Bruxelles: Top Low Cost Relax Destination
What better way to switch off than choosing a low-cost trip to a top destination for relaxation? Among the European capitals, Brussels is the city you don’t expect.
Seat of the European Parliament, famous for its moules frites, waffles, and Brussels sprouts, the tastiest sprouts among seasonal vegetables, Brussels is back in the limelight of crime news in 2016 due to the tragic terrorist attacks that hit it at the heart, but which have also led to a reduction in costs.
That climate of uncertainty, however, is only a vague memory in the city, so much so that today, Brussels has become one of the cheapest and easiest-to-reach destinations for travelers. Here, then, is a mini-guide with the must-have experiences to experience Brussels in complete relaxation!
Brussels Low Cost
The cheapest means of transport remains the plane: Ryanair has continuous offers on its official website, which almost always include the capital of Belgium! For an average return ticket, you can spend 30-40 Euros, to which you will have to add from 28 to 34 Euros (depending on whether you book online or buy on the spot) for the return ticket for the shuttle that connects Charleroi airport with the Brussels – Midi Station. Total: 60-80 Euros. Not bad, right?
TIPS: Flash tips. To buy tickets to and from the airport, you always need to go outside: find the ticket office just outside the ‘Arrivals’ area of Charleroi or just outside the Midi station, in the city center, where the company’s transport workers will be waiting for you Brussels City Shuttle. A return Uber to the airport costs 50 Euros: it’s worth it if you are traveling with two or more people!
You can use the metro and the buses to move around the city. The Metro ticket costs 2 Euros one way. The Uber costs from 6 to 8 Euros to cover the central areas. If you are traveling as a couple or with 3-4 people, do the math: you can find yourself wandering around the city with a driver and in complete relaxation, especially at night!
Visit Brussels: the must-see places
Do you only have a couple of days to visit the city? Don’t worry, because, in a short time, you can walk to all the most representative places in Brussels.
The center
Having the Gare Central metro station as a reference, the city is close at hand to be experienced on foot, in complete relaxation, strolling through the narrow streets with a Nordic and slightly retro atmosphere. Turn on your five senses: breathe in the scents of freshly baked waffles or quality chocolate (from the best brands and at bargain prices) and sharpen your eyes, finding particular corners and buildings that combine refined style with avant-garde street art. On one side, the Manneken Pis, the most rebellious little statue in Brussels, crosses the road; however, the majesty of the Grand Place, the spearhead of an elegant and welcoming city, like this beautiful and immense square.
The Atomium and Mini Europe
This particular monument, located in the north of the city and built for the World Fair in 1958, is one of the symbols of Brussels and can be reached in 5 minutes on foot from the Metro station Heysel / Heizel (line 6). On the opposite side, if you are familiar with the reproductions of Italia in Miniatura, you will also find Mini-Europe.
The Eurozone and the Parliament
Brussels, together with Strasbourg and Luxembourg, is one of the three seats of the European Parliament. The palace is genuinely architecturally remarkable and, therefore, deserves a visit! To reach it you can take the following bus lines: 22, 27, 34, 38, 64, 80 and 95. All the info is on the official website!
TIPS: Flash tips. Did you know that from Brussels you can reach the main European cities by train or bus? In addition to visiting the city, therefore, you can use it as an innovative and cheap stopover for your journey to Bruges, London (do you want to put the thrill of traveling under the Channel?), Paris, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Bonn or Luxembourg?
The place of the heart and food
Among the narrow streets that wind through the center of Brussels, there is a special place to get lost. From the Manneken Pis, three narrow streets start that climb up a small hill – Rue de Chêne, Rue de l’Etuve, and Rue del Moineaux – the beating heart of Street Art! Breathe in the art and photograph the creativity and irony of Belgian artists!
Finally, between a photo and a selfie, Brussels offers so much to gourmet and refined palates: moules frites, the typical dish that combines fries with mussels (served, however, separately), waffles, decorated and garnished with creams, chocolate and fruit galore (it’s a meal, not a dessert!), Brussels sprouts, sprouts served almost everywhere in the city center and, finally, the ever-present Belgian chocolate, presented in original and audacious flavors. Try them as much as possible: they cost very little and are all very good, even if the best is the Cachet. Seeing is believing!
FTK: Flash tips
- Low-cost flight: 30 – 40 Euros return. Check the fares on the Ryanair website by clicking here.
- Brussels City Shuttle, a/r shuttle city/ airport: from 17 to 34 Euros (depending on whether you book online or buy on-site).
- Uber: 25 Euros one way (50 Euros return to the airport) is the most convenient solution if you are traveling with two or more people!
- Metro ticket: 2 Euros one way. The Uber costs from 6 to 8 Euros to cover the central areas. If you are traveling as a couple or with 3 – 4 people, do the math! You will find yourself wandering around the city with the driver and in complete relaxation, especially at night!
- Brussels as a stopover: Book a low-cost flight to Brussels and use the city as a stopover for Bruges, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Bonn, and Luxembourg.
- Best Belgian chocolate: Cachet, pack of 5 multi-flavor bars of 100 g for 12 Euros!
- An excellent Italian restaurant for value for money in the center: Spago, in the center. Excellent value for money and a cut of beef that is out of this world! The cook is from Bari, a guarantee of quality!
