Good Day,
This August we will be taking our 2 boys (age 3, and 4 1/2) to Brussels. We realize that traveling in Europe with kids will take on a different experience but at the same time wanted to be sure we maximized the experience for the family, so any ideas would be appreciated.
Additionally, I am having a difficult time trying to find a Brussels hotel, conveniently located to possible tourism sites, that would be comfortable for this family of 4.
Thank you
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If the difficult time you mention relates to finding %26quot;family rooms%26quot; (which I believe are often limited to one child), I know the Arlequin has family rooms for 4: http://www.centralr.com/Arlequin_Hotel.html (but you will want to check out reviews under %26quot;Brussels hotels%26quot;. It is located very close to the Grand%26#39; Place although you might find the entrance from the Petite rue des Bouchers rather annoying as the narrow street is clogged with restaurant tables (there is another entrance from the street backing onto the Galerie du Centre, off rue Grétry). Above all, I do not recommend eating in any restaurant in that street or in rue des Bouchers that has an outside display and where the waiters attempt to waylay passing trade.
You might want to take the boys on the metro or tram (81 from nearby De Brouckère) to Heysel to visit Bruparck and Mini-Europe, the Atomium is there too and fun to look at from the outside even if you don%26#39;t bother going in.
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Hi,
I%26#39;d recommend the Citadines at St Catherine. Very close to the centre and with a metro stop nearby. They do apartments, so you also have the benefit of the kitchenette complete with Dishwasher - very handy with kids. There%26#39;s no restaurant - they do breakfast, but there are tonnes of places to eat in the vicinity. We stayed there for a weekend with our then 2 year old whilst house hunting in Brussels and found it very comfortable, and reasonably priced. There%26#39;s also a Hilton aparthotel on Square Ambiorix, which is bit more upmarket and a 10 min bus trip into the centre. I%26#39;ve found most restaurants and cates to be very hospitable to children and are usually willing to prepare something or them if there%26#39;snothing on the menu to suit.
For family activities, apart from the traditional sites, I agree with Gaminari that a trip to Brupark and the Atomium is fun - Mini Europe, Oceade water complex and cinema together with a playgorund and plenty of restaurants. The parks in Brussels are good, with playgrounds and lots of room to run about - Cinquentaire - with it%26#39;s car exhibition, Parc de Bruxelles and the Bois de la Cambre in the south of Brussels is gorgeous, acres of lakes and woods and lawns - good for walks and picnics, but it%26#39;s also possible to hire bikes and is car free on Sundays. There%26#39;s also a nice restaurant here overlooking the children%26#39;s playground and roller rink. Also try the Musee de Bande Desinee - the comic strip museum. My daughter enjoyed the natural history museum, but was a bit scared of the dinosaurs. Bozar does family activities on Sundays.
A bit further a field but easily reached by train, boat trips in Ghent or Bruges always go down well, and in Antwerp next to the station is the Zoo and Aquatopia - you can buy an all in B-excursion ticket from the station and it;s not too long on the train.
Anyway hope this helps. Let me know if I can supply any more info.
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