Brussels Vacation Guide & Travel Information

About Brussels

Brussels is an exciting, modern city, yet it is rich in strikingly beautiful medieval and art nouveau buildings. It has outstanding museums and galleries and a vibrant cultural life. The heart of the capital city of Belgium lies inside a circle of main roads. The inner city can easily be explored within this circle on foot, by bus, or by tram. For areas outside it, there is an excellent subway system.

Brussels has become an international business community composed of diplomats, lobbyists, and euro-politicians connected with NATO and the European Union. International business arrived in the past three decades, resulting in blocks lined with steel-and-glass office buildings. However, these modern edifices are only a few steps from the cobbled streets, splendid cafés, and graceful art nouveau architecture that speak to the city's eventful past.

There are many attractions the whole family will enjoy. One that is sure to please is Bruparck, an outstanding theme park in the city's northern suburbs. There the Atomium can be viewed from the ground by going inside the structure. There is a 24 theater complex, a planetarium, a water park, and a miniature re-creation of Europe that has several hands - on components. Nightly entertainment offers everything from discos to classical music to jazz and rock. Some clubs feature Latin music. Opera, ballet, and theater are all part of the cultural life of this outstanding city.

We constantly update Brussels vacation deals and flights + hotel packages for Europe. There are great last minute Brussels vacations or if you just need a hotel, check out our discount hotels in Brussels. You can also book popular sightseeing tours in Brussels and save your vacation time.

Belgium has two international airports, the main one being Zaventem, 14km northeast of Brussels. The other one, Deurne, is close to Antwerp and has less frequent flights to Amsterdam, London, Liverpool and Dublin only. Depending on when you leave, flights to London can be cheaper from Deurne. If you're in Europe already, a bus or train is the best option. Eurolines and Hoverspeed Citysprint operate international bus services to and from Belgium.

As well as an International Airport, Brussels is served by the famous Eurostar train. The Eurostar (from Gare du Midi) presents a practical alternative to flying, allowing passengers to travel between central London, Lille, Brussels and Paris, in the comfort of a high-speed European train. Journey times are comparable to flying as you may travel from the heart of one city to another, without the inconvenience of airport transfers.


Express trains leave the airport for the Gare Du Nord and Gare Centrale stations every 20 minutes (one train an hour continues to the Gare du Midi). The trip takes 20 minutes The trains operate from 6 am to midnight. Taxis are plentiful. A taxi to the city center takes about half an hour.

Eurolines offers up to three daily express bus services from Amsterdam, Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris, and London. The Eurolines coach station is located at CCN Gare du Nord.

Trams, buses and the metro system in Brussels are designed to interconnect, using the same ticket system. Brussels-Midi station is well served with public transport and taxis and these options are favorable to driving in the busy city center. More information about trams, buses and metro.

Brussels is full of attractions for all ages. Below is a list of some suggested things to do in Brussels. You can also book some of these attractions online and save your vacation time.

Discover Brussels with the Brussels Card! In addition to free public transport (STIB/MIVB), the Brussels Card entitles you to free access to nearly all major museums in Brussels. It is valid for 72 hours and contains a chip card, a ticket for public transport and an illustrated guide.

Grand'Place
The Grand-Place is an outstanding example of the eclectic and highly successful blending of architectural and artistic styles that characterizes the culture and society of this region.

Grand Sablon
An agenda item that is not to be missed when in Brussels is a visit to the Grand Sablon. The eclectic center of exquisite antique galleries and dynamic, sumptuous restaurants.

Musée d'Art Moderne
An outstanding and contemporary museum that acts as a showcase for Belgian modern art, as well as welcoming international artists. Works from the likes of René Magritte and James Ensor are among the permanent fixtures.

Musée Horta
A must-see attraction for the culture-seeking visitor to Brussels, the Musee Horta is the spectacular former residence and workshops of the leading art nouveau architect Victor Horta.

Autoworld Museum
The more than 400 cars in this museum comprise one of the world's top collections of vintage and classic cars. On display also is the history of the automobile from 1886 up to the 1970's.

The Belgian Center for Comic Strip Art
An art nouveau building houses the world's first Comic Strip Museum which exhibits over 400 original Tintin plates created by Hergé, as well as 25, 000 other cartoon works. The Waucquez warehouses are considered to be one of the masterpieces of the famous Belgian art nouveau architect, Victor Horta.

Palais Royal
Brussels Royal Palace is on the Place des Palais facing the Palais de la Nation, home of the Belgian Parliament, across the Park of Brussels. Each year, during summer months only, the Royal Palace in Brussels opens its doors to the public.

Galeries St-Hubert
The Galeries St-Hubert is an impressive, covered shopping gallery that dates back to 1847. Aside from the shops and stores, the Brussels visitor will marvel at the sublime architecture.

Cathédrale Saint-Michel et Sainte-Gudule
The city's principal church is a 13th-century edifice with twin Gothic towers and outstanding stained-glass windows. This church can be found at the Treurenberg hill on the edge between lower and upper town.

The Heysel Exhibition Park (Bruparck) :
A theme park in Brussels' northern suburbs. Among its components are: Kinepolis (Said to be the world's largest cinema complex, Kinepolis has 24 wide screen theaters and an IMAX screen seven stories high), Mini-Europe (A miniature world displaying models of major events in the history of Europe), Oceade / Oceadium (An indoor and outdoor aquatic paradise with giant flumes, wave machine, plastic beaches and palm trees), The Planetarium and The Atomium (This monument from 1958 has become the Eiffel tower of Brussels. The Atomium is the visual representation of the concept of an atom).

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