Why To Visit Brussels
Plan Your Visit to Brussels
How to reach Brussels:By flight: Brussels is well-connected to all the major European cities by flight and you can take a taxi or a train from Brussels Airports to the city centre. Trains leave every 15 minutes from the airport to reach the city.By train: There are many high-speed trains operated by Thalys and Eurostar that connects Brussels with major cities like London, Paris, Amsterdam and Nice.By bus: Bus operators Flixbus, RegioJet and Eurolines run buses from nearby cities to Brussels.
Best Time to Visit Brussels:The best time to visit Brussels is during the shoulder season which is the spring months of March to May and then the autumn months from September to November. The weather during these periods is pleasant and favourable for sightseeing and the tourist crowds are also low.
- By public transport: The easiest and cheapest means of travelling around Brussels is by public transport. The options include bus, tram, metro lines. You can also avail Brussels travel pass for travelling through the city economically.
- By bicycle: There are several bicycle ride share companies like Blue-bike and Villo! with extremely low rental rates to go around the city.
- By taxi and car: Taxi fares and car rentals are incredibly expensive costing at least 50 Euros a day.
Best Areas to Stay in Brussels:Brussels City Centre is the best neighbourhood to stay for first-time visitors as it is in close proximity to most of the attractions of the city. While Saint-Gery is a great location to stay for those who wish to experience the city’s nightlife, Avenue Louise is a good locality for shopping enthusiasts. Some of the best places to stay in Brussels are - Rocco Forte Hotel- NH Collection Brussels Grand Sablon- Meininger Brussels City Center- Sleep Well Youth Hostel
- Plan a small itinerary while visiting Brussels as you can complete visiting all the attractions of the city within two days.
- Book your place of accommodation somewhere in the center around City Centre, Grand Palace and Sablon so that you are in close vicinity of the city’s major tourist attractions.
- Buy a Brussels Card which is a Brussels City Pass that includes a transportation pass as well as free entry to most Brussels museums for a cheap tour around the city.
- Use public transport systems or rent a bicycle to go around the city as taxi fares and rental cars are incredibly high.
- Avail the discounts provided by the Belgian train system and buy Brussels Travel Pass like Go Pass 1 for travellers under the age 26 that lets you see the country for a low price.
- Learn the French and Dutch names of the train stations and metro stations in Brussels.
- Weather:Brussels enjoys temperate maritime climate with humid and rainy weather influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. Winter from December to February is cold with frequent snowfall and freezing temperatures. Spring from March to May experiences a pleasant climate, summer from June to August is mildly warm and Autumn from September to November is initially balmy but gets cold in the latter half.
- Language:The Belgian capital of Brussels is a bilingual city with the official languages being Dutch and French. While 57% of the population speak Dutch and 42% people speak French, there are also 1% inhabitants who speak German in Brussels. Since the city is predominantly a business hub, the locals are well-versed in English also.
- Time Zone:The standard time in Brussels is Central European time (UTC +01:00). The city observes summer daylight saving time (UTC +2) from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.
- Budget:The cost of spending a day in Brussels is approximately 109 Euros based on the expense of accommodation, travel, sightseeing and other activities. Accommodation rate is about 115 Euros, meal costs 31 Euros and local transportation fare is 13 Euros for a day in Brussels.
- Currency:The official currency of Brussels is the Euro, symbolised as EUR. Other currencies are not accepted and hence you will have to change them at the currency exchange offices.
- Visa:Tourists visiting Brussels for less than 90 days will need a Belgian Schengen Visa. Business professionals and students who want to stay in Brussels for longer than 90 days require a Belgian work and study visa.
FAQs for Brussels Pass
How many days is enough to see Brussels?
Ideally, two days is enough to travel around the entire city of Brussels and explore all its attractions like Grand Palace, Atomium, historic museums like Design Museum, Art and History Museum and Autoworld Museum, and Mini Europa. You can also take part in fun activities like going on a pub crawl, chocolate walking tour, and hop-on hop-off bus tour during your two-day visit to Brussels.
What is the best time to visit Brussels?
The best time to visit Brussels is during the spring months of March to May and autumn season from September to November. The weather during these months is lovely and suitable for outdoor sightseeing. Since this is the shoulder season, the tourist crowds are also low and hence you can explore the city in peace.
What can I do in Brussels on a budget?
- Walk through the famous Comic Book route of Brussels and see more than 50 murals of popular cartoon characters like Tintin and Smurfs.
- Get Brussels City Pass for reasonable transportation fare and free entry to most Brussels museums.
- Visit Mont des Arts Garden and walk to the top of this historical location to witness the mystical view of sunrise, sunset and the city’s illuminated skyline against the backdrop of the Grand Palace.
- Gain free access to several museums of Brussels like Bibliotheca Wittockiana, Erasmus Museum, Fashion and Lace Museum and Maurice Bejart House on the first Sunday of every month.
- Visit Manneken Pis and see the renowned bronze statue of a little boy adorned in different outfits throughout the year peeing into the fountain.
- Climb the elevators of Place Poelaert to catch a glimpse of Marolles district, its brickhouse and church steeples and take pictures of the surreal views of the city.
Why should I book Brussels attraction tickets online?
Booking Brussels attraction tickets online gives you the convenience of reserving your preferred slot from the comfort of your home. You can skip the long lines and have guaranteed access to all the attractions. Hence, you do not have to wait in long queues at the entrance of every attraction and do not have to worry about running out of tickets. With online booking, you can also avail great discounts and offers on the Brussels Pass.
Are there any discounts offered on any of the day trips in Brussels?
Brussels City Pass booked online have unbelievable discounts and deals and so you can buy the tickets at a much reduced price. You can also get best offers with cashback on the online booking of day trips in Brussels.
Is Brussels expensive?
Brussels is possibly not an expensive city and in fact, it is reasonable compared to other European capitals. There are several attractions and activities in the city that are either free or will require a minimum entry fee. Hence, if you plan your trip to Brussels ahead of time, you can save a lot of money on accommodation and travel.