Arriving in BRUSSELS on friday. what to do? where to go?

Question

2 couples arriving in brussels fri evening, staying in hotel bloom rue Royale 250
until monday evening.
Any ideas on what to do? Enjoy shopping (not expensive clothes), love dining out and having a few drinks (no clubs), like exploring locality (markets etc).
Would like to travel to amsterdam for a day but don't know how long journey would be (how do we get there).
If anyone can help us decide what to do that would be fantastic!
Does anyone know the hotel or if there are cafes/bars around it?
Many many many thanks for any ideas!!!

Additional Details

Taxi or train from Charleroi to hotel bloom? any ideas how much they charge?
Thanks!

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Don't bother with Amsterdam, make that a trip for another time.

Get a guidebook for Brussels, there are some great eateries and sights there.

Answer 2

I'd go straight down to the main square in the centre of Brussels on Friday evening ...its very pretty ...old buildings on all sides ..but lively with lots of atmosphere.. always busy. On your way down to the Square, you walk through the main paved shopping area, (individual shops + department stores) so you could have a preview of whats on offer for a Saturday morning shop!

Answer 3

Check this Lonely Planet link. Your hotel is 1/2 mile from the Grand Place - should be an easy walk to many many restaurants & bars at Grand Place - everything is there. Check w/your hotel about getting there from Charleroi.

I have only been to Brussels once & it was an easy walk for us from our hotel which was further away. It will be chilly; at least it was when I was there in late Oct 2007. Gloves, scarf & hat will also help.

Source(s):

http://hotels.lonelyplanet.com/Branding/…

Answer 4

I don't know Brussels that well. But I used to live in both Gent and Antwerp. Both are nice cities, the train fare is minimum. Belgium in general is very cheap. Gent is very beautiful, old buildings etc... The university is worldwide famous and you see students from all over thr world. Antwerp is also nice, with old monuments. The port is beautiful and groneplats, don't remenber how to spell it properly, is a very nice place to dine or have a nice lunch. There are few museums around and you have the famous Meir, a shopping street, not so expensive and at one of the ends you can find the local Market. Transportation is not so expensive, if you arrive at zaventeen, not sure if spelled right once again, make sure you take the train, it, the airport is bit far from Brussels itself, 30 to 40 mins so taxi would be a bit expensive. On train tickets something around £6. You can also take bus! Have in consideration French is spoken in Brussels so not much likely to find people who speak English well, unlike Flemish spoken areas. If you fancy going to the beach, even if it's out of curiosity there is an artificial beach in Belgium.
Some additional info: the shops in Belgium in general close very early, due to labour regulations, but some are exception like the Meir in Antwerpen.

Answer 5

awe hope you have your laptop with you and you are still not away yet?get the bus from the Airport just out side the bus takes you either to Brussels airport or the central as from Charleroi is very expensive? you are in the heart and plenty to do and see in Brussels the markets are not far from you either and the Sundayy on is at the Square from 830.130pm of course the Christmas markets are on full blast now too Amsterdam too far but Belguim is great for the sights if you want out of Brussels head for the Ardene or the coast train takes you anywhere in Belgium Gent and Brugge are lovely the food in Belgium is fantastic and you will see the caravans and chip shops yum they are to die for the sauces and meat stews brilliant and chips with mayionaise and reaonably priced have a ball you will! these are all under an hour buy train from Brussels and are great days out plenty to do and see Gent get off at Gent St Peiters and get the tram to the Koormarket 10 mins on the tram and the place is great look up at St Micheals bridge the Celtic bar food is fab an has a great atmosphere also the shops are fab an the canals and bars there are fab too enjoy your break!

Source(s):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObzPg8w4e… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MG3GwriO… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp0ydgrC3…