After cavorting with hash and hookers in Amsterdam, most students see Brussels as a dull hub of Eurocrats, a place to go hole up and detox from Holland just long enough to pass the parents' drug test. That's a mistake. Scratch beneath this city's surface, and you'll uncover an endearingly odd local culture and increasingly relevant sociopolitical scene. Not every city in Europe is collectively enamored with not one, not two, but threecentrally located statues preoccupied with urinary expulsions (we're obsessed with you too, oh Manneken Pis). Not every city in Europe is purportedly home to the world's best beer, chocolate, waffles, andfries. And not every city in Europe can be its capital—there can only be one, and it's Brussels. So find a cure for that Holland hangover fast, because this city's a lot more than a parliamentary pit stop.
Brussels is admittedly a small city, and many visitors only spend a few days exploring its cobbled streets and quirky museums. You should certainly visit the “classics,” such as the Manneken Pis and the Grand Place, but we also urge you to head farther afield. Get lost in the eclectic Marolles flea market or the utterly brilliant Magritte Museum.We hope you're not actually coming here to cool down after Amsterdam, because with all its Belgian beers and bangin' bars, Brussels is bound to up the ante and your alcohol tolerance.
Most visitors to Brussels stick around the Grand Place, drawn to the dozens of beer and jazz bars in its environs. But the Lower Town has more to offer you than tourist traps and cheap booze—with local ...more
Brussels is a hotbed of theater, popular music, and opera, and hosts numerous music and film festivals throughout the year. Make sure you pick up the free weekly culture publication Agenda from the Tourist ...more
Tourist Offices: Central Office sells the Brussels Card, which includes free public transport, a city map, and museum access for 24hr., 48hr., or 72hr. (€24/€34/€40.)(: Bourse, East ...more
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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