Brussels

Vibrant Capital

The marvellously vibrant Brussels, capital of Europe, beer and chocolates. The home of Art Nouveau, numerous art treasures and monuments. You do need some time to discover all the advantages of this cosmopolitan city. It's definitely worth choosing the Belgian metropolis for your next city break by train and letting yourself drift through the historic streets of the city up to the 102 metre high Atomium during an unforgettable stay.

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Highlights

The sight of Brussels' market square, the Grote Markt/Grand Place, with its monumental town hall and centuries-old guild houses with their golden and decorative sculptures, is considered one of the most beautiful in the world and leaves you speechless. You immediately understand why UNESCO recognises this square in its entirety as a World Heritage Site. A few minutes away is the small statue of ‘Maneke Pis’, one of Brussels' most famous ambassadors, who often wears an appropriate costume on special days.
The most famous landmark in Brussels can be reached by underground: the 102 metre high Atomium, a remnant of the 1958 World Exhibition, which houses one of the longest escalators in Europe, various artistic installations and a restaurant with a breathtaking view.
With the headquarters of the European Union, headquarters of NATO and other EU institutions, Brussels is not only the capital of European politics, but also the capital of European life - it is one of the most multicultural metropolises in Europe.
Brussels offers architectural grandeur and, above all, Art Nouveau at its finest, as in Elsene and Sint-Gillis, two of the 19 Brussels municipalities. In addition to the Horta House - Victor Horta was an important co-founder of Art Nouveau - there are numerous other magnificent buildings along an architectural walk.
Located below the colossal Palace of Justice, this is the former oldest working-class neighbourhood in Brussels. Today it is an antiques and flea market district - a dream for anyone who loves to browse endlessly through old shops and vintage boutiques. The centrepiece of the Marollen is the flea market on Vossenplein, which is well worth a visit.
Brussels is not only the capital of Belgium, but also of Lambiek: a complex, sour beer that forms the basis of the Geuze and Kirsch beers that are so typical of Brussels and the surrounding area. The Cantillon family brewery has hardly changed since 1900 and is well worth a visit.

Insider Tips

Ascent to the Kunstberg

After arriving by train at Centraal Station, those interested in culture will immediately find the Kunstberg, which is home to a wide variety of impressive museums, starting with the Royal Library of Belgium, with prints by Bruegel, Rubens and Ensor, among others, and the MIM, the Musical Instrument Museum in the striking Art Nouveau building. There is also a popular square here with a magnificent panoramic view of the city. At the top of the Museumplein, the Place Royale, you reach the beating heart of the city's arts, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts Brussels, KMSKB, an impressive complex of themed museums, as well as the Magritte Museum with the world's largest collection of works by the great Belgian surrealist René Magritte.

Brussels quarter: hip and sophisticated

Neighborhoods such as Elsene, Etterbeek, Sint-Gillis and Vorst offer a vibrant lifestyle with numerous hip restaurants with terraces. Here or anywhere else in the city, you can also enjoy a typically Belgian experience: crispy golden fries at one of the so-called “frituur”.

The invention of the praline

A short stroll through the city also leads to the grandiose Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert shopping arcade, where the praline was invented in 1912 by Jean Neuhaus, a Swiss pharmacist. His chocolaterie is still run by his descendants and is still located in these galleries, alongside those of glorious colleagues such as Marcolini and Leonidas - a taste explosion is guaranteed here or at many other chocolateries in the city.