DH and I will have one day in Brussels in early March. We are active seniors, like to walk, browse, spend some time in museums, watch the world go by from cafes, etc. Any suggestions on what to do from 7 AM when our plane arrives in Brussels until we have to leave the city for our 7PM flight to our final destination? How long does it take to get from the airport into the ciry? Is there a train?
Thanks

There is a train from the Brussels airport (Brussel-Nationaal-Luchthaven is the name of the station) into 4 of the stations in the city, so which one you choose to go to will depend on what you want to see and do for the day. The journey takes around 20mins, there are usually around 3 trains per hour and there is a ticket office at the airport (as well as machines) so you can purchase a return ticket (Euro10.60 each) at the start of your journey. A day metro pass for Brussels isn't valid on the train for the airport, so that will be a seperate cost if you decide you need it (around Euro4 for a Day Pass, or the Brussels Card is good for public transport as well as discounts to some sights, but can't speak from experience as have never purchased it).

And while I'm thinking of it, there is a storage faacility at the airport if you need to need some luggage during your time in the city.

As far as a day itinerary goes, here are some suggestions for things to see, but opening times will depend on the day of the week you're there (ie, many museums are closed on Mondays). Remember, depending on how long it takes you to disembark and make your way into the city, you might find yourself in rush hour, which is pretty ugly on the roads, but the Metro system whilst busy-ish isn't too bad (compared to London, NYC, etc) at all.Grab a city map at the airport info desk by the train station (if not, their will be an info booth at Central station). Make your way to Brussels Centraal/Gare Centrale train station and walk the 5mins to the Grand'Place/Groote Markt (Brussels signs are in French and Dutch) and soak it in before it gets busy.

You can find some little places in the streets off the square for breakfast (on Rue des Sablons, Place Sainte Catherine or the Marché aux Poissons - all surrounding the Grand'Place, but closest to Gare Centrale are the last two). Then take a walk to visit the Mannekin Pis, find his sister Jeanneke (hint, she's near Beerhouwersstraat) and decide if you want to visit the beer and/or chocolate museums in the main square, or make your way to the Royal Museums of Fine Art. If you don't feel like art as such, you could do something completely different and visit the Atomium and Mini-Europe. There are also buildings by Victor Horta to view if you're into specific architecture, and of course all things Tintin (Herge Museum) and Smurf (Comic Strip Centre). You won't fit it all in, but you'll get a good chunk of things in.

You'll need to be back at the airport by around 4.30pm (assuming your flight is international, but if just within Europe, then you need to allow 1hr30mins for check-in), so allow time for lunch (mussels and fries followed by waffles - well, it is Brussels). Depending on where you are around lunchtime, you could have a sit down meal, or grab something on the run. Again, plenty of places on the streets named above, but see where you are at that time. Enjoy it, it's a fun city!

In similar circumstances, we were able to walk around a bit (good suggestions above) and see the Musee des Beaux Arts in some detail. It is one of the best in the world.

WARNING Watch your stuff at the train station - I heard of a traveler who just put his backpack down by his feet, then had a kid distract him for a moment and the backpack (with apple laptop and his credit cards) was GONE!! (Jan 2012) My backpack was stolen from under the shuttle bus in Jan 2012 also probably in Brussels on the way to the Charleroi airport. Basically don't take any shuttle bus (if you are carrying anything you don't want to lose) where you have to put your stuff under the bus. Keep in mind that both sides of the bus luggage area can be opened - and the side where the traffic is going by (opposite the sidewalk) is likely to be the side where stuff is stolen. BE CAREFUL!

I would recommend a walking tour of the area around the Grand Place in the Lower Town, lunch at a cafe and time at the Musee des Beaux Arts. If you have more time you could do more walking around the Place du Grand Sablon and Place du Petit Sablon

The Horta museum is also fascinating if you are interested in Art Nouveau but it is farther out in the Saint Gilles neighborhood and is only open in the afternoons so would involve more complicated planning. The museum of Musical Instruments is a stunning ARt Nouveau building that is more central. There is a cafe at the top.

I think the Atomium and Mini-Europe are much less interesting than the other options

I would get books with writing tours out of the library and copy relevant sections in advance rather than waiting for the tourist office information but getting a map at the tourist office makes sense.

If you only have a day, I would say skip Atomium and Mini-Europe. Atomium is more interesting as a structure which you can see from a hop-on hop-off bus. I went and saw the exhibit and it is not the highlight of my visit to Brussels. GrandMarket and the surrounding area and Place du Grand Sablon merit more time.

Of course I meant the Grand Place/Grote Markt (not Grand Market).

The shuttle bus where my backpack was stolen is called the "BrusselsCityShuttle". This is a bus to Charleroi where you put your stuff under the bus (and it may be missing at the destination, unless you ride under the bus with it!). I don't know if the bus to the Brussels main airport suffers from the same security issue.

If you can do the Horta Museum - do it! (Unless you have Art Nouveau.)

I've never seen anything like it. Imagine one of the greatest art nouveau architect/designers in the world designing his entire house -- exterior and interior -- in the art nouveau style...art, woodwork, walls, furniture, fixtures...the works!

http://www.hortamuseum.be/

Only open 2-5:30 pm and closed on Mondays.

SS

So I have a similar question, but I will have a full day because I am will becoming from London and moving to Amsterdam two days later. My question is how far is Atomium and Mini-Europe from Brussels city center, like the Mannekin Pis and Grand'Place? I have mapped it and Atomium and Mini-Europe look kind of far from the city-center. How does one get out there?

@DeeHpTH, you could get a one-way Hop On Hop-off ticket for something like 8 euro. Once you get to Atomium, you can walk through Mini-Europe and get to the Metro station and figure out there how to get back to the Grand Place. Please note I am not saying this is the best way, this is just one of the ways. I don't have the specific metro directions for you, but you could probably find it yourself online or from other more knowledgable fodorites.

The Atomium is a short way out (maybe 15 - 20 mins by metro if you leave from one of the central metro stations like De Brouckère) - then a short walk from Heizel metro station:

http://atomium.be/#/GetThere.aspx (scroll down past the map for detailed info).

Lavandula

Thanks for that info and the website. I have looked in many travel books, but they all have been kind of vague.

Oh I forgot to ask. How does the metro system ticket work? Is it similar to the metro in Paris? From what I have seen online it seems similar to Paris.

Here are some useful links, a map:

http://www.stib.be/netplan-plan-reseau.html?l=en

and info about tickets, including 24hr unlimited ride passes:

http://www.stib.be/tickets.html?l=en

It's been a while but if I remember correctly with ordinary tickets you just buy your ticket and validate before going down to the platform. If you were to buy one of those 5-ride tickets you click it before each ride. Don't try to ride without a ticket, they do check and you will get an on-the-spot fine. It's very easy to use the metro, not terribly expensive and the network is excellent.

Lavandula

Subway is based on the honor system, you need to buy a ticket and validate it before the platform, but there are no gates or turnstiles. It's tempting to not buy one, but if you're caught, it's a huge fine..and I don't think claiming to be a tourist will help.

My daytrip to Brussells concentrated on the Gran Plas buildings, you can tour city hall and another museum on the square and walking around a bit outside. There are some designer covered malls in the center with highend chocolate stores and shops. But my favorite thing was just to walk around buying a delicious waffle, from a vendor and visiting the Museum of Music.

To be honest, I wasn't thrilled with Brussels but that could be due to the constructions filling half of the Gran Plas, the graffiti-or just my own tiredness. I'm glad I saw it-but have no desire to go back. On the other hand, a family friend thinks it's just about the best place to live in Europe. YMMV.

As for crime, I was never approached, though there was a gypsy woman who tried to open the door for people at St. Nicholas Church and then demand a tip, which I didn't give to her.