Saturday, October 1, 2011

What to do if you have (only) a few hours to kill in Brussels?

This question was asked on Virtual Tourist by a couple having 5 hours in Brussels during a long stop-over at the airport.

Assuming it is your first visit to Brussels, and if you have the energy, it would be a pity to remain at the airport with so many things to do nearby.

There is a train from the airport to Central Station which takes 16 minutes and runs 4 times per hour. With a half hour journey each way, and one hour of buffer time, this leaves 3 hours in Brussels.
If the weather is good - always a factor in Belgium - you can do the classics. Within half a km from the Central Station, you have the Grand Place, Royal Galleries, The Sablon Church & Square, The Royal Palace, the Cathedral, and so on. Lots of photo opportunities.

Or you can take one of the city walks. There is a walk around Brussels' 40 comic strip walls, which takes you all over the town. You will not be able to complete it in 3 hours, but at least try a good portion. There is also a walk around the European Institutions and there are several walks organised around Brussels' few 100 Art Nouveau buildings.

If time allows, take a break and have a waffle at Cafe du Vaudeville in de Royal Galleries, or a beer in the Roy d'Espagne on Grand Place.

If the weather is not good (not a small probability), go to Mont des Arts and visit for example the Magritte museum. Combine it later on with above waffle or beer.

To prepare for your short stay, make sure to get a copy of the Pocket Guide for Brussels. It’s available from VisitBrussels, Koningsstraat 2-4, 1000 Brussels. It comes packed with information and maps, including above-mentioned walks.