Need some help Brussels?
Need some help Brussels?
Hi, just booked flights to Brussels for short break. The flights are booked into Brussels Charleroi Airport which I have just realised is not the main airport into Brussels city.
Can anyone tell me is this airport ok to reach the Brussels city from?
Have never been so any information is totally appreciated
Thanks
Answers:
It's a little under an hour on the train from Charleroi station into Brussels (3 main train stations in Brussels, Noord, Centraal & Zuid - get off at the one you need as the train will go to all three). You can take a taxi from Charleroi airport to the local train station.
Train timetables here:
http://www.nmbs.be
Answers:
Thats great, thanks very much MissDem...train sounds like a good option and someone else has recommended the shuttle bus service from the airport.
One last question then, can anyone recommend a hotel to stay in in Brussels? One that would be pretty central to the Grand Place and any nice restaurants/bars?
Thanks for any help....
Answers:
You need augusta, she lives there!
Let's hope she'll be along soon; she visits Travel every now and then, but not as much as she did, given she's a mummy. :D
kateab
Answers:
:wave: hi Kate!
Okaaay, let's see:
For the Ryanair flights that arrive at Charleroi airport, there are synchronised bus services running to Brussels (takes a good 3/4hr). They drop you off at Bruxelles Midi train station where you can get on the metro or take a tram or even walk into the city centre (only a km or so).
Coach transfer service
Hotels - you don't mention a budget. There are all sorts, as might be expected. There are some excellent weekend deals on the hotels in the Schumann (EU headquarters) area but the area is not very lively and you'd have to get public transport or taxi to go out in the centre.
Probably better to go for something in the city centre close to Grand' Place and Gare Centrale - there's everything from budget hostel, to Ibis, to Citadines Apartment Hotels to 4/5*places like Le Méridien, Amigo.
The Sainte Catherine's quarter is good for hotels, and a little quieter than some, particularly those on the Bd Anspach.
Tons of restaurants and bars. St Géry area is especially lively at nights (5 min walk from Grand' Place). Ste Catherine's area has lots of seafood places - full of restaurants.
Pretty, atmospheric cafés-bars in Brussels centre:
Le Perroquet, 31 rue Watteau (02 512 99 22) (between Palais de Justice and Grand Sablon) - art nouveau decorated, café-bar doing brunches and light meals.
A La Mort Subite, 7 rue des Montagnes aux Herbes Potagères (02 513 13 18). Métro : Gare Centrale.
Here is what the www.timeout.com/brussels/ guide says about it:
If you're looking for a real slice of Brussels, join the crowds at the wooden tables at A La Mort Subite. Hardly touched for a century, the bar is cavernous, loud and brash. The waiters chat and puff away at their cigarettes in the self-imposed pauses between serving, and there are times when you feel you may be an inconvenience to them. But underneath it all, they are loveable rogues and you can play the crack-a-smile game. This is a place to go with the flow. It is an important meeting place and, virulent anti-smokers apart, people love it. The beer list is surprisingly short for a traditional Belgian bar, but you'll find enough on draught to keep you happy, including various flavours of gueuze, the famous sour fruit beers.
Die Ultieme Hallucinatie, 316 rue Royale (Metro: Botanique) - lots of original art nouveau here.
Au Soleil, 86 rue Marché au Charbon (between Mannekin Pis and Blvd Anspach)
Rue Antoine Dansaert has a few stylish eating places and features Belgian fashion in a number of boutiques.
Have a look at http://travel.roughguides.com/roughguides.html and follow Brussels > Eating under Featured Cities for plenty more suggestions.
South of the city centre about 10 minutes by tram down the Avenue Louise there's the trendy Rue de Bailli/Place Chatelain area that has lots of quirky boutiques, restaurants and cafés. Shops include the DOD designer outlets, divided into different stores for men, women, children and babies. Lots of shoe shops too and another designer outlet (Dégriff' Chaussures) between the square and Bailli st.
Loads more restaurants in the Chatelain area:
Around the square: Fellini's (italian), Raconte-moi des salades, Chinoodles, Le Chatelain bar with photographs of film stars.
There are lots of restaurants and bars along the rue de la page which leads westwards out of Chatelain square. These include:
Le Hasard des Choses, Le Mangeur des Etoiles, La Quincaillerie (brasserie), Le Fils de Jules (Basque cuisine) and a few Thai places and Tapas bars. Bossa Nova bar is very lively too until very late.
Place Boniface in Ixelles has a good restaurant and bar scene too.
The flea market on Place de Jeu de Balles each morning is good for wandering around and there are plenty of cafés on the interesting rue Haute and rue Blaes. Shops are open there on Sundays too, which is not really the case elsewhere. The market at Gare du Midi on Sundays is interesting for its variety of goods and customers.
Hope that's of some use to you. :)
Hi, just booked flights to Brussels for short break. The flights are booked into Brussels Charleroi Airport which I have just realised is not the main airport into Brussels city.
Can anyone tell me is this airport ok to reach the Brussels city from?
Have never been so any information is totally appreciated
Thanks
Answers:
It's a little under an hour on the train from Charleroi station into Brussels (3 main train stations in Brussels, Noord, Centraal & Zuid - get off at the one you need as the train will go to all three). You can take a taxi from Charleroi airport to the local train station.
Train timetables here:
http://www.nmbs.be
Answers:
Thats great, thanks very much MissDem...train sounds like a good option and someone else has recommended the shuttle bus service from the airport.
One last question then, can anyone recommend a hotel to stay in in Brussels? One that would be pretty central to the Grand Place and any nice restaurants/bars?
Thanks for any help....
Answers:
You need augusta, she lives there!
Let's hope she'll be along soon; she visits Travel every now and then, but not as much as she did, given she's a mummy. :D
kateab
Answers:
:wave: hi Kate!
Okaaay, let's see:
For the Ryanair flights that arrive at Charleroi airport, there are synchronised bus services running to Brussels (takes a good 3/4hr). They drop you off at Bruxelles Midi train station where you can get on the metro or take a tram or even walk into the city centre (only a km or so).
Coach transfer service
Hotels - you don't mention a budget. There are all sorts, as might be expected. There are some excellent weekend deals on the hotels in the Schumann (EU headquarters) area but the area is not very lively and you'd have to get public transport or taxi to go out in the centre.
Probably better to go for something in the city centre close to Grand' Place and Gare Centrale - there's everything from budget hostel, to Ibis, to Citadines Apartment Hotels to 4/5*places like Le Méridien, Amigo.
The Sainte Catherine's quarter is good for hotels, and a little quieter than some, particularly those on the Bd Anspach.
Tons of restaurants and bars. St Géry area is especially lively at nights (5 min walk from Grand' Place). Ste Catherine's area has lots of seafood places - full of restaurants.
Pretty, atmospheric cafés-bars in Brussels centre:
Le Perroquet, 31 rue Watteau (02 512 99 22) (between Palais de Justice and Grand Sablon) - art nouveau decorated, café-bar doing brunches and light meals.
A La Mort Subite, 7 rue des Montagnes aux Herbes Potagères (02 513 13 18). Métro : Gare Centrale.
Here is what the www.timeout.com/brussels/ guide says about it:
If you're looking for a real slice of Brussels, join the crowds at the wooden tables at A La Mort Subite. Hardly touched for a century, the bar is cavernous, loud and brash. The waiters chat and puff away at their cigarettes in the self-imposed pauses between serving, and there are times when you feel you may be an inconvenience to them. But underneath it all, they are loveable rogues and you can play the crack-a-smile game. This is a place to go with the flow. It is an important meeting place and, virulent anti-smokers apart, people love it. The beer list is surprisingly short for a traditional Belgian bar, but you'll find enough on draught to keep you happy, including various flavours of gueuze, the famous sour fruit beers.
Die Ultieme Hallucinatie, 316 rue Royale (Metro: Botanique) - lots of original art nouveau here.
Au Soleil, 86 rue Marché au Charbon (between Mannekin Pis and Blvd Anspach)
Rue Antoine Dansaert has a few stylish eating places and features Belgian fashion in a number of boutiques.
Have a look at http://travel.roughguides.com/roughguides.html and follow Brussels > Eating under Featured Cities for plenty more suggestions.
South of the city centre about 10 minutes by tram down the Avenue Louise there's the trendy Rue de Bailli/Place Chatelain area that has lots of quirky boutiques, restaurants and cafés. Shops include the DOD designer outlets, divided into different stores for men, women, children and babies. Lots of shoe shops too and another designer outlet (Dégriff' Chaussures) between the square and Bailli st.
Loads more restaurants in the Chatelain area:
Around the square: Fellini's (italian), Raconte-moi des salades, Chinoodles, Le Chatelain bar with photographs of film stars.
There are lots of restaurants and bars along the rue de la page which leads westwards out of Chatelain square. These include:
Le Hasard des Choses, Le Mangeur des Etoiles, La Quincaillerie (brasserie), Le Fils de Jules (Basque cuisine) and a few Thai places and Tapas bars. Bossa Nova bar is very lively too until very late.
Place Boniface in Ixelles has a good restaurant and bar scene too.
The flea market on Place de Jeu de Balles each morning is good for wandering around and there are plenty of cafés on the interesting rue Haute and rue Blaes. Shops are open there on Sundays too, which is not really the case elsewhere. The market at Gare du Midi on Sundays is interesting for its variety of goods and customers.
Hope that's of some use to you. :)