| Overview | Things to do | Suitability | Country Info (Belgium) |
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Belgium's capital is in fact an astonishingly cosmopolitan city, and it offers the visitor some of Europe's finest Flemish Renaissance and Art Nouveau architecture, some good shops and museums and a selection of restaurants which even the most demanding Parisian might envy.
Central Brussels is divided into two main areas, the Lower and Upper Towns. The Lower Town comprises the medieval city centre, built around the imposing Grand Place, a former market square. The area is easy to get around on foot, its cobbled streets leading to popular quarters such as Ilôt Sacré, Ste Catherine, St Géry and Marolles. The Upper Town, to the southeast, has a vastly different atmosphere. The traditional base of Brussels' French-speaking elite, it's home to wide boulevards, major museums, chic shopping areas around Sablon and Ave Louise, and monumental buildings including the Belgian parliament. Visitors can enjoy the beauty of the art and architecture, marvel at the bizarre sight of the Mannekin-Pis statue, and spend time shopping 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 interested in a bit of high culture, while the many restaurants offer gastronomic delights, which can be followed by a drink or two in one of the lively bars near 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. While there are certainly areas and buildings which could do with an injection of character and personality, you only have to peep into the quirky Cartoon Museum, rummage around the markets of the Sablon, or saunter through the Parc du Cinquantenaire to see that Brussels is well worth a visit. Brussels is known as the 'world's headquarters' and is home to the European Union and NATO. Just as important, it is the meeting point between Flemish Flanders and French Wallonia and is the only officially bilingual city in Belgium. The country's colonial past is represented by a significant Congolese population as well as North African and Middle Eastern communities. |
