Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOURS
Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tours
—Two different companies offer
nearly identical “discovery” city tours. The 90-minute loop and
recorded narration give you a once-over-lightly of the city from
the top deck (open on sunny days) of a double-decker bus. While
you can hop on and off for 24 hours with one ticket, schedules are
sparse (about 2/hr, times listed on each flier; both companies run
roughly April-Oct daily 10:00-16:00, Sat until 17:00; Nov-March
daily 10:00-15:00, Sat until 16:00). Except for the trip out to the
European Parliament and Cinquantenaire Park (which hosts the
military and auto museums), I'd just stay on to enjoy the views
and the minimal commentary. The fiercely competitive companies
often both have hustlers at the Central Station trying to get you on
board (offering “student” discounts to customers of all ages). The
handiest starting points are the Central Station and the Bourse.
The companies are
C i t y To u r s
(€18, tel. 02-513-7744, www
.brussels-city-tours.com) and
Golden Tours
(€18, mobile 0486-
053-981, www.goldentours.be).
Bus Tours
—City Tours also offers a typical three-hour, guided
(in up to five languages) bus tour, providing an easy way to get the
grand perspective on Brussels. You start with a walk around the
Grand Place, then jump on a tour bus (€27, year-round daily at
10:00 and 14:00, April-Oct extra tours Sat-Sun at 11:00; depart
from their office a block off Grand Place at Rue du Marche aux
Herbes 82; you can buy tickets there, at TI, or in your hotel; tel.
02-513-7744, www.brussels-city-tours.com). You'll get off the bus
briefly at the Atomium for a quick photo stop.
Private Guide
—Claude Janssens is good (€106/half-day, €200/
day, mobile 0485-025-423, www.dobeltour.be, claude.janssens
@pandora.be).
