4.5 hour layover in BRU, enough time to eat in city?
 

I'm flying from Helsinki to Milan on Sabena and have a 4.5 hour layover. I arrive at 3:25p.m, depart at 8:10pm. Do you think that leaves enough time to get into the city center, have a meal, and get back in time for my flight. I know it'll be a very early dinner, but an early dinner in the city is better than airport food if I can manage it.

Assuming this is possible, do you know if there is any secured storage area for my carry-on bags while I go into the city?

I believe you'll have plenty of time. I dont know about storage of your bags but why not check them? I found this ( http://www.appetitenet.com/belgium/brussels_dining.html ) helpful on a recent trip to BRU.
Enjoy.

[This message has been edited by coplatua1k (edited Jan 25, 2004).]

I think you should definitely have plenty of time for dinner in the city. Treat yourself to one of the places around the Grand Place such as Cave du Roy cellar level which has a lot of ambience

There's a train that shoots you right into the city from the airport. Takes just a few minutes and drops you off right in the center of town. Don't forget to check out the little boy peeing statue!

The Mannekin Pis!

That local train is painfully slow, takes about 30 minutes to go a very few miles into town (and I think it runs about once every 20 minutes). So average time including wait would be about 80 minutes round trip.

However that still sounds like it's possible to me, even counting time to get to the train and to go through security, so I guess I concur with the other folks.