Atomium, Brussels, Belgium by Angus

The historic city of Brussels has a fascinating history and is home to several iconic landmarks. Belgium’s capital is perhaps best known these days as one of the homes of the European Parliament, but it’s important to remember there is so much more to the city than that. And because of its convenient location it can be easily reached by tourists from the United Kingdom, France, Scandinavia and Germany.

One of the more quirky landmarks in Brussels is the Atomium, a highly distinctive structure that’s located in the city’s Heysel Park. It stands at 102 metres high, and consists of nine inter-connected steel spheres. Originally created for the 1958 World’s Fair, more commonly known as Expo ’58, several of the spheres are accessible to the public by escalators, and the views across the city are truly spectacular.

Quirky, Charming, Spectacular

Close to the centre of Brussels at the intersection of Rue de l’Étuve/Stoofstraatand Rue du Chêne/Eikstraat, you’ll find one of the world’s most famous statues. The Mannekin Pis has become a cultural symbol of the city, and dates back to the 17th century. The urinating boy is often dressed in some sort of relevant costume, and it has become something of a must-visit for tourists from all over the world.

Grand Place, Brussels, Belgium by Vase Petrovski

Measuring more than 110 metres in length, the Grand Place is a huge square in the centre of the city. It’s home to the Town Hall and several important cultural buildings, and presents a wonderful photo opportunity for visitors to Brussels. Because of its location in the very heart of the metropolis, the Grand Place is often used as a meeting point for visitors, as well as a collection area for large groups of tourists.

As well as the many historic buildings that are found in Brussels, there are several more modern landmarks which are well worth a visit. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart, for example, was opened in 1935, and is a masterpiece of art deco architecture. Sitting at the top of Koekelberg Hill, it’s in a wonderful location and should be on the itinerary of every traveller who comes to Brussels.

David Showell lives and works in southern England, and has visited many European cities. He always likes to hire a car when he’s in Europe.

The post Visit Brussels and Soak up the Culture | Belgium appeared first on Europe Explored.

London Underground (Håkan Dahlström) / CC BY 2.0

The tube

I recently went to Milan where the four-line subway system utterly baffled me, I believe the UK has nearer 10 lines, for a non-English speaking person visiting and trying to get around this doesn’t make for an easy journey. As with most things though, once you know how, it’s easy and efficient. In central London you rarely have to wait for more than three minutes for the next train and if it’s easy for you to get to an underground station this can be a fast and efficient way to travel.

Ferry

We love the river and amidst the hustle, bustle and general chaos that constitutes day to day city life taking a ferry from one place to another can provide welcome respite from the hectic day to day routines of many that live in the city. With British summer’s typically akin to the depths of winter for some countries this is certainly not the warmest route – for a tranquil way to travel though, it stands alone as the cities best.

Black London Cab, UK by Jimmy Barrett

Cabs

Travel in style, avoid stress from excessive traffic and parking worries, don’t worry that it’s going to break down or not be running…and pay more. If you’ve got the budget cabs are one of the best ways to go, the pro of these is being taken door to door without having to worry about missing trains, running late, climbing up masses of stairs because the escalators are broken, being packed in tightly with other travelers or figuring out where you need to go on a map. They are abundant although the sheer volume of partygoers on a weekend can render even the cab service scarce, many a clubber can be seen wondering around at 3am on a Saturday night looking for a way home which brings me on to another benefit – no time limits. The drawbacks are that you have to fight the traffic like everyone else and you can get ripped off, booking this in advance though and using a cab driver with good knowledge can eliminate a lot of this stress.

Buses

Finally, if you’re on a budget but it’s too far to walk or you’re wearing unsuitable footwear the big red buses so characteristic of London are a good way to get around. Even more difficult to get your head around than the tube these aren’t for the navigationally challenged! Most drivers will (admittedly grudgingly) help you to get to the right stop for your destination and make the best of the bus network.

The Transport for London website has a great journey planner and other maps, you can also click through to book a London taxi.

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