Is Brussels a good place to visit as a tourist, or is it geared towards the business community

Asks miranda

A. Famous for Tintin, chocolate, beer and the European Union, Belgium, and Brussels in particular, is often overlooked as a holiday destination.

Brussels has a lot to offer tourists and is easy to reach from the UK, especially by train, and is a great destination for a long-weekend break. It is a great city to visit as a direct result of its unpopularity, because you don't have any preconceived ideas of what the city has to offer it is full of pleasant surprises.

Q. Can you recommend any interesting activities

A. Brussels boasts fantastic narrow cobbled streets, a medieval old city (14th century complete with city walls), French-style boulevards, and lots of lively bars and restaurants. It has over 70 museums and art galleries, and it was nominated a European City of Culture in 2000. Metro Bourse is the central stop on the underground and will take you to most attractions listed below, unless a nearer station is stated.

Some of its main attractions include:

Grand Place: This has been the social and economic hub of the city since its was built in the middle ages, its main tourist attraction is the infamous Hotel de Ville, which dates back to the 15th Century and has a copper spire on top. Grand Place is also home to the Muse de la Ville de Bruxelles, which today is a showcase for fine tapestries, but was once occupied by the Hapsburg monarchy. As Grand Place is considered the centre of town, it often hosts fairs, markets and street events.

Place du Grand Sablon: The grandest square in Brussels is dominated by its gothic church, the Notre Dame de Sablon. Its statue of the Virgin Mary reputedly has special healing powers and is often visited by religious pilgrims. The square is also home to lots of cafes and is a great place to

sit and enjoy a coffee al fresco, while watching the world go by.

Place de Petit Sablon: is the little brother to the Place du Grand Sablon, and, as its name suggests, it is smaller and more compact, but it boasts 48 bronze statues representing 16th Century guilds.

Parc de Bruxelles: This is an ideal place to walk and soak up the atmosphere of the city. It was first built in 1870 and is surrounded by some fantastic buildings including the Palais des Academies, once the home of the Prince of Orange. The Palais Royal is also close by and once housed William I and Leopold II. Many of its rooms are now open to the public, and royal memorabilia is on display in the Muse de la Dynastie.

Parc du Cinquantenaire: This was built in the 19th Century to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Belgian independence by Leopold II it is home to the Muse du Cinquantenaire (Royal Art and History Museum). Nearest metro is Schuman or Merode.

Muses Royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique (Belgian Royal Museums of Fine Art): There are two great museums in this complex the Muse d'Art Ancien, which boasts great works by Rubens, Memling and Bouts and the underground Muse d'Art Moderne that has some works by Picasso, Francis Bacon, Henry Moore, Chagall and one of Belgium's most famous son, Rene Magritte. Nearest station: Gare Central or tram 92.

Atomium & Mini-Europe: the Heysel estate located to the north of the city is home to Brussels' most modern landmark the Atomium, it is a giant model of an oxygen molecule built for the 1958 World Fair and never dismantled.On the same estate you'll find Mini Europe, which houses miniature versions of Europe's landmarks including the Eiffel Tower and the Berlin Wall. Nearest metro: Metro Heysel.

Belgian Centre for Comic Strips: The history of the Belgian comic strip is celebrated at the Grand Magasin Waucquez and includes original drawings by Andr Franquin (who created Gaston Lagaffe) and Georges Remi (Herg), creator of Tintin. It also has a fantastic children's library. Nearest metro: Gare Centrale.

Muse Horta: is the celebrated architect's former home and studio. He produced 110 buildings, many in Brussels and his work ranged from neo-Gothic architecture to Modernist structures. His most famous work includes the Hotel Solvay (on Avenue Louis) and Hotel van Eetvelde (Avenue Palmerston 4). The museum is located on rue Americane 25 and can be reached on trams 81 or 82.

Q. What is the best way to get around the city

A. The Metro is the best way to get around town, stations can be identified by a sign with a white M on a blue background and they will take you close to most tourist destinations. The stations themselves are great places to visit as they display local art. Trams also run (on a combination of over and underground lines) to most destinations and stops have red signs on them (as opposed to bus stops, which have white signs), the destination of the tram is stated on the front of the vehicle. Tram and bus tickets can be bought onboard. You can purchase one-hour or one day tickets (that are valid on any form of public transport) from all metro stations.

Taxi is another popular form of transport in Brussels; the cabs are blue and yellow and can only be picked up at designated ranks, not hailed in the street.

A Tourist Passport is the best way to gain admission to most tourist attractions and is available from all tourist offices. Another pass, the Musts of Brussels, also offers discounts to tourist attractions, but is more expensive. Each pass costs BFr 300 and BFr 600 respectively.

Q. What is the national language in Belgium

A. It is bilingual - French and Flemish.

Q. How many tourist does Brussels attract a year

A. Figures on Brussels alone are unavailable, but Belgium attracts 13 million visitors annually.

Q. When is the best time to visit

A. The weather is warmest between April and September, and there is more going on during July and August. On the first Thursday in July there's the Ommegang pageant, a huge parade of nobles dressed in historic costumes. Belgium's colourful National Day is July 21, which also marks the start of the month-long Brussels Fair.

Further information on visiting Brussels is available from the Office de Tourisme et d'Information de Bruxelles (TIB)

Hotel de Ville, Grand-Place, 1000 Brussels

Tel: (02) 513 8940. Fax: (02) 514 4538.

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By Karen Anderson