10 ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR TRAVELING TO BRUSSELS

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This list of best tips for traveling to Brussels It will help you not to miss any place or any important experience in the capital of Belgium, considered one of the most incredible cities in Europe.
Center of power of the European Union, in Brussels you will enjoy a relaxed atmosphere, well-kept parks, buildings and historical monuments, numerous museums and above all, the Grand Place, the most beautiful square in the world.
In addition to these visits and once all the attractions of the city have been completed, you can approach some of the medieval jewels of the Flanders region such as Bruges or Ghent, located less than an hour away by train.

Based on the experience of our first trip to Bruges and Brussels and the second combining it with Ghent, Leuven and Antwerp, we have made this list of 10 essential tips for traveling to Brussels.We start!

1. What is the best time?

The best time for a trip to Brussels is from May to September, when temperatures are more pleasant and there are more hours of daylight. Between these months we would opt for July and August, when the thermometers reach 20 degrees on average and especially, in mid-August when the Flowertime is celebrated, party in which the Grand Place is covered with a beautiful carpet of flowers, Although it is also one of the busiest times of the year.
In autumn, temperatures begin to fall and there is a greater probability of rain, although these may be present at any time of the year, so it would also be a good option if you do not want to find so many people and enjoy more adjusted prices.
Winter is the worst time to not exceed the temperature of 5 degrees maximum and have very few hours of light. We would only recommend traveling to Brussels in winter if it coincides with Christmas, a period in which the city dresses up with ornaments in shops and buildings and the typical Christmas markets are mounted in the main squares.

2. Entry requirements and travel insurance

Belgium is a country of the European Union, so if you are a Spanish citizen you can pass border control by showing your ID or passport, without a visa. If your country is not within the EU we advise you to check the official website or call the Belgian Embassy or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country, to see what are the mandatory entry requirements.
One of the best tips for traveling to Brussels, is to carry the European Health Card, which covers any medical setback for free in public hospitals in the city although if you do not have this card or want a wider coverage, including for example repatriation, we recommend you to hire the best Travel insurance possible.

We always travel insured with Mondo, with whom we carry a totally adequate insurance to the needs that we will have on the trip. Hiring your insurance here with Mondo, just for being a Street Travelers reader, you have a 5% discount.

The Grand Place at night

3. How to go from Brussels airport to downtown?

Brussels has two usual entrance gates at Zaventem Airport, 15 kilometers away, and Charleroi Airport, 55 kilometers away.
To go from Brussels Zaventem Airport or to your hotel you have these options:

Train: there are trains every 10 minutes during the 24 hours of the day that will take you to the Central Station, South (Midi) or North of Brussels, in 20 minutes for 9 euros.
Bus: Lines 12 and 21 will take you to the Schuman stop, which has a metro connection to the center, in half an hour for 4.5 euros (6 euros if you buy it on board).
Private transfer: A driver will take you directly from the arrivals terminal to your hotel. You can book this comfortable transfer here.
Cab: the price is about 45 euros.

To go from Charleroi Airport, where low cost companies land, to Brussels you have all these alternatives:

Bus: A shuttle will take you to the South Station in less than an hour for 17 euros (cheaper if you book online).
Train: You have to take a bus to Charleroi station first and from there a train that will take you to the 3 Brussels stations. The total time is an hour and a half and the price of about 14 euros.
Private transport: booking this direct transfer here a driver will be waiting for you at the terminal raising a sign with your name and will take you directly to the door of your hotel.
Cab: the price is about 90 euros.

To expand the transfer information you can consult this post on how to go from Brussels airport to the center.

Brussels Central Station

4. Where to sleep when traveling to Brussels

If you go to travel to Brussels During the months of July and August, we recommend you book the hotel several months in advance, especially if you want to stay in the historic center at a reasonable price.
This area around the Grand Place is the best located to know the tourist points of the city without using public transport and is also the most expensive and noisy.
For us, if you have several days and also want to visit Brussels to make an excursion to a city like Bruges, Ghent or Antwerp, it is better to look for accommodation around the South Station or Gare du Midi, since it will give more mobility options , having the historic center 15 minutes walk in addition to being well connected by train with the most beautiful places to see in Belgium.
We stayed at the Hotel Park Inn by Radisson Brussels Midi, located just in front of the South Station, which in addition to its excellent location, this three-star hotel and 24-hour reception, has one of the best quality / price ratios in the city.
Another quiet area with a good price is the European neighborhood, which is well connected by metro and bus to the center.

To find the best hotel at the best price we recommend using this famous and reliable search engine.
For more information on the best hotels and neighborhoods we recommend you check this post of where to stay in Brussels.

European Quarter

5. Transportation in Brussels

To move around Brussels and reach the furthest points such as the Atomium, Mini Europe or the European Quarter, the best option is to use one of the 6 metro lines. Lines 1 and 5 can bring you closer to the European Quarter and the Cinquantenaire Park, 2 and 6 will take you to the Atomium and Mini Europe, and 3 and 4 can be used to get to the center from the Gare du Midi.
The only problem with the subway is that it doesn't have many stations in the center and if you don't like walking a lot or you can't, you will have to combine it sometimes with the tram and the bus.
On the other hand, the tram is perfect for traveling throughout the center by having a much more extensive network with 19 lines and more stops than the subway.
Most metro and tram lines run from 5:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and between these hours, a good option is to take the night bus that operates on weekends, as long as you don't want to take a taxi.
The rates are the same and the tickets are valid for all these public transports. The single ticket costs 2.10 euros (2.50 if you buy it from the driver), the round trip 4.10 euros, 5 tickets cost 8 euros and 10 tickets 14 euros.
One of the best tips for traveling to Brussels If you are going to use public transport more than 3 times in the same day, it is to buy the daily ticket that costs 7.50 euros.

If you have little time to tour the city it can be very interesting to book this tourist bus with comments recorded in Spanish.

Visit Mini Europe when traveling to Brussels

6. Places of interest

In addition to the impressive Grand Place, which deserves to be a good time day and night enjoying all of the historic buildings that surround the square, Brussels has other tourist attractions.
From one of the sides of this square you can access the exclusive Saint Hubert Galleries, with its magnificent glass vaults and a few meters from this square there is another symbol of the city, the Manneken Pis.
After touring the center you can approach the charming neighborhood of Le Sablon where the Palace of Justice is located, the beautiful Place du Petit Sablon square and the gothic church of Notre-Dame du Sablon and back to the center you can complete the visits with the Palace and the Royal Park of Brussels and the Cathedral of San Miguel and Santa Gúdula.
If you are a fan of comics, we recommend you book this comic tour that goes through different buildings painted with scenes from the most famous Belgian comics such as Tintin, Lucky Luke and Asterix and Obelix.
To complete the trip to Brussels you can take the subway to get closer to the farthest places such as the Atomium, Mini Europe, the Cinquantenaire Park and the European Quarter, with its famous parliament.
Before you start visiting all these places it is interesting to check if you get profitable to book the Brussels Card, a card that includes free access to 39 tourist attractions and significant discounts.

Another of the best tips for traveling to Brussels It is to follow this list of the best things to do in Brussels and complete this one of the essential places to visit in Brussels.

7. Routes through the city

Before making a trip to Brussels or leaving the hotel it is important to trace the itineraries on foot or by public transport through the city, so as not to miss anything important and make the most of the time.
Brussels is a city that can be seen perfectly in a couple of days by having the most concentrated attractions in the center and having easy subway access to the farthest.
It is interesting if it is your first time in the city, to combine the walking routes with guided tours in Spanish that will allow you to better know the history and curiosities of Brussels.
Some visits very requested by travelers in recent times are the free tours in Brussels with a guide in Spanish such as this free tour through the historic center, this through the European quarter or this alternative tour, which passes through less known places in the Belgian capital .

If you are still not sure how to trace the routes along the route, you can follow these optimized guides according to the days you have:

Saint Hubert Galleries

8. Where and what to eat in Brussels

Another of the best reasons to travel to Brussels is to try their local dishes, always accompanied by a delicious Belgian craft beer. Some of the most typical dishes are:

Flemish carbonnades: beef stew and onion cooked in beer and spices.
Moules-Frites: steamed mussels with french fries.
Mitraillette: sandwich with meat, chips and salsa.
Waffle: a rectangular waffle that is served alone or filled with chocolate, fruits ...
Chicons au gratin: endives rolled in smoked ham and gratin with cheese.
Speculum: Very typical cookie, especially at Christmas.
Stoemp: mashed potatoes accompanied by exquisite sausages.
Waterzooi: traditional fish or chicken stew.

On a trip to Brussels you can not miss the Belgian chocolate that is world famous, thanks to a law that imposes maximum quality for sale. Some of the most famous stores are Leónidas and Godiva, where you can try a great variety and especially enjoy their great specialty, the praline.
A good option for chocolate lovers is to book this tour with a guide in Spanish that includes tasting of chocolates and pralines in some of the best chocolate shops.
Another of the specialties of the country is the craft beer with more than 1000 different types, among which the beers of the abbey and the trapistas, all served in a different glass and with a unique flavor.
If you like beer, we advise you to book this tour with a guide in Spanish that includes a visit to different breweries and several tastings.

Among the recommended restaurants to try these dishes and craft beers, which are also located in tourist areas, you have C'Est Bon C'Est Belge Le Cellier, Delirium, Le Marmiton, La Mort Subite, Grimbergen Cafe and Costa D'Amalfi.
For more information you can consult this post about restaurants to eat in Brussels.

Waffles

9. Tours and excursions

Once all the important visits of the city are finished, if you still have extra time, you can complete the trip with one of the best excursions in Brussels.
The first proposal of travel to Brussels It is the visit to Bruges, one of the most beautiful medieval cities in the world in which in addition to walking through its canals and streets of the historic center, we recommend you follow this list of places to visit in Bruges and this route of Bruges in one day .
To get to Bruges in an hour you can take a train from any of the three main stations in Brussels. Another option if you only have one day and want to learn more about the history of the city is to book this bus tour with a guide in Spanish.

With less tourism than Bruges and without being left behind in beauty, you have the city of Ghent, another of the jewels of Flanders. You can explore its beautiful medieval historical center with several docks of old guilds and complete this list of places to visit in Ghent.
You can reach Ghent in 45 minutes with the train that goes in the direction of Ostende from the 3 Brussels stations.
Another more comfortable and interesting way to get to know Ghent is to book this excursion by bus or this one that also includes Bruges, both with a guide in Spanish.

The last proposal on this trip to Brussels is Antwerp, the diamond capital and one of the most beautiful medieval cities in the country. In addition to completing this list of places to visit in Antwerp and follow this route from Antwerp in one day, we recommend you to stroll quietly through the old town where many 16th-century buildings are preserved.
To get to Antwerp you can take a train at the central station that will leave you at the magnificent Antwerpen Centraal station in 45 minutes.
Another alternative to not miss anything about this city is to book this excursion by train or this one that includes the city of Ghent, both with a guide in Spanish.

More tours and excursions in Brussels here

Ghent

10. More tips for traveling to Brussels

Other tips for traveling to Brussels that can help you are:

If you are under 26 years of age, we recommend buying the Go Pass 10, a bonus for 10 train trips to any city in Belgium that costs a little more than 50 euros. If you are over 26 years old you can buy the Rail Pass that costs more than 80 euros. The same subscription can be used by several people.
Brussels plugs are the same as those in Spain.
Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
On safety issues, Brussels is a very safe city, but you have to be attentive to pickpockets in the most tourist areas such as the Grand Place and the metro and train stations.
Belgium has two official languages: French and Dutch. Although you will have no problem communicating in English or even in Spanish, having many Spaniards working in services and Belgians who know the language.
If you have more time and want to make a route through the country you can follow this list of essential tips for traveling to Belgium

Do you want to organize a trip to Brussels?
Get it here:
The best offers of Flights to Brussels here
The best hotels at the best prices in Brussels here
Book the best tours and excursions in Brussels in Spanish here
The best free tours in Brussels for free
10 essential places to visit in Leuven
How to go from Brussels to Antwerp
How to go from Brussels to Amsterdam
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
Rent your car in Belgium at the best price here