As the capital of the European Union, Brussels has a reputation for being buttoned up and a bit boring. While you could spend all your euros visiting the city’s bourgeois and bohemian hotspots, there is an affordable side to Brussels, if you know where to look.
When you’re done stuffing your face with chocolate, fries and Chimay, you’ll need a comfortable, clean place to lay your head. Luckily, there are dozens of modern, well-appointed apartment rentals that let you live like a local in some of the city’s best neighborhoods. Airbnb rentals currently average $90 a night, but you can easily find a place for $75 or less. Here are 10 we found with great reviews, amenities, and prices.
Note to reader: The descriptions correspond to the images just above the text. And be sure to check prices and details before booking your stay.
Located at the Porte de Namur in the northern part of the city, this black and white apartment has a terrace that overlooks the rooftops of the city. The bed is a convertible sofa, but skylights flood the space with light, the kitchen is fully equipped, and the shower setup is quite nice. Previous guests praise the thoughtful snacks left by the host and the apartment’s proximity to local shops and restaurants.
The antithesis of a cramped hotel room, this renovated loft provides plenty of room to spread out. The open floor plan includes a full size kitchen, dining room, office and living room. The bedroom opens onto a sun terrace on one side and a deep soaking tub on the other. The current price is $77/night.
Discover life in a classic Brussels house by renting this first floor apartment in the upscale and green district of Uccle. The kitchen, bathroom, and furnishings are mostly modern, but the space’s high ceilings and architectural details give it an old-world feel. The Bois de la Cambre park is just around the corner, as well as a tram that serves the city center. Several guests praise owner Michel as the best Airbnb host they have ever had.
This colored small apartment is close to the city center and offers all the basics with a stylish touch. There’s a bed and a pull-out sofa, so room for four, and it’s near chic Avenue Louise and trendy Place Flagey.
Inside the home of a local but estranged family, this economic studio ($56/night) is right next to the bustling Gare du Midi. There’s free Wi-Fi, a covered terrace, and hosts are quick to recommend their favorite nearby shops and restaurants, like Organic Brunch. Yeti.
This single apartment lets you see what it’s like to stay in a rustic Belgian barn without leaving town. The wooden attic studio has a double bed, a basic kitchen and a (shared) terrace with a view of the city. Note that the apartment is on the fourth floor and the bathroom is two flights of steep steps, so it is not for those with limited mobility.
This last stage apartment in a 1960s Mondrian building is located in the trendy Dansaert district. You will find a Villa ! rent station down the street, where you can hop on a bike and explore the main sites of Brussels. Rue Neuve, a major shopping street, is only five minutes away.
Walk just 15 minutes to downtown from this recently refreshed apartment, which has an open floor plan, great views, and super clean, hotel-like furnishings. A former client recommends the nearby Delirium bar, where you can choose from over 2,000 beers.
Get a bird’s eye view of the city in this Ixelles apartment, located in a residential area a few minutes by metro, bus or bike from the city center. There is a small balcony where you can watch the sunset and soak up the view. Customers recommend Jazz Club Sounds on the other side of the street.
Just upstairs from a funky art gallery, this vintage-style The space is close to the city’s central square, the large Grote Markt. Up the street, the vintage and antiques district is handy for a bit of afternoon shopping, and Central Station is two minutes away, should you decide to take a day trip to Antwerp, Bruges or Ghent.
Top photo by artjazz/Shutterstock
Writer
Erica Jackson Curran
is a former alternative weekly newspaper editor turned moonlight freelancer based in Richmond, Virginia. She loves fancy cocktails and red lipstick, and she’s currently planning a fall trip to Paris and Portugal.
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