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Brussels, the capital of Belgium is one of the most multicultural cities in Europe. It is home to many European institutions and it has borders with France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Many expats come to Brussels every year. Recent statistics show that 1/3 habitants of Brussels are not Belgian. Brussels has 19 municipalities, most popular ones being Brussels-Capital, Ixelles, Etterbeek and Schaerbeek.
The famous Grand Place is the #1 thing to do in Brussels, both during the day and night!
How to Get to Brussels
There are two airports close to Brussels. Brussels Airport in Zaventem is 20 minutes away from the center. You can get a taxi, an Uber or the public bus (Airport Line – Bus 12) to get to the center. Brussels South Charleroi Airport is also an option and it often offers cheaper flights. You can take a taxi or a shuttle to get to Brussels from this airport as well but Brussels Airport is better connected to the city.
Public transportation in Brussels consists of metro, tramway and buses. During rush hour, they are very crowded like most of the big cities. An important thing to know about Brussels’ public transport is that the tramways don’t stop even for the pedestrians! There are even signs in the city that say that tramways have the priority on the road. It is possible to rent bicycles in Brussels for affordable prices. I definitely do not recommend renting a car as the parking system in Brussels is very complicated. It depends on which municipality you are at and even the locals have problems with parking.
Where to Eat Dinner in Brussels
Black Sheep // Located next to Place Flagey, one of the trendiest areas in the city, Black Sheep is a great place to get burgers or cocktails.
La Piola // If you are looking for Italian food, this is the place to be. They serve Neapolitan-style, wood-fired pizzas and calzones.
Friterie de la Barrière // Although it isn’t a restaurant, it is a part of the Brussels experience to go to a friterie (fries shop) and taste the famous Brussels fries with traditional sauces. I recommend Samurai or Andalouse.
Philema // This Greek restaurant is one of the best ones in Brussels and the chef is from Crete himself.
Grimbergen Bruxelles Café // The traditional Belgian brasserie is a great place to explore typical Belgian dishes.
Things to Do in Brussels at Night
After work drinks // There is an after work drink culture in Brussels and it is very common to find after work events everyday. Most common destinations for after works are Place Luxembourg on Thursdays and Guinguettes Bar in Cinquantenaire Park during summer months.
Visiting the parks // Brussels is home to many great parks, such as Cinquantenaire, Brussels Park and Bois de la Cambre. Especially during summer, when the sun sets very late, the parks are great to meet up with people or to do sports.
Visiting an outdoor market // There is an outdoor market in a different municipality almost everyday. For local vibes, cheap food and even clothes in some cases, be sure to visit an outdoor market. Information on the days and hours can be found on: https://visit.brussels/en/category/markets
Go to Delirium Bar // This is one of the most famous bars in the world and they have over 2,000 types of beer. Belgium is known for having the best beer in the world, so don’t miss this bar!
Enjoy sunset at Mont des Arts // You have an amazing view of the Grand Place at Mont des Arts and it definitely is a good place for enjoying the sunset!
Guide and Photos by Yaren Fadiloglulari | Bug in our Bag | Facebook | Instagram
Also check out:
- Bilbao, Spain After 5:00 pm
- Copenhagen, Denmark After 5:00 pm
- Sol Area of Madrid, Spain After 5:00 pm
- Brussels, Belgium After 5:00 pm
- Dubrovnik, Croatia After 5:00 pm
- Nuremberg, Germany After 5:00 pm
