The de-facto capital of the EU, Brussels is a city to inspire joy, curiosity and the most beautiful stories of travel and camaraderie. Catch a glimpse of the renowned sculpture Manneken Pis, behold the mighty Gothic and Baroque-style buildings of the Grand-Palace and visit the St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral which Victor Hugo called "the purest flowering of the Gothic style” and the site of most Belgian royal weddings. Music lovers will find no end to their delight at the Musée des Instruments de Musique (the Musical Instruments Museum), and for art lovers, the Horta Museums stands ready to astonish. Beer reigns supreme in Brussels, and you can taste some of the best in the Cantillon Brewery (brewing since 1900). The Palais de Justice houses the city’s courts of law and deserves a visit by virtue of its size (larger than St. Peter’s Basilica) and the panoramic view of the city it offers. The theme park, Mini-Europe lets you tour the continent in a day. Don’t forget to pay a little tribute to Atomium, the molecule shaped stainless steel structure with exhibition spaces devoted to exhibits on Belgian culture. Lovers of Tintin (the Belgian reporter, remember?) will be inevitably drawn to Belgian Comic Strip Center, or the Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinee.
Useful Tips for Tourists Flying to Brussels
Where to shop
Belgian shopping is endlessly pleasurable, thanks to streets like Rue Neuve (most populated Belgian shopping street) which houses many international brands. If you live to shop then you must look to streets like Chaussée d’Ixelles, Avenue Louise and Rue Bailli. Rue Antoine Dansaert presents choices in both couture and pieces by Antwerp designers on the same street.
What to eat
There isn’t much point in visiting Belgium without sampling its exquisite chocolate. Elite brands like Leonidas, Godiva and Neuhaus have their flagship stores close to the Place due Grand Sablon. Other Belgian staples to be gobbled are Stoverij (Belgian beef casserole), Waterzooi (creamy fish stew with eggs and butter), Sirop de Liège (jelly made from evaporated fruit juice), Moules-frites (cooked North Sea mussels), Anguilles au Vert (eel in green sauce), Tomates aux Crevettes Grises (shrimp stuffed in tomatoes), Speculoos (flat, spiced shortbread cookies), and Boulet au Sauce Lapin (meatballs in sweet and sour sauce).
Common words in Brussels
Both French and Dutch are spoken, so brush up the following in both languages.
French
•
Hello: Bonjour
•
Bye bye: Au revoir
•
Thank You: Merci
•
Please: S'il vous plait
•
Where is....: Ou se trouve...?
•
How much...: Combien coute...?
•
I am lost: Je suis perdu
Dutch
•
Hello: Goeiedag
•
Thank You: Dank u wel
•
Please: alstublieft
•
Where is....: Waar is...?
•
How much...: Hoeveel kost....?
Do's and Don'ts
• Public drunkenness is frowned upon. Drink only if you can hold your liquor.
• Snapping your fingers is considered impolite. Back slapping is considered offensive.
• Never put your feet on tables or chairs.
Emergency contact numbers
• Medical and Fire Service: 100
• Police: 101
• Pan European emergency number: 112
FAQs
Q. Which airlines offer cheap air tickets to Brussels?
A. The airline offering
cheap air tickets to Brussels is
Lufthansa.
Q. What is the time zone used in Brussels?
A. The time zone of Brussels is UTC+01:00.
Q. What are the most popularairlines flying from Toronto to Brussels?
A. From Toronto to Brussels, the most popular international airlines are
Etihad Airways, Emirates and
Brussels Airlines.
Q. What is the shortest time for a Toronto to Brussels flight?
A. The shortest time for a direct Toronto to Brussels flight is 7 hours 25 minutes.
Q. What are the top tourist destinations of Brussels?
A. Some of the must-visit tourist destinations in Brussels are Manneken Pis, Grand-Palace, the St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral, the Musical Instruments Museum, Horta Museum, Cantillon Brewery, Palais de Justice, Royal Museums of Fine Arts, Royal Museum of the Army and Military and the Belgian Comic Strip Center.
Q. What is the currency of Brussels?
A. The currency of Brussels is the Euro.
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