and its classic and comfortable ambience. Have a taste of Italy in Belgium at Toscana 21 (Rue de rollebeek, 21 Bruxelles, Brussels 1000, +32 2 5023621), which serves an excellent Italian cuisine, plus a great wine selection.
Go Japanese at Samourai (28 rue du Fosse aux Loups, Brussels 1000, 02 217 56 39), especially with its fresh and high quality sushi selection. You can also try out the Comme Chez Soi (Rouppeplein 23 1000 Brussels, 02 512 29 21, website), which is beautifully decorated in an Art Nouveau style, and ideal for food connoisseurs and lovers.
Next 24 Hours
Your next 24 hours can be used to discover the city’s other attractions. One of the must-sees in the city is the Atomium (Atomiumsquare, B1020, Brussels, +32 (0) 2 475 47 77, website). It is a unique 102-meter tall monument built for the 1958 Brussels World Fair. It is made up of nine steel spheres connected by tubes to form an iron crystal shape. You can climb onto one of the 18-meter wide spheres via escalators or lifts, and there at the top you will be rewarded by stunning views of the cityscape. The site is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm.
Atomium (Photo by hermanpaca)
ROYAL MUSEUMS: Go for a little cultural sightseeing
Don’t forget to visit the Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium (3 Rue de la Regence 1000, 32 (0)2 508 32 11, website). It is one of the most famous museums in Belgium, and inside you will see a collection of sculptures, Baroque period work, and pictures from the 15th to 18th centuries. Some of the most noted artists whose works are featured there include Rogier van der Weyden and Hans Memling. The site is open on Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm (closed on Mondays and holidays).
NOTRE DAME DU SABLON: Let’s go to church
Another Brussels attraction is the Notre Dame du Sablon (place du Grand-Sablon, Rue de la Régence 3B, Brussels, 02/511-57-41). It is a 15th century Late Gothic church most noted for its four-fold gallery adorned with brightly-colored stained-glass windows. It also has two baroque chapels that are decorated with white marble funeral symbols. You can also see an impressive sculpture of St. Hubert. The site is open daily from 8 am to 6 pm, and admission is free.
Notre Dame du Sablon (Photo by Traveling Lao)
MUSEUM OF COCOA AND CHOCOLATE: Celebrate the famous Belgian chocolate
Chocolate lovers will definitely love the Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate (13 Grand Place 1000, +32 2 514 20 48, website). There, you can learn more about Belgium’s most renowned product (Belgian chocolate) through the museum’s educational tours on chocolate-making history at its various exhibits. At the end of your tour, you’ll be rewarded with a taste of home-made treats as well. The site is open on Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 am to 4:30 pm.
BOTANIC GARDEN: Have a horticultural experience
At the last sojourn could be at one of the largest botanic gardens in the world, the National Botanic Garden of Belgium (Bouchout Domain, Nieuwelaan 38, 1860 Meise, +32 2 260 09 20, website). The site is home to over 18,000 different plant species, which is six percent of all known plant species in the world. These are planted inside its greenhouse and its outdoor park, where you can take a leisurely stroll while admiring the plants. It is open daily from 10 am to 4:30 pm, and admission will usually cost you around €5.
National Botanic Garden of Belgium (Photo by cookipediachef)
NIGHTLIFE: Indulge in Brussels’ vibrant nightlife scene
Lastly, don’t forget to indulge in the pleasures afforded by Brussels’ bars and clubs. One of the most popular is Le Cerceuil (Rue des Harengs 10-12, Brussels B-1000, +32 2 512 3077). Translated as “the coffin,” the bar lives up to its name with its atmosphere of almost total darkness, with an ambience that is creepy yet interesting with skull shape mugs and soft funeral music. A nice alternative is L’Archiduc (Rue Antoine Dansaert 6, Brussels, +32 2 512 0652, website), which serves tasty cocktails and fine wines and plays live Jazz during weekend afternoons, and is frequented by the “seen and be seen” crowd.
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