Brussels Guide
Bon vivant Brussels is self-deprecating and surreal. Come to eat and drink extremely well and then let yourself be won over by architecture and art nouveau swirls, designer boutiques and intriguing museums from Hergé cartoons to Magritte.
The Grand' Place, Europe's biggest square, is set in a tangle of tiny streets. Down rue de l’Etuve, you will find an endless stream of tourists at the tiny chubby statue of Manneken-Pis. Masterpieces by Magritte, Rubens and Bruegel hang out at the Fine Arts museum complex, while art nouveau interiors curve at the Horta Museum. The Magritte Museum on the place Royale is home to the world’s largest collection dedicated to the Surrealist master.
Find quirky Belgian style on rue Antoine Dansaert, and international designer wear on smart avenue Louise and boulevard de Waterloo. Forage for upper-crust antiques on Grand Sablon square and junky treasures at the place du Jeu de Balle's flea market. Chocolate shops beckon from every street corner – Marcolini's on Grand Sablon has the melting edge.
Relax on a bench in bijou Petit Sablon square or stroll sculpture-strewn Cinquantenaire Park. Cycle the woods at Forêt de Soignes and Bois de la Cambre. See turtles and budgerigars at the Parc Tenbosch in Ixelles and rare plants flourish in the spring-opening Royal Greenhouses in Laeken.
The BOZAR cultural complex at Mont des Arts showcases art exhibitions, music, cinema and theatre, in an Art Nouveau, Victor Horta-designed shell. Opera is performed at La Monnaie, and concerts take place in Ancienne Belgique and Le Botanique. Jazz lives on at L'Archiduc and Music Village, while cutting-edge music is performed at Flagey.
Portions are generous and flavours strong in beer-infused Brussels. Dine on crayfish in summer, rabbit stew with plums in autumn and meatballs in Liège syrup in winter. Avoid touristy rue de Bouchers and enjoy a working lunch on Grand Sablon square, a splash-out meal on avenue Louise or a fish fest at place Sainte-Catherine.
Take the transparent lift from the foot of the awesome Palais de Justice (the world's largest building when it was built in 1866-83) to see Brussels spread out before you. An even headier view awaits at the Atomium.
