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Brussels City Breaks

Brussels boasts over 100 museums and galleries; the Museum of Fine Art (Musee des Beaux Arts) contains a great collection of early Flemish masters, including Rubens. In contrast, and next door to the fine art museum, you can find the modern art gallery which is one of largest in Europe and can easily occupy a few hours of your day.

Author: Asif Khan
Date: Jan 20, 2010 - 4:21:25 AM

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In my opinion, Brussels was an enjoyable city break for two nights. We went by Eurostar from Waterloo straight to Brussels and the journey took two hours twenty minutes.

There were some historical places to visit, one of them being the Mannequin Pis, which is a statue of a small boy as a water fountain. The story is rather amusing and interesting to hear.

Brussels boasts over 100 museums and galleries; the Museum of Fine Art (Musee des Beaux Arts) contains a great collection of early Flemish masters, including Rubens. In contrast, and next door to the fine art museum, you can find the modern art gallery which is one of largest in Europe and can easily occupy a few hours of your day. After WWII, Brussels played an important role in international politics. With the main EU institutions and NATO, it became the polyglot home of various international organizations, diplomats, civil servants and politicians. From its Dutch-speaking ancestors, it has become more of a French-speaking city.

Wander around the lower town to marvel at the architecture and take a break at a town square bar to enjoy a home brewed Belgian beer. Throughout the year concerts and live music events are held on the square so if you time it right you might get to hear some Belgium beats firsthand. When Brussels freezes over in winter you can strap on skates and take a few laps for fun and the Christmas markets that appear on the street sides are a treat to explore.

Brussels is an accessible, bustling, business and political hub that also manages to retain a strong sense of history and culture. Situated only an hour from London, it is a worthwhile alternative to other clichéd European city destinations, making it the perfect place for a weekend break.

Nightlife

There are two premiere choices for shopping in Brussels. The first is Galeries Saint Hubert-Sint Hubertusgalerijen -- the world’s first shopping mall. Here you’ll find typical department stores, bookstores, cafes and small diners, and even a cinema. The second is the Marché aux Puces-Vlooienmarkt flea market in Place du Jeu de Balle-Vossenplein. Here you’ll find an odd variety of just about everything at prices much lower than the malls can provide

If you fly in BMI, the cheapest ticket from London to Brussels could cost you about £42 in the economy saver seats. The departure airport is the London Heathrow Airport and you arrive at Brussels National Airport two hours later.

It may be a little bit costlier if you choose VLM as their ticket from London to Brussels will start at around £70. You take off at the London City Airport and arrive in Brussels City via Brussels National Airport also.

When it comes to the economic status of Brussels, it serves as Europe's center of administration. Its economy rely largely on services and is dominated by world as well as regional headquarters of European institutions, multinationals, administrations and other related services. There are also numerous craft industries like the Cantillon Brewery (1900s founded lambic brewery) in this city.

Asif Khan is an online marketing expert for CityVacations, with a particular interest in travel and hotel reviews, also associated with the CityVacations a leading travel agent from UK, provides Brussels City Breaks and popular Europe and International Destinations

View all articles by Asif Khan

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