Shopping in Brussels is bound to be an exhilarating experience, as you will find yourself spoilt for choice. Brussels has over a hundred main shopping districts, each with hundreds of shops. You will not even know where to begin! Hopefully this guide will be able to help you.

You must make time to visit the Galeries Saint Hubert-Sint Hubertusgalerijen. It is the world's first mall, and here you can find books, apparel, food and even take the time go go for a movie. Other popular malls in Brussels include Westland Shopping Mall as well as Basilix Shopping Mall. Nieuwstraat, meanwhile, is Brussel's main shopping street. All along this street you can find little shops that sell clothes and many other goods. Waterloo Laan features designer stores such as Gucci, Chanel, Louis Vitton and many others. If you would like to find some Belgium lace, which is loved by people all over the world, then head for Grand' Place-Grote Markt where you will find several shops selling it.

In general, Brussels is particularly famous for two main things: its chocolate and its books. Marcolini and Wittamer are two popular chocolate shops. The Belgian chocolates, in particular, are of excellent quality. If you would prefer to sit down and have a chocolate experience, then head for Maison Renardy, which is a café featuring excellent chocolates that you can even sample before buying.

If you are a book lover, then Brussels is definitely the place for you. From comics to rare books to secondhand books, you will be sure to find a bookstore that delights you. Comic lovers should make a point to visit De Slegte and Brusel, two comic stores that keep an extensive and frequently updated collection. De Slegte also features many rare books. Other popular bookstores are Filigranes, the largest bookstore in Brussels, as well as Sterling Books. For those on a budget, be sure to head to Pele-Mele, a second-hand bookstore that will amaze you with both their prices and their large collection of books.

There are also numerous other interesting shops that you should try and visit. Beer Mania is a beer shop that stocks around 500 types of beer. Many of their beers are highly recommended. Even if you do not intend to buy anything, you will enjoy the experience that the shop offers you and can have fun browsing and sampling the beers. Senses Art Nouveau is a shop that features reproductions of famous art nouveau items. These make for excellent gifts and souvenirs.

By: Orson Johnson
Orson Johnson writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing Brussels holiday accommodation Brussels holiday accommodation & Worldwide Holiday Rentals Worldwide Holiday Rentals.

Being the epicentre of European politics, Brussels may not immediately spring to mind in the same way as Paris or Rome does when planning a short European break. Housing both the European Commission and the Council of the European Union, not to mention international organisations such as NATO, Brussels is indeed a bustling business and political hub, but it is also a historical and cultural hotspot.

Founded around the turn of the 10th century A.D., Brussels developed quickly into a commercial centre, largely due to its location on the shores of the river Senne. This, in turn, lead to the creation of some wonderful Gothic architecture such as the St. Michael and Gudula Cathedral which still stands strong after almost a millennium, and the Abbey of la Cambre which was initially founded in 1196.

But much of historic Brussels was destroyed in the 19th century to make way for a newer and more modern city. Of the remaining old city, there is La Grand Place, the central square that is beautiful and bustling in equal measures. There are many bars and chocolate shops around this area and is a great place to sit and watch the world go by.

For culture vultures, Brussels offers almost 100 different museums, some of which are grand in scale, others a little more humble. One of the more quaint museums is the Rene Magritte Museum. Situated in the former home of the famous Belgian surrealist painter, this museum can only accommodate 20 people at a time, but it provides a fascinating insight into Magritte's life, displaying original paintings as well as artifacts such as furniture and personal belongings.

Then there is the Atomium, a large iconic structure consisting of 9 steel spheres each of which are connected by long tubes. Originally built for the 1958 Brussels World Fair, it has often been referred to as the Eiffel Tower of Brussels. Visitors traverse between the large spheres via escalators, and there is a variety of fascinating exhibitions and artifacts, each providing insight into life in the 1950s.

Of course, a fundamental asset to any city is its accessibility, and Brussels doesn't disappoint. The city itself is comprehensively serviced by an underground metro system as well as buses and trams. And for international visitors, flights to Brussels from London are plentiful, taking around an hour.

Brussels is an accessible, bustling, business and political hub that also manages to retain a strong sense of history and culture. Situated only an hour from London, it is a worthwhile alternative to other clichéd European city destinations, making it the perfect place for a weekend break.

Disclaimer:
The information contained within this article is the opinion of the author and is intended purely for information and interest purposes only. It should not be used to make any decisions or take any actions. Any links are included for information purposes only.

By: Adam Singleton