City centre
All roads in Brussels’ medieval city centre lead to the mighty
Grand’Place, recalling centuries past with its step-gabled guild houses and ornate
Town Hall. Lanes fanning out from the square hide shops, restaurants, cafés and the much-photographed
Mannekin Pis statue. Further east is
Brussels Central, a major railway and metro station, and the Gothic
Cathedral of St Michel and St Gudule.
Edge north-west for great-value seafood restaurants on buzzy
Place Saint Catherine and Belgian fashion on boutique-lined
Rue Antoine Dansaert. Or head south for the weekend antiques market on elegant
Place du Grand Sablon and world-class collections at the
Royal Museums of Fine Arts.
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South of the city centre, fashionable Ixelles is the shopper’s choice of where to stay in Brussels. The main artery,
Avenue Louise, is a catwalk to big-name designers. By night the vibe is upbeat in the district’s slick lounge bars, gourmet restaurants and live music venues. Follow Avenue Louise south to
Bois de la Cambre’s serene forests, lakes and Cistercian
abbey. West of Ixelles, the arty
Saint-Gilles neighbourhood
is punctuated by graceful townhouses and is home to the Art Nouveau
Horta Museum.
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Glass and steel skyscrapers crowd the horizon in the 21st- century European Quarter, where the city’s policymakers convene behind the gleaming façades of the
European Union Commission and
EU Council. Trône and Schuman metro stations serve the neighbourhood, which lies east of the city centre and is home to some of Brussels’ smartest hotels. The
Brussels Park, overshadowed by the stately
Royal Palace, lies to the west. Bordering the district to the east is
Cinquantenaire Park, where a triumphal arch looms above flower-strewn lawns. Here you’ll find the
Royal Military Museum and the motor-mad
AutoWorld Museum.
See all hotels in the European Quarter Saint-Josse-ten-Noode
North-east of central Brussels is low-key Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, home to a thriving Turkish community and restaurants dishing up global flavours from kebabs to curries. The relaxed neighbourhood is close to
Brussels Nord train station, with direct connections to
Brussels Airport. Set in lush gardens, Art Nouveau greenhouse
Le Botanique stages cutting-edge exhibitions, plays and concerts. Further south, the
Congress Column looms above
Place du Congrès,
and
the
Belgian Comic Strip Centre amuses crowds with Tintin adventures.
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South-west of the centre, laid-back Anderlecht is scattered with family-run B&Bs and Brussels hotels, conveniently located for major transport hub
Brussels Midi. The big draw for lambic beer lovers is the
Cantillon Brewery, giving insight into the brewing process. Step west to the little-known redbrick
Erasmus House, once home to the great scholar, which showcases Albrecht Dürer prints and Erasmus’ early manuscripts. Continue west for quiet strolls or a round of golf in
Parc de la Pede.
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