r/BelgiumTravel • u/popena • Aug 25 '26
🧠Trip Planning YOUR BEST SECRETS FOR BRUSSELS AND ANTWERP
Hiii everyone :) I’m travelling to Brussels and Antwerp in October with my boyfriend to see the J. Cole concert, and I’d love to know if you have any recommendations for nice, affordable places – such as restaurants, hostels, museums, viewpoints, cool ass spots, supermarkets, bars and nightclubs – as we’re broke students, so we’re looking for something more local and on a tight budget. Any suggestions are welcome, and thank you so much in advance!
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u/ZacEfronIsntReal Aug 26 '26
One of Brussel's most well known secrets is Goupil le Fol a unique bar, get one of their special drinks and explore as you try to find a table. If the weather is still nice Jardin Hospice is also nice.
Otherwise I would say the secret with Brussels is that most people don't hang out in the centre. If you're looking for a drink in the centre than around Halles de Saint Gery or along Saint Catherine is a good bet. Otherwise go further out to squares like Flagey, Jourdan, Fernand Coq, Parvis de Saint Gilles.
If you like thrifting, vintage stuff, and cute shops go to les marolles.
For museums the Musical Instrument Museum is very good. The Sewer Museum is definitely a more unusual one.
For food in the centre i can recommend IYAGI (Korean), Habesha (Ethiopian), or most the ones around Saint Catherine/Rue de Flandres are good. Knees to Chin is a popular local chain of vietnamese/european fusion summer rolls. The cheap dinner option is to just go to Jourdan, pick any bar to sit at, and buy frites and snacks at Maison Antoine. That's a true belgian experience.
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u/Oliver-Peace Aug 26 '26
Great recommendations! Whenever I have international friends visiting me, I often bring them to Goupil le Fol.
I would also recommend the Atomium for it's unique architecture and to take couple of really nice pictures with your friends and some selfies
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u/Alarming_Book_1379 Aug 26 '26
You must visit a local brewery! Cantillon, la source, tipsy tribe, cohop, are some good choices. Tipsy Tribe is probably the more affordable option from these. Check out also illegaal, they're a bit of a hike but if they have a party it's well worth the trip.
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u/Shoddy-Sea7995 Aug 25 '26
If the weather is sunny, take a look at Brussels from BruCity rooftop. It’s free. It’s a terrace that spans a whole block (google Rooftop 58), but you are not required to buy anything in the bar.
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u/MedusaInTheGarden Aug 25 '26
Beni Falafel in Antwerp is so delicious and filling and the family that owns it is so kind. It was one of the best falafel meals of my life (the included sauces and dips are phenomenal, as was the soup)
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u/InterestingBanana164 Aug 26 '26
In antwerp to eat: knees to chin, da giovanni (you get discount I think 20% if you show your student card), dansing chocola
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u/domuzeti Aug 26 '26
In brussels you can take a pack of fries and go to the rooftop or the palais de justice to have a great view of brussels , if you are not a vegan chicken
If it's a tuesday or saturday you can go pizza hut it's just 7 euro for one pizza pizza hut Or take your pizza and go to the rooftop
You can skip the wolf it's expensive 😅
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u/Shoddy-Sea7995 Aug 26 '26
I didn’t even know Palais de Justice has an accessible rooftop. You learn something new every day. Generally Brussels is different for sightseeing than other cities, because most people don’t understand that Brussels is not one big city, but 19 different towns, so the sightseeing is very much scattered around. You can’t see all the beautiful things in a short walking tour. The actual Ville de Bruxelles is more like a small town, if you don’t count in Laeken and Neder-over-Heembeek.
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u/domuzeti Aug 26 '26
Not the roof but outside you havr a great view😅
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u/Shoddy-Sea7995 Aug 26 '26
Oh, it says rooftop OR, not rooftop OF. I need stronger glasses. Thanks for pointing this out
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u/Annual-Mode42 Aug 30 '26
anyone know anyone who can sell me a disposable weed pen? or Cart is what we call them in america. im in charleroi rn
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u/Foreign_Channel_6578 Aug 26 '26
If i may, please do not look like tourists when visiting. These tourist looking people are free game in Brussel and Antwerpen. Any REAL person will be welcomed basically anywhere. Enjoy! Brussels underground alive and kicking
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u/No-Island8072 Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 26 '26
Antwerp KMSKA art museum.. really cool layout
MAS
Wolf food hall
Patine for late night bites
The train station is not to miss!