Page 232 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

230  FR ANCE AND THE L OW C OUNTRIES

Practical & Travel Information it is inadvisable to wander alone
at night in the poorer areas to
Visitors to Belgium and Luxembourg can expect high levels the west and north of the city
of service and comfort in all aspects of their stay. Public center, or in the city’s parks,
transporta tion is clean and efficient, and there are abundant especially Botanique.
tourist-information facilities, in addition to all the other In case of emergencies, the
numbers to call are listed in
modern conveniences one expects of a highly developed the Directory opposite.
country. Brussels and Luxembourg City are among the safest
capital cities in Europe, and can be easily explored on foot.
Language
The two principal languages
Tourist Information open from 10am until 5 or 6pm of Belgium are Dutch, spoken
In Belgium, the Visit Brussels Monday to Saturday, with some in Flanders, and French, the
Information Office publishes local shops closing for an hour language of the Wallonians.
maps and guides, and also offers at lunch. Some stores open at There is also a German-speaking
a Brussels Card. This “tourist noon on Mondays. In the major enclave in the far east of the
passport” includes one-, two-, or cities and towns, many stores country. In the capital, both
three-day passes to the Hop-on, are open on Sundays and until languages are used on all street
Hop-off buses in Brussels, later in the evening. signs and in place names.
combined with unlimited access In both countries, most Luxembourg has three
to 30 museums. This can be museums are closed on official languages: French,
bought online. A similar scheme Mondays. Outside the high German, and Letzeburgesch,
operates in Bruges, Antwerp, season (April to September), or Luxembourgeois. In both
and Ghent. be prepared to find many Belgium and Luxembourg,
Luxembourg’s National Tourist sights of interest closed. especially in the capital
Office offers the Luxembourg cities, many people speak
Card, which gives unlimited Visa Requirements very good English.
travel on public transport nation-
wide, as well as admission to Citizens of the EU, US, Australia, Banking and Currency
more than 30 sites of interest, New Zealand, and Canada do
and reductions on many others. not require a visa to enter either The currency in Belgium and
The card, valid for one, two, or Belgium or Luxembourg, but Luxembourg is the euro
three days, can be bought at must present a valid passport (see p23). All euro bills and coins
the City Tourist Office as well as and hold proof of onward are exchangeable in each of the
through the LNTO website and at passage (EU citizens need a participating Eurozone countries.
hotels, campsites, youth hostels, valid ID document). Bear in Banking hours are generally
and train and bus stations. mind that in Belgium it is a from 9am to 4pm Monday to
Local tourist information legal requirement to carry ID Friday in Belgium and 9am to
offices can be found in most on one’s person at all times. 4:30pm on weekdays in
towns and villages throughout Luxembourg. In both countries,
Belgium and Luxembourg. many of the banks close for an
Safety and Emergencies hour at lunchtime, and some
Belgium and Luxembourg are of the city branches open on
Opening Hours safe countries, with street crime Saturday mornings.
Most stores and businesses in against visitors a relatively rare
Belgium and Luxembourg are occurrence. However, in Brussels,
Communications
Belgian post offices are open
The Climate of Belgium from 9am to 5pm Monday to
and Luxembourg BRUSSELS Friday. In Luxembourg, the
Belgium and Luxembourg °C/ºF hours are 9am to noon and
have a temperate climate, 1:30pm to 5pm Monday to
characterized by constant 23/73 Friday. Some larger branches
low rainfall throughout the 14/57 11/52 15/60 open on Saturday mornings.
year. Winters are usually 5/41 6/43 4/39 Many public payphones
chilly and damp, and rain 0/32 in Belgium and Luxembourg
may turn to snow or sleet. 4.5 5.5 3.5 1.5 accept only phonecards,
Summers are warmer and hrs hrs hrs hrs available at newsagents and
much brighter, but the 57 94 82 67 post offices. In Brussels, you
evenings can still be cool. mm mm mm mm can use cash in the phone
Spring is the driest season. month Apr Jul Oct Jan booths at metro stations.
There are no local area
codes in Luxembourg.

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