Brussels Guide

Brussels is the capital city of Belgium and is known as the administrative centre of the European Union (EU). The city has been a major trading centre for more than 1,000 years and is home to people from many different nationalities. The large number of EU officials and civil servants living and visiting the city ensures great wealth for the city in both monetary and cultural terms.

Visitors will find a great mix of architecture throughout the city; a number of styles have influenced the building structure over the centuries including Gothic, art nouveau and the sharp lines of modern architecture. The city is divided in two sections, The Upper Town and The Lower Town making it relatively easy to navigate. The Lower Town is where most of the everyday business is conducted. The best starting point for any visitor is the square known as The Grand Place/de Grote Markt. The space has been called one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. With its ornate gothic front and towering spire the Town Hall dominates the square. The square is filled with flower stalls in the summer and a carpet of flowers is created on the square every two years. In summer the colourful activities are embellished with concerts performances, giving it that extra charge of atmosphere.

The streets of St. Gery and St. Catherine, off the Grand Place are famous for small cafes filled with locals and are a good place to get a feel for local life. It is here, in one of hundreds of restaurants, visitors can enjoy dishes of mussels, oysters and fish served with glasses of the local beer. Brussels is famous for its seafood and has some of the best restaurants in Europe. The City Museum is located in The King's House and houses historical artefacts of great significance to the region. One of the more humorous symbols of the city, the Manneken Pis, an irreverent character located on the corner of Eikstraat/ Stoofstraat near the Grand Place.

The Upper Town is a more sedate area with old buildings that emulate the great importance of the city. The Royal Quarter is replete with majestic buildings and museums filled with art and antiquities. The Royal Museum of Fine Arts is home to modern and ancient art. Visitors can enjoy works by Rubens, Brughel and Magritte. The museum is so huge that visitors can expect to spend many hours exploring the various sections. The epitome of a well-designed entertainment centre is the Palais des Beaux-Arts, originally planned and designed by Victor Horta after World War I. It was constructed with much of the building underground (the king did not want his view of the city spoiled) and remains a great space for art and creativity, loved by the locals and visitors alike.

Far from being a staid city restrained by its political importance, Brussels has a vibrant cultural scene, streets lined with atmospheric cafes and people from all over the world enjoying all there is on offer. This is a city where the visitor can be swept along with the fast pace of business or relax in warmth of the local welcome.

For further information please contact the tourist information centre:

The Town Hall
Grand Place / Grote Markt 1,
1000 Brussels.
+32 (0) 2513 8940