brussels – The Girl Who Goes

Last Updated on May 12, 2023

A Review of FlixBus: My Trip from Wrocław to Berlin

The last time — and only other time — I tried to take an international bus trip, it didn’t turn out very well. That was when I wanted to go from Brussels to Amsterdam. After waiting for the bus to show up for two and a half hours, in the pouring rain and freezing cold very early in the morning, I gave up and took the train.

So I was a little nervous about my plan to take a bus from Wrocław, Poland, to Berlin. I decided to use a different bus company than the one that had failed me (I’m looking at you, OuiBus). Carson and Natalie had used FlixBus for their trip from Paris to Madrid, and their bus clearly showed up, so my standards were pretty low. But I have to say I really enjoyed my FlixBus experience! [Read more…]

Last Updated on March 21, 2023

Day Trip: Brussels to Bruges, Belgium

When I told my friends and co-workers I was going to visit Brussels over the weekend, I got only one response: “Make sure you go to Bruges, too.” I’d heard of Bruges, the capital of the Belgian province of West Flanders, but I wasn’t sure whether I’d have time to visit. I only was going to have two days in Belgium, after all. But in the end, I’m glad I decided to make the trip from Brussels to Bruges. Despite the rainy weather, Bruges was a charming little town.

Fun fact: since French and Dutch are both official languages of Belgium, the city has two names. “Bruges” is French, and “Brugge” is Dutch. [Read more…]

Last Updated on November 16, 2024

Top 7 Things to Do in Brussels, Belgium

Grand Place, Brussels

When someone thinks of planning a trip to Europe, certain cities always stand out. London, Rome, and Paris consistently receive the most visitors every year, with cities like Barcelona, Dublin, and Amsterdam not far behind. But what about Brussels, Belgium? Are there things to do in Brussels?

Although the de facto European Union capital may only be an afterthought to some, it’s definitely still worth a visit. With fewer tourists, you won’t have to worry about fighting massive crowds. It’s a very walkable city, which makes it a great place to slow down, relax, and enjoy everyday life.

Have I convinced you to visit Brussels yet? If so, here are the top 7 things to do in Brussels.

[Read more…]

Last Updated on November 9, 2024

How To Get from Charleroi Airport to Brussels

When I moved to Spain for the first time in 2018, I set a goal for myself: take one international trip per month in my first year living there. In September, I went to Sardinia to visit my foreign exchange sister, Gaia. I had trips booked to Russia in November and Barcelona in December, but I wasn’t sure where to go in October.

So I sat down to browse Skyscanner, looking for inspiration, when I found the cheapest flight I’ve ever seen in my life. A one-way ticket from Madrid to Brussels for $11.75. LESS THAN TWELVE DOLLARS. Somehow, a return ticket cost $200, and that wasn’t okay with me, so I booked a substantially cheaper flight back to Madrid from Amsterdam. (I decided I’d just get a cheap bus ticket.)

Can you guess which airline offered this amazing price? If you guessed RyanAir, you’d be correct. A lot of travelers have a love/hate relationship with the Irish low-cost airline, but that’s a post for another day. Flying with RyanAir for this particular journey, however, meant that my flight to Brussels would arrive at a small airport about 40 miles outside of the city. So if you’re planning a similar trip, here’s everything you need to know.

[Read more…]