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Brussels / 2 nights / looking for insider tips

Brussels / 2 nights / looking for insider tips

Old Aug 25th, 2014, 12:18 AM
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Brussels / 2 nights / looking for insider tips

going to Brussels this October. Any suggestions what to do?
Heard that tasting belgium beer and chocolate (separately for sure!) is a must do
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Old Aug 25th, 2014, 05:57 AM
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The chocolate and the beer are surely definitely must-dos. Also, don't forget about the Belgian waffles. They're simply amazing! Also, you could visit the antique shopping area in the city - Le Sablon. You can always find somethings that draws your attention there. Also, visit the Musical Instruments Museum, including its rooftop terrace. Enjoy your trip!
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Old Aug 25th, 2014, 07:40 AM
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Things we did in Brussels and enjoyed:

ate waffles
ate french fries
ate chocolate
ate chicons au gratin (endives) YUM
drank kriek beer (cherry)
Atomium
Comic Strip Center (musée de la bande dessinée)
Mannequin Pis (I saw him "naked", then dressed in a couple different outfits. I was there when they unveiled his last outfit... really neat to see!
Cook n Book http://www.cookandbook.be/ Absolutely LOVED this place

And I second the suggest for the musical instrument museum... My sister and I split up and I went to the chocolate museum and she went to the instrument one.... she had a much better time than I did!

Enjoy your trip
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Old Aug 25th, 2014, 08:08 AM
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It is fun to snack in around the Grand Place (frittes, beer and those neat waffles you get from stands), and look at the architecture and maniken etc. Nearby (down from the station, I believe, is a Gallerie St. Hubert, which is worth a walk through.

We took a hop on/off bus tour and hit the Atomium (unique; kind of cool) and the automobile museum (not sure what we were expecting but didn't knock our socks off). There was a Minature Europe attraction near the Atomium but we didn't visit it.

My recollection is a little rusty, but there seemed to be maybe two streets (at least) on either side of the Place (a street or two off) that are dotted with restaurants with outdoor seating. Rue des Bouchers is one, but I can't recall the other..
They may be more casual/touristy than you want. We liked the kind of communal, albeit very casual feel, of those.
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Old Aug 25th, 2014, 09:03 AM
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We prefer the Avenue Louise area to stay in over the Grand Place--Place Flagey has great fries and people watching. We also ate in the Matongue and really liked it (it's the African area--very vibrant and fun). And we're huge fans of the art nouveau architecture so for us the Victor Horta house was a must-see.
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Old Aug 25th, 2014, 10:08 AM
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Gee there is so much to do and see in Brussels depending no how much you want to see.

I just got back from Brussels a couple months ago.
I stayed at the Marriott which is only a few block from the Grand Place.

I walked everywhere I could and then had a private tour guide for a full day from 8Am to 6PM to see places that were a bit further out from the centre core..

plus we also did a side trip to Waterloo about 12 miles away.

I made a list of 72 places I wanted to visit and/or see, ..saw them all !!

Like Bitter said, you have to have frittes and beer in the Grand Place because you have to just sit down and have a snack and drink in all the lovely architecture.

and also like Bitter mentioned the mall Gallerie St.Huibert is nice to walk through and browse.

Chocolates shops abound, some are expensive ,but you are only there to get a small amount anyway ( I think!!)

Personally I found that the "fries " in Belgium were no big deal as far as taste goes but they use mayonnaise rather than ketchup.!! and they are noted for their fries (frittes)

You can walk around and eat the sugar waffles but if you want one of those loaded one with strawberry and whipping cream, you better have a place to sit down and eat ...

because half of the filling will squirt out through your fingers !!!

There are so many different beers to drink but at many sidewalk cafes you can get a "sampler", which is a wooden slate with five different beers in glasses recessed inside grooves in the slate.

Oh yes there is a different glass for every different kind of beer.
They are serious about their beer !!

I was there for 3 full days.
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Old Aug 25th, 2014, 10:41 AM
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Now I'm hungry and thirsty.
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Old Aug 25th, 2014, 01:57 PM
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If you go to Brussels on a weekend (or in August), accommodation is cheaper than during the week because the business / government travellers have gone home. I agree with the poster above who suggested staying at Louise / Stephanie, which is a nice, upscale area. Excellent for shopping and dining. However, if you found a cheaper hotel in the EU district (Place Luxembourg, Schuman, etc) because of the general emptiness of hotels there on the weekend, there is an excellent metro system which can whisk you to the tourist areas (metro: De Brouckère / Centrale), so it is no great hardship staying there (although it is a bit barren).

You have some very good advice on the posts above - lots to keep you busy!

Lavandula
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Old Aug 25th, 2014, 03:01 PM
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Oh, and there are chocolate shops clustered around the Grand Sablon - enjoy!


Lavandula
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Old Aug 25th, 2014, 10:54 PM
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wow! you are awesome guys! I'm so excited to go there and I think your advices don't let me a lot of time during the three days/two nights over there.
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Old Aug 26th, 2014, 08:32 AM
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Bitter

Since you are thirsty let me try to help

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Old Aug 26th, 2014, 10:26 AM
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Well done, percy!
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Old Aug 26th, 2014, 11:27 AM
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Like several other contributors before me I agree with the chocolate, beer and fries recommendations. But I also must add that along with the offerings around the Grand Place (beautiful architecture) was the fantastic Comic Strip Center and Museum! http://www.comicscenter.net/en/home/

I thought that the whole center was such a delight - The Smurfs, Tintin, and an amazing tribute to all things comic book related.
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Old Aug 26th, 2014, 11:50 AM
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A kinky perhaps off-beat thing to see in Brussels is one of Europe's few brazenly open red-light districts - a la the more famous and bigger one in Amsterdam.

It lines the train tracks on the south side just after Gare du Nord - if coming to or going from Brussels by tain keep your eyes peeled on the south side and you get a great view of the district - you can walk by it - nothing harmful will happen to see the usually skimpily clad gals sitting behind red-neon-lit picture windows.

Have not been in Brussels for a few years but assume it is still there.

Not for everyone and I go not condone it but accept and applaud Brussels' decision to legalize the world's oldest profession and control it. But for something different if not disgusting to some... a fairly unique thing to see.
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Old Aug 26th, 2014, 12:11 PM
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Your welcome Bitter.!!

Some might say Comic Museum!!??...but the comic art in Belgium is as famous a part of Belgium as beer, chocolates and waffles.

They love their comics.
You can tell that by the building as soon as you walk in.

PalenQ:
Thanks a lot, NOW you tell me about the Red Light District.!
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Old Aug 26th, 2014, 12:14 PM
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http://atomium.be/

Atomium - a relic from Brussels' World's Fair of 1958 bills itself Brussels most popular attraction - the view over Brussels from high on its top is neat. A bit out of the centrum but in a nice sweet park.
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Old Aug 26th, 2014, 12:53 PM
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Yes the Atomium is a nice visit.
For those that do not know, it is an atom magnified 165 Billion times !

It rises 335 feet over Bruparck and the view from the top is terrific.

There is a restaurant at the top. I did not dine there.

In Bruparck is a Mini-Europe which has about
300 reconstuctures if famous places around Europe....like
Acropolis in Athens
Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
House of Parliament from London
Fat Magaret Tower in Tallinn
etc.
These are at a scale of 1:25 so you will feel like the Jolly Green Giant walking past some of these places.

Also nearby is the official Royal Residence .
In the Royal Park there is a lovely monument to Leopold I, first king of Belgium.

If you come into the Park here ( and you should) then make sure you see the ornate Chinois Pavilion that house Oriental porcelain.
The Pagoda is across the road.
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Old Aug 28th, 2014, 01:46 AM
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If you're looking for frites that impress you MUST get out of the city center. Head to Flagey (bus n. 38 or 71, picks up outside of the central train station) and grab frites from Frite Flagey. Double fried crispy goodness. Then while you're there head over to one of the many great bars at Flagey. Otherwise, Maison Antonie at Place Jourdan. Be ready for a big line. Place Jourdan has some really nice cafes and bars around as well! Take the metro n. 1 or 5 to Schuman (Bonus! You get to see the Commission) and then it's about a 10 minute walk to Place Jourdan.

My advice is to get out of the immediate city center. The Grand Place is lovely, but all of the food and drinks near by will be mediocre and your wallet will take a beating! St. Catherine is 10 minutes away and is beautiful. Incredible choice of bars and restaurants. Sablon is chic. I am big fan of Flagey with it's ponds and hidden park. If your two days happen to be on a Sunday try out Gare du Midi's market. I've heard (rumors) that it's the biggest market in Western Europe. Really, Brussels is quite nice (if you can get over the rain!)

Oh, bonus, if you are here before mid-September you can tour the Royal Palace for free. It was fun Have a fun trip... and if you have time try to check out Gent or Antwerp. They have such a different vibe than Brussels. Make sure you buy the train tickets at the kiosk, not the ticket counter, and click on "Go Pass". 12€ return ticket vs. the 22€ on the sell at the counter!
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Old Aug 28th, 2014, 02:00 AM
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We enjoyed the car museum.

http://www.autoworld.be/

We also like to get out of the city centre. Montgomery area is very nice with many art deco houses and local restaurants in Avenue Tervuren.
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Old Aug 28th, 2014, 05:21 AM
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Waterloo, the battlefield, is just a short train ride south of Brussels.
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