Brussels, the capital of Belgium, acts as the headquarters for NATO and is the center of the European Union. As such, the city is filled with bankers, business men and women, members of the European seat of Parliament, tourists and travelers on stopovers or en route to and from other European destinations.
Welcome to Brussels
Just south of the Grand Place you'll find the celebrated icon of Brussels, Manneken Pis (Dutch for "little man peeing"). He stands two feet tall, gets dolled up (literally) for each of the major holidays and is a legendary figure of Belgian life.
The two main languages spoken in Brussels are French and Flemish, although most Bruxelloise (as they are called in French) choose to parlez francais. Some people—especially in the area known as Marolles—speak a dialect that's a mix of Dutch and French.
Get Started
Ready to plan your trip to Brussels? Get started here:
- Set your budget: One of the first steps of budget travel is figuring out how much you might spend. Our Expect to Spend guide will give you an idea of what it costs to eat and sleep in Brussels (plus we give a few tips).
- Get psyched: Make sure to leave a little room in that budget from some sightseeing. Check out our Budget Tips for prices on the most popular attractions (we’ll also tell you which sights in Brussels are free!).
- Sleep cheap: Our favorite part! Take a look at our favorite cheap hotels in Brussels and get to traveling booking.
All hotel reviews
From our Brussels blog
As the headquarters for NATO and the European Union, Brussels attracts plenty of bureaucrats, but tourists flock here too. With a delightful mix of old-world and cutting-edge architecture and a diverse population minglin ... read
Brussels is a bustling city in Belgium combining Euro cosmopolitan with old historic buildings and charm. Definitely a melting pot of people, cultures and styles, Brussels offers a lot to see and do, including the tradit ... read
If you are looking to take an affordable holiday to Brussels, you shouldn’t get spooked by the high hotel rates you’ll see when searching around the web. As home to the European Parliament, it’s true t ... read
Do you have a taste for the unconventional when you travel? Does the predictability of a chain hotel leave you cold in your bed? If you’re looking to book a hotel that has a healthy dose of personality, or perhaps is e ... read
In Belgium, Thalys is one of the strongest rail brands. With their bold red styling and chic contours, Thalys trains make a very visible addition to the national railscape. But Thalys also serves three other countries: t ... read
