"A Lovely Glimpse of BRUSSELS" Brussels by Krystynn

Brussels Travel Guide: 5,566 reviews and 11,827 photos

The Grand Place in Brussels is a grand place! ;-)

This is charming BRUSSELS - the "capital" of Europe, headquarters of the Common Market and NATO. Yeah, and thanks to the Eurocrats, the cost of living here rises faster than the skyscrapers hemming in the Gothic towers of the Old Town! :-)

Brussels boasts of some of Europe's finest museums and art galleries like the Musee Royaux de Beaux Arts and the Musee d'Art Moderne as well as the impressive twin-towered Gothic cathedral. Another MUST-SEE attraction is the Lower Town with its wealth of charming guild houses and the Upper Town whose wide avenues and magnificent architecture attest to its role as THE residential area of the Belgian aristocracy. Oh, and DON'T forget to visit the Hôtel de Ville located at the superb Grand Place (my fave place to chill out). O.K., I know...I know... I do sound like a typical tourist huh?

Well, there's another great recommendation that I'd like to share with you and that is to stroll along the wide boulevards with their exquisite shops (read: SHOPPING! SHOPPING!!!). And when lunch/ dinner time beckons, drop in at any one of the many fine restaurants offering SUPERB French nouvelle cuisine as well as ethnic food from all over the world! And Brussels also has some lovely (and lively) pubs serving the BEST Belgian beers that I've tasted. Really.

O.K., after being enchanted by the old world charm of the Grand Place and the modern sophistication of the city center, I daresay that there is no where else in this world with such a rich blend of history and culture than right here in Brussels!

I hope you'll enjoy this wonderful city just as much as I do.

THE BRUSSELS FACTFILE:

Full country name: ngdom of BELGIUM

Area: 30,518 sq km

Population: 10.2 million

Capital: Brussels (pop: 970,000)

People: 55% Flemish (of Teutonic origin), 33% Walloons (French Latin) and about 10% foreigners.

Language: Flemish, French and German. Most Belgians also speak English.

Religion: More than 75% of the population is Roman Catholic.

Government: A constitutional parliamentary monarchy.

Monetary Unit: Euro

Main Exports: Machinery and Electrical Equipment, Chemicals, Vehicles, Metals, Diamonds

Major Trading Partners: Germany, France, the Netherlands, UK

International Dialling Code: +32

Visas: EU citizens can enter on an official identity card. Travelers from Australia, Canada, Singapore, New Zealand, Japan, the USA and many other countries just need a valid passport (i.e. NO visa). Unless you're a citizen of a developing country, you can probably stay up to three months.

Health risks: None, except the cost of medical care. :-)

Time: GMT/UTC + 1hour (2 hours ahead in summer)

Electricity : 220V, 50 Hz

Weights & Measures: Metric

Public holidays: New Year’s Day; Easter Monday; Labor Day; Ascension Day; Whit Sunday; Whit Monday; National Holiday (21 July); Assumption Day; All Saints’ Day; Armistice Day (11 Nov); Christmas Day.

Good buys: Chocolates (preferably Godiva - the brand), Belgian lace. For more details, please continue to read this travel page! :-))

Local Dishes: Moules frites (mussels and chips... I love it!) and waffles.

Recommended reading: "The Sorrow of Belgium" by Bruges-born author Hugo Claus is one of the few pieces of local literature translated into English. It describes wartime Belgium, seen through the eyes of a Flemish adolescent.

"A Tall Man in a Low Land" by Harry Pearson is an amusing account of the travel writer’s visit to Belgium.

And "Live & Work in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg", by Vacation Work Publications is handy if you're planning to settle in here for a while.

Above info courtesy of: The Belgium Tourism Board. (Updated: end-2003)

Last visit to Brussels: Dec 1995
Intro Updated Feb 12, 2004
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Reviews (28)

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Comments (72)

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Maurizioago Apr 18, 2007 at 2:10 AM

Good page. I hope to go there quite soon. Ciao!
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Synch_X Aug 12, 2003 at 9:34 AM

What an excellent page, it has made me even more enthusiastic for my trip to Brussels.
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martin_nl Nov 11, 2002 at 2:56 PM

Your photo's are beautiful and very artistic!!
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jedd43 Aug 4, 2002 at 4:06 AM

Wonderful info & pics! Thanks!
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Packerman Aug 4, 2002 at 3:47 AM

Excellent page
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nomada Jul 25, 2002 at 5:30 AM

great info again, Krystyn, and shoping info :)
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irisbe May 18, 2002 at 6:58 AM

I love your way of photography! Nice tips too,still have to g
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harido Apr 24, 2002 at 10:15 AM

realy nice page
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aliante1981 Apr 12, 2002 at 5:57 AM

I loved my trip to the city!
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Hildeke Feb 28, 2002 at 3:05 PM

ok, writing much in here is not working... great page!