Page 172 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

170  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Although comfortable with its status as a medical and financial information. Brussels
major political and business centre, Brussels is a very cosmopolitan city, and its residents,
has sometimes struggled with its role as a many of whom are foreigners themselves,
tourist destination. It can be hard to find all are usually charming and friendly, with
but the most obvious sights: the same goes most speaking English. Both the Upper
for inexpensive hotels. The tourist office, and Lower Town can be negotiated on foot,
however, goes out of its way to help travellers and although Brussels’ reputation as a rainy
enjoy the city and provides help with city is overplayed, bring a raincoat in summer
everything from finding hidden sights to and warm clothing for winter.
Customs and Office in Grand Place, costs €38 that well. A simple “goed dag”
Immigration and gives you free access to will do the trick, after which the
Belgium is one of the signa- 25 of the city’s museums, conversation will almost certainly
tories to the 1985 Schengen discounts for some attractions, revert to your own language.
agreement, which means restaurants and shops, and a In Wallonia, on the other hand,
travellers moving from one guide to the city. The tourist there will be almost no Dutch
Schengen country to another office also publishes a variety and little English spoken outside
are not subject to border of maps, guides and tours. the main tourist areas. A useful
controls. However, carry your start would be to look through
passport as there are the Phrase Book on p197.
occasional spot checks, and Language
always carry ID with you. Brussels is officially bilingual,
Britain does not belong which means that everything Opening Hours
to Schengen, so travellers from street signs to bus Most shops and businesses are
coming from the UK must destination boards must be in open Monday to Saturday from
present a valid passport when French and Dutch. The locals are 10am to 6pm. Supermarkets are
entering Belgium. This also also remarkably adept at other usually open from 9am to 8pm.
applies to US, Australian and languages too, and English in For late-night essentials and
Canadian citizens. particular is spoken to an alcohol, “night shops” stay open
British travellers no longer impressive level across much until 1 or 2am. Banks are usually
benefit from duty-free goods, of the city. open weekdays from 9am to
but visitors from non-EU Things become slightly more 1pm and 2 to 4pm.
countries are entitled to a VAT complicated outside Brussels, Many sights are closed on
refund if they spend more than in part due to historical issues Monday. Public museums are
€125 in a single transaction. over language between the usually open Tuesday to Sunday
French and Flemish communi- from 10am to 5pm.
ties. Long-standing resentment
Travel Safety Advice at the dominance of French in
Visitors can get up-to-date Belgium means that initiating a Admission Charges
travel safety information from conversation or ordering in a Most of Brussels’ major
the Foreign and Common- restaurant in French while you attractions charge an entrance
wealth Office in the UK, the are in Flanders doesn’t go down fee, currently around €8–10,
State Department in the US
and the Department of
Foreign Affairs and Trade
in Australia.

Tourist Information
The city is rarely crowded, so
you should not have to wait at
major attractions and museums
unless a special event is taking
place. If you are planning to do
extensive sightseeing, the one-
day tram and bus pass or, for
longer stays, a MOBIB travel
card (see p177) is a must. A 72-
hr Brussels Card, available from
the Tourist and Information The sculpture court in the Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts in summer
Bicycles for hire at the Grand Place, Brussels

170-171_EW_Brussels.indd 170 10/01/17 10:55 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm