Some wonder if 2 days is enough to explore the beautiful city of Brussels? Brussels is a really small city so it’s pretty easy to see the city in 1 day, but if you want to relax and shop a little, 2 days is definitely more than enough. Brussels is the capital city of Belgium. It’s also known for fries, beer, waffles, and of course, chocolate! Needless to say, Brussels is another one of my favorite European cities. Before spending 2 days in Brussels, we spent time in Amsterdam.
EuroStar Train
If you’re already in Europe, Brussels is pretty easy to get to by train. After spending a couple of days in Amsterdam, we took the train to Brussels using Eurostar . For 2 adult tickets, we spent around 100 euros. Prices do vary.
From Amsterdam Central to Bruxelles -Midi, the train ride was around 2 hours. It was a pretty easy, comfortable ride. Combining another European country such as the Netherlands is ideal for an extended vacation.
Where to Stay in Brussels
Hotel
While in Brussels, we found that the Hotel Sofitel Le Louise was the perfect place to stay. MetroNaamse Poort metro station is literally 800 feet away from the hotel, a bus stop is 400 feet away, and the hotel is only 20 minutes away from the airport. From the train station, we took an Uber and it was about a 10-15 minute ride. Also, the hotel does provide an airport shuttle.
There are plenty of other hotel options such as The Hotel Brussels, Crowne Plaza Brussels, and Pullman Brussels Centre Midi.
Airbnb
There are also a tons of options through Airbnb. Locations in the Grand Place and Ville de Bruxelles have plenty of options. Airbnb is ideal for those on a budget or have more than 2 people along for the trip.
Transportation
We used the metro to go everywhere in Brussels. It is very easy to maneuver and the day passes are pretty reasonable in price. Considering the city is pretty small, many of the sites are also walking distance depending on where your hotel is located.
What to do in Brussels
The best thing to do is to take a Hop-on Hop-off Tour . You can explore the Grand Place, the European Parliament, and the iconic Atomium during the top. Hop on and off as much as you need to see Brussels at your own pace. There are two different routes. We rode the bus all the way through the tour and on the way back we stopped at the sites we wanted to see up close.
Iconic Statues
During our hop off, we made sure to see the iconic little statues. There are three in total: Mannekin Pis, Zinneke Pis, and Jeanneke-Pis. Be sure to keep an eye out because they are easy to miss.
Jeanneke-Pis was definitely hard to find. She was pretty hidden from the main streets.
Grand Place Brussels
Grand-Place of Brussels is the central square of the City of Brussels. We did admire how aesthetically pleasing the buildings are. The Grand-Place is surrounded by the guild houses, the City Hall, and the Maison du Roi. There are also tons of restaurants to choose from. While there, we enjoyed lunch at Le Roy d’Espagne.
Les Galeries Royales Saint Hubert
Les Galeries is a great place to walk and window shop some of the cutest boutiques and jewelry stores. You can also enjoy some of the best cafes. One of my favorite cafes in Brussels is Mokafe‘.
Comic Strip Walls
If you are a fan of comics, Brussels is the birthplace of iconic comics like the Smurfs and Tintin. In addition, you will find comic strip murals all over the city. Start at the Comic Book Centre, and make your way around the comic book route to try to catch them all.
Les Enfants D’Edouard and Dinner
If you enjoy shopping, then you should definitely spend some time at this luxury consignment shop. I was able to find a number of items for really good prices. It’s also best to Uber here. It’s not very close walking distance to a metro stop.
We ended our final night at Colonel for a steak dinner. The steaks here are awesome and you get to choose your own personal slab of meat! The service here is also quick and professional. I recommend this place to all meat lovers.
Mistakes to Avoid in Brussels
One of the misconceptions of Brussels is that it isn’t a safe place to travel. Overall, it is a safe city. Like anywhere, you must be mindful of your surroundings. Every city has its “bad areas” so you have to use common sense while traveling. Avoid the following and you should be fine.
- Don’t roam around the neighborhoods near the train station. The train station at Bruxelles-Midi is near an area that’s really sketchy. To be honest I was leery about stepping foot outside of the station to wait on our Uber. There are lots of locals hanging around and watching your every move. If you are traveling alone, you should probably schedule a car to pick you up from the train station in case you don’t want to wait for an Uber.
- Don’t roam the neighborhoods near the tourist spots. Brussels is a very walkable city but that doesn’t mean you should walk in every area. There are certain areas that you can avoid if you take the metro. If the area looks sketchy, more than likely it is. Don’t risk getting pickpocketed, so stay away from areas where you don’t see a lot of tourists.
- Avoid restaurants and food stands that are geared toward tourists. The food is usually bad. Don’t be afraid to ask the concierge at the hotel you are staying for restaurant suggestions. If you do any research, it’s probably best to research local bloggers that currently reside in Brussels for restaurant suggestions.
- Don’t look lost and don’t ask strangers for help. This is something you should already know if you are visiting another country. Identify exactly where you need to go beforehand.
- If you shop at a luxury store, it might be best to take a taxi or Uber back to the hotel. You don’t want to walk around with luxury bags especially if you have to walk past any sketchy areas.
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