I'm heading from Amsterdam to Paris on a Monday in a couple weeks with my wife. I've done the math and it would be about 40 euros more for use to lay over in Brussels. I'm thinking about just stopping at Brussels Midi and strolling around Brussels for a couple hours. So question: is it worth it? Is Brussels Midi close to anything of interest? Good place for lunch near the station?
Posted by
OP
Chicago, IL, USA
27 posts
Manneken Pis? Sold. (add that to the fact my brother in law got me a small replica last xmas, which dispenses whatever booze you fill it with)
mussels and waffles ain't a bad idea either!
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Other than an unobstructed view of the massive Palace of Justice, the stations sits in a less interesting area. However, you can use the Metro to go anywhere else in the city.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9100 posts
The popular tourist attractions are mostly within walking distance of Central Station. In addition to the metro you can simply hop on one of the other trains out of Midi heading to Central. There are trains every five minutes or so. Your Thalys ticket will cover the fare.
Posted by
Oklahoma City, OK, USA
430 posts
I'll second Michael's comment. Take the few minutes to jog over to Central station. From there it's a short walk to the Grand Place.
I recommend the Goncalves de Sousa Manuel for lunch -- the food is good, and they have tables outside. (Have the mussels... they are delicious in Brussels...). They are on the East side of the square, near the northeast corner.
Then take an hour to walk around, see the Manekin Pis, have a waffle for dessert -- there is a good walk-up lunch counter with waffles & ice-cream to go that's not too far out of the way on the walk back to the station. (Checking Google... that place looks like it is on Spoormakerstrat just east of Kaasmarkt).
You can do this and only take 3-4 hours out of your trip to Amsterdam.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Brussels also has a pretty interesting collection of museums, depending on your intetests. In addition to the obligatory national art gallery, the musical instrument museum sits just behind Brussel Centraal. The Comic Arts museum also sits within walking distance (there's a lot more to Belgian comics than just TinTin and the Smurfs). For a huge collection of exhibits and material from the world wars, try the Royal Museum of Military History (easy Metro access but not within walking distance of Brussel Centraal). And of course, several others...
Posted by
St Petersburg Florida
951 posts
They have one of the best fine arts museums that I have ever seen. I stopped in Brussels for 3 hours on my way to Paris before, just for the museum alone. It's the Royal Museum of Fine Arts and if you are an art lover, one should not miss it.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
"Manneken Pis? Sold." Don't forget about his much-ignored sister, Janneke Pis. She sits, usually all by her lonesome, in a dead-end alley just off Rue Bucher. But the cheeky look on her face as she squats is priceless.