Schmap Brussels Art & Entertainment

Our apologies: your internet browser is not yet fully supported by our Schmap online guides. If you continue, pages in this guide may display or function incorrectly.

Would you like to continue anyway?

Schmap.com supports the following browsers:

Internet Explorer 6 and above
Firefox 1.5 and above
Safari 3 for Pc

MAC

Safari version 1.3 and above
Firefox 2 and above

Brussels - Art & Entertainment
Download the Schmap Brussels Guide
With Schmap 2.0 you can:

Browse this Schmap Guide on your PC, online or offline.
View Schmap Guides for 200 worldwide destinations.
Bookmark places of interest, plan trips and take virtual tours.
Custom print your own full-color travel guides.
Publish and share schmapplets with your favorite places
Enjoy many more unique Schmap features.

Brussels Home
Schmap Brussels guide and map

Whether you are looking for theatres, cinemas (movies are shown in their original language with subtitles), nightclubs, jazz bars, or theatre restaurants there is no shortage of entertainment in Brussels.

For those with European bank accounts the TELETIB (+32 2 513 8320)reservation service is very handy. The service books and takes payments for various events. If you don't have a European bank account you can make reservations at the Tourist Office in the townhall. They are open daily between 11am and 5pm. They also put out a brochure every two months containing a detailed agenda of coming events.

Opera and Theatre

Brussels boasts six opera houses, the most grand of these is the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie. This opera house was fully renovated in 1986 and is now one of the most modern and dramatic opera houses in Europe. The Grand Foyer upstairs, where you can enjoy an intermission drink, has not really changed. The parquetry flooring and rococo décor has been retained, but the original ceiling in the main dome has been restored.

For those who enjoy a dinner show there are restaurants such as Adagio, Le Beau Bruzell, le Black Bottom, Garden Restaurant and many more all offering an excellent meal and a floor show. There are many bistros all over Brussels including Ballon Nord, particularly popular with the billiards crowd, Bistro du Théâtre for theatre goers, Taverniers a unique original 18th century café that holds tea dances every afternoon, or perhaps the 20th century is more your style,in which case you could try Le Claridge which is a definite step back to the 1950's.

Nightlife

Brussels' nightlife does not end at the stroke of midnight. There are a number of late-night restaurants dotted around the city such as Le Loup Voyant, Café de Paris, Le Mozart and more. These restaurants are great for people who do not want to have to restricted by time when all they really want is a great night on the town.

Events and Festivals

The people of Brussels really know how to enjoy themselves, so it is not surprising to know that there is always some event or other taking place somewhere in the city. During the summer months there's the flower carpet in the Grand' Place which takes place every other year, jazz festivals, car rallies, exhibitions etc. During the winter the emphasis is primarily on the Christmas events, such as the famous Christmas Market held in early December, the lighting of the city square with Christmas lights, classical concerts similar to those held in Vienna and many indoor exhibitions.

Shopping

Of course there are also a huge number of wonderful shops in Brussels where you can purchase antiques, jewellery, the famous Belgian lace, the equally famous Belgian chocolates, books, crystal and the list just goes on and on.

There are also a number of late night shops in Brussels, these are mostly found in the vicinity of Grand' Place. They sell anything from groceries to books and tobacco.

On weekends it is hard to know which market you want to visit first in Brussels, there are just so many of them. The bird market, held every Sunday 7am-2pm is possibly the best-known market and also a popular Sunday daytrip for the neighbours from Holland. In Place du Grand Sablon you'll find the most chique of flea markets. The market takes place Saturdays from 9am-6pm and on Sundays from 9am-2pm. Here, there's an abundance of the more expensive, nicer things of life, such as paintings, antiques, objets d'art, etc.

Now you know a little about Brussels entertainment there is no need to wonder what to see and what to do. There is really something for everyone in Brussels.

Copyright 1999-2005 Wcities, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Contact Wcities

Grote Markt / Grand Place

Most splendid square in Europe

Grote Markt
Brussels 1000
Belgium
+32 (0)2 513 8940 (Informatie voor Toeristen)

This has been called the most splendid market square in Europe. Its esplanade is completely enclosed by tall, gabled, Flemish Renaissance buildings dripping with ornamentation and statues. It is alive with daily commerce and a colorful flower market. Impressive as it is by day, it is even more beautiful at night in the golden glow of floodlights. During spring and summer evenings there is a light show that shouldn't be missed.

Review © 2007, Wcities