The heart of Brussels near Grand Place, Manneken Pis, and the European Quarter.

About Brussels City Centre (Bruxelles-Central)

Brussels city centre revolves around the Grand-Place (Grote Markt), regularly voted the most beautiful square in Europe — a medieval marketplace enclosed by ornate Baroque guild houses with gilded facades, the Gothic Town Hall, and the Maison du Roi. The square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and particularly magical when illuminated at night or during the biennial Flower Carpet event.

The city\'s character is a fascinating mix of the monumental and the irreverent. Within blocks of the Grand-Place, you\'ll find the Manneken Pis (the famous tiny statue of a boy urinating, regularly dressed in costumes), alongside world-class museums like the Magritte Museum (dedicated to the surrealist painter) and the Royal Museums of Fine Arts. The Comic Strip Route celebrates Belgium\'s rich graphic novel heritage (Tintin, the Smurfs) with murals across the city.

Brussels is, arguably above all, a food city. Belgian chocolate (Neuhaus, Pierre Marcolini, Mary), waffles (Liège-style from a street cart is the authentic choice), frites (served in paper cones with dozens of sauce options), and beer (over 1,500 Belgian varieties) form a culinary quartet unmatched anywhere. The Rue des Bouchers restaurant district near the Grand-Place is touristy, but the Sainte-Catherine neighborhood and Matonge (the Congolese quarter) offer more authentic dining experiences.

Nearby Landmarks

Grand-Place Manneken Pis Magritte Museum Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert

Transport Options

Taxi

Cost €45-55
Time 20-35 minutes

Follow "Taxi" signs at arrivals. Queue at official taxi stand. Metered fares, no need to negotiate.

Rideshare (Grab/Uber)

Cost €30-45
Time 20-35 minutes

Arrivals level, taxi rank

Train (SNCB/NMBS Airport Line)

Cost €15
Time 17 minutes
Frequency Every 15-20 minutes

Step-by-Step Directions

Take the train from Brussels Airport-Zaventem station (Level -1) direct to Bruxelles-Central. Trains run 3-4 times per hour.

Quick Comparison

Option Cost Time Best For
Taxi €45-55 20-35 minutes Convenience, groups, heavy luggage
Rideshare €30-45 20-35 minutes Budget-conscious, app users
Train €15 17 minutes Budget, avoiding traffic

Good to Know

Late Night Transport

The last airport train departs around midnight. After that, taxis from the airport to the city centre cost EUR 40-50. Uber operates in Brussels. The Noctis night bus runs on weekends but does not serve the airport directly. Brussels' Grand-Place area has bars and cafés open late, especially on weekends.

Luggage Tips

The airport train has open luggage areas in each carriage. Brussels-Central station has luggage lockers (EUR 4-7 per locker). The Grand-Place is about a 5-minute walk from Brussels-Central. City streets in the center are a mix of cobblestones (Grand-Place area) and normal pavement — manageable with rolling luggage on main routes.

Accessibility

Brussels Airport and the airport train are fully wheelchair accessible. Brussels-Central station has elevators to platforms and street level. The Grand-Place itself is cobblestoned but flat. Brussels has invested in accessible public transport — buses and trams have low-floor boarding. Many museums (Magritte, Royal Museums) have full wheelchair access. Some older restaurants have steps at entrances.