Dos and Don’ts in Brussels
What you need to know.
Brussels © VisitBelgium.net
Airports
“Brussels Airport” is Belgium’s largest airport and is located in the Brussels suburb of Zaventem. From the airport, you can easily and quickly reach all major train stations in Brussels by train – for example, Gare Centrale in just 18 minutes.
“Brussels South Charleroi Airport“, mainly used by low-cost airlines, is about 50 kilometers south of Brussels and does not have a train connection.
Train Stations
Brussels has several major train stations. The largest is Gare du Midi, which is the most important international hub in Western Europe. In addition to regional and international trains, all high-speed trains stop here. However, Gare du Midi is not very centrally located and is in a problematic area. It’s best to use Gare Centrale instead, which is located underground in the heart of the city. Gare du Nord and Gare du Luxembourg are also outside the city center and are of lesser importance for tourists.
LEZ (Low Emission Zone)
Brussels has a LEZ (Low Emission Zone). If you are arriving by car, you must register your vehicle online. Registration is usually free (unless you drive a polluting vehicle) and is valid for five years. Detection is done via fixed camera scanners at all entry points.
The implementation is questionable and can quickly lead to unexpected fines (€350). Similar LEZs exist in other Belgian cities (Antwerp, Ghent) and in other European cities as well.
Rush Hour
Although Brussels has many narrow, historic neighborhoods and large pedestrian zones, it also has an excellent road network. There is a motorway ring road, an inner-city ring (Pentagone), large boulevards, underpasses, and numerous road tunnels. However, during rush hour, total chaos breaks out. Be prepared and bring patience.
Car Tunnels
Brussels has countless underpasses and road tunnels, particularly on the inner-city ring (Pentagone) and on the main access roads. These are quite unique – allowing you to bypass traffic lights and intersections and reach your destination quickly (unless it’s rush hour). However, you may end up in a tunnel that is too long and miss your destination, or suddenly find yourself on the highway heading out of the city, even though you meant to stay in Brussels. If you are not sure, stay in the right lane. Use the left lanes only if you want to stay in tunnels for a longer stretch, for example when driving around the inner-city ring.
Areas
Brussels has many interesting and vibrant areas to offer, not only in the city center. There are many important sights outside the center, and several beautiful Art Nouveau districts are well worth a visit. But like many European cities, Brussels also faces serious problems with migration, antisocial behaviour, gang and drug-related crime, Islamism and unrest. Here is a rough overview of the city:
The city center of Brussels is very large and lies within the roughly pentagon-shaped ring road called the “Pentagone”, also known as the “Petite Ceinture”. At its heart are the historic center with the Grand Place and the underground Gare Central railway station. To the west and north, there are lively shopping and nightlife areas. To the east, in the Uptown, you find many museums, palaces, and upscale shopping streets. Moving south, the atmosphere changes: while the southeastern Marolles area is traditionally a bit rough but trendy, the southwestern Midi-Lemonnier area, heading towards Gare du Midi, is very unpleasant.
Problematic areas around the Pentagone include the western stretch from Gare du Midi to Molenbeek, and the smaller northeastern stretch from Gare du Nord to Saint-Josse. To be more specific: in the west, from the lower part of Saint-Gilles at Gare du Midi through Anderlecht-Cureghem and Molenbeek-Centre up to Ribaucourt metro station; in the northeast, from Gare du Nord through Schaerbeek-Brabant down to Place Saint-Josse in the center of Saint-Josse.
Looking at the metropolitan area as a whole, one can generally say that the west (especially Anderlecht and Molenbeek) faces major challenges, and to a lesser extent also the north (parts of Laeken and Schaerbeek). The charm of good old Brussels is best preserved in the east and south.
Chocolate Shops
The old town around the Grand Place is full of charming chocolate and praline shops. Many look very similar and attract tourists with “good” prices and large assortments. Avoid these tourist traps. If you want to buy high-quality Belgian chocolate, go to a branch of a renowned Belgian chocolatier – there are several in the area. And if you’re really looking for a bargain, just head to a supermarket!
Restaurants
There are also plenty of restaurants around the Grand Place, some aimed at tourists. The food there is mediocre at best. If you’re going to eat in Brussels – and you definitely should – then eat well.
The most prominent example is traditionally Rue des Bouchers: visually a highlight, but not so much culinarily. While there are some long-established and excellent restaurants, the majority are not recommended. Since the COVID pandemic, the situation seems to have “improved” – many of the tourist traps have not reopened.
Beer
Belgian beer is world-renowned. There are around 500 varieties, and you might want to try at least a few. The only problem: it’s easy to get drunk. Many Belgian beers have an alcohol content of 8–12%. Take it easy. Some types, especially pilsner, are suitable for quenching your thirst – but most are meant to be savored.
Opening Hours
Always keep an eye on opening hours. These tend to be rather conservative in Belgium, although many shops in Brussels are open even on Sundays.
Shops in Belgium are generally open from Monday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., often extended in urban shopping streets. On Sundays, some shops and boutiques (no large international chains) in tourist areas are open, as well as certain larger supermarkets.
Restaurants and bars have variable opening hours and are often closed or operate with reduced hours on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Museums usually open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry). Most museums are closed on Mondays, with some closing on Tuesdays instead.
Mondays
Sundays are busy in Brussels – almost all attractions are open, as are many shops. In contrast, many places are closed on Mondays.
Scams
Although scams are much less common in Brussels than in Paris, London, Barcelona or Milan, they are still a significant nuisance. In Brussels, you can encounter almost all the scams that are familiar from other European cities: fake beggars and charity collectors, distraction theft, ATM fraud, photo scams, gift scams, ticket or information tricks, taxi rip-offs, and accommodation traps. Many fraudsters are travelling around Europe.
Particularly striking is the large number of beggars and charity collectors, most of whom belong to organised crime groups.
Do not engage in conversation, do not give money to anyone, do not allow yourself to be distracted, and do not accept gifts.
© VisitBelgium.net
© VisitBelgium.net
© VisitBelgium.net
© VisitBelgium.net
© VisitBelgium.net
© VisitBelgium.net