Let's Go Europe 2019. Harvard Student Agencies

De Brouckere (02 218 05 75)

       ACCOMMODATIONS

       2GO4 HOSTEL CITY CENTER ($)

      Bd. Emile Jacqmain 99; 022 19 30 19; www.2go4.be/qualityhostel; reception open 7:30am-1pm and 4pm-11pm

      This hostel’s lounge strongly resembles a vintage motorcycle shop owned by an eclectic, reclusive, horn-rimmed-glasses-wearing old man. Old go-karts hang from the walls alongside punching bags, a piano, and tiny chairs topped with potted plants. Confusing new treasures reside in every nook and cranny of the open space. The surrounding area is equally busy, perhaps even cluttered. The hostel is close to the shopping street Rue Neuve and the hustle and bustle of the Grand Place. Plus, if you burn through all your extra cash shopping, you can always cook at the hostel’s fully stocked kitchen and grab coffee for free every morning. So GO4 it!

       i Dorms from €21; reservation required; no wheelchair accessibility ; Wi-Fi; luggage storage; towels for rent

       BRXXL 5 CITY CENTRE HOSTEL ($)

      Rue de Woeringen 5; 02 5 02 37 10; www.brxxl5.com; reception open 24hr

      A lively lounge area, complete with a pool table, sets the tone at this social hostel, located within walking distance of the city center and train station Gare du Midi. People congregate downstairs and in the outdoor courtyard to hang out, watch music videos, and use the Wi-Fi. It doesn’t hurt that there are cute kitties living here, too. The service is top-notch, with free hot drinks, vending machines, and an attentive staff. The only drawback is the tiny beds, but we doubt you’ll be spending much time in bed anyway when there’s fun to be had and kittens to be pet, amirite?

       i Dorms from €23; reservation required; wheelchair accessible; Wi-Fi; linens included; towels for rent; luggage storage; lockers provided

       HOSTEL BRUEGEL ($)

      Rue du Saint-Esprit 2; 25 11 04 36; www.jeugdherbergen.be/en/youth-hostels/city-hostels/brussel-bruegel; reception open 7am-1:30pm and 2pm-1am

      Walking out of Hostel Bruegel, you’ll have to avoid running headfirst into the beautiful Église Notre-Dame de la Chapelle, located approximately six feet away. The church isn’t all this hostel is close to though: it’s within easy walking distance of many of Brussels’ best sights and nightlife, too. If you’re taking advantage of the latter, just make sure to put a deposit down for a late-night key, or else you’ll get locked out when reception closes at 1am. Rooms with only a handful of beds and en suite bathrooms certainly trump the dozen-bed barracks of other hostels, and a free breakfast rounds out this comfortable and affordable lodging.

       i Dorms from €23; reservation required; wheelchair accessible; Wi-Fi; luggage storage; free breakfast

       SIGHTS

      CULTURE

       AVENUE LOUISE/BOIS DE LA CAMBRE

      Open daily 24hr

      With window shopping on the itinerary, Avenue Louise makes you wish you had a soul-sucking, six-figure job. On one end, near the Louise tram stop, is a ledge overlooking the entire city of Brussels (spot the Atomium!) and on the other end is Bois de la Cambre, a beautiful forest with a large pond. Walk along the road until you tire of not being able to buy every designer backpack that you see, and then take the #93 or #94 tram straight to Bois de la Cambre to reassure yourself that the simple pleasures of life are the most important.

       i Establishment prices vary

ANTWERP

      The people of Antwerp may be known for their big talk (especially in neighboring Ghent) but they have the city to back it up. From a castle on the river to a main square sprinkled with gold-plated guildhalls, Antwerp is certainly attractive. It boasts a train station widely considered the world’s most beautiful, as well as the largest diamond district on this earth. Antwerp is closer in culture and language to the southern Netherlands than many of its fellow Belgian cities, yet a strong international community lends it a worldly vibe. Antwerp won’t disappoint as a place to spend the day strolling (or biking) around, visiting its many museums, or just enjoying its relaxed Flemish lifestyle.

      Arriving at the stunning Antwerpen-Centraal train station will find you on the eastern side of the city. The station is right near the zoo, Flemish painter Peter Paul Ruben’s house, the diamond district, and the Jewish quarter, with a small Chinatown directly across from it. To the west, bordered by the scenic Scheldt River, you’ll find the Oude Stad, or “old city” district, where the Grote Markt serves as the main square and the lovely churches define the skyline. Many streets here are reserved for pedestrians.

      GETTING THERE

      Antwerp has a small international airport. Antwerpen-Berchem train station is near the airport and provides national connections. Buses 51, 52, and 53 stop right in front of the airport and can take you to Antwerpen-Berchem in about 10min., where more bus lines are available. International trains and many national trains arrive at Antwerpen-Centraal, a beautiful train station on the eastern side of the city with easy connections to the bus and metro. Most buses also arrive at Antwerpen-Centraal.

      GETTING AROUND

      Bus and tram tickets can be purchased at newsstands, supermarkets, and machines located at many of the stops. An individual ticket costs €3, while a day pass costs €6. Antwerp’s public bike rental service, Velo, has stations all around the city. Just look for the rows of red bikes. The first half hour is free, the second half hour is €0.50, the next is €1, and after that it’s €5 per hour. A day pass costs €4.

       Swing by…

       GROTE MARKT

      Old City Quarter; open daily 24hr

      Without a doubt the most photogenic square (and there are many competitors for this title), the Grote Markt, located in the old medieval part of town, is a must-see. Featuring ornate guildhalls and an entrancing fountain, this gorgeous spot is close to the castle and the Scheldt River, the spire of the Cathedral of Our Lady towering over it. The land was originally donated to the city by Duke Henry I of Brabant way back in 1220, meaning you’re hardly the first to have a beer in the surrounding cafés or scoff at the seven different restaurants with the “best mussels in the city.” There, you’ll the tourist office, the beautiful city hall, and the Antwerp Jazz Club; in the winter, you’ll find a Christmas market.

       i Free; wheelchair accessible

       Check out…

       ANTWERP ZOO

      Koningin Astridplein 20-26; 03 224 89 10; www.zooantwerpen.be/en; open daily 10am-7pm

      Even in their enclosures, the snakes of the Antwerp Zoo are masters of camouflage—it’s certainly making us look over our shoulders more often in the forest. But these elusive creatures are far from the only ones to be seen. We’re talking kangaroos. We’re talking large cats. We’re talking primates, zebras, giraffes, and a butterfly garden. This place has all the animals you know and love and plenty you never knew existed. Catch the sea lion shows, walk through the large aquarium, and marvel at koalas sleeping and monkeys grooming. The zoo is massive and the animals are allowed ample