Apartments in Brussels -- Budget Holiday Rentals

Belgium's capital is a multi-layered affair, boasting a quirky, historic scene that rubs shoulders with bureaucratic narratives. On the surface, it's business-like and modern, with blocks of communist flats, glass-fronted buildings, and simple design. But dig a little deeper and you'll find a multicultural city bursting with rich personality, pockets of majestic art nouveau architecture, and a medieval history that could rival any other European city. The Grand Place, a picturesque square in the centre of the city, hosts uniform facades, elaborate museums, and a lively café and bar scene, whilst daily life is a flurry of bustling streets, classic culture, and a juxtaposed ambiance that is certainly unique. Get under the skin of the city in one of our apartments in Brussels, ranging from top-of-the-range city flats to quirky and affordable rentals.

Quirky Statues and a Mishmash of Museums - Things to do in Brussels

• Manneken Pis -- This quirky, tongue-in-cheek monument is an iconic figure of Brussels and features a naked boy urinating into a fountain designed by Hieronymus Duquesnoy.
• Atomium -- Erected in 1958, this unusual building was the brainchild of engineer Andre Waterkeyn and famous architects Andre and Jean Polak.
• Musical Instrument Museum -- Music lovers will enjoy wandering the rooms of this impressive museum which showcases a collection of over 8,000 instruments and their history.
• Mini-Europe -- Situated right next to the Atomium, this miniature park is a huge hit with tourists. It displays some of the continent's best-loved monuments and designs in miniature form.
• Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula -- A Roman Catholic Church in the heart of Belgium. Similar in design to Paris' Notre Dame, it was pronounced a cathedral back in 1962.
• Cinquantenaire -- Set to the east of the city, this huge public park is the perfect place for an afternoon stroll or a picnic. It's peppered with impressive monuments, walkways, and elaborate fountains.
• Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium -- Belgium's top art museum showcases works by contemporary local artists, as well as pieces from hard-hitting names from all over the world.
• Royal Greenhouses of Laeken -- This complex of unique greenhouses sprawls out in lush surroundings, displaying a lively range of exotic and native plants.
• Brussels Town Hall -- Boasting an exquisite Gothic exterior, the Town Hall provides the perfect photo opportunity. Spanning back to the Middle Ages, it now sits proudly in the picturesque Grand Place.
• Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History -- Situated in the green arms of the Cinquantenaire Park, this military museum is dedicated to exhibiting tools, stories, and histories of the country's armed forces.
• Autoworld -- This car-lovers' heaven sits snugly in Cinquantenaire Park and offers a portal to the past where vintage cars ruled the roads.
• Bois de la Cambre -- Sprawling out over 1.23 square kilometres, this urban park is a firm favourite with tourists and locals who are looking for some peace and quiet outside of the city centre.
• Belgian Comic Strip Centre -- Cartoons are huge in Belgium and this museum offers an insight into the craft, exhibiting fine works by top-name illustrators from France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and England.
• Palace Royale -- This impressive example of architecture sits at the edge of a historic square right in the centre of Brussels. It boasts a grand exterior complete with tall pillars and an intricate, domed roof.
• Coudenberg -- A hill that features a castle and palace which was once the former seat of government.
• Centre for Fine Arts, Brussels -- Also known as the Palais des Beaux-Arts, this museum is a popular cultural venue which exhibits an impressive permanent collection of works as well as regularly revolving temporary shows.

To explore all of these landmarks and more, check into one of our Brussels apartments which are dotted throughout the city.

Unusual Sights Around the City

Brussels may well be a business capital but it has a humorous, playful side too. Alongside the stiff, breeze-block buildings and the seemingly never-ending rows of offices, you can find a few sights that inject a dash of fun into the city. There's the Cat on a Bike sculpture by Alan Sechas which perches flamboyantly outside the Galeries Royales St Hubert, offering a much-needed photo opportunity for tourists.

Then there's the city's obsession with urinating statues, including the world-famous Manneken Pis -- the icon of Brussels -- among others. Keep your eyes peeled when wandering around, particularly if you stumble upon a fountain as you'll likely see a bronze statue with a stream of water flaring out.

If peeing statues and weird cats aren't your thing, then perhaps the city's love of comic strip art will bring a smile to your face. Throughout Brussels there are hundreds of shops dedicated to selling strips and ephemera related to them, as well as huge murals depicting scenes from the likes of Tin-Tin hidden down winding streets.

Discover all of these unusual sights and more whilst staying in one of our Brussels apartments which span the entire city.

Brussels Accommodation

Brussels' mix of industrial charm and art nouveau architecture is reflected in its accommodation, giving any different sides to a single visit. Wide boulevards are lined with grand hotels that feature ornate facades, cheap luxury apartments for rent can be found on every corner, and spacious hostels offer an affordable way to see the city. Much of Brussels accommodation can be found in historic buildings bursting with age-old stories, but there are plenty of new-age designs peppered with sophisticated style and the contemporary personality that Brussels is known for.

Best Way to Get Around Brussels

Brussels is extremely easy to navigate with an integrated bus, metro, and tram system that runs from early in the morning to late at night. All the major landmarks are connected up via these routes, and you can explore further afield, too, with the long distance lines. Travelling by tram is perhaps the most authentic way to see the city, chugging through the historic streets and watching the world whizz by, but each of these transport methods is a great way for getting around. During rush hour, it's best to hop on the metro if you need to get somewhere quickly, but be mindful that all forms of transport will be busy at this time with local commuters. For ease of travel, you can pick up a transport card that you can use on the trams, buses, and metro, meaning you can change your mind at the last minute.

As well as standard forms of transport, Brussels is also unique for having its very own road solely for rollerbladers. In the summer months after 7pm the road is closed off to traffic to give way for keen rollerbladers.