How about a holiday apartment in Brussels?
Brussels is Belgium‘s capital and the largest city of the small kingdom. If you are planning a holiday home vacation in Belgium then you should consider including at least one day trip to the capital – or alternatively why not just opt for a city apartment which you can book with atraveo and explore the city and its many sights in more detail. A holiday apartment is perfect for a city vacation as it is going to work out cheaper than a hotel and also gives you freedom to hold on to your independence and not be bound by set breakfast times. Other European cities where atraveo has a particularly large selection of holiday apartments include Berlin, Paris, London, Vienna or Prague.
Sightseeing: Brussels landmarks
Possibly the most famous Brussels landmark will be the Manneken Pis. The small bronze statue is located in near Rue de l'Eture/Rue des Grandes Charmes and is mostly dressed in one of its over 600 costumes. But don’t be disappointed: The figure is quite small and to unknowing visitors it may also seem inconspicuous – of course apart from the crowds of people that pass it daily. Equally well known is the Atomium in the north western part of the city. The 102 metre high construction was erected for the World Exhibition in 1958 and was supposed to emulate an iron crystal structure. In front of it is the Park Mini-Europe where several European architectural constructions have been recreated with a lot of detail at a scale of 1:25. Some of the highlights include the Eiffel Tower and the Brandenburg Gate. Further worthwhile sights in Brussels include the Palais Royal, Palais de Justice or the Baroque buildings around the Grand-Place/Grote Market with city hall and Gothic tower that can be seen from far away. Brussels also has a number of older churches that are worth a visit. High above the city on the Koekelberg for example the built Basilique Nationale du Sacré-Cœur is enthroned. If you want to go on a stroll then next to the alleyways in the historical centre of Brussels there are also a number of parks in Brussels such as the Cinquantenaire with its triumphal arch in Etterbeek or the Leopold Park close to the European Parliament. Here next to a school in the park there is a quite average looking building which though has quite a story to tell. In 1927 29 leading physicists from whom 17 received at some stage in their life the Nobel Prize met here for a unique conference. It included people such as Albert Einstein, Werner Heisenberg, Nils Bohr or Marie Currie.
Beer, chocolates, waffles and chips in Brussels
Brussels is also known for its particularly high number of pubs. This though is really no surprise considering the varied Belgian brewery traditions and more than 300 types of beer across the entire country. One of the highlights of the endless number of bars and pubs is the Delirium Tremens in the historical centre. According to the Guinness Book of Records globally the most types of beer are to be enjoyed here. In the small alley where the Delirium is located you can view the female equivalent to Manneken Pis who is known as Janneken Pis. For a small snack you should try some of these tasty Belgian waffles that you can pick up nearly anywhere in Brussels. Or how about the alternative fries? Belgium is the home for fried potato sticks and it is therefore not a surprise you can find a snack stand on nearly every corner. The gold yellow delights are served with an array of sauces and countless sides such as steak, frikandeln or mussels. At Place Jourdan you can by the way find with Maison Antoine supposedly the best establishment in the world that was also mentioned in the Michelin-Guide. For those looking for something more sophisticated will find a number of top class gourmet restaurants in Brussels. An ideal present to take back home are chocolates from Brussels. Belgian chocolates and their production are revered across the globe. Just the beautiful smell in a Brussels chocolate shop is a unique seductive dream.
Culture and shopping in Brussels
Whilst in Brussels it is worth considering visiting some of the museums in the city. For example explore the Museum of Natural History (Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles), the Parlamentarium not far from the European Parliament, Music Instrument Museum close to Palais Royal with the roof terrace offering a splendid view across the city, the unique comic museum or the car and military museum in Cinquantenaire. The Belgian capital is also known for its diverse shopping options. Next to large shopping streets where you can find fashion, jewellery and other luxury items Brussels is also famous for its vibrant antique trade. For example around Rue Blase you can find a number of shops where you are sure to find a treasure and in any case will be able to enjoy a nice stroll.
Diverse arrival options to a holiday house in Brussels
The easiest way to get to Brussels is by car or train. Via the very good motorway network you can easily get for example from France to your destination. It must be said though that parking is quite expensive in Brussels so that the train is a cheaper alternative. Brussels also has a very good public transport system comprising of a subway, trams and busses.
Further interestingcities in Belgium
...which are worth visiting include Bruges, Gent, Antwerp, Liege and Hasselt. Popular regions for a holiday home vacation in Belgium are according to atraveo customers especially the Belgian North Sea coast with towns such as De Panne, De Haan or Bredene and the mountain range region of the Ardennes.