Why stay in Brussels?
photo: plαdys
Because of the business importance of Brussels, in addition to its tourism draw, cheap accommodations can sometimes be scarce. The good news for travelers is that most business gatherings don't happen during the summer - meaning there should be cheap beds aplenty for your summertime visit. Like most places around the world, hostels are no longer just for the young - they're for anyone who's budget-conscious and looking to meet other travelers. Here are just a few Brussels hostels worth noting.
The 2GO4 Quality Hostel> is in the heart of downtown Brussels, giving its guests the ideal location from which to explore the city. Sleep Well is not far from the Grand Place and offers both private and dorm-style rooms. There is an emphasis on socializing, with a bar, karaoke machine, pool table and featured movie nights. The Hotel Sabina is a small 2-star hotel a few minutes away from the Grand Place and the Botanical Gardens. A 15-minute journey from the Stock Exchange and Grand Place is Sleephere (can it be considered subliminal advertising if it's that obvious?) - with only four rooms, you can bet you'll get all kinds of personal assistance and guidance.
Of course there are more than four places to choose from in this city - peruse the Brussels hostels listings for yourself and find the perfect place to lay your head.
Brussels might lie in the small country of Belgium, but it has an important place in Europe and the world. Many European institutions have their headquarters in the Belgian capital, as does NATO. Tourists tend to skip Brussels in favor of the more traditionally charming Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and Leuven. This is largely due to the relative new-ness of Brussels. There is only a tiny historic area of the city because when Brussels became the capital of a new country in the 19th century, the old town was bulldozed to build new government buildings.
But Brussels is more than a city of government, business and international relations. It is a bilingual city (both French and Dutch are represented) with the immense and beautiful central square of Grand'Place Grote Markt. Evenings on the square are particularly spectacular. Brussels is also home to a Europe in Miniature exhibit, which is a fun way to say you've "seen" the highlights of the continent. Perhaps the most famous spot in all of Brussels, however, is a tiny statue on a fountain called Manneken Pis - it's the little boy who is relieving himself into the pool below. The legends behind what inspired this rather interesting homage to the Call of Nature are almost as numerous as the outfits which the city has created to clothe the statue for different occasions during the year. Not to worry, none of the outfits gets in the way of his (ahem) flow.
For additional help planning your trip to Brussels, look no further than our Brussels Travel Guide where you can read all about what to do and see in the city. You can also search for international airfare to Brussels as well.
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