Where to stay in Brussels: best areas and neighborhoods
Where to stay in Brussels: best areas and neighborhoods
Despite being the capital of Belgium, Brussels is certainly a welcoming city, with a wonderful centre to visit entirely on foot and excellent public transport to move between one district and another, making it really easy to visit all the famous attractions. The choice of accommodation depends a lot on your needs: the centre is definitely the best solution to be close to the main attractions, but the area near Brussels-Midi station, south of the centre, is also an excellent area.
Are you thinking of taking a trip to this beautiful capital? Let’s find out where to sleep in Brussels: tips and best neighbourhoods to stay.
Useful tips: the best neighborhoods to stay in Brussels
Brussels, despite being a capital and a fairly large city, is people-friendly and all the main attractions are close to each other, within a few kilometres, except for the Atomium which is further away. For this reason, the best neighbourhood to stay in is the centre. This is the best option for everyone: you will find youth hostels and apartments or hotels with all the facilities you could need.
To choose which is the best area of the centre to stay, depends on the needs of the traveller: for young people we recommend Saint-Catherine, Ixelles and Saint Gilles, areas full of clubs and nightlife; for families we recommend the residential districts of Le Marolles and Sablon, quiet but still central; for those on a tight budget we recommend the European Quarter, but each area is full of hostels and simple accommodation.
To save even more on accommodation, head to the Brussels-Midi station area, where the Forest district is also located. The latter residential area is also suitable for families, even if it is further away from the centre.
- Recommended areas to stay on a budget: European quarter, Forest, Bruxelles-Midi station area
- Recommended areas for families with children: Le Marolles, Sablon, Forest
- Recommended areas for young people: Saint-Catherine, Ixelles, Saint Gilles
- Best accommodation: we have selected the best hotels, B&Bs and hostels in Brussels. Check out our recommendations and make your reservation on Booking
Guide to the areas of Brussels
Brussels is one of the 19 municipalities that make up the Brussels-Capital Region. The area is in turn divided into four areas:
- Centre, known as the Pentagon, which includes neighbourhoods such as Sablon and Saint-Catherine;
- Southern district, around Brussels-Midi station;
- Eastern district, European quarter and Ixelles;
- Northern district, the least suitable for staying.
According to your needs, one neighbourhood will be more suitable than another, but the best solution is to stay in the centre, due to its proximity to attractions and the possibility of moving mainly on foot. The only exception is the Atomium, the monument in Heysel park, in the northern part of the city, 6 km from the centre, reachable by buses 1 and 6 or by tram 3.
Not recommended areas: We do not recommend the districts of Schaarbeek, Molenbeek, Anderlecht, or the suburbs. This is because there are no particular attractions and not many accommodation facilities. In the centre you can easily find affordable accommodation.
Centre / Sablon and Saint-Catherine
The centre is definitely the best area to stay, but it is also the most expensive. But if you book well in advance and not in high season you can find excellent offers.
For young people, the Saint-Catherine area is recommended, full of bars and nightlife! In this area there is also no shortage of budget hostels and small apartments for greater autonomy.
For families, Sablon, in the southern part of the centre, is more recommended. It is a quieter residential neighbourhood, with numerous services and restaurants.
Average prices in the neighborhood range from about €40,00 for low-cost accommodation to €200,00 for more expensive options – compare the best accommodation on Booking
Recommended accommodation
| Aparthotel Adagio Brussels Grand Place | 3-star hotel 450 metres from Grand Place. Gym, parking and kitchenette. Family and disabled rooms. Pets Allowed. Ideal for families, young people and couples |
| Sweet Inn Apartments – Regens | Apartments in Sablon, family rooms available. Airport shuttle service. Ideal for families and friends. 300 metres from Place Royale, 800 metres from Grand Place |
| H2go4 Quality Hostel Brussels Grand Place | Hostel behind Grand Place. Rooms with private bathroom, non-smoking, lift and shared kitchen. Ideal for young people, backpackers and groups of friends |
| Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo | 5-star hotel behind Grand Place. Restaurant, gym, room service and parking. Ideal for couples |
Southern area / Bruxelles-Midi station, Forest
The southern zone corresponds to the districts around Brussels-Midi station. It is a very safe and quiet area, also perfect to use as a base to then move around Brussels, i.e. to visit Bruges or Ghent, thanks to the presence of the train station
Here the prices are lower than in the centre, so it is ideal for those on a budget, for young people who do not want to spend too much on accommodation and also for families! For the latter, the Forest district is especially recommended, a very quiet residential area with all services! Furthermore, getting to the centre is very simple: you can opt for trains from Brussels-Midi to Gare Centrale or trams to the centre, or walk along Avenue de Stalingrad (1.6 km, 20 min to Grand Place).
Average prices in the neighborhood range from about €40,00 for low-cost accommodation to €200,00 for more expensive options – compare the best accommodation on Booking
Recommended Accommodation
| Meininger Hotel Bruxelles | Hotel with non-smoking rooms, family rooms and rooms for disabled guests. 300 metres from Gare du Midi, 2 km from Grand Place. Internal parking. Ideal for families and groups of friends |
| AppartCity Confort Bruxelles | Aparthotel with rooms with kitchenette. 300 metres from Gare du Midi, 1.8 km from Grand Place. Pets Allowed. Ideal for families, couples and groups of friends |
| Hilton Garden Inn | 4-star hotel in Saint Gilles. 150 metres from the metro station, 1.6 km from Grand Place. Gym, restaurant, bar and room service. Family rooms available. Private parking. Ideal for couples and families |
Eastern area / European Quarter, Ixelles
To stay close to the centre but spend a little less, we recommend the eastern area of Brussels, which corresponds to the European quarter and Ixelles. Here you will be within walking distance of Grand Place.
The European Quarter is a neighbourhood where people traveling for work from all over Europe stay, and this is advantageous: for example, the hotels here are empty in August, thus lowering the rates to accommodate tourists! It is a quiet area with all the services you want! Ixelles, on the other hand, is ideal for young people and those in search of nightlife: as there are many clubs open until late!
Average prices in the neighborhood range from about €50,00 for low-cost accommodation to €200,00 for more expensive options – compare the best accommodation on Booking
Recommended Accommodation
| Jacques Brel Youth Hostel | Hostel with non-smoking rooms, family rooms and disabled rooms. 1 km from Grand Place. Ideal for young people, backpackers and groups of friends |
| B&B Home & the City | B&B with non-smoking rooms and family rooms. 1 mile from Grand Place. Free parking. Ideal for couples and families |
| Sofitel Brussels Europe | 5-star hotel with gym, room service, restaurant and bar. The property is 1.4 miles from Grand Place. Rooms for the disabled. Private parking. Ideal for couples |
Places to stay near Brussels
Brussels is in such a strategic location that it is not worth staying elsewhere. It is a perfect starting point both for visiting the Flanders region (to the north, towards Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp) and Wallonia (to the south, towards Mons, Liège and Rochefort). Furthermore, being the capital, it will also be easier to find connections or agencies for day trips to places of interest in Belgium, such as the aforementioned places.
However, if you prefer to visit the city in one day and then move elsewhere, or perhaps visit the nearby countries of the Netherlands, Germany, France and Luxembourg, the following places may be strategic (and cheap):
- Ghent (57 km / 1 hour): beautiful and romantic city in the heart of Flanders. Halfway between Brussels and Bruges, the perfect base for discovering Flanders. Direct train Ghent-Brussels (40 min, from €11,10) – Hotels and B&Bs from €50,00 per room
- Antwerp (46 km / 50 min): world capital of diamonds, a city of sophisticated art and a medieval village, as well as the homeland of the famous painter Rubens. Perfect base for discovering Flanders. Direct train Antwerp-Brussels (56 min, from €9,50) – Hotels and B&Bs from €70,00 per room
- Bruges (94 km / 80 min): one of the most evocative European towns, medieval and romantic, the most fascinating side of Flanders. Direct train Bruges-Brussels (60 min, from €14,30) – Hotels and B&Bs from €75,00 per room
- Namur (63 km / 50 min): A romantic and fascinating city that develops around the Meuse river. It is said that French fries were born in Namur. Perfect base for visiting Wallonia. Direct train Namur-Brussels (60 min, from €9,10) – Hotels and B&Bs from €60,00 per room
- Dinant (100 km, 70 min): on the banks of the Moselle River, the city is surrounded by rocky hills. It is known for being the home of Sax and Leffe beer.It is in the heart of Wallonia, near the French border. Direct train Dinant-Brussels-Schuman, in the European quarter (90 min, from €13,00) – Hotels and B&Bs from €60,00 per room
- Liège (103 km, 65 min): French-speaking city along the Meuse River, in the north-eastern part of Wallonia. Very close to the Dutch border (30 km from Maastricht). Direct train Liège-Brussels-Midi (60 min, from €15,00) – Hotels and B&Bs from €65,00 per room
If you are in Brussels for business or as a one-day stopover to other destinations, consider sleeping near the airport. Find the best solutions and selected hotels on Booking.com