Travel Tips for Brussels, Belgium

Cost: € (affordable)

Safety: 2.5/5 for solo female travellers

This article also includes information about a day trip to Bruges in Belgium.

While some may love Belgium’s capital Brussels, I must say out of all the places I’ve been to in Europe, it was not on my list of favourites. While I enjoyed exploring the history and culture of the city, especially since it is home to the European Union headquarters, I did not feel safe especially at night.

Therefore, I would not recommend this city for solo female travellers, and I can’t say I’ll be in a rush back. I stayed for 2 days in total, and also completed a day trip to Bruges (more on this below).

How to get there

You can fly direct from Dublin to Brussels International Airport via Aer Lingus and Ryanair. The flight will take about 1 hour and 45 minutes. It is possible to fly from Cork but there will be stop-overs. 

Language, Currency & Weather

Belgium has three official languages: French, Dutch and German. The majority of Belgians are bilingual and most will speak English. The Euro is accepted, as this is the currency used in Belgium.

The weather in Brussels is pleasant in summer, with temperatures between 14 and 23 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, winter temperatures range between 4 and 7 degrees Celsius. I travelled in October and the weather was perfect for me.

Public Transport

It’s easy to get around Brussels by foot, but also via its public transport system which is operated by Brussels Intermunicipal Transport Company (STIB-MIVB). You have the option of trains, trams, the metro, buses and waterbuses.

To use the network, you can pay by contactless card on the services, or you can buy a Basic MOBIB card at ticketing offices. 

To get between the airport and the city centre, there are frequent trains as well as bus services. 

Where To Stay

I found accommodation in Brussels to be affordable, but of course it depends on what location you would like to stay in and the time of year you visit.

My top choices were Motel One Brussels, Hilton Garden Inn or Marivaux Hotel.

For something a bit more reasonable, I would choose Ibis Brussels in the city centre or Citadines Toison d’Or Brussels Aparthotel.

There are hostels too, including 2GO4 Quality Hostel or Sleep Well Youth Hostel.

Where To Go & What To Do

My best advice is to book a walking tour on the first day of your visit in order for you to get to know the city and to learn about its history and culture. On my walking tour I was advised to book a beer tasting tour (which I did and it was great, I met lots of new people).

My favourite places to visit in Brussels were the Magritte Museum, the Art & History Museum, the Bozar, the comic strip murals, Grand Place, Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the Musical Instrument Museum and Atomium.

For day trips, it is possible to book tours of Ghent or Bruges (or both together). You can also book trips to Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Dinant and Antwerp.

Day trip to Bruges:

I booked a day trip from Brussels Midi to Bruges via Intercity train and it was fantastic. The journey took 50 minutes and I stayed about 5 hours. Next time, I will book an overnight in the city.

My top sights to visit in Bruges are the Basilica of the Holy Blood, The Belfry Tower, 2be Beer Wall (not a sight but a great place for a drink), The Lovers’ Bridge and Lake of Love, Bruges Markt, Torture Museum, Church of our Lady (home to Michelangelo’s marble Madonna), Burg Square, City Hall and a cruise along the canals.

What & Where To Eat

There are lots of food tasting tours in Brussels which I would recommend booking, including a chocolate making workshop. I would also advise you to book a Belgian beer tasting tour.

One of the best traditional foods in Belgium is the meatball, so I tried this dish at Ballekes and it was absolutely delicious.

Another great traditional food spot is Fin de Siècle with amazing food and even better Belgian beer.

During the day I stopped by Wolf which is a brilliant food market that offers so many different cuisines – while I didn’t try anything from the market, I did enjoy the experience.

For brunch, I visited La Luck for some delicious food and a sneaky cocktail!

I hope you enjoy Brussels!