How to get there
I don’t know for what reason but on the website of Ryanair the 90% of the time the cheapest flights are the one going to Bruxells. You can find easily flight for 5, 7 or 10 euro. But there is a trick, mostly these flights are direct to Charleroi airport that is 1 hour away from the Bruxells centre, you could say no problem nowadays there are no more airports in the city centre. But here to get in the city you’ll have to pay 17 euro of bus, one way. If you consider that I paid, for example, my flights 30 euro both ways it looks absurd.
My suggestion is to book the bus for Bruxells online, there you could find prices starting from 5 euro up to maximum 14. If you are under 26 you could take a taxi (5 euro) or the city bus (6 euro) to Charleroi Sud Station and from there take any train going to Bruxells for 6 euro (Go Pass).
Sleeping
Hotels in the Christmas time could be really expensive, if you’re looking a cheap stay for you weekend you could look on AirBnb. Is plenty of students or young couples offering a private room and you could have also the access to the kitchen and save money on food. During my weekend I have been here. I had kitchen and big bed for just 11 euro for night.
Public Transport
Even if your room/hotel is not close to the centre public transport is not needed. Bruxelles is a small city. You could walk and reach almost all the touristic places, within 30 minutes walking you could get from one side to another of the city centre. Personally, I just used the metro to get to the Atomium/Royal Palace. A single ride is 2,10 euro.
Food
During Christmas markets you’ll have any problem to get food anywhere in the streets, it is full of small shops selling any kind of food. From Fish to typical Chips passing by Sweets and Alchool you’ll be able to enjoy the traditions but also to try food from different countries. Moreover, if you’ll have the access to a Kitchen it is full of supermarkets all around the city centre.
My raccomandations:
- Be my Stoemp. It is located inside the Halles of Saint-Géry, you’ll be able to try the classical stoemp with an innovative menu and inside a really nice place full of music and colors. It is not so cheap, 8-10 euro for one.
- EXKi. I know,it is not traditional food but for the price is damn good. Really good quality for a very low price.
- Have a coffee, if you can, at Hinterland, at Saint Gillet. It is a lovely and modern place with good coffee and hot chocolate.
The beer you must try is the Tripel Karmeliet, it has an exceptional quality/price ratio.
What to see
- Christmas Markets
- Cathedral
- Manneken Pis
- Bourse de Bruxelles
- Atomium and Royal Palace, you should definitely walk in the nice park that is connecting them.
- European Parliament
- Grand Place
Avoid:
- The Beer Museum
- Don’t go up the Atomium is not worth
If you have some spare day in Bruxelles my suggestion is to reach Bruges with the train (only 6 euro if you are under 26) or take one FlixBus to Amsterdam (from 5 euro).
