City Rating: Brussels

Population: 1’175’000

Date of visit: January 2017

Attractions & sights: 3/5
Nightlife: 2/5
Safety: 4/5
Infrastructure: 4/5
Low budget factor: €€/5
Total: 👍👍/5

The city in a nutshell:

Brussels is one of my least favourite capital cities in Europe, period. The city’s sights are underwhelming, nightlife is below average and the city is also very expensive. The good thing are the fries, waffles and beers.

Where to stay:

Somewhere near Grand Palace is the best option, as this is the nicest part of the city and you’re near the central railway station. Obviously, prices in this area are more expensive, but there is no point in staying on the outskirts of the city.

The Good:

It might sound harsh, but the only really good thing about Brussels is the food. The waffles are among the best sweets in the world, the Fries are delicious and the beer world class as well.

Brussels is not the most beautiful city, although the centre around Grand Palace has some nice alleys and buildings with impressive architecture. It is also a good city for fans of comic books, as Brussels is Europe’s comic book capital.

Last but not least, Brussels is near other interesting cities so that you can go somewhere else if you feel bored (I should have done that). Consider a trip to Antwerp or Bruges if there is enough time.

The Bad & The Ugly:

Brussels is not a terrible city but boring and unspectacular. Most districts of the city aren’t attractive, the sights are mostly underwhelming (looking at you, Manneken Pis) and the city seemed pretty dead at night. However, I have to mention that I have been there in January and the city is probably more bustling in summer.

There has been a major terror attack at the airport in 2016 killing dozens of people. As a consequence, you will see a lot of soldiers patrolling on the streets, in shopping malls and obviously at the airport.

Moreover, I have to mention that I have visited Brussels just by myself (see: Country #47: Belgium), and the city could be a bit more fun if you’re travelling with someone. Still, there are much better cities in Europe and you choose another one as your destination for a weekend trip.

 

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