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From Brussels airport to city center and then catch thalys to amsterdam...

From Brussels airport to city center and then catch thalys to amsterdam...

Old Oct 29th, 2011, 06:51 AM
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From Brussels airport to city center and then catch thalys to amsterdam...

Hi there,

Next Saturday, I will be traveling to Brussels and then to Amsterdam but i don't know how can i arrange my transportation, luggage and sightseeing.

I will be arriving Brussels airport in the morning (11 am) and then from midi train station, i will have to catch the 16:50 Thalys train to Amsterdam. This means I have around 3-4 hours for sightseeing in Brussels. For transportation, I am totally confused since there are multiple train stations in the city.

In order to clarify, let me summarize my questions,
1. What the the cheapest and shortest way from Brussels airport to Brussels city center? bus or train, if it is train which train station?)
2. What do you recommend me to (must) see or to do in 3-4 hours in Brussels?
3. Where should i store my luggage (small) during sightseeing in Brussels?
4. What is the best (but not expensive) place to eat mussels?

Any suggestions?
Thanks.
Dera
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Old Oct 29th, 2011, 07:00 AM
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1. Take the train right from the airport to Brussels. There are departures every 20min. The train stops at Brussels Nord & Central before arriving at Midi. Pick the one that the Thalys leaves from.

2. don't know - Brussels isn't my favorite city
3. don't know - likely there is a luggage storage or lockers at Brussels Midi, but I don't know for sure.
4. You can find a Mussels at any of the cafes around Brussels. An order of Moules-Frites runs about 15 to 20 euros. Absolutely delicious.
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Old Oct 29th, 2011, 07:04 AM
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The bus is a bit cheaper than the train (€3 vs €5.20), but you should take the train.
Go dirct to Midi by train, leave luggage there, then explore the city.
A day pass for public transport costs €4.50, a single ride €1.80. 3 stops by metro 3/4 from Midi to Bourse or Brouckere -- for access to the old town. Or walk from Midi (which would not be my favorite).

Explore Grand Place and the surrounding cobblestone streets.
Sample some chocolate, see Galeries Saint-Hubert, Manneken Pis, Royal Palace,...
Brussels got some fine museums, but not sure if that fits in your restricted time budget.

Can't comment on mussels as I hate them and never eat in the historic city center.
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Old Oct 29th, 2011, 07:13 AM
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We did this some years ago.

We asked the customs official where the train station is and he told us it's downstairs and to follow the signs.

In the basement of the airport there is a train station. We arrived in the evening and the train ticket counter was closed. We had only a few minutes to the next train so we bypassed the ticket machine.

We got off the escalator and there was a train sitting to our right. The conductor told us to get on and he'll sell us tickets. He not only sold us the ticket to Brussels but we were going to Brugges and he took care of that as well. All on the train once it left.

It was a 20 minute ride.

The Grand Place area of Brussels is a block from the Central train station. It's a big station so I imagine you can check luggage there.

To get to Midi you can either take a taxi or a local train from Central. It's only a few minutes.

The whole process of getting off the plane, getting our luggage, going thru customs, finding the train and getting on took us about 20 minutes. Amazing. The next train was an hour later and would have got us to Brugges after 1AM.
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Old Oct 29th, 2011, 07:16 AM
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Cowboy mentioned the tourist sights. They're all near Central station.

However, I think I like their idea of storing the luggage where your train departs and make you way back to the Central station area.
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Old Oct 29th, 2011, 08:47 AM
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Just a P.S.

There are 4 trains/hr from the airport to Brussels.

If you want to avoid possible queues at the ticket desk, you can buy and print your tickets at home.
http://www.b-rail.be/main/E/

In the "Ticket Online" box click on "Travelling in Belgium"
When asked what kind of ticket: Standard Ticket
As your departure station, type Zaventem. From the shown options, chose Zaventem Luchthaven Nationaal or the French name.
Your destination is Bruxelles-Midi or Brussels Zuid.

And yes, there are lockers at Midi station.
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