Brussels, the capital city of Belgium, serves also as a capital of the European Union. It is placed at the crossroads of many cultures and even so has retained its unique character. The city is served by Brussels Airport, which is placed in Zaventem Flemish municipality and by the smaller airport Brussels South Charleroi, set in Charleroi region, approximately 50 km outside Brussels. The city is also served by several direct high-speed rail links to London via the Channel Tunnel, to Paris and Amsterdam, to Cologne and to Frankfurt. The city of Brussels has also its own port, which is placed on the Brussels-Scheldt Maritime Canal, se in the northwestern part of the city. The city also has a car-sharing service, as well as a local taxi company for ridesharing. Several years ago were also introduced shared bicycles.
This photo of Brussels
The city of Brussels has an underground metro system that operates since year 1976 and features a comprehensive tram and bus network that covers the city on the ground. Passengers can use an interticketing system and this means that a holder of STIB ticket can use long-distance buses and train inside the city. The metro system in Brussels has reputation of being safe and clean and its entrances are marked with a big letter M sign that comes in white and blue. The announcements inside are made in French, Dutch and English. The metro system in Brussels has six lines and tickets could be bought from the station or from the driver. The tickets are valid for one hour drive, no matter which means of transport you are using.
This photo of Brussels
The city of Brussels also serves as a hub for the national roads, which are organized in a clockwise manner to the cities of Breda, Maastricht, Aachen, Luxembourg, Rheims, Maubeuge, Koksijde and Ostend. The city has an orbital motorway and an inner ring road. The city center itself has a small historic centre along one square and four streets with cobblestone roads which are closed for cars, while the rest of the center could be easily accessed by car. Most of the landmarks of Brussels are close to each other and could be reached on foot from your Brussels holiday apartment.
Another very pleasant way to enjoy the city of Brussels is by bike. The municipality is offering low-cost and short term rentals of bikes at 180 locations close to the city center. This system accepts only the Smart cards with a PIN code and the first half an hour of usage is free of charge, while the next half an hour costs half a Euro. While enjoying the city of Brussels on a bike, it is advisable to get a helmet and a vest. Brussels Bike Tours are also available and they cover an easy route which includes all main landmarks of the city for a period of four hours. These bike tours are made with an experienced guide.
A post by Renate Renard who also writes about Amsterdam apartments and London apartments
