Finding where to stay in Brussels is not always easy and although the city seems small, at least the area where most of its tourist attractions are concentrated, there are several recommended areas where you can stay and have good communication with the rest of the city.
It is for this reason that we thought it was important to publish this post in which we leave you a selection of the best areas where to sleep in Brussels and a list of the most recommended hotels in each of them.
Based on the several times we have visited the city, during the last one we published the 10 must-visit Brussels travel tips, we leave you a selection of places to stay in Brussels and the best neighborhoods. Let’s get started!
Neighborhoods where to stay in Brussels
Capital of Belgium and base for many travelers who want to visit the famous Bruges and Ghent, Brussels is one of the most visited cities in Europe. Although its historic center we can say that it is relatively small and for us remains the best option where to stay in Brussels, there are other areas that can also be very good options if you want to get away from tourism or be in a quieter area.
As a curiosity it is also important to know that in general the accommodations in Brussels are cheaper during the holidays, weekends and the months of July and August, since Brussels, being the seat of the European Union, has its busiest time outside the holidays.
1. Grand Place, the historical center and the best place to sleep in Brussels
Undoubtedly the historic center of Brussels and the Grand Place and surroundings are the best place to stay in Brussels. Here you can find many of the must-see places to visit in Brussels such as the Grand Place, considered one of the most beautiful in the world, where you can see the impressive Brussels City Hall and the guild buildings, the Manneken Pis and the Royal Palace, among many others.
In addition, this area is also characterized by a wide range of restaurants and many of the most famous stores in the city. In addition, although in general Brussels is a safe city, this area is even more so because it is the most touristy.
The price of accommodation in Grand Place is usually between 80 and 100 euros.
2. European Quarter, another option to stay in Brussels
Known for being the area where many of the buildings of the European Union are located, this place is another of the best places to stay in Brussels although it is somewhat further away from the most tourist attractions of the city and the historic center, located a half hour walk.
Here you will find the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of the European Union, the Cinquantenaire Park and the Place Ambiorix as well as a wide range of restaurants. The area is very quiet, especially during the weekends and we could say that due to its location, it is the safest in the city and is very well served by public transport.
The price of accommodation in the European Quarter is usually between 70 and 80 euros.
3. Ixelles, a highly recommended neighborhood to look for accommodation in Brussels
Although initially Ixelles is not the most valued area to stay in Brussels, you only need to see its proximity to the historic center, its gastronomic offer and its atmosphere, especially at night, for many travelers to opt for it to sleep in the city.
In addition to all this, the neighborhood is very well connected and is currently considered one of the safest places in the city, besides being one of the most multicultural, where you can even enjoy much more affordable prices than the rest of Brussels.
Here you can enjoy Matongue, known as the African quarter of Brussels and Place Flagey, meeting point for many locals and travelers who want to enjoy the good atmosphere of the neighborhood, making it a very good choice where to stay in Brussels.
The price of accommodation in the Ixelles is usually 70 euros.
4. Gare du Midi, the cheapest place to sleep Brussels
This area (Sanit Gilles) is perfect if your trip includes trips to some of the most famous cities in Belgium such as Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp or Leuven. Moreover, the station is perfectly connected to these cities as well as to Brussels Airport and Charleroi Airport.
Despite this we can not forget that this is considered one of the most unsafe areas of the city at night, so it is best to find a hotel that is close to the station and the metro, so that if you have to move at night, you can do it safely.
We have chosen to stay in this area on a couple of occasions and we have to say that it has been an excellent choice where to stay in Brussels, keeping common sense and not being at night with valuables.
The price of accommodation in the Gare du Midi is usually 50-70 euros.
Tips for finding cheap accommodation in Brussels
We leave you a selection of tips and recommendations to sleep in Brussels so that your choice is the best to enjoy the city and some of the most incredible cities that are located in the vicinity of the city.
- Although we can not say that Brussels is an unsafe city, there are certain areas that are best avoided. For this reason we recommend you to focus on the ones we have mentioned and in case of staying in Saint Gilles, do it as close to the Gare du Midi, so that at night you do not have to be walking around the area, which is the most unsafe time.
- As we have mentioned, in Brussels the cheapest times to travel are weekends, holidays and summer months, since being the seat of the European Parliament, these are the days that the city has less affluence. Keep this in mind if you want to opt for a good hotel in a good location because weekends are usually much cheaper.
- Remember that to avoid paying commissions and to always have the current exchange rate we recommend you to use the Revolut card and the N26 card, which are the ones we use, are free of charge and will save you a lot of money.
