6 hour layover in Brussels Christmas day
Sep 19, 2012, 12:23 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: CLT
Posts: 495
6 hour layover in Brussels Christmas day
My husband and I arrive in Brussels from NYC on Christmas day at 6:50am, headed to BKK at 12:45pm. We'd like to do something other than sit in the lounge for 5-6 hours and wondered if anyone had some suggestions.
It looks like there's some sort of Christmas market in Antwerp (http://www.debretts.com/social-seaso...as-market.aspx) that looks interesting, though it may not be open so early Xmas day. There appear to be shuttle buses and also a train that take you to Antwerp.
Anyway, am open to all suggestions! Thanks in advance!
It looks like there's some sort of Christmas market in Antwerp (http://www.debretts.com/social-seaso...as-market.aspx) that looks interesting, though it may not be open so early Xmas day. There appear to be shuttle buses and also a train that take you to Antwerp.
Anyway, am open to all suggestions! Thanks in advance!
Sep 19, 2012, 12:30 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Between AMS and BRU
Posts: 8,852
I think it will be too early to do anything real interesting... best you can probably do is take the train to the center of town (Brussels!), have a decent breakfast and browse for about an hour, and go back to the airport....
Going to Antwerp, not really an option. Look at the map :-). Takes about an hour to just get there... and back again.
Going to Antwerp, not really an option. Look at the map :-). Takes about an hour to just get there... and back again.
Sep 19, 2012, 3:21 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Basel, CH
Programs: M&M 0*SEN (LH *G), TK *G, Accor Silver, HHonors Gold
Posts: 117
At least the Schengen *A lounge is bad and to be avoided - as far as I understand the same is true for the other lounges.
If the weather is nice, definitely go into Brussels for a few hours. One suggestion is to take the train 15 minutes to the Brussels North Bruxelles-Nord station, walk down to Rue Neuve and then to Grande Place. Everything will be closed, but it's still a nice walk and you'll pass by some new glass-and-steel highrises, the botanical gardens, and the main shopping street. From there you can walk up to Palais de Justice for some nice views of the city and then on to Place Louise. If you want to see the EU institutions (actually some nice buildings), then take the bus (11 or 21) from the airport to Schuman (Commission) or Luxembourg (Parliament) and have a stroll around there.
If the weather is nice, definitely go into Brussels for a few hours. One suggestion is to take the train 15 minutes to the Brussels North Bruxelles-Nord station, walk down to Rue Neuve and then to Grande Place. Everything will be closed, but it's still a nice walk and you'll pass by some new glass-and-steel highrises, the botanical gardens, and the main shopping street. From there you can walk up to Palais de Justice for some nice views of the city and then on to Place Louise. If you want to see the EU institutions (actually some nice buildings), then take the bus (11 or 21) from the airport to Schuman (Commission) or Luxembourg (Parliament) and have a stroll around there.
Sep 19, 2012, 3:22 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: CLT
Posts: 495
Thanks. This (http://www.visitflanders.us/news/dir...to-antwerp.jsp) said the train took 30 minutes to Antwerp, so thought that might be an option.
Will anything be open on Christmas morning? In the US, about the only thing open are convenience stores.
Will anything be open on Christmas morning? In the US, about the only thing open are convenience stores.
Sep 19, 2012, 3:23 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: CLT
Posts: 495
At least the Schengen *A lounge is bad and to be avoided - as far as I understand the same is true for the other lounges.
If the weather is nice, definitely go into Brussels for a few hours. One suggestion is to take the train 15 minutes to the Brussels North Bruxelles-Nord station, walk down to Rue Neuve and then to Grande Place. Everything will be closed, but it's still a nice walk and you'll pass by some new glass-and-steel highrises, the botanical gardens, and the main shopping street. From there you can walk up to Palais de Justice for some nice views of the city and then on to Place Louise. If you want to see the EU institutions (actually some nice buildings), then take the bus (11 or 21) from the airport to Schuman (Commission) or Luxembourg (Parliament) and have a stroll around there.
If the weather is nice, definitely go into Brussels for a few hours. One suggestion is to take the train 15 minutes to the Brussels North Bruxelles-Nord station, walk down to Rue Neuve and then to Grande Place. Everything will be closed, but it's still a nice walk and you'll pass by some new glass-and-steel highrises, the botanical gardens, and the main shopping street. From there you can walk up to Palais de Justice for some nice views of the city and then on to Place Louise. If you want to see the EU institutions (actually some nice buildings), then take the bus (11 or 21) from the airport to Schuman (Commission) or Luxembourg (Parliament) and have a stroll around there.
Sep 19, 2012, 3:39 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: CPH, BRU
Programs: LH SEN* (*G), EBG (*G)
Posts: 793
Thanks. This (http://www.visitflanders.us/news/dir...to-antwerp.jsp) said the train took 30 minutes to Antwerp, so thought that might be an option.
Will anything be open on Christmas morning? In the US, about the only thing open are convenience stores.
Will anything be open on Christmas morning? In the US, about the only thing open are convenience stores.
You could alternatively go to Leuven, its 15-20 mins by train (normal train, 2 or 3 pr. hour), take a walk and breakfast and go back.
Or go to sheraton across street, get day room and take a shower and nice breakfast. None of the lounges are worth 5h.