Brussels- The Grand Place of Chocolate and the EU

Before the world started lusting for Belgian chocolates and diamonds, two popular fictitious characters were the chief claim to fame for Belgium - Christie’s Herculé Poirot and Herge’s resourceful Tintin – and of course the Mannekin-Pis statue! A lot of water has flown since then and today the country is known as the seat of power with Brussels hosting the European Union. Although most of the country is now on the veteran travelers’ radar, it is Brussels that has turned out to be a luxury vacation destination and surprisingly, shopping.

Once a 10th century fortress town guarded by Charlemagne’s grandson, Brussels today is a bustling city over a million people and a centre for business and politics with sights and sounds that attract thousands of tourists every year. The city is not Rome when it comes to architectural heritage but its buildings are a fascinating mix of architectural styles, and there are numerous museums of interest throughout. The ‘petit ring’ surrounded by the 14th-century city walls is the compact centre of the old city with the beautiful Grand Place at its heart and visitors rarely feel the need to go beyond it. The old city’s charming buildings and its labyrinth of narrow streets and alleys is one of the most romantic places in the world for a couple vacationing in the city. The new town is equally attractive with its glitzy, but practical buildings but most of the action still lies in the old city where u can find the best bars and restaurants.

Visitors to Brussels get a treat of their lives with the city’s beautiful art and architecture and the marvelous, if slightly bizarre, Mannekin-Pis statue – the little boy letting it all out in a fountain! Tourists love the city for its shopping centers and for traditional souvenirs such as Belgian chocolate and lace. The National Opera House and many other theatres host a variety of events and concerts for those wanting some high culture, and there are plenty of restaurants that offer the best cuisines in the world. An outing is almost always rounded off by a drink or two in one of the lively bars that punctuate the area around the Grand Place.

Vibrant and energetic, Brussels is a city of museums and architecture among Europe's finest, a shopper's fantasy and a diner's capital.

The history of Brussels

Blow-by-blow

695-712 The Bishop of Cambria and Arras, St Vindicien, lives his whole life on the site of Brussels

966 First written mention of Bruocsella (Brussels) in a decree from Emperor Otton the Great

1100 Brussels gains its first walled fortifications

1357 Work begins on the second walled fortifications and their seven gates (an area that is now covered by the inner ring road)

1402 The foundation stone for Brussels Town Hall (completed in 1455) is laid

1404 The Burgundian period commences, with Antoine, son of Philip the Good, proclaimed Regent of Brabant

1436 Rogier de la Pasture is made the official artist of Brussels

1467-77 Reign of Charles the Bold

1531 Brussels is made capital of the Spanish Netherlands

1568 The Counts of Egmont and Hornes are beheaded for high treason on the orders of the Duke of Alba, the Spanish viceroy

1569 Brueghel dies in his house in Rue Haute

1577 Supporters of the Prince of Orange rise up against Philip II

1585 A second uprising against the Spanish is unsuccessful

1599 Isabella (daughter of Philip II) and her husband Albert reside in Brussels

1617 Rue Neuve is laid out

1695 The Marshal de Villeroy orders French troops to bombard Brussels and Grand-Place

1703 Brussels Chamber of Commerce is founded

1715 The Treaty of Utrecht decrees that Brussels becomes Austrian

1719 Unsuccessful uprising against Joseph II results in the beheading of the Dean of the Guilds, François Anneessens

1731 Coudenberg Palace is destroyed by fire

1794 The Directory annexes the Catholic Netherlands to France

1814-30 Brussels becomes joint capital with the Hague of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

1815 Following Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, the Treaty of Vienna puts Belgium under Dutch control

1830 The Belgian Revolution leads to independence, with Brussels capital of the new kingdom

1831 Léopold Saxe-Coburg rules over an independent Belgium of 100,000 inhabitants

1865 Following the death of Léopold I, his son Léopold II accedes to the throne

1866 Cholera epidemic in Brussels; the polluted Senne River is buried underground

1871 The great boulevards of Brussels are constructed

1880 International Exhibition in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Belgian independence

1909 Léopold II dies with no male heir; his nephew, Albert I, becomes king

1928 Victor Horta completes the Palais des Beaux Arts

1934 Albert I dies in a fatal rock-climbing accident; his son Léopold III succeeds to the throne

1944 Charles, brother of Léopold II, becomes Regent

1951 The Regent abdicates; his son Baudoin I accedes to the throne

1958 Expo 58 universal exhibition runs for six months at the Heysel

1959 Following the Treaty of Rome (1957), Brussels is nominated the headquarters of the European Community

1967 Nato establishes its headquarters in the city

1980 150th Independence Anniversary celebrations

1992 Belgium becomes a federal state

1993 King Badouin I dies, his brother Albert accedes to the throne

2000 Brussels becomes the European City of Culture

When to go

Brussels is place for all seasons but the city sees the maximum tourist traffic between May and September, when the weather is at its best. Unfortunately, the good weather also means considerable crowds at tourist sites and a scarcity of accommodations. However, that shouldn’t deter you from visiting Brussels at this time and u can sort accommodations by being proactive about bookings. You would still have to brave the crowds at city attractions but then that is half the fun!

A good time to visit Brussels is on a weekend as most of the city's top-end hotels offer considerably lower rates from Friday to Sunday. Here’s a tip – Bargaining on the price is totally done and you also have a good chance of getting a discount if you can haggle well. The period from November to March may not be the best time to visit Brussels, weather-wise, but the upside of fewer tourists and lower hotel rates is quite motivating. The winter months see freezing temperatures and a lot of rain but if you pack the right clothes and remember that there would be fewer daylight hours, you can make the most of uncrowded museums and markets. The best part of this season is the fact that there is always a cozy cafe just around the corner where you can take refuge and cock a snook at all that cold and rain.

Getting to Brussels

Coming in from another continent straight to Brussels means the only travel option for you is to fly in to Brussels International Airport (formerly known as Zaventem). The airport is 14km northeast of Brussels and services many international airlines fly here. However, Brussels is better connected to other European cities, so it may be better to fly into Paris, London, Frankfurt or Amsterdam and train or bus it to Brussels. If you are traveling from within the country to Brussels don’t be surprised by the lack of domestic airlines as the country is too small and in such cases you would have to take a train or a bus or drive in to the city.

A train station on the airport's lowest level connects passengers to the city center through the Airport City Express shuttle train to Brussels' three main train stations: Gare du Nord, Gare du Midi and Gare Centrale. You can also catch a taxi from outside the arrivals hall – make sure you get the official yellow ones that have a blue 'Taxi' sign.

Brussels is very well connected to other European cities by train and Gare du Midi is the main train station for international connections which services the Eurostar and Thalys fast trains. Euroline's main bus depot is next to Gare du Nord, where you can book buses between Brussels and the rest of Europe, Scandinavia and the UK. Driving to Brussels is a great way to get in with comfort and on your own time. If you can rally with the aggressive local drivers, the drive can be picturesque and pleasant.

Cycling from other parts of Belgium to Brussels is also possible, but take this option only of you have the heart to navigate the roads in Brussels - the city doesn't have many cycle paths. There are a variety of ferry options, direct from the UK or via Calais in France.

Waltzing About

Traveling within the city is a breezy job as Brussels has an excellent public transport system in place. Three metro lines, many buses and several tram lines, most run by STIB-MIVB except for the buses, which are run by De lijn and Le Tec, take you from place A to B in a quick, comfortable and efficient manner. If you are planning to stay in Brussels for a while get an €11 travel card that can be used for ten rides with public transport. There are also one-day tickets available, for € 4.00. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays you can take another person with you free of charge.

The easiest way to see the city is to take one of the interesting tours offered by Brussels Bike Tours. You could of course skip the tour and just bike around the city renting a bicycle from "CycloCity" rentals available at various fixed locations near the central city.

Best Hotel Bets in Brussels

As a tourist city that sees a lot of business and government visitors as well, Brussels offers a wide range of choices in accommodation. You can get accommodations ranging from pure luxury hotels to very affordable hostels and a good number of mid range hotels as well.

One of the most popular places for tourists looking for luxury coupled with modern conveniences is the Conrad International, located in the heart of Brussels' – the chic Avenue Louise. This 1993 built ultra luxurious property boasts of a star guest list including former US President Clinton, Bill Gates and The Rolling Stones. , the Conrad International is a choice for visitors wanting luxury and modern convenience. Although only built in 1993, the Conrad has rapidly become one of Brussels' best established luxury hotels and can already boast a star guest list. Complete with an efficient business center and two restaurants - the Loui and Café Wiltcher's, the Conrad tops most tourist wish lists.

The Hilton Brussels located on Boulevard de Waterloo is a modern, 27-storey luxury hotel, located close to the Palais de Justice and is popular with both tourists and business travelers. One of the best business oriented hotels in Brussels is the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel Brussels located on Rue du Fossé-aux-Loups is close to the Grand-Place and minutes from -Central and the main shopping streets. The two in house bars -the Gourmet Sea Grill restaurant and the less formal Atrium restaurant offer classic menus and the fitness center offers a Jacuzzi, as well as solariums and saunas.

One of the largest hotels in the city is the Sheraton Brussels & Towers, a 30-floor tower, located in the heart of Brussels' business district in Place Rogier. You may also want to check out the Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel - located just opposite the main airport terminal if you are in Brussels just for a stopover.

The undoubted king of luxury hotels in the city is the Rocco Forte Amigo on Rue de l'Amigo just a short walk of the bustling Grand-Place. The best choice if you are looking for calm and comfort, The Amigo is furnished in Spanish Renaissance style with rich tapestries and antiques and is a warm and friendly place to be in. The century old Hotel Metropole is the Grand Old Lady of luxury hotels in the city and is a pleasure to stay in with its breathtaking art nouveau interior and comfortable rooms. Located on Place de Brouckère is famous for its nostalgic feel and in house restaurant.

Other choices include Comfort Art Hotel Siru close to the Gare du Nord, Mozart in Rue Marché aux Fromages, Atlas on Rue du Vieux-Marché aux Grains and Jolly Hotel du Grand Sablon on Rue Bodenbroek.

The Best Eats in Town

Brussels has a wide array of restaurants that rival Paris, both in price and quality. Though Brussels is not a very economical city for eating out, you almost always get what you want. The city’s restaurants serve a good selection of cuisines from around the world and are usually filled to the brim, so making reservations ahead of time would be necessary, especially during the high season.

For starters try the Comme Chez Soi, an intimate little restaurant on Place Rouppe. Decorated in belle époque style and ruled by Chef Pierre Wynants, this is a great place for French cuisine outside of France; this one is graced with three Michelin stars. Another fabulous restaurant is the De Bijgaarden located in Isidoor van Beverenstrat – a 20-minute drive from central Brussels.

De Bijgaarden is the territory of Chef Olivier Schlissinger and his French-style creations in this wooden panelled restaurant have earned him many a fan. La Truffe Noire on Boulevard de la Cambre delights you with its truffles, used in just about every dish. Located close to Avenue Louise in central Brussels, the restaurant is a warm, friendly place that serves the best carpaccio truffles with olive oil and parmesan, lobster risotto with truffles, and black chocolate truffle with spun sugar and raspberry sauce.

The Brussels Waffle Also try La Villa Lorraine on Chaussée de la Hulpe, Bonsoir Clara, the Brussels Café on Place St Catherine, In't Spinnekopke on Place du Jardin aux Fleurs and Le Variétés on Place Sainte Croix that specializes in spit-roast meats as well as great vegetarian fare.

A very trendy restaurant is Lola, located close to the antiques quarter in Place du Grand-Sablon. The place serves classic French cuisine with an innovative contemporary touch. Also try Bleu de Toi on Rue des Alexiens, Chez Léon on Rue des Bouchers for the popular Brussels special of moules frites (mussels and chips), Le Grain de Sel on Chaussée de Vleurgat, Raconte-Moi des Salades on Place du Chatelain, Touch and Go on Rue Saint Boniface, Aux Armes de Bruxelles on Rue des Bouchers and Blue Elephant Chaussée de Waterloo.

Brussels’ Exploding Night scene

The best bar crawl in Brussels is down the rue du Marché au Charbon which is the hub of the city’s gay district and where every other building houses a lively watering hole. Brussels’ reputation as a clubbing town is steadfastly chipped on one shoulder – the very popular and fun club - the Fuse on rue Blaes. Fuse is also home to the mega gay club La Demence and excels in the underground scene.

A lot of concerts and music tours touch on Brussels because of its location at the heart of Europe and the city has had a booming Jazz scene since the 1920s.Try catching the annual Brussels Jazz Marathon in May for some of the best jazz you’ll hear in once place. The club scene is relatively new, but you can choose from several places around Place de St-Géry, Mannekin-Pis and in the Marolles district. The highlight of the clubbing year is the Klinkende Munt outdoor music festival, held every July in Brussels at the Place de la Monnaie, Petit-Chateau and the Beursschouwburg.

Belgium is quite famous for its superb selection of beers, not least those created by Trappist monks at various monasteries around the country. The best ones to sample in the city are the spontaneously fermented Gueuze and the fruit flavoured Kriek varieties. Centrally located beer havens include La Bécasse on Rue de Tabora, A La Mort Subite on Rue Montagne aux Herbes Potagères, and La Rose Blanche on Grande-Place.

Le Soleil on Rue des Capucins is an intimate little bar, tailor-made for an evening of good beer and good chats. A number of bars transform into clubs as the night wears on, including lively Le Sud on Rue de l'Ecuyer. If you are looking for quieter evening entertainment try the Theatre de Toone VII on Impasse Schuddeveld off Petite Rue de Bouchers, where puppets form a backdrop to the drinking. For the younger audience, the bars around Place St Géry are popular venues.

A night out dancing can take you to a hundred places playing techno, house and jungle. The top of the heap is Le Fuse on Rue Blaes. Also try Bazaar on Rue des Capucins, Le You at Rue Duquesnoy and the very trendy Les Jeux d'Hiver on Bois de la Cambre. Live music scene in Brussels is dominated by Jazz and the best places for good music are L'Archiduc and Sounds Jazz Club. Mainstream rock acts regularly appear at Ancienne Belgique and Beursschouwburg keeps you happy with everything from Electro to jazz.

The Best of Brussels

Grand-Place: The Grand Place is one of the most important historic places in the city as well as the one where most tourists kick off sight seeing. The Grand Palace has been the economic and social epicenter of Brussels since the Middle Ages and is an array of beautiful Gothic buildings dominated by the asymmetrical Hotel de Ville, built in the 15th century. Watch out for its spire topped with a gilded copper statue of St Michael and the Maison du Roi, commissioned in 1515 that is now home to the Musée de la Ville de Bruxelles and its small collection includes tapestries and altarpieces, as well as the costumes worn by the Manneken-Pis. A series of lavish guildhouses complete the rectangle of the square.

Mannekin-Pis: The Rue de l'Etuve leads from the grandeur of Grand-Place to the most well-recognized symbol of Brussels – the irreverent bronze statuette of a urinating boy. Also visit the Bourse – Brussels’ Stock Exchange which, legend has it, was sculpted by Rodin. The sculpture was cast by Jérome Duquesnoy in the 1660s, perhaps as a reference to the peasant lads of legend, who extinguished fires with their urine.

Place du Grand-Sablon: Although the smartest square in town, the Place du Grand-Sablon remains laid-back as the Notre-Dame du Sablon dominates the square. The humble chapel was built and used by the guild of archers, but its popularity doubled with the arrival of a statue of Mary from Antwerp, in 1348. The building was expanded into an impressive gothic church, which still hosts the annual Ommegang procession.

Palais Royal: The Royal Palace is part of the opulent buildings and the city’s main attractions that are clustered around the centrally located Parc de Bruxelles, a formal 1870s park with tree-lined avenues and a beautiful fountain. Here you can find the Palais des Académies – erstwhile residence of the Prince of Orange and Place du Trone, an impressive statue of Léopold II astride a horse. The most famous of the collection of building is the Brussels' Royal Palace and museums which lie opposite the Parc de Bruxelles.

Musée Belvue: The Belvue Museum was re-opened in July 2005 to coincide with Belgium's 175th anniversary celebrations after major re-modeling work; the Musée Belvue is dedicated to the 12 major periods of the country's history. The exhibitions are themed around the reigns of each of the country's 12 monarchs. The building itself is located at the scene of the 1830 Belgian Revolution which led to the establishment of an independent state.

Muséum des Sciences Naturelles: The Natural Sciences Museum lies close to the European Parliament and houses the world’s finest dinosaur collections including the iguanadons of Bernissart. A great place for a family to visit, the museum also features a special presentation on the Arctic and Antarctic regions and a huge permanent marine mammals exhibition.

Musée du Cinquantenaire: The Musee du Cinquantenaire was built by Léopold II to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Belgian independence. A grand structure, the Musée du Cinquantenaire draws thousands of tourists every year to its impressive collections from five continents, ranging from prehistory to the present that include art nouveau furniture designed by Victor Horta and fine examples of centuries-old lace. Comic strip fans might find some pieces familiar - the large Egyptian collection was the source of inspiration for Belgium's artists, including Hergé.

Belgian Royal Museums of Fine Art- The most important of Belgium's museum complexes is located close to Place Royal. It boasts two rich museums, their collections ranging from the 14th century to the modern day - the Musée d'Art Ancien (Museum of Ancient Art), housed in the former court of Charles de Lorraine, and the underground Musée d'Art Moderne (Museum of Modern Art), inaugurated in 1984.

Shopper’s Heaven

Shopping in Brussels is a unique experience and the first place you must go to kick off your shopping spree is the Galeries Saint Hubert or Sint Hubertusgalerijen - the world's first shopping mall, opened in 1847. The three-tiered gallery offers several boutiques, bookshops, cafés, restaurants, and a theater and cinema. Make a visit to Cinema Excellence on Boulevard Anspachlaan for great collection classics and rare DVD’s, books, vintage movie posters, screen prints and postcards.

Brussels is a haven for comic books and rare books and the best places to go to for fabulous book collections are - De Slegte on Rue des Grands Carmes-Lievevrouwbroersstraat and FNAC on Rue Neuve-Nieuwstra. Another one for bookworms is the Filigranes on Avenue des Arts-Kunstlaan - the largest bookshop in Brussels which besides a delightful collection of books also has a small bar and a café inside where you can enjoy a cup of coffee, mulling over your purchases with the strains of melodious live music in the background.

Pele-Mele on Boulevard Maurice Lemonnierlaanis a wonderfully quaint second-hand bookshop with huge selection of used books at bargain prices. Also try Waterstone's on Boulevard Adolphe Maxlaan for a good selection of English-language books.

You simply cant leave Brussels without a packet of Leonidas delectable chocolates. the shop has branches across the city and you won’t have to look too hard to find an outlet. However, chocoholics would tell you that Marcolini, on Place du Grand Sablon is the uncontested king of Belgian chocolates and a visit is a must. For more chocolate go to Wittamer on Place du Grand Sablon Chocopolis on Rue du Marché aux Herbes and Maison Renardy on rue de Dublin General shopping along Rue Neuve-Nieuwstraat with GB supermarket at City 2 accessed from Rue Neuve-Nieuwstraat and Metro Rogier.

Galeria Inno on Rue Neuve is a fantastic department store that stocks the latest fashion and accessories and you can get a lot of good stuff here on good prices. Belgian Lace considered among the best in the world goes hand in hand with chocolate shopping and you can get delicate lace at one of the several shops located at the Grand' Place-Grote Markt.

One Fine Day in Brussels

Start off at the heart of Brussels - the dazzling Grand Place, ringed by gilded buildings sparkling in the sunshine. It's the centre of an enticing labyrinth of narrow cobblestone laneways going in all directions like the wisps of smoke. Amble about its myriad pathways that beg to be explored and you would reach, eventually, a small café or a boutique, hitherto unknown to tourists.

If you are in Brussels in the winters you would rather be warmed by cozy open fires and steaming hot chocolate but if you are there in summers, you can bet it would be a top day with colorful umbrellas covering open air cafes that hem the city's pavements and tourists milling about in awe of this beautiful city. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a box of Belgian chocolates on the square before moving on to Place du Grand-Sablon where you would no doubt stand marveling at the Notre-Dame du Sablon that dominates the square. Once the rendezvous point of the guild of archers the church today regales visitors with its architecture and the statue of Mary which is believed to have healing powers.

Spend the rest of your morning at Palais Royal getting enamored with its opulent architecture and resplendent interiors. Stop for lunch at one of the city’s popular restaurants that fill up quicker than you can say chocolate! Post lunch treat yourself with a shop browsing spree at Galeries Saint Hubert – the world’s first shopping mall. You could also try ambling about in the city’s outdoor markets that provide the perfect opportunity to explore hidden corners of the city. On weekends the Sablon antique quarter teems with treasure-hunters trawling the traders' open-air stalls. Any day of the week the flea markets at Place du Jeu-de-Balle overflow with a crazy mishmash of bric-a-brac and racks of cool vintage clothes.

Window shopping the avant-garde fashions on Rue Antoine Dansaert, stopping for an engine-revving coffee and an ice-cold Jupiler beer at Walvis café, and lingering along Ave Louise to peek at the designer boutiques soak up what's left of the day. For the budget-wise, the shops crowding the pedestrianised Rue Neuve are a more realistic destination.

The gleaming EU quarter's the ultimate fix for political junkies and cultural pleasures are on tap at the Musée des Instruments de Musique and the Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts (Royal Museums of Fine Arts). At night, Rue St Boniface comes alive with buzzing restaurants and cafes - it's conveniently close to the bars of the St Gilles district as the sun's glow extinguishes over Belgium's - and Europe's - cosmopolitan capital.

The Brussels you’d never see…

…if we didn’t tell you!

A local’s favourite close to the Graund’ Place is La Roue d’Or but do book in advance.

Among the many golf courses in and around Brussels, the 18-hole Royal AmicaleGolf Club is a standout.

There are excellent jogging routes through beautiful greenways such as Parc de Bruxelles and Parc du Cinquantenaire.

Brussels offers a dozen public pools for water nymphs and visitors who have overindulged in fine chocolate and need to lose a few kilos.

Come winter, head to Marché aux Poissons near the Grand Place to experience one of the world's most picturesque ice skating rinks, set up for just a few weeks in December.

The hilly Ardennes in southeastern Belgium are the country's winter playground; cross-country skiing is the main attraction.

If you're feeling more cerebral, you can head to Le Greenwich, an old world cafe known for its no-holds-barred chess tournaments.

The Brussels Tip Master

General

Although Brussels is generally a safe city, you should try to avoid the area of Molenbeek-St-Jean in the late hours and during nights

The most crowded areas of the city suffer from pick pockets and you need to safeguard against them by staying alert. Travelers should be particularly careful of distracting techniques like being asked for time or directions

Try to avoid train and metro stations at night; the time that attracts shady sorts and drug addicts

Families

Take Ferry Trip to the Robinson's Island in the lake at the heart of Bois de la Cambre

For a large family staying in rented apartments makes more sense and keeps more money in the pocket than say, booking two rooms in a Bed & Breakfast or a hotel

Take a trip to the Musee des Enfants – the place was made especially for kids

Couples

Treat your better half to a Chocó-fest with a box full of the best Belgian chocolates

Get a load of Belgian Beers to enjoy back home

Brussels Special

The NY Times suggests making a visit to the Hotel de Ville Atomium and a fine dinner at Aux Arms De Bruxelles

The Guardian suggests skipping the regular, touristy shopping places near the Grand Place in favor of the hot new Hoet Design Store on Antoine Dansaert, for avant garde furniture

Fodors suggests a trip to the Comic Strip Museum – especially if yours is a Kid laden family vacation!

Frommers says the best things to take back from Brussels are the handmade lace, Pralines and diamonds