Floris Louise, Brussels

Advantages: A city without the hastle
Disadvantages: Drivers are a bit nuts

..., but I didn't really appreciate the city. I had several friends and relatives out to visit while I was there and I took them on the standard "Tour of Brussels". You go to the Grand Place, visit the bizarre peeing boy (sorry 'Mannekin Pis'), take a trip out of the city to the Atomium then back into the city shooting by the Palais Royal and across to Avenue Louise for a few bevies before dinner. A short visit and a small appreciation for the City. It was only on my second visit to Brussels, another 3-4 months, that I managed to understand how wonderful Brussels is. I can recall many summer evenings passing through the Grand Place. The most interesting point being not that the buildings around the square are old and pretty but that you'll find groups of teens and twenty somethings sat in the middle of the square just chatting. I can't ever... Read review

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Advantages: Cosmopolitan with plenty to see and do
Disadvantages: Ridiculous hotel prices midweek

..., speculoos - a gingerbread biscuit with a crunch, well worth hunting down. Beer is best bought at Bière Artisanale, which stocks over 400 types of beer and glasses to match. Designer clothes are clustered around the smart Avenue Louise and Avenue de la Toison d'Or. Children's and big kids' tastes are catered for at Brussels' many comic book shops. Brussels lace is a good buy but beware, most of the lace on sale in the souvenier shops around Grand-Place is made in the far-east. --------------------------------------- Eating Out (personal recommendations) --------------------------------------- The winding streets surrounding the Grand-Place overflow with restaurants but many are simply tourist traps. The Rue des Bouchers is a prime example. This narrow street has tables outside which leaves very little room for pedestrians. Don't worry... Read review

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Advantages: Stunning architecture and lots of lovely different beers and chocolates
Disadvantages: Not a huge amount of well known attractions

...in Brussels is how very close you are to other European countries. When I lived there, I used the train to hop over to Germany for visits to both Dusseldorf and Cologne (takes 2 hours), as well as into Amsterdam (€42.50 takes under 3 hours). I didn't make to Paris, but that's only 3 hours away as well (costs approximately €50.00). ***CURRENCY & SHOPPING*** The currency here is of course the Euro. Credit cards are widely accepted in all the shops and restaurants so you don't need to have pockets full of cash. Avenue Louise is home to all the designer boutiques and more expensive shops. It has various undercover arcades which are great for window shopping but rather expensive to browse in. This was the area in which I had my studio flat when I lived in Brussels; whilst it was nice and quiet, it wasn't exactly ideal for popping out to buy... Read review

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