Brussels...

[anonymous-user]

[redacted]

[GiantEnemyCrab]

I stayed out near the EU HQ at had no problems. There's a nice park there too.

There's a fantastic pizza restaurant nearby too, need to book. Name escapes me but apparently Top 20 in world etc

[Ussrcossack]

The district is probably the issue.

I've been a few times and know the problem areas

Off in a few weeks but flying visit to atomium, then moving on to Spa

[Jader1973]

We spent 3 nights in Brussels this time last year. We stayed near the Grand Place - I got the impression from some googling that the bit near Midi was a st hole.

I was alright, but I wouldn’t go back.

Try to get to Autoworld if you can - it has a great collection of interesting cars.

[Guyr]

The central touristy bit (old town/square etc) is ok for a couple of days, I wouldn't stay anywhere else though and it's definitely not a tourist city I'd recommend to anyone.

We went at Xmas once and it was really quiet as when the EU parliament shuts/leaves there's no-one there, might be the same now for summer? We stayed at the Steigenberger and when we walked through the main reception in what is a big hotel we were the only people there almost every time.

[RizzoTheRat]

Like many cities it has nice bits and crap bits. The Atomium is interesting to visit, depending on what's exhibiting at the time, and there some good museums and parks, plus some great beers.
If you're looking for things to do with the kids, and want get out of the city, the Walibi theme park and Aqualibi water park aren't far away

[Terminator X]

I drove through on the way to the Ring. Never again as the traffic was horrific.

TX.

[Puggit]

The area around Midi is not good.

There are huge numbers of immigrants in Belgium and not always for the better. We were there during the Qatar World Cup, when Tunisa beat Belgium a large fraction of the Tunsians started rioting and parading around the ring road. The Xmas Markets were great though.

[dunkind]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Sorry, you were in Belgium and expected something French? Just because a part of the country speak French you were expecting something French?
How strange, when I go to Wales or Scotland I never expect anything English.

[Vasco]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

It's not the best of cities but if you expected anything French you shouldn't have gone to Belgium.
.

[DJFish]

Midi’s not a nice area.
This place is good though: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ufeiroxED7GQQgcJ8?g_st=com...

Just don’t walk there in your own…

[FredericRobinson]

Staying near near Midi was the mistake I made the first time, didn’t do that again.

If you are in Brussels and don’t like the look of it there’s lots of nice places within half an hour or so on the train, Leuven, Mechelen, Ghent for example

[RC1807]

MIDI: that’s the issue.
There are some great places in Brussels.

[Giantt]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Typical European capital over run by 'diversity'

[sidekickdmr]

I was staying here just a couple of days before you, 18th-22nd:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/MEININGER+Hotel+...


I came to the same conclusion as you, we walked for hours trying to find something pretty or some culture, but it was all gangs, homelessness and smelly underpasses, vowed to never go back to Brussels again

[toon10]

I've been a couple of times with work and always enjoyed it. I can't say I went to any dodgy districts but stayed near Grand Place. I It's not somewhere I'd want to go with my other half for one of our city breaks but then Bruges and Ghent are a short train ride from Brussels. We absolutely loved Bruges but have yet to visit Ghent which also looks great.

[RizzoTheRat]

Midi again. A colleague lives in Brussels and loves it, but says Midi isn't somewhere she'd want to be after dark. Most cities have areas like that.

[FredericRobinson]

toon10 said:

I've been a couple of times with work and always enjoyed it. I can't say I went to any dodgy districts but stayed near Grand Place. I It's not somewhere I'd want to go with my other half for one of our city breaks but then Bruges and Ghent are a short train ride from Brussels. We absolutely loved Bruges but have yet to visit Ghent which also looks great.

Ghent is fantastic, Bruges is too touristy for me