I'm headed off to Brussels next week for 4 nights and looking for recommendations on what sights to see, and places that do good Belgian beer! Cheers.

I don't think you'll have much time for beer and sight seeing, Boris.

If you like history then The Royal Palace. Apparently the EU area is not that interesting by all accounts.

When forced to go to Brussels I live in the Delirum bar
https://www.deliriumvillage.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and when very refreshed wander into the Royal Puppet theatre for a kip

1) "Good" belgian beer is largely a myth.

2) Brussels is the most boring city in Europe.

Asbury Park wrote:I'm headed off to Brussels next week for 4 nights and looking for recommendations on what sights to see, and places that do good Belgian beer! Cheers.

Go to Bruges instead or even Antwerp ... much nicer than Brussells
Ignore Tarky's Ears about the Ale though (cos there are some fantastic Belgian Brews) my favourite being Kwak

Mmmmmmmm Beer droooolll droooolll

No just douchebags go "oh its belgian, must be great" and "oh look this one is 13%, how clever am i ordering it"

Go somewhere else and stick to the Stella.

Brussels is great for a short trip! It's small and can be walked around dead easily. Yes the beer is strong, just don't guzzle and drink too much of it. The Grand Place (Grote Markt) is a beautiful square and, if you like architecture, will be blown away by it. There is an African flea market (Marolles Flea Market) selling all kinds of tat (European and African) if that's your kind of thing. To break up your trip, hop on the train and visit Ghent which is another beautiful city. You'll have a great time, wish I was going!!

Don't bother going to see Mannekin Pis. It's a complete waste of anyone's time!

One of my most least favourite cities in Europe, as someone has said above, try and get to Brugges, much more interesting and more to do.

Vino blanco wrote:One of my most least favourite cities in Europe, as someone has said above, try and get to Brugges, much more interesting and more to do.

Most least

If you had waited a few weeks you could have got a bargin as they would gave been about 75 empty rooms for brits.

tarkys_ears wrote:1) "Good" belgian beer is largely a myth.

2) Brussels is the most boring city in Europe.

Don't know about Brussels but your first point is absolute shite.

Stella?? I'd rather stay sober. It has nothing going for it taste wise. There are some decent Belgian beers about. I suppose the thing about the Belgians is that they started producing quality beers to your average plebs long before us. Nowadays, even in the UK you can find all sorts in a decent supermarket without having to import it.

That said, I agree that Brussels maybe isn't the best choice for a stayaway, and wholly agree with Bosscat and Longsidepies recommendation of Antwerpen/Gent. Bruges is a little bit touristy, but fine if you haven't seen it before. If you want to do "EU", then I'd pick Strasbourg. Admittedly, it's in France, but it is a beautiful city.

Delerium ought to be selling their Christmas product in a few weeks I'd have thought. That's well tasty.

claretnproud wrote:Most least

"Brugges"

Keep off the Sprouts.

Watch out for blokes wearing rucksacks with wires hanging out

There’s not a huge amount to see in Brussels. Antwerp is only half an hour on the train, and is far better

I suppose you might find a day's amusement in Brussels. At least the easy train links to Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges easily fill the other three days.

The Atomium was a good visit when we had a morning there. Otherwise not much else.

Only spent an hour in Bruges the canals stunk of stagnant water and we couldn’t bear it. I also got ripped off in a bar so won’t be going back.

don't listen to them. I had a great time in Brussels over the christmas period a few years ago.

Bars I remember we went to that were traditional and lively: Mort Subite and Falstaff
Also, the one opposite Mannekin Pis is funny and good beers, Poechenellekelder. Plus, Delirium had the largest number of beers on tap I'd ever seen with thousands of beers on the menu in general. I guess there are 100's more worth checking out.

Eat lots of mussels and chips, chocolate and ice cream, baked spuds and waffles.

A great place to indulge and pig out on holiday.

Have a look if Anderlecht are playing. There's also the famous Heysel stadium, last chance to see as it's getting knocked down apparently.

Tourist things: the comic strip museum is cool (TIN TIN the most famous Belgian); saw a cool International Musical Instruments museum; the main square is stunning as are the others around it. The chocolate museum was OK, a little small, nothing special but there were some free tastings. Out in the suburbs there are some stunning examples of Art Deco style architecture and houses but can't remember the names of the districts.

Also, Antwerp is nice. Maybe go and see Defour for a brew.

If you want to see a load of North Africans and Turks but don't want to go to North Africa or Turkey, then this is the place to go.

Bin Ont Turf wrote:If you want to see a load of North Africans and Turks but don't want to go to North Africa or Turkey, then this is the place to go.

You should pop over to this thread m8
http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... 8#p1113013" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

tarkys_ears wrote:No just douchebags go "oh its belgian, must be great" and "oh look this one is 13%, how clever am i ordering it"

Go somewhere else and stick to the Stella.

I can't work out if this is on purpose or not.

Bin Ont Turf wrote:If you want to see a load of North Africans and Turks but don't want to go to North Africa or Turkey, then this is the place to go.

As long as there’s nobody like you there, he should have a great time.

I didn’t like Brussels at all to be honest, couldn’t really put my finger on why exactly it just didn’t really grab me.

SammyBoy wrote:I didn’t like Brussels at all to be honest, couldn’t really put my finger on why exactly it just didn’t really grab me.

I work there every month, I know what you mean. I put it down to a lack of identity. You look one way it feels like France, another and it’s Dutch, behind you feels like Germany - it just has a feeling of no mans land.

Crap place, very little to see - maybe The Manikin **** but that's all.

Lovely place if you just take a breath and relax. The tourist spots aren't something to spend a load of time on. Enjoy the place, the people and some inspired architecture and town planning (sexy talk, i know!).

atellierenville.com is a wonderful little cafe/studio shop that turns into a bar at night. In the same neighbourhood are tonnes of great independent shops full of friendly locals.