Brussels Travel Guide
Travel guide to Brussels, Belgium with comprehensive information about events, shopping, and major Brussels sporting events to help you enjoy your visit more.
Brussels Overview
People visit Brussels, the capital of Belgium for many different reasons, to enjoy the sights of a beautiful city, to search the shops for bargains, and to soak up the political atmosphere unique to this city at the centre of the European Union machine.
Brussels actually has more museums than government departments, and lots of truly exceptional architecture to marvel at, it has a happening nightlife, and offers great shopping, all of which combines to ensure that there is more to the city than you might think. In fact, Brussels is fast developing a reputation as a top place to enjoy a short break having fun and exploring.
You can get cheap flights to Brussels all year round, and the city is great for either a romantic short break with a loved one, a trip with friends to party until dawn in a selection of the Belgian techno clubs and bars, or as the destination on a trip to appreciate the high culture, and many museums of Europe's de facto capital.
Although increasingly popular with tourists, Brussels still attracts large numbers of business travellers, who arrive for the major exhibitions that take place in the city, and consequently, many of the larger hotels in Brussels have conference facilities that are second to none, but are still comfortably and homely enough for leisure tourists travel in order to relax, not to work.
Top Brussels Attractions
If political intrigue and the machinations of the European super state are your thing, then a visit to Brussels will enable you to see the offices from which the European Union dream is put into practise. If on the other hand, you want to see some of the most stunning buildings in Europe, and enjoy the civilised culture of a truly elegant city, then Brussels will have plenty to interest you too.
Aside from the Atomium - the amazing sculpture of an oxygen molecule that has become the symbol of Brussels and houses one of the most exclusive restaurants anywhere, attractions in Brussels include the two impressive Bellevue Museums, and the Palais - the royal residence.
Make sure you take the time to visit Mini Europe - a scale model of the continent that features models of the most famous and iconic structures from all over Europe including scale models of the Eiffel Tower and the Palace of Westminster. Mini Europe is located in the famous Heysel estate close to the Atomium.
Make sure you take the time to check out the famous Mannekin Pis - a statue of a urinating boy on Rue de l'Etuve. The statue supposedly celebrates the boys of Brussels who were employed to extinguish fires in this manner - although the story is probably apocryphal.
Shopping in Brussels
Brussels is one of the top fashion cities in Europe, easily rivalling both Paris and Milan in terms of the sheer number of boutiques and department stores where you can outfit yourself in the latest trends. Be careful though, as prices to tent to be astronomically high - especially at the start of the season, although you can always find plenty of bargains if you are prepared to hunt them down.
Brussels is also well known for confectionery, and there are plenty of chocolatiers and waffle shops where you can find a few sweet treats.
Brussels Sporting Events
The biggest sporting event in the Brussels Calendar is the annual Belgian Grand Prix in Formula One - the race takes place at the Spa Francorchamps circuit a short distance from the city. Make sure you book well in advance if you want to attend the race, as hotel rooms are very busy over race weekend.
The biggest football team in Brussels are Anderlecht who play at the Stadt Constant Vanden Stock. The side regularly play in European competition, and are one of the top Belgian football teams.
