We booked train tickets from Amsterdam to London, and it looks like we have a 1.5 hour "layover" in Brussels. Since we have to check in for Eurostar early, that gives us just under an hour to do whatever. The Midi station looks like it's pretty close to city center, so do we have enough time to see or do anything (Mannekken Pis, grab a snack) there? Or are we better of staying at the station and giving ourselves plenty of time to check in for the Eurostar?
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
Unfortunately I don't think an hour is enough time to see anything in Brussels. For a start, the thirty-minute check in for Eurostar is the absolute last time you can check in, I would recommend checking in earlier than that.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
One hour is pretty tight. Brussel Centraal is the station close to the Grand Place and Mannekin Pis, not Brussel Zuid (Midi), and the Metro trip between the two is not as quick as it should be. You'll have enough time to get a snack at the station, of course....
Posted by
OP
Seattle, WA, United States
873 posts
Thanks for the replies! I think we'll stay put at the station and just grab some food to eat on the Eurostar ride.
Posted by
St. Petersburg, FL, USA
104 posts
Don't forget to make some of your food chocolate! Even "garden variety" chocolate bars by Cote D'Or are wonderful. Nothing like great chocolate to make a train trip even better. Bon Voyage!
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
I'm less familiar with Brussel Zuid than Brussel Centraal, but I think there's either a Leonidas or Godiva chocolate shop within the station. And if not, you can surely get some Cote d'Or at the news shop.
Posted by
OP
Seattle, WA, United States
873 posts
I think my question needs to be changed to "where to get good chocolate (and maybe a waffle) near the Midi station"!
Posted by
Antwerp
34 posts
'La Tour de Hal' is the only remaining medieval tower of Brussels. It's location is quite closeby the Brussels-South railway station.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gotson/3315191908/in/set-72157614435866777/
Posted by
OP
Seattle, WA, United States
873 posts
Funny this thread got resurrected! As it turns out, we will not be going to London after all, but since we have already purchased the aforementioned train tickets, we are just going to take the train to Brussels and stick around for a couple of days before flying to Budapest!
So, any suggestions of what to do it Brussels over a couple of days are welcome :)
Posted by
Portland
3643 posts
You don't indicate your interests; but if Art Nouveau is among them, the Horta Museum is very worth a visit. Brussels has an excellent fine arts museum, as well. I'm vaguely remembering that we had a walking tour, which was very useful for understanding the history and architecture around the Grand Place. Sorry that I can't be more specific; but I'm sure that, if such a thing exists, the TI office will have the information.
Posted by
OP
Seattle, WA, United States
873 posts
I think I might've mentioned it somewhere in this thread (or it may have been another one), but we are both twentysomething and are interested in urban architecture, history, and beer culture. Belgian beer must be sampled.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33852 posts
Antwerpen is close by and has lots of Art Nouveau architecture, towards the zoo.