Brussels Travel Tips

Most office-based businesses in Brussels are open from 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday, with most businesses being closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Shops are usually open from 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Saturday, with most supermarkets staying open until 20:00 on most days of the week.

Banks: 09:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday
Post Offices: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Shops: 10:00 to 18:00, Monday to Saturday
Museums: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday
Business Offices: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday

By and large, Brussels is an extremely safe city and visitors are not likely to encounter crime or violence on a visit here. However, travellers should always pay close attention to their personal belongings, especially at major tourist sights where pickpockets may be active. There are also several areas where it’s best not to wander alone after dark, such as the Gare du Nord and Gare du Midi districts, and the industrial areas west of the city centre, close to Canal de Charleroi. Women travelling alone should also avoid the northern extremes of Boulevard Adolphe, where a glut of strip bars and peep shows are located.

Electricity: 230V 50HzHz

Like most Western European countries, Brussels poses no major health threats and no specific vaccinations are required in order to enter the country. Travellers can rest assured that the quality of healthcare here is excellent, with pharmacies scattered throughout the city and several top-notch hospitals. Unfortunately, the cost of medical treatment is also top dollar, so it is worth considering the option of travel insurance before entering the country. 

Hospital Brugmann
Place Van Gehuchten 4
Tel: +2 477 2111

Institut Médical Edith Cavell
Rue Edith Cavell 32
Tel: +2 340 4040

Language is a contentious issue in Belgium, with a long-standing rivalry between the country’s French and Flemish speakers. The Flemish population is largely concentrated in the north of the country, while French speakers tend to live in the southern region of Wallonia. Brussels is located in the predominantly Flemish northern region, but surprisingly around 85 per cent of the city’s inhabitants speak French as their first language. Visitors will also find that a large percentage of the population speak English very well.

Belgium uses the Euro, which comes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. It’s best to swap 500 Euro notes for smaller denominations at a bank or an exchange counter, as it can be difficult to find change for such a large sum. It’s also sensible to keep coins at hand for use in parking meters, tolls and so on.

Major credit cards are accepted at most shops, restaurants, gas stations and hotels, but visitors should have at least some cash on hand to pay for smaller purchases. ATMs are plentiful and can be found all over the city and bureaux de change are also widespread. Unless you find yourself needing to change money after hours, it is best to take advantage of the better rates offered by banks when exchanging money.

Customs must be cleared on arriving in Brussels from international destinations and visitors are expected to declare any unusual goods they may be carrying such as prescription medicines and hypodermic needles. You will need to fill in a customs declaration form before going through customs; ensure that it is accurately filled in and that you have it handy on arrival at the airport in order to save time and to avoid any problems with customs officials. Certain agricultural items are not permitted to be brought into the country including fruit, plants, meats, soil, live animals and bird and farm products.

Brussels is populated by a combination of Flemish, French and international residents, with customs and taboos differing according to the individual. However, there are certain codes of behaviour that are widely adhered to throughout the country, regardless of which origin you happen to be associated with.

Appearances are important to Belgian people and general dress is slightly smarter than in the US or UK, so think twice before going out to dinner or to a social event in trainers and baggy trousers – you are likely to feel like a fish out of water, particularly in French-speaking company.

If you are invited to a Belgium home for a meal, it is customary to bring a small gift such as chocolates or flowers. Wine and other alcoholic drinks are usually only given to close friends. If you intend giving flowers to a Belgian person, avoid buying white chrysanthemums as these symbolise death. If you are given a gift while you are in the country, you should open it when received.

Belgians usually greet each other fairly formally, with handshakes appropriate for strangers or between men, while those who know each other usually exchange three kisses on alternating cheeks, starting with the left. 

A certain measure of etiquette is expected in business interactions, so if you happen to be conducting business meetings or negotiations, be careful to arrive punctually, carry business cards and address business colleagues by their surnames. Also, be prepared to attend a number of lengthy, laid back lunch meetings, regarded by most Belgian businesspeople as an important way of building trust.

Belgian people are mad about fine food and often entertain at home or socialise at the city’s many fine restaurants. If you receive a written invitation from a local, you should write a formal response and be sure to arrive punctually at the prescribed time. Dress stylishly in smart clothes and err on the side of conservatism if you are in any doubt as to what to wear. 

Wait for the host to introduce you to other guests and allocate you a place to sit at the dinner table and refrain from taking a sip of your drink before you are sure that your host is not going to make a toast. If you are a guest of honour, you may also propose a toast. It is polite to stand for toasts and customary in Belgium to raise your glass twice during a toast, at both its start and completion. 

You should always keep your wrists above the table when eating and place your knife and fork parallel on your plate, facing upwards, when you have finished. Never leave food on your plate, it is considered wasteful and impolite.

Citizens of the European Union can enter Belgium on an official identity card, while travellers arriving from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, the USA and many other countries only need a valid passport; no visa is required. Tourists are allowed to stay for up to three months.

The Brussels International Tourism Office (tel: +2 513 89 40), centrally located in the Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville) on the Grand-Place offer a comprehensive Brussels guide and map, handle tourist queries, can make hotel reservations, provide area and sightseeing information and offer guided walking tours in the summer months in a variety of languages. The office is open daily in the summer from 09:00 to 18:00 and in the winter from Monday to Saturday, 09:00 to 18:00, and on Sundays from 10:00 to 14:00.

The Belgian Tourist Information Centre on rue du Marché aux Herbes offers information pertaining to the city and the entire country. The centre is open from April to October, Monday to Friday, from 09:00 to 18:00, and at weekends and on holidays from 09:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 18:00; November to March, Monday to Friday, from 09:00 to 18:00, Saturday from 09:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 18:00 and on Sundays from 09:00 to 13:00.