Hotels and Short Breaks in Brussels
Why not break up the year and treat yourself to a Short Break to Brussels; book as little or as many days for your Short Break as you want! So don't just wait for your yearly holiday, when you can have lots of Short Breaks year round. Take a look at some fantastic deals and things to do on a Short Break in Brussels.
 Search live availability |  |    Brussels: Fine food, fabulous fashion, amazing architecture and café culture, plus, the world’s best chocolatiers. |
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Why choose Brussels for a Short Break?
Top ten things to do in Brussels
- The Grand Place - one of the most beautiful town squares in Europe.
- The Manneken Pis.
- Shop at the Royal Arcade amidst opulent splendour for all the designer brands.
- Grand Sablon for Brussel's legendary café culture.
- Look up some old masters at the Musees Royaux des Beaux-Arts.
- The world's first shopping mall at Galeries Saint Hubert, at Rue du Marche-aux Herbes, which is just above the Grand Place.
- Taste the finest chocolate. Visit Pierre Marcolinis at Grand Sablon.
- A fantastic Art Nouveau building by the Belgian architect, Horta, is now home to music, art exhibitions, movies and much, much more.
- The fish market at Place Sainte-Catherine.
- Maasmechelen village for designer bargains all year round.
Brussels is a stylish and romantic city, often overlooked in favour of its more famous neighbours. It's name doesn't do it justice or even hint at what a picturesque city awaits the discerning traveller.
Steeped in history with medieval and Art Deco buildings, it has museums, art galleries, tree lined squares and charming shops selling lace and jewellery. A serious amount of designer fashion boutiques, markets, trendy shops and a designer outlet village not far from the city should satisfy even the most demanding shopper. Far less frenetic than its European neighbours, it celebrates art, fashion and eating with a passion. And it is home to the best chocolate in the world.
Most EU workers leave Brussel at the weekend so this is probably the best time to enjoy a local beer in the city's hub, the incredibly ornate main square, Grand Place. The Place du Grand Sablon is the place for antique shops, chocolatiers, lively café's and tres chic restaurants. There's plenty of nightlife here too; and the current cool club is Fuse.
For art lovers, Brussels has over 100 museums including the Musees Royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique which are home to paintings by Rubens, Van Dyck, Gauguin and many more artistes from the Surrealist school.
But despite all the Gothic splendour and culture, Brussel's most famous landmark, the Manneken Pis, a statue of a small boy peeing – yes, you did read that correctly – shows that they don't take themselves too seriously. They even change his costumes at different times of the year when he pees beer instead of water!
Useful links for a short break in Brussels
Photos of Brussels - taken by visitors to Brussels
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Where to go in Brussels
Eating out in Brussels
Brussels is a top destination for foodies. With dual French and Flemish heritage and as home to the EU, it has fantastic regional and local food as well as cooking from all around the world. At the restaurants around the main square and near the fish market you can feast on hare, pheasant, steak, pork, wild boar, fresh mussels, oysters, lobsters, sole and turbot; all served fresh and with the finest ingredients.
Top Brussels Eating Out Tip:
Enjoy a plat du jour or menu of the day for a set price. Great value, these often include moules et frites. And the puddings and the pastries are absolute melt-in-the-mouth bite-sized pieces of heaven. Remember, the further you walk away from the main tourist spots, the better both the food and the prices will be.
The best time of the year to visit Brussels?
With a typical north European climate, the best time is between May and September, but if you are prepared to wrap up, visiting during the rest of the year can reap its own rewards of uncrowded museums, autumn leaves, open fires, steaming mugs of hot chocolate and cosy dinners a deux.
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