Page 178 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

176  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Getting Around Brussels district of Ixelles and near
St-Gilles Town Hall.
Although its public transport system is clean, modern and Drivers in Brussels have a bad
efficient, Brussels is a city best explored on foot. Most of the reputation, and it is important to
key attractions for first-time visitors are within a short walk of be alert to traffic while crossing
the Grand Place, and the Art Nouveau architecture in Ixelles roads. Motorists are obliged to
stop at pedestrian crossings but
and Saint-Gilles is also best enjoyed on a leisurely stroll. For you will find that this rule is often
those anxious to see the main sights in limited time, the tram ignored. At traffic lights, drivers
and metro network covers most of the city at speed, while turning right or left may pay no
buses are useful for reaching more out-of-the-way areas. attention to the walker’s priority.
Although expensive, taxis are recommended for late-night It is essential to be careful even in
journeys. Cycling can be hazardous for the inexperienced. residential areas.
Blue or white street signs are
placed on the walls of buildings
at one corner of a street, and
can be somewhat hard to
locate. Street names are always
in French first, then Flemish,
with the name in capital letters
and the street type in small
letters to the top left and
bottom right corners (for
example, Rue STEVIN straat).

Cycling
Bus at a stop in Brussels city centre Car traffic can be fierce, but
happily the number of cycle
Green Travel
Several special tariffs are lanes is ever on the increase, as
Brussels is the perfect place to available, including discounts is the ease with which visitors
reduce your carbon footprint. for young adults aged under can rent a bike. One of the most
The centre is small enough to 26 and seniors, and weekend convenient ways is the Villo
make walking around its tickets, which reduce the price scheme. You can take a Villo
ancient cobbled streets one of by up to 40 per cent. unisex bike by the day or week,
the highlights of any visit, while paying online or at one of the
the use of bicycles is 180 cycle stations across the
encouraged through the Planning your Journey city. Use your credit card for the
imaginative Villo rental scheme If you are seeing Brussels by car, €150 deposit. The bike can be
and kilometres of bicycle lanes. avoid its major roads during parked or returned to any of the
Each September, a popular “car- rush hours, which are weekdays stations. Base rates are €1.60 per
free” day is held, when traffic is from 8 to 9:30am and 5 to 7pm day and €7.90 per week. Rates
banned and pedestrians and as well as Wednesday go up with usage.
cyclists take over the streets. lunchtimes during the school
Brussels also has an excellent year, when there is a half day.
public transport system, with a Tram and bus services run
highly integrated, affordable frequently at peak times and
metro, tram and bus network. are usually not too crowded.
The city is committed to an Eco- However, the small size of
drive scheme, reducing energy Brussels means that walking is
consumption by lowering often a viable option.
speeds on all modes of public
transport and accessing
electricity from renewable Walking in Brussels
sources for trams and metro The short distance between
trains, and the development sights and the interest in
of hybrid and fuel cell engines every corner make central
on its buses. Brussels easy to negotiate
There’s little need for a car on foot. Outside the city
even when you go beyond centre, walking is the only
Brussels. The other main cities way to appreciate the
aren’t that far away and are concentration of Art Nouveau
served by an excellent national buildings on and around Children enjoying the sights of
train network. Square Ambiorix, around the Brussels by bike

176-177_EW_Brussels.indd 176 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