Express bus line 12 (STIB-MIVB)
It goes to the European Quarter and stops at several metro stations.

• Travel time: approximately 30–40 minutes
• Operating hours: 5:30 AM – 12:30 AM
• Price: €4.50 at the ticket machine / €6 with the driver
• Stop: level 0, platform 4

Train (SNCB/NMBS)
The most convenient and fastest option, especially if you’re staying near one of the main stations (Bruxelles-Midi, Central, Nord).

• Travel time: approximately 20 minutes
• Price: €8.50 one way, €14.60 for a round-trip ticket
• Platform: level -1, directly beneath the terminal
• Tickets: available at ticket machines or online(www.belgiantrain.be)

Buses 272 and 471 (De Lijn)
A cheaper option, but less convenient – the routes are longer and less direct.

• Price: €3
• Operator: De Lijn (STIB tickets are not accepted)
• Stop: level 0

Taxi
The most expensive option, but useful if you’re traveling with a group or arriving very late.

• Price: from €50, depending on the time and traffic

A few important tips:

• Tickets can be purchased at ticket machines at the airport or from the bus driver.
• The STIB-MIVB app is helpful for planning trips, but it doesn’t always allow you to buy a ticket for airport transfers – especially for new users.
• It’s safest to buy a ticket at the machine, especially if you don’t use contactless payment or if the app happens to fail.

Flibco – direct bus to Brussels

This is the simplest and most popular option. Flibco buses (formerly Brussels City Shuttle) run every 20 minutes and take passengers to the South Station – Bruxelles-Midi/Zuid.

• Travel time: approximately 50 minutes
• Price: from €15.99 (the earlier you buy, the cheaper)
• Tickets: www.flibco.com
• Operating hours: 4:40 AM – 12:40 AM
• The ticket is valid for the entire day it was purchased for (until 4:00 AM the next day)
• The stop is located right in front of the terminal entrance

If you don’t feel like figuring things out – this will be your most convenient choice.

Bus + train (for those who like having options)

A slightly more complicated option, but with a few advantages. You can get off at a different station in Brussels, not just Midi, which can be convenient. It’s also a good choice if you’re arriving at night, between 12:40 AM and 4:40 AM, when Flibco buses aren’t running.

• First, take bus line A – it departs from in front of the terminal, takes about 20 minutes to reach Charleroi-Sud station, and the ticket costs €6
• Next, take a train to your chosen station in Brussels (Midi, Central, or North)
• Total travel time: approximately 90 minutes
• Combined ticket price: from around €16
• Tickets: www.belgiantrain.be
• When searching for a connection, enter “Charleroi Airport” as the starting point – the system will offer a ticket that includes both the bus and train journey

This is a good option if your hotel is closer to a different station or if you want to reach a specific location in the city more precisely.

On Sunday, at the edge of the city – near the Atomium – my phone died. And there: no ticket machine, no way to buy a ticket, and just four hours until my flight. The phone was dead, the cable stopped working, the app was useless. I was stuck for a good 60 minutes. Luckily, I remembered I could pay with a contactless card – and that was a lifesaver (bonus points for having a currency card!). My phone came back to life only on the way to the airport, so the whole story ended well, but… I recommend having a plan B and not blindly trusting technology.

And speaking of the metro – it’s very modern, or at least it looks that way. But inside, you still have to open the doors manually, and a breakdown halfway through the route is no surprise. Passenger announcements? Of course – only in Belgian, so that tourists definitely won’t understand whether they’re supposed to get off. Or not.

Brussels isn’t a cheap place, even outside the tourist season – I paid nearly €100 for one night with breakfast on the outskirts of the city center. Unfortunately, that’s the going rate for accommodation. After all, it is the European capital. I chose Hotel le Dôme – a room with a private bathroom and breakfast included. Close to public transport stops, but also close enough to the center to get around on foot.

I definitely recommend booking through Booking or Airbnb – the prices are competitive, and the selection is huge.

Belgian beer – Lambic Cherry Kriek – okay, it was 2°C outside, but you simply can’t say no to cold Brussels beer. I was skeptical because I’m not a fan of sweet beers, but this one was a pleasant surprise – light, with a distinct cherry note, but not overly sweet. Lambic is one of the oldest beers in the world, naturally fermented, with a hint of acidity. Perfect for starting your Belgian beer adventure!

Belgian waffles – an absolute must and a necessity. Seriously – this is not something you can skip! With fruit, whipped cream, chocolate… the selection was so big I stood there for a good 10 minutes, not knowing which version to choose. They all looked picture-perfect, and tasted… even better!

Visited places:

• Grand Place (La Grand-Place)
• Manneken Pis
• Notre-Dame du Sablon Church
• Royal Palace
• Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula
• National Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Brussels
• Viewpoint in the Basilica
• Atomium
• Ferris wheel at Place Poelaert
• Saint Catherine Square
• Saint Catherine Church
• Mont des Arts (Hill of the Arts)
• Halle Gate

Unvisited places:

• Notre-Dame de la Chapelle Church
• Palace of Justice
• Royal Museums of Fine Arts
• Choco-Story Brussels
• European Parliament
• Royal Galleries of Saint Hubert
• Parc du Cinquantenaire
• Mini-Europe
• Zinneke Pis (Statue of the peeing dog)
• Jeanneke Pis (Statue of the peeing girl)
  
  
  
  

Grand Place (La Grand-Place)

I passed through it several times at different times of day, and I must admit it impressed me most in the evening, when the buildings were illuminated. Despite the cold – it was full of tourists. I’m afraid to imagine what it looks like in summer. This is the main square of Brussels and one of the most recognizable places in Belgium, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Around it, you’ll find former guild houses, now home to restaurants and shops, as well as three important landmarks: the Town Hall, the City Museum, and the Town Hall Tower.

Brussels Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville) – Admission from €8, guided tours, daily 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Town Hall Tower (View Tower Experience) – Admission from €10, guided tours only, online reservation required
Brussels City Museum (Maison du Roi) – Admission €8, Tue–Sun 10:00 AM–5:00 PM

Manneken Pis

It didn’t impress me. That’s the best way to describe this famous statue. If it weren’t for the crowds of singing Belgians and the costume on the figure (there must have been a match), I probably wouldn’t have even noticed it. It’s tiny, not very appealing, and definitely overrated. And yet, it’s one of Brussels’ symbols and… they dress it up several hundred times a year. You can later see the costumes at the City Museum.

Notre-Dame du Sablon Church

The building is absolutely stunning from the outside, especially in the evening when it’s beautifully illuminated. It’s one of the most beautiful Gothic churches in Brussels, known for its stained glass windows and the legend of the miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary brought from Antwerp.

Free admission, open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM.

Royal Palace

I didn’t get a chance to go inside, as the palace is only open to the public for a few weeks each year – it normally serves as the official and administrative residence of the royal family. From the outside, it looks majestic; another spot I visited in the evening that truly impressed me.

Visits are possible from July 21 to early September, Tue–Sun 10:30 AM–5:00 PM, free admission.

Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula

This was the first place I visited in Brussels – the cathedral made a huge impression on me both outside and inside! The Gothic façade is somewhat reminiscent of Notre-Dame in Paris, and inside you can see impressive stained glass windows and a Baroque pulpit.

Free admission, open daily from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, interior visits start at 10:00 AM.

National Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Brussels

Majestic – that’s probably the best word to describe this basilica. It’s enormous, and even the miniature model displayed inside is impressive. Balconies, vaults, altars – there’s plenty to see. It’s one of the largest churches in Europe and the largest Art Deco religious building in the world.
Free admission, open in summer from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, in winter from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Viewpoint in the Basilica

You can purchase access to the viewpoint – you’ll need to climb narrow stairs, but the view is definitely worth the effort. I had the place all to myself, which was a great bonus given the weather. The city panorama and the peaceful silence at the top are some of the things I’ll remember most about Brussels.
Admission €8, last entry 30 minutes before closing.

Atomium

I definitely didn’t expect this… I knew it was a city symbol, but I didn’t realize it rises above the buildings and can be seen from viewpoints – that was a surprise! You really need to see it with your own eyes. The monument was created for Expo 58 and represents an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times – and indeed, it’s hard to miss. Don’t want to stand in line? Buy tickets HERE! or HERE!.

Admission from €16, open daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, last entry at 5:30 PM.

Ferris wheel at Place Poelaert

City panorama from the Ferris wheel – what more could you want?! It rises 55 meters and offers a great view of Brussels, especially at sunset.

Tickets from €10, open seasonally.

Saint Catherine Square

It’s full of diverse restaurants, so if you’re hungry, you’ve come to the right place! In the area, you’ll find plenty of seafood spots – this used to be the site of the city’s fish market.

Saint Catherine Church

The church located in the square is another gem in Brussels. Inside, you’ll find the famous statue of the Black Madonna, to which pilgrims from all over the world come to visit.

Free admission, open daily.

Mont des Arts (Hill of the Arts)

A connector between the old and new parts of the city, in the form of a park surrounded by important buildings, such as the Royal Library of Belgium. It’s a perfect spot to take a break with a view of the Brussels skyline, especially during the golden hour.

Open 24/7, free admission.

Halle Gate

A medieval gate that now functions as a museum – the only remaining part of the old city walls of Brussels. From the outside, it looks like something out of a fairy tale about knights and castles, and inside, you can explore exhibits on the city’s history and climb to the viewpoint.

Admission €8, open Tue–Sun 10:00 AM–5:00 PM.

Practical tip: The areas around Gare du Midi (especially in the evening), the neighborhoods of Anderlecht, Molenbeek, and Saint-Josse are considered less safe. In the city center, you should be especially cautious around large squares and metro stations – pickpockets are common. It’s definitely better to return to your hotel via main, well-lit streets and avoid walking alone after dark.

But a word of caution – souvenir prices are shocking. A miniature Atomium (about 2-3 cm) costs €7, and larger ones – hand-sized – can cost over €40. I’ve never seen such expensive souvenirs in any European country!

You can also add Belgian beer to your suitcase – many shops offer sets with miniature bottles and a matching glass. Handmade lace (especially in Bruges, but also available in Brussels) is also popular, as well as local Trappist beers and waffles in cans. For fans of more unique souvenirs – vintage postcards from the 60s can be found at Place du Jeu de Balle.

On the plus side:

• Belgian food (fries, waffles, chocolate, mussels, beers – all top-notch)
• Plenty of museums, attractions, and free viewpoints
• Brussels Card – a good option for intense sightseeing
• Easy access from airports and good public transport
• Interesting routes: culinary, beer, and sweet trails

On the downside:

• High prices (accommodation, food, souvenirs)
• In many places, I didn’t feel safe
• Gray, crowded, with many pushy people on the streets
• Certain neighborhoods are definitely best avoided