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.
While a LEZ is generally a good idea, 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.
Districts
Brussels is home to many major sights outside the city center, and several beautiful Art Nouveau districts are well worth exploring. However, Brussels also has run-down problem areas – some of them quite centrally located. Here’s an overview:
The city center of Brussels is extensive and lies within the “Pentagone” ring road. To the west, Downtown boasts the Grand Place along with vibrant shopping and nightlife areas. In the east, Uptown is characterized by museums, palaces, and upscale retail streets. Heading south toward Gare du Midi, the atmosphere changes: while the southeastern Marolles quarter is somewhat gritty but trendy, the southwestern area near the station becomes very unpleasant.
Around the Pentagone, the western section from Gare du Midi to Molenbeek and the northeastern section from Gare du Nord to Saint-Josse are particularly problematic.
Looking at the metropolitan region, one can generally say that the western part faces significant challenges, to a lesser extent also the north. The charm of good old Brussels is best preserved in the eastern and southern parts.
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 places 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
Compared to other major European cities like Paris, London, Barcelona, or Milan, Brussels has relatively few tourist-targeted scams. So far, the only ones I’ve encountered were people collecting “donations” (for example for poor children) – and even that was fairly rare. Nevertheless, always be cautious if someone approaches you asking for something.
© visitbelgium.net
© visitbelgium.net
© visitbelgium.net
© visitbelgium.net
© visitbelgium.net
© visitbelgium.net