Page 12 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

10  INTRODUCING BRUSSELS
GREAT DAYS IN BRUSSELS,

BRUGES, GHENT & ANTWERP

The charms of Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and churches. The following itineraries, listed first
Antwerp are always agreeably understated. by theme and then by duration of stay, are
The pleasures lie in wandering, happening aimed at helping you make the most of your
upon hospitable places to eat and drink, time here. Be warned that almost all Belgian
and visiting some of the rich and diverse museums are closed on Monday. Prices shown
collections of museums, galleries and include admission, but not travel or food.

in and around the Grand
Brussels in a Nutshell
Place but choose carefully,
especially around Rue des
Two adults allow at least €80 Bouchers (see p52).
• The Grand Place, the city’s
magnificent centrepiece Afternoon
The afternoon can be spent in
• The Manneken Pis in all
his glory Brussels’ best museums, which
are in the Upper Town. It is not
• Belgian art: wonderful far to walk, but you could take
and weird a bus to the Place Royale
• The historic sound (see p63). This is the location
of music of Belgium’s great national art
collection, the Musées Royaux
des Beaux-Art de Belgique Bird’s-eye view of Bruges from the top of
Morning (see pp66–71), which includes the Belfort
The Grand Place (see pp46–7) unmissable work by Rubens,
is one of Europe’s finest historic plus the wonderful alternative Bruges: Medieval
squares, and is a must-see art of the Belgian Symbolists Glory
sight. You could spend an hour and the world’s largest collection
just looking at the guildhouses, of works by René Magritte. Also Two adults allow at least €100
or by settling into one of the nearby is the excellent Musée • A view of Bruges
bar-cafés on the square. After, des Instruments de Musique • Supreme art from its
walk along the Rue de l’Étuve to (see p64), which has fine views Golden Age
see that famous icon of Brussels, over Brussels from its top-floor • A relaxing canal trip
the Manneken Pis (see pp48–9). brasserie. Alternatively, continue
Return to the Grand Place by tram or bus to the Horta • An exploration of
and the Musée de la Ville de Museum (see p82), a shrine medieval life
Bruxelles (see p44) to see its dedicated to Art Nouveau,
surreal collection of costumes stopping perhaps on the way
for the Manneken Pis and back for some shopping in the Morning
interesting exhibits on the upmarket boutiques of Avenue Start the day with an energetic
history of the city. There are Louise and Avenue de la Toison climb up the 366 steps of the
many places to find lunch d’Or (see pp160–63). Belfort (see p101), the city’s
bell tower, for some exhila-
rating views across Bruges.
Afterwards, walk the short
distance to the Burg (see p100),
a delightful square lined with
historic buildings, including
the Stadhuis (see p100) and
the double church of the
Heilig Bloed Basiliek (see
p100). It is a short and pretty
walk from here, along the
canals, to the Groeninge-
museum (see pp104–5),
celebrated for its small but
fabulous collection of late
medieval paintings. There are
Gabled buildings of the Grand Place, Brussels plenty of places to eat nearby,
The Archduchess Isabella Shooting Down a Bird at the Grand Serment, Sablon 1615 (studio of Antoon Sallaert)

010-011_EW_Brussels.indd 10 10/01/17 11:04 am