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- Where to stay
Where to stay in Brussels
Whether you want boutique-hotel cool, or a stately four-star, here’s where to stay in the Belgian capital.
Plan your stay in Brussels
If you’re considering a city break in Brussels, the easiest way to reach your destination is via Eurostar’s direct train from London to Brussels, which takes under two hours. Once you’ve got your transportation sorted, you’ll want to bag a hotel – beginning with the big decision of which neighbourhood to stay in. The obvious choice is the historic centre, home to both big-name luxury hotels and boutique properties with an edge. But it’s well worth venturing beyond the inner ring road, with appealing communes like Ixelles and Saint-Gilles abounding in characterful guesthouses and B&Bs. Here’s our selection of handpicked hotels to help organise your next trip to Brussels.
City-centre hotels
Make the most of your weekend in Brussels by staying in the central Lower Town, home to many of the city’s major attractions. From luxury boltholes with stress-free transport links to romantic hotels with rooftop views, here’s where to bed down in style.
Hilton Brussels Grand Place
Number one on most visitors’ hitlists is, of course, the city’s iconic central square the Grand-Place, home to glittering guild houses and the opulent City Hall. Just 450 metres away – and mere steps from Brussels-Central train station – the Hilton Brussels Grand Place could hardly have a more convenient location for taking in its sights. Rooms are on the larger side for Brussels, and the lobby makes a great first impression. There’s no shortage of establishments offering moules-frites and hearty Belgian stews in this part of town, but if all that exploring tires you out, the hotel’s on-site restaurant Sentro is an elegant spot for creative Belgian cooking.
Warwick Brussels
History fan? The Duke of Wellington inspected his troops before the Battle of Waterloo on the site of this modern four-star hotel, which certainly adds a sense of grandeur to a stay. Location-wise, you’re a short stroll from the museum-lined Mont des Arts, as well as the Grand-Place and pint-sized local mascot the Manneken Pis. If you’re in the mood to splash out, you’ll want to go for the stand-out Grand Place Suite, with its private lift, hot tub and sprawling private terrace overlooking City Hall. There are more stellar views at the Secret Rooftop bar – just be aware that, rather unusually, you’ll need to purchase a €10 ticket (redeemable against a drink) to access it.
Cheap hotels in Brussels
Visiting Brussels on a budget is easier than you might think, as the city abounds in affordable yet appealing hotels, hostels and B&Bs. While there are bargains to be had in the city centre, making the short trip to neighbouring communes is your best bet for saving money.
Best Western Royal Centre
This budget-friendly stalwart has a lot to recommend it – beginning with comfortable and spacious rooms that, while not too bold in the design stakes, are gleaming after recent renovation. Besides being a serious bargain, it’s the location that makes this a winner: away from the tourists thronging the Grand-Place, but still only a short walk into town. Must-sees in the neighbourhood include the Belgian Comic Strip Center and the 19th-century botanical gardens. Adorned with a plethora of irises (the symbol of the Brussels-Capital Region), the latter hosts a star-shaped rose garden and a neoclassical orangery – now the happening arts and music venue Bozar.
B&B Hotel Brussels Centre Louise
Funky communal spaces featuring pastel-coloured armchairs, hanging plants and quirky sculptures (plus a swing!) elevate this design-savvy Ixelles address. The equally vivid rooms come with comic-strip panels and flat-screens TVs with English channels like the BBC, while family rooms add slick bunk beds that kids will adore clambering into. Further boons? The complimentary tea and coffee in each floor’s kitchenette, free movie nights at 8pm in the basement cinema, and a DIY pancake machine come breakfast time. If you’re heading out, the upmarket shops of Avenue Louise and scenic Ixelles Ponds, lined with Art Nouveau mansions, are also on the doorstep.
Hotel Ibis Brussels City Centre
A short hop (pun intended) from Belgian Beer World, housed in the old Stock Exchange, and strategically placed for the sights around the Grand-Place, this slick outpost of the reliable hotel chain proves that staying centrally needn’t be ruinous. The welcome here could put some five-star hotels to shame. If a comfortable place to sleep is a top priority for your budget stay, the “Sweet Bed” technology – think decadent toppers – offers that and then some, with a quiet night further guaranteed by the impressive soundproofing. Although breakfast isn’t included in the rate, it’s well worth the investment, with a surprisingly diverse range of treats to fuel your day.
Family-friendly hotels in Brussels
Chocolate and comics are two of the capital’s most famous exports – and two very good reasons why it’s a delight if you’re travelling with kids. Better yet, once all the fun is done for the day, there’s an impressive choice of local hotels specifically tailored to families.
Citadines Sainte Catherine Brussels
The central but calm location of this apartment hotel can’t be beaten: as per the name, you’re right in the heart of the lovely Sainte Catherine quarter, famed for its foodie hotspots, including iconic seafood bar Noordzee. The kitchenettes are compact but have all the basics, from fridge to microwave and hot plate (with the luxury of a dishwasher thrown in). While it’s cheaper to grab a pain au chocolat and coffee in the neighbourhood, if you’re in a lazy mood the hotel offers a buffet breakfast for a fee – and there’s free tea and coffee available in a common area, as well as an indoor garden. You can also opt to pay extra for daily room service.
Yooma Urban Lodge
From the sparkling water dispenser to the sauna and hammam (€10/hour) and all-you-can-eat buffet, there are some surprisingly fancy amenities at this brilliant find – a more upmarket, more family-centric take on a youth hostel. Rooms sleep up to 6 people via a range of single and double beds plus “pods” (aka box beds), with super-fast Wifi and a Franco-Belgian comic book theme throughout. Kids will love the 24/7 arcade, with nostalgic games featuring Belgian classics like The Smurfs, and there are plenty of comic books available to borrow. The benefit of the slightly out-of-the-way location is that it’s right by the unmissable Cantillon Brewery.
Book Train + Hotel to save on your stay
Plan your trip from route to room with Eurostar.
FAQs
Yes, you can take a London to Brussels train and arrive in just 1 hour 53 minutes.
Given Brussels’ status as a business hub, it pays to visit on a weekend, when many big hotels (not least the chains) slash their prices. You’ll also reduce your outlay if you venture into the communes just outside the city centre – and a train and hotel package can prove particularly economical.
Absolutely! Drinking tap water in Brussels – and the rest of Belgium – is totally safe and comes with far less of an environmental cost than drinking bottled water.
There’s no set rule but Brussels compares favourably to other cities in western Europe. You can easily secure a centrally located, agreeable hotel for €100 per night, with budget hotels and guesthouses from around €60, and luxury getaways coming in at a reasonable €200 per night.
The radius around Brussels-Midi station, which serves Eurostar trains, and Brussels-Central station (closer to sights like the Grand-Place) overflows with hotels to suit all budgets. Brussels is so compact, however, that even if you’re not right by a major station it’s incredibly easy to get around.
The most convenient location for sightseeing is the city centre, aka the Lower Town (including the Grand-Place), and the stately Upper Town. Yet elegant communes like Ixelles and Saint-Gilles are arguably better if you want a sense of local life and lower prices, while still being close to the action.
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